NO SALVATION WITHOUT OBEDIENCE

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NO SALVATION WITHOUT OBEDIENCE

I have been seeing many online postings on social media with statements that obedience is NOT necessary for salvation so the Lord has me writing this post to expose this lie. Let me start by saying that you can be saved by grace through faith but you will not be born again without obedience which is denying yourself, picking up your cross and follow Christ Jesus. Salvation and being born again are supposed to be together not separate. Salvation through repentance is not merely admitting of your sin but also your rebellion to follow Christ Jesus according to His Word and commands. In order to do that we must be born again!  What we have in much of the church is likely just “white washed tombs” and without the Holy Spirit you have not be delivered from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus.  See other post that expounds on this:  https://abidingbread.com/2025/04/15/salvation-unto-being-born-again/

To fully understand this we must go back to the “Father of Faith”, Abraham. We must also understand what TRUE repentance is because that is not preached much these days. Without obedience the crucifixtion of Christ is made into a mockery and there would be NO salvation without the obedience of Christ Jesus!

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

Phillipians 2:5-11 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How was faith and righteousness imputed/accredited to Abraham? Secondly is sacrifice better than obedience? Third, what is true repentance?

Let us read scripture to understand how Abraham became the “Father of Faith” and how it was imputed/accounted to him. You should understand that obedience is the prerequisite to faith, repentance and righteousness. Even Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death! No one could take Jesus’ life but He freely laid it down in obience to the Father’s will. If Jesus was NOT obedient there would have been NO Propitiation for sin and thus NO SALVATION without His death and resurrection! Are we to believe obedience is NOT necessary for salvation but Jesus had to be obedient unto death/crucifixtion for the propitiation for our sins so that we may obtain salvation through Christ?

Jude 2: 14-26 NKJV

Faith Without Works is Dead

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Hebrews 11:8 NKJV

Faithful Abraham

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

So in the book of Jude we see very plainly that obedience is required to have faith! Jesus’s ways and truths are to be applied and established in every TRUE believer. Without obedience there is NO true faith.

Here is another principle and fact that is not preached today. Whenever the Word of God or the Holy Spirit reveals/speaks to you, you are at the place of decision to be obedient or deny the Holy Spirit/Word of God. This is a form of judgement through either obedience or disobedience in that your free will is being tested whether to apply, conform and obey the Word/Voice of God.

1 Samual 15: 22-23 NKJV

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He also has rejected you from being king.”

True repentance is not only acknowledging your sins but also FULLY submitting to the Lord Jesus in Spirit and Truth. You acknowledge your need to submit, obey, adhere, and turn away from your sinful life and follow the Lord Jesus and the Word of God. You must allow the Lord Jesus to guide you, lead you, correct you and teach you by dying to “self” as well as your beliefs on what is right and wrong by submitting and following Jesus as LORD and Savior. Many preachers purposely omit LORD!

Matthew 16: 24-26 NKJV

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

Romans 6:15-23 NKJV

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were 5delivered.

18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I hope this has provided insight and truth to you and that you seek the Lord for His Spirit and truth. I could litteraly spend hours adding more scripture from Psalms, Proverbs, Hebrews and more but I will leave that to you. Let us remember that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and let us seek the Lord Jesus in ALL of our ways and let the Lord’s Word be lamp unto our feet and keep us on His path of righteousness. May the Lord bless you.

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Glen – Abiding Bread Ministry

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HEART & BLOOD

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HEART & BLOOD

We are “cleansed by the Blood of Jesus” the “sacrificial love and heart of the Lamb”.  For what is the heart without “The Blood”?  It is the heart and Spirit of The Lord that is life giving!  The heart and blood of Jesus are inseparable.  “The Blood of Christ Jesus” is cleansing and “The Loving Heart of Christ” is what sustains us!  His love is enduring!

 

Love covers a multitude of sins, love from the heart where the “Blood of Christ” is flowing in righteousness, holiness and purity. The word became flesh and Jesus’ whole body was a living sacrifice.  

 

John 6:53 (NKJV)

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

 

1 John 1:7 (NKJV)

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

1 Thessalonians 3:13 (NKJV)

13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

 

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

 

 

The heart is the foundation where the “Blood of Jesus” is applied through a confession of faith by believing in your heart that Jesus died on the cross for us.  

 

Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV)

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

The heart is the place of intimacy, relationship and passion.  Out of the heart of a man so he speaks.  The heart is the “birth place” of experiences. The Lord loves to give us experiences of His loving kindness, mercy and grace.  Through these encounters and experiences is the renewing of our heart and mind.  Jesus is the way, truth and life and when we experience the truth of who Jesus is in our hearts it breaks away the strongholds, hurts, pains and the earthly experiences we are subjected to.  The TRUTH IS TO BE EXPERIENCED for the truth shall set you free!   There is power in the blood, testimony and truth of Jesus Christ.  The power, presence and Spirit are in Truth for we worship The Lord in Spirit and Truth.  

 

Luke 6:45 (NKJV)

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

 

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

23Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

 

John 14:6 (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

 

The love of Christ is to be embraced in the fullness of the persona of Christ Jesus.  Love WITHOUT righteousness, truth, holiness and purity of heart is not the “Heart of Christ”.  The love of Christ Jesus is the love of redemption and reconciliation not the love of bondage, hurt, illnesses and diseases, etc.  Jesus proclaimed Isaiah 61 the day of The Lord setting the captives free!  The love of Christ Jesus does not leave people in bondage, sin, and darkness. The love of Christ sets people free! 

 

The love and truth of Christ Jesus is always moving, seeking, restoring and delivering His children transforming them into sons and daughters, it is not passive in nature!  It is not complacent, defensive, manipulating, controlling or stagnant.  

 

We commonly hear statements such as:  “See people with the eyes of Jesus” and don’t judge them.  Statements like this make me reflect on Revelations 3:16 and leaving people hurting, wounded and in bondage.  Why is it so many desire the gift of discernment but deny the discernment of the Spirit from others?  Why do people preach the Gospel but deny the power of the Gospel?  (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Perhaps it is because of their complacency, tolerance and reluctance to minister truth setting people free through the heart, mercy and grace of The Lord.  

 

Revelation 3:16 (NKJV)

16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

 

“The walk and testimony” of Jesus is not complacent or stagnant in nature.  He is always moving about setting captives free, preaching the gospel.  Are we to believe that Jesus didn’t know the hurts, bondage, strongholds and the hearts of His people?  That is totally absurd.  In fact The Holy Spirit reveals ALL TRUTH and reveals the motives and intents of the heart.  

 

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). Proverbs 16:2 Amp Bible.

 

John 16:13 (NKJV)

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

 

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NKJV)

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

 

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

 

The Blood and Heart of Jesus are inseparable just as we must be partakers of His Body and Blood.  The fullness of His love is the passion, purity, righteousness and holiness of the Blood of Jesus pumping through our hearts like the wellsprings of life as our hearts become one with the heart of the Lord!

 

 

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (NKJV)

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 

Heavenly Father we give you thanks and praise for giving us your “Beloved Son”, for everlasting life and for loving us first!  Thank you Father for seeing the innermost parts of our hearts and for the redemptive love and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. 

 

John 3:16 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

COMPROMISE

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COMPROMISE

 

For the last week I have been fasting and praying as my Spirit was grieving for the Body of Christ.  As I was interceding for the Body of Christ and felt The Lord’s grieving for His people He spoke to me about how His people willingly compromising their spiritual lives. 

 

The Lord brought to my attention how many believers will not compromise seeking The Lord for the supernatural when it comes to physical healings such as cancer, leukemia, etc. but are willing to compromise when it comes to their spiritual health.  I was truly grieved for The Lord, as I have witnessed this throughout my travels.   So many seek the Supernatural above the intimate relationship with The Father’s Heart.  Oh how many of us would love to be physically healed but yet still live a worldly life subjected to darkness, perversion and ungodliness.  I reflected on the ten lepers in the book of Luke (Luke 17: 15-19) and how only one gave thanks to Jesus after he was physically healed and then Jesus said that this man was make whole!  Yes, body, soul and Spirit!    

 

When our bodies are physically sick and our mortality, livelihood and way of daily living is in question we often seek another medical opinion or a specialist as second best just won’t do.  We wont’ compromise our physical life and we wont settle for “second best”!  After all, aren’t we worth the best of health?  Have we forgotten that before the fall of man in the Garden we were made in God’s image?  Are we willing to be deceived that Jesus or the Father need inner healing?  Why then do we compromise our inner healing and spiritual life?  Yes Jesus accepted us as sinners yet He said sin no more, be whole, your faith has made you well.  This faith wasn’t in man it was in God.  

 

Do blind people go to church to see the décor?  Do deaf people go to hear the worship music?  Do you go to church to feel accepted?  Did the Pharisees or the High Priest accept Jesus?  Shouldn’t we be going to church for the presence of God and worshiping God through thanksgiving and praise?  If the Father never changes yet our daily circumstances change shouldn’t we praise God and give thanksgiving for who He is and not simply because of our circumstances.  Do we only pray when we have needs or desires yet overlook our daily blessings?  

 

A few weeks ago I was at a prophetic healing conference where The Lord did miraculous healings.  It was so refreshing not only to witness the love, mercy and grace of the Lord but also to witness unrestricted ministry of inner healing and deliverance.  God moved unrestricted by the thoughts of men/women, fleshly beliefs or unwillingness of people to accept the reality of demonic spirits.  I grieved for many of these people as The Lord revealed their inner healing needs and at one point the Prophet stopped before praying and spoke in frustration.  He said that The Lord was grieved as one poor woman suffered for fifteen years captive to a demon because the Pastor at her church would not address it!  The Lord was not pleased with that pastor but the presence of The Lord delivered this woman right there in front of us!  Thank you Lord!

 

Many physical problems are directly related to spiritual problems.  Prolonged neglect on spiritual healing and deliverance only invites more spiritual problems to manifest compounding the physical healing needs and realms.  

 

We are called to cleanse the lepers, heal the sick, cast out demons and proclaim the Gospel.  We are called to be the light where there is darkness.  We are not called to sit under darkness or be subjected to darkness as we are called to be over comers.  

 

We are called to plant seeds.  This doesn’t necessarily mean standing watch day and night 24/7 waiting for the harvest.  Often we are called to speak and reveal Truth and plant seeds of Truth and let the Lord do the cultivating, weeding and fertilizing of those Truths.  The Gospel offends because it breaks strongholds, mindsets and darkness.  Jesus said we would be persecuted or even martyred.  

 

Matthew 10:14 (NKJV)

14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

 

What defines imprisonment?  Is it a building with bars?  Real imprisonment is spiritual.  The Apostle Paul was imprisoned but not spiritually only naturally!  Was his revelations, beliefs or relationship with Jesus defined by an earthly establishment or building?  Didn’t an Angel release Peter from prison?  Is God limited to an earthly building or dwelling?  The Gospel and Testimony of Jesus Christ is what free prisoners just as Jesus proclaimed when He read Isaiah 61.

 

Jesus said just a little leaven ruins the whole loaf of bread.  The Bread of Life, the true Gospel will not tolerate a little leaven or sacrifice the way, Truth and Life!

 

John 14:6 (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 

 

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 6:14–16 (NKJV)

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

 

“I will dwell in them

And walk among them.

I will be their God,

And they shall be My people.”

 

Galatians 1:6–9 (NKJV)

Only One Gospel

 

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

 

James 4:8 (NKJV)

 

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded

 

Isaiah 30:1–2 (NKJV)

Futile Confidence in Egypt

 

30      “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD,

“Who take counsel, but not of Me,

And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,

That they may add sin to sin;

2      Who walk to go down to Egypt,

And have not asked My advice,

To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,

And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

 

Jesus gave His life to make us whole; body, soul and spirit.  Don’t settle for less than the full atonement of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.  Lord I pray that the Spirit of Compromise and Complacency will no longer dwell in your people and that they will worship you in the fullness of Spirit and Truth.  Anything less than the Truth is likely idolatry, pride and rebellion.  

 

John 4:24 (NKJV)

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

 

The Power Of One

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THE POWER OF ONE

 

I remember when I first decided to attend ministry school.  One man I worked with said to me:  “Glen, what can one man do and accomplish when the world is in darkness and subject to doom”.  I said Jesus Christ was only one man and how many lives has He saved?  I never got a response.  If God is not a respecter of persons then there is not one person that Jesus wants to perish.  Jesus wants all of us to have everlasting life, eternal life!

John 3:16 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Never underestimate the power of “The One” as there is only one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We all long for fellowship, companionship and intimacy and this being said we often feel alone in our burdens, trials and tribulations.  However, those who have made Jesus their Lord and Savior are never alone.  Jesus is interceding for us!

We must fully understand that those “in Christ” are never alone in Spirit.  Satan loves to inflict feelings of loneliness and unworthiness in our minds and hearts.  Satan would like nothing more than to keep us bound in these strongholds but have you ever considered that perhaps you might be in a  wilderness season of transformation?  Is the Lord separating you from the influences of man, society, family or friends?  Those of us who have persevered and endured through Christ Jesus know first hand about wilderness experiences.  Some of the greatest personal encounters with The Lord come from wilderness experiences.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us (Romans 8:34-37 KJV)

How incredible is this, Jesus intercedes for us and makes intercession for us to the Father!  Now this is good news.  So let’s think about the power of one for a moment.  If ministry happens through us and not because of us then the power isn’t ours it’s from the abiding presence of The Holy Spirit.

We may often feel like we are alone in this world but the Truth is that God is omnipresent and The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.

I have often walked alone “witnessing” in public as no one from church would want to come along.  The fact is that the world is starving spiritually for the presence of Jesus and many people need an encounter with the Lord and a revelation of The Father’s Heart.

Jesus said to preach the Gospel and Signs & Wonders will follow.  I have been in groups where people would focus on power, signs & wonders and when I would state that this was unhealthy, deceptive and Jesus spoke against this in the Bible I would be attacked.  No surprise, the greatest Sign & Wonder was Jesus Christ in the flesh and look what His people did to Him!

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:4 KJV)

I am not against Signs & Wonders nor denying the sovereignty of The Lord.  I personally have seen and witnessed the supernatural while ministering but my heart and focus is always on the heart of The Father and what The Lord wants to do for the person receiving ministry.  Before I even attempt to minister I give thanks to The Lord for what He is doing for/in that person and thank Him for trusting me to minister on His behalf.  This is communion with The Lord, it is about Him NOT me!  The supernatural happens because of Jesus not because of me and my focus is on what The Lord is doing and not the miracle.  We are to preach the true gospel and signs and wonders will follow.

When the flesh focuses on the miracle we normally minister by symptoms verses the root of the problem.  If we only focus on the symptom is the person being redeemed and totally restored being made whole?  Symptoms should lead to a diagnosis.  Does and alcoholic drink because he is an alcohol or is there a spiritual root that the alcohol is masking, suppressing, hiding, etc.  Treat the root and the symptoms leave!  If you only treat the symptoms  a person is not necessarily made whole.  Jesus didn’t say take two aspirins and come back in two weeks because he treated the root not merely the symptoms.  We should be seeking the Lord while listening to someones feelings, hurts or illnesses.  Revelations of truth break lies and strongholds. I could give countless testimonies of people asking for prayer because of their symptoms and when the Lord would reveal the root cause to me I would minister the revelations The Lord revealed to me and they would be set free and healed.  All honor and glory are The Lord’s not mine.

If satan is the master of deception and we are warned about false apostles, prophets and signs and wonders how can we discern what is of God?  Satan can never duplicate the Heart of Jesus.  In fact satan hates humility, repentance, mercy and grace.  If you want to grow in discernment you must focus on the heart and persona of Jesus Christ.  The crucifixion and resurrection of the Cross of Jesus must be embraced daily from a heart of thanksgiving, praise and worship.  We must never forget our personal testimony or what The Lord delivered us from and continues to deliver us from. (Gal 2:20)

Jesus stood in front of Satan tempted after coming out of the wilderness.  Satan used scripture and every means he knew to tempt Jesus yet Jesus remained humble.  Satan even wanted a demonstration of power from Jesus but Jesus did not have to prove anything.  This also happened when Jesus was on the cross when they said to Jesus if you are the King of the Jews surely you can remove yourself from that cross!  Pride is feed by power but humility stands in the face of pride and accusation because humility has nothing to prove.

Your greatest strength is quite often the very first thing attacked by Satan and your weakest trait is usually the one that The Lord  edifies to become your strongest.  Ponder this, if Satan can make you question your greatest strength/attribute everything else will crumble under it.  Satan attacks leadership and personal strengths because if he can deceive leadership or our strengths everything beneath easily crumbles.  If he can get leadership off track it is likely that those under leadership will be off track.  If your heart is hurting then you are capable of love but the enemy tells you that you will never be loved.  If you didn’t love or were not capable of love you wouldn’t feel the pain in the first place!  See how deceptive Satan is!  All the lies he speaks to you questioning your love and ability to be loved.

Only the Truth will set you free and those who have truly been set free by Jesus will be a lovers of His Truth!  This is real love, to love the Truth of His Word, Persona and Attributes of Jesus.  The Love of Christ Jesus is redeeming, restoring and embraceable, it doesn’t leave you in bondage, hurt and deception.  To be an overcomer we must stand on His Truth as well as our testimony and the “blood of the Lamb”.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11 KJV)

I have witnessed to many people and even performed  deliverances as led by the Spirit.  Some of these people tell me they have gone to many churches, received countless prayers and I tell them it’s not about the building it’s about The Lord.  The Lord is omnipresent and He is not confined to a building.   There is a stronghold and mindset which needs to be broken and that is that no man or church sets anyone free.  It is The Lord Jesus and only Jesus.  I am often asked about what church I attend and I tell people it is Jesus that sets them free and to Glorify Jesus.  Church is not my savior, Jesus Christ is my savior.  I love the church but not above Jesus Christ.  I don’t worship the temple above The Lord Of The Temple.  Jesus is to be the cornerstone of the Church and Lord of His Church.  Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord.

If you read the Psalms of David you will notice that his focus was on The Lord not man.  David gave all his thanks, praise, worship and repentance to The Lord.  He was never alone on the battle field because he knew his strength was in The Lord.

In Ephesians Chapter Six we read in verses 10 through 12 about the armor of God and warring against darkness, principalities and strongholds.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:10-12 KJV)

We are in a battle and at war! We are not to be complacent!  The complacency of the church and Christians has caused us to be reactive vs. proactive.

I can’t over emphasize enough the importance of The Father’s heart and the persona and character of Jesus in building strong spiritual discernment.  Many will tell you that we are not to discern the motives or hearts of the people and this is false.  We are not to condemn people but we are called to judge/discern.  Jesus is after our hearts and The Lord knows the motives and intentions of our hearts.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

As born again Christians we have the Living God The Holy Spirit and we are able to discern the hearts and motives of people by submitting everything to The Lord and our Spirit.  Quiet often statements that are true will be spoken to us but the motive and intentions are NOT truth!  They are deceptive, manipulative and meant to lead us astray.  

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.(1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV)

We are living in the end days and the second coming of the Lord is drawing near.  We must draw near and call upon the Lord with purity of heart, motive and sincerity.  We must submit fully to The Lord so He that began a good work can complete it.

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

 

Father I thank you that you will complete the good work within me, strengthening me, edifying me, sanctifying me into the likeness and image of your son Jesus Christ.  Father I thank you that your Word never returns null and void but is shaper than a double edge sword separating soul from spirit.  Father I submit my will and spirit to you, create in me a clean heart through the renewing of my mind in Jesus name I pray.

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 KJV)

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)

 

Let us not forget about the Noah’s, Abraham’s, Moses and David’s or Mary who saw Jesus in the tomb!

 

Knowledge vs. Spirit

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KNOWLEDGE VS. THE HOLY SPIRIT

Knowledge is wonderful and we all seek and desire knowledge.  Adam and Eve sought knowledge above the spoken Word of God and Spirit of God and that was the fall of man.  They relied on “self” through deception, perhaps they thought if God knew what was good and evil why shouldn’t we?  Really, are we God?  Unfortunately much of this is still taking place today because how things appear is not necessarily the truth.  What is true might not be truth.  God wanted to protect us from evil back then and The Lord still wants to protect us from evil.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself but we must be discerning when it comes to knowledge of spiritual things.

We all go through refinement, trials and tribulations edifying us and refining us into the likeness of Christ Jesus.  There is much knowledge and revelations to be achieved in the “refiners fire”!  We have all endured many trials, tribulations and hardships and quite frankly may endure a few more.  

Are we to forget what we have learned, achieved and overcome?  Absolutely not, yet this is not to be our sole determining factor in our discernment or decision-making.  Head knowledge is not necessarily spiritual knowledge and what happens in the natural is usually founded or rooted the spiritual. 

The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians that we do not wrestle and war against flesh and blood. (Natural/Physical) What appears in the natural is spiritually motivated.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
(Revelation 12:11 KJV)

We must embrace what we have learned and overcome in our natural lives and submit these things to the Lord in spirit and truth towards the application of our current problems and situations.  While there were many great battles in the bible and great hero’s such as Moses, Isaac, Jacob and David each great victory had a unique application towards that victory.  Many of these battles were fought and won utilizing an unconventional manner after seeking the Lord.  We must seek the Lord in our battles and this is more critical with each passing day in the troubled world we live in.   

 

Imagine Moses with the Israelites at the Red Sea and only relying on human knowledge.  I am sure Moses may have entertained thoughts such as we can’t swim as we will surely drown.  If we turn around many will die and others will likely be enslaved again.  Yet in the midst of trial and tribulation Moses raises his head towards heaven and seeks the Lord.  The Lord tells Moses to put his staff in the water and the Lord parts the sea!  Can you imagine if Moses relied on only what he had formally known from personal experiences?  

 

The point I wish to make is that it is easy to fall into extremes when it comes to discernment.  Some people rely to much on personal experience or head knowledge never submitting such things to the Lord for truth, revelation and application.  We are not to forget our victories, trials and tribulations as everything works out for the glory of The Lord, nothing goes to waste in the Kingdom of God.  Often these experiences help us to understand what others are currently going through that we ourselves have overcome by the grace of God.

  

We still occupy and live in this world even though we are no longer of this world.  You can’t forget what you have learned here on earth. However our battles are not carnal or fleshly and everything should be submitted to the Spirit and The Lord.

 

If we follow the beliefs of man we are likely following the “fall of man” and not the Lord.  The method of your personal victory may not be the method the Lord desires for me or someone else.  What is visual in the natural surely looks different in the spiritual.  What you hear in the natural is different than what you hear in the Spirit.  For example have you ever talked with a friend and asked them how they are doing and they tell you they are ok but you discern in their voice that they are not well or struggling?  What you heard didn’t match with what you discerned.

 

Satan is the master of deception.  If he tempts you one way and you overcome him, he will likely try a different method the next time.   An old method of victory might not be your current method of victory.  It is important to submit what you have learned and experienced from prior situations along with your current situations seeking the Lord for revelations and application.    

 

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:for without me ye can do nothing.

(John 15:5 KJV)

 

We can do nothing without Christ Jesus and the Victory is His not ours.  So if the victory is the Lord’s then the battle must also be the Lord’s!  We must submit to the Lord.

 

The enemy would love nothing more than to eliminate your discernment and decision making when confronted with new situations, trials and tribulations.  While I believe most things are “black & white” are we deceived into believing we know all things or do we seek He who knows all things Christ Jesus.  Surely we will face new trials and tribulations as we achieve personal and spiritual growth. We must seek The Lord on these matters.

 

The grey area is real and that is when we process what doesn’t appear right, true or Godly in nature.  This could very well be a time frame to process and submit maters to the Lord for truth and revelations.  Many people will attempt to force you into rash or hasty decisions and this may very well be control, manipulation or intimidation which is ungodly.  

 

We were created with free will and the Lord desires to lead us not control us.  The Lord is looking for willing vessels not controlling vessels.  Take the “grey areas” and submit these things to the Word of God and the Spirit of The Lord and seek truth and revelations.  Anyone who desires a spontaneous answer is likely masking control, dominance and manipulation.  God created us with free will to worship, praise and love Him.  

 

Jesus said His people perish for a lack of knowledge.  He was referring to spiritual knowledge.  

 

27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

(1 John 2:27 KJV)

FISHERS OF MEN

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FISHERS OF MEN

 

 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea:for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him

(Matthew 4:18-20 KJV)

 

 

As I was reading the book of Ephesians earlier today the Lord put this scripture on my heart.  The Lord said go to the verse about my first disciples.  So as I turned to this scripture I began to think about being a fishermen and being called to be a “fisher of men”.

 

So I began to think about the equipment, environment and all that might be involved being a fisherman.  Perhaps the “fish” were of one kingdom and Simon Peter was from another, both living yet both different.  What are the similarities and differences of fish vs. man and what are the parallels?  

 

How incredible just a short verse of scripture can reveal so much of what Jesus may have been speaking, implying and bringing into light and truth.  There was no reluctance from Simon Peter or Andrew to follow Jesus and what strongholds might be holding us back today.  

 

So I began to think about the boat and how the boat might reflect our personal lives/temples or perhaps even the church. I reflected on how Jesus told Peter that He would build His church.  I reflected on the navigation of the boat and the environmental and worldly influences which affect the navigation such as storms, day light/darkness, human powered vs. sailing with the wind.  How our soul/free will might be the oars as our self-will and determination are often different than what The Lord desires vs. how the Spirit resembles the wind and power. 

 

I found myself in a deep communion with The Lord as he revealed so much about the current state of His people and His church.  I reflected on Jesus who is our is Shepard leading His sheep.  How the harvest of fish was food and necessary to survive to remain nourished and full.  I thought of how Jesus said those that hunger for righteousness would be filled through Him and how he said to Satan that man can not live on bread alone but by every word of God.  How the boat/vessel sustained the fisherman’s live but how through Jesus we have everlasting life. The boat could also be the “church” and how easily the church can be led astray through deceptions, traditions, human intellect and the environmental influences.

 

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven

(Matthew 16:18-19 KJV)

 

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

(John 3:16 KJV)

 

I recalled how Jesus was with the disciples in the boat during the storm and how Peter who was an experienced fisherman now was fearful of the very environment which once was his very way of life!  The bible tells about many wilderness experiences and the profound impact they have had. Some of the most powerful experiences come from wilderness experiences.  So if the water was Peter’s prior environment being away from it now revealed just how threatening and hostile the environment was.  Often when we are confused, troubled and burdened we need to go into the wilderness with The Lord seeking Him for clarity, sound mind, discernment and revelations.  We must not live in confusion as the Lord is of sound mind! Peter had once walked on water with the Lord!  I recalled how Lot and his family were told not to look back when they were saved and delivered from Sodom and Gomorrah and what happened when Lot’s wife looked back.  We can’t make Jesus just our Lord for a day it must be for life.

 

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

(Matthew 14:29 KJV)

 

 

When I came to the net I reflected on the veil over man’s eyes which was the dividing factor of discernment keeping what is good inside and what is evil outside; the net that took the fish/men out from their kingdom into another kingdom.  How the fish were unaware of the net/veil and how man is often unaware of the veil/net of entrapment.  I thought about the holes in the net representing attacks of the enemy getting at the harvest of the fish/man.  Perhaps these holes were even fish/men that were lead astray and exited the protection boundaries.  How Jesus said to seek and find the “one” who is astray.  

 

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

(Luke 15:4 KJV)

 

I began to think about the sea and how the view was so grand from stable footing on the shore.  Oh how wonderful and breathtaking the view is where the sea meets the sky in all it’s beauty; yet once you set sail life is so undeterminable, unpredictable and can be so perilous.   I thought about murky waters, pollution and contamination and how Jesus is a “pure stream”.  I recalled the many times I have heard pastors, preachers and the like tell us regarding speakers they endorse not to through out the baby with the bath water and to eat the meat and spit out the bones.  I have asked some people why they even put a clean baby back in the dirty water yet they just continue to contaminate the “pure stream” of Jesus Christ.  Have we forgotten the a little leaven is all that it takes!  


9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

(Galatians 5:9 KJV)

I thought about diving in the ocean and the deeper you go the less light and more darkness engulfs us and how the pressure on our lungs increases reducing our breath of life.

  I reflected on the false love and grace messages that are preached and how the righteousness of Christ is removed from love and how grace is no longer preached as the empowering presence of God to be an over comer and a pure, holy and righteous Christian.  How the enemy has reduced grace to tolerance, acceptance and complacency to embrace sin rather than repentance and transformation.

 

I reflected on all of the persecution on those who bring correction, reproof and edification contrary to the false preaching and deception that has veiled much of the body of Christ.  How the Lord’s children have gotten out of the boat but cling to a false life raft to preserve their earthly desires. I saw the church being more of a boat anchor docked in stagnant water vs. the move of The Spirit allowing the Lord to minister freely.  

 

So my prayer for you today is for you to seek the Lord in fullness, meekness and humbly with fullness of heart.  I pray you will be the vessel which calms the storm, becomes a “pure stream” and is sailing in the wind of The Spirit of everlasting life.  Pick up your anchor, set sail in your Spirit and don’t settle for life behind the veil.  

 

The storms of life are intensifying, deception is increasing and many are being led astray. Don’t be the lamp without oil, the unprepared bride or late for the marriage supper.  The table is set and judgment is at hand.  

 

 

 

PSALM 34

 

The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God

 

A Psalm of David When He Pretended Madness Before Abimelech, Who Drove Him Away, and He Departed.

 

1      I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2      My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3      Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

 

4      I sought the LORD, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

5      They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

6      This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

7      The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them.

 

8      Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9      Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

10      The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

 

11      Come, you children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

12      Who is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good?

13      Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit.

14      Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

 

15      The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.

16      The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

 

17      The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,

And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18      The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,

And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

 

19      Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20      He guards all his bones;

Not one of them is broken.

21      Evil shall slay the wicked,

And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.

22      The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,

And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

To the Point of Trust

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This article was written by a friend.

Mathew 8:20 “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”  Consider if we are to be like Him, where is our head to be laid? In our uncertain times and the chaos around us watching foretold events coming to pass we can know our Lord modeled rest in the storm.  Jesus modeled the life of a perfected overcomer, not swayed by the world, but confronting the world with perfect love manifested in Him and the heavenly work he modeled and performed. He performed a life of calling trusting His heavenly Father in all things. What is our response to trial and adversity to be?  Knowing His word is true; His word becomes our anchor and reference point for all thought and activity.  This however is not achieved of our own ability, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  The overcomer has no plan of His own, but is an expression of the Holy Spirit, doing what the Holy Spirit leads him in obedience having overcome the worldly ways to respond to life.  John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Because Jesus overcame the world, we have victory over our circumstances.  No circumstance is a surprise to the Lord, and He provides a way by the Holy Spirit to prevail.  Will we listen and believe what He said over what the world says?  We need to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Know Him to the point of trust. Know who you are in Christ to the point of trust.  Obey the Holy Spirit in trust, knowing how precious you are to the Lord. Remember the enemy wants you to believe you don’t have a heavenly father who loves you.  Jesus loves us in spite of us. Live from how He loves us, not from our ability to love ourselves.

His Bigger Plan

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In these days where troubles seem to be increasing we sometimes find ourselves entangled in a problem of our situation or need, wondering why we are where we are, why we are doing what we are doing and why our problem leaves us feeling overcome instead of overcoming.  During these occasions we indeed can stand still on His word and trust that His help is on the way.  When a horse is entangled in loose wire the best thing he can do is stand still until His help arrives. We might learn from that analogy.  When the horse fights to get away, the wire just seems to tighten around him securing him more tightly to the wire which entangles him.  Wire on the fence is easily seen and avoided, but the loose wire from old uses left among the weeds and concealed by years of growth is just waiting for a wrong step.

Most of our trials and tribulations come unexpectedly to us, but none of them are unexpected to the Lord who knows all from the beginning of all things.  Knowing He does know all, our reliance on Him will deliver us; His plan and design are foolproof.  Psalm 37 reveals His promises to those who are righteous.

PSALM 37 18-29

The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. 19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.20 But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.

21 The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. 22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, but those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. 25 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed. 27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. 28 For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell in it forever

Entanglement comes easily when we are mixing the processes, methods and ways of the world with the ways that Jesus teaches us. Making a worldly response to a problem or need without the leading of the Lord will not produce the outcome Jesus intends for us.  A common example might be using credit cards to get what we think we need instead of waiting on the divine provision of the Lord.  God knows if we indeed need or not, and He promises to meet our needs.  The real difficulty is when we are trying to mix worldly reasoning into what is supposed to be an inspired life.  Of course the Lord knows when we will become entangled.  He is waiting with wire cutters until we realize we are entangled and need to stand still.  The entanglement will just get tighter and tighter, even to the point of wounds, until the moment we quit fighting on our own and we decide to stand still to the point of trust and submit ourselves to Him and allow Him to cut us from our bondage.  You can imagine how difficult it would be to cut a horse from wire tangled around him while the horse is still fighting and kicking in the wire.  Consider when we are entangled in bondages, but enter His rest, understanding to stand still, only moving when and in the way He alone directs, letting Him cut away our bondages.  If we are fighting the entanglement of our own efforts we are so consumed by the bondage it draws all of our attention away from the only real source of Help, our Lord Jesus.  Our standing still in His presence, listening and obedience to the Holy Spirit will deliver us from our bondages.