Thu, Jul 26th - 8:54AM

¹ For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: ² But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. ³ For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: ⁴ But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. ⁵ For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: ⁶ Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

1 Thess 2:1-6 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters, as it was then, so is it now. God’s messengers of the good news still find opposition, intimidation, and abuse while proclaiming the Gospel. We must note how the apostles, refused to cease proclaiming the Gospel, but continued quite boldly in order that men would be saved. They were not looking to please men,  nor  to make money off of those who believed their message, and became children of God.

There  are circumstances where ministers have to work to support themselves, to avoid being seen as preaching the Gospel only to make money off of those converted.  This was one of the situations, where the apostles did not want to give ammunition to those opposed to the Gospel.

Although the apostles had the right to receive support from their converts, they put God first, and simply supported themselves, for the sake of the Gospel.

We can trust that God will provide when we put Him first in all things. I thank God for the many ministries that greatly bless their communities and even beyond, not just looking out for themselves but careful to meet the needs of their flocks and others.  It hurts the Gospel message, when selfish ministries feed only themselves, and never the flock. God said feed the flock, not fleece the flock.

Love

Sat, Jul 21st - 2:43PM

Dear friends of Jesus, I have said it once and will continue to say it:

There is neither a plan “B”,  multiple choices, substitutes, loopholes, nor any options or alternatives to the scriptures-, saints (G40 hagios) God’s word trumps absolutely. This may seem like a hard line to some, but God draws a hard line, and we are safe to remain in it by His power.

Saints (G40 hagios), one does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out  that evil people will try to find loopholes  in the scriptures to justify their evil deeds. Some will falsely teach Jas. 4:2 gives Christians a license to kill even other Christians:

² Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

James 4:2 (KJV)

However the scriptures clearly states that those who operate by killing and fighting to get what they want are in reality ENEMIES OF GOD:

³ Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. ⁴ Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever  therefore WILL be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Clearly James is laying down correction to God’s people not to be like the world, consumed with selfish desires and lusts to the point of killing and fighting to get them, for no one will get anything from God in this way. He further admonishes that God will not grant the prayers of those asking out of greed, and lustful desires, selfishly consumed/preoccupied.

James 4:3-4 (KJV)

This whole chapter teaches repentance from even remotely thinking of doing our own thing, our own way, to get anything from God.  God’s intolerance of people bent on practicing evil is clearly shown. God shows the correct mind set and behavior that is acceptable in God’s people.

James mentions the most common problems in prayer: not asking, asking for the wrong things, asking for the wrong reasons. Do you talk to God at all? Do you ask only to satisfy your desires? Do you seek God's approval for what you already plan to do? If you or anyone is determined to do what God is against without a shred of conscience or repentance, you do not belong to God’s kingdom.

Our prayers become acceptable when we allow God to change our desires so that they perfectly correspond to his will for us- see 1 John 3:21-22. 

¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

1 Peter 4:15 (KJV)

¹⁵ But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others [infringing on their rights]. 1 Peter 4:15 (Amp)

¹⁵ Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that (G3746 absolute negative-absolutely) NO murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 3:14-15 (KJV) God gives absolutely NO exceptions.

Beloveds we should shun false teachers perverting the word of God to instigate the practice of murder or any other evils. The true child of God, is not looking for loopholes to justify evil deeds; but is continually striving to do what is right and good out of love for God and others.

Love

Tue, Jul 17th - 11:50AM

In my early years as a Christian, beloveds, I thought the church leaders were supposed to teach and tell me everything about the Bible. I always enjoyed all solid scriptural teachings. However, many church leaders told, me and even warned me, as well as others, that while it is good to have godly teachers, I was supposed to go and read God’s word for myself, and to test all teachings against the correct understanding of the scriptures.

One way they put it is that anybody would think it quite strange to see a healthy adult, only drinking milk from a baby bottle.  All normal adults are expected at some point to acquire the skill to feed themselves. If a person lived only on milk they would arrive at adulthood weak and spindly, and poorly developed.

Brothers and sisters, little did I know until I opened the Bible, read from beginning to end, that I would experience the electrifying power, majesty, splendor, eternal love, and holiness of God. Most of all I cried with His disciples at Jesus’ cross. At the empty tomb, my heart too cried out in joy upon hearing the angel say “He is not here He is risen”.

In the upper room, brethren, my spirit quaked too in awe, as flaming tongues of fire sat on the 120 , announcing the out pouring, indwelling empowerment of the Holy Spirit on all believers.

The Bible freed me too from those church rituals/traditions, that detract from true worship. I began to come to church in obedience to Christ’s teachings.I learned to love other Christians and others. I came to truly appreciate those servant/leaders who do God’s work from the heart. I found joy in giving to honor and support them in their work. Most of all I know as a deeply loved possession of Lord Jesus, that He is mine-ours also, whom we love in the truth. It is through our triune God alone that we have both peace and rest in a world full of turmoil. Let us daily, I pray, continually trust, love, and minister to our great God in worship and prayer that He alone deserves.

Let us test all things by the correct understanding of scripture, let us elevate no man or woman above the word of  God. Let no saint (G40 hagios) honor heretics, but do every thing in our power to denounce them, and with hold from them every penny of God’s money.

Love

Serola

Comment (1)

Thu, Jul 12th - 6:19AM

^{9 But concerning brotherly love [for all other Christians], you have no need to have anyone write you, for you yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another.}

^{10 And indeed you already are [extending and displaying your love] to all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we beseech and earnestly exhort you, brethren, that you [f]excel [in this matter] more and more,}

^{Brothers and sisters, excelling in various sports, business and other arenas are extolled by many today, and these things have their temporal value.}

^{The saints (G40 hagios) are exhorted by God to excel more and more in love (agape). This love (agape) is more than an action it is God Himself. it embodies the totality of all that God eternally is in utter holiness. This alone has eternal value in the kingdom of God. I humbly assure you NO ONE will EVER enter His kingdom without it (agape).}

^{Only Christians have this love. Before I became a Christian I thought I knew what love was. After I became a child of God, I realized that the love I had as an unbeliever was just a figment of my imagination.  At the beginning of my redemption, I not only knew that Lord Jesus had saved me but that He loved me. Wow! I thought –so this is love, real love, true love. For the first time in my life I knew completeness, a wholeness that I had never known before. I praise our God for the multitudes of Christians He flooded my life with to help me grow more and more in His love.  I am thankful, that He enabled me to reciprocate His love back to Him and others.}

^{The times in my life when some situation pushes my fleshly buttons, and I want to act out of my flesh rather than my spirit, His love makes me desire to do things His way not mine. By doing things God’s way, I am showing Him that I love Him back. Our love for God can ONLY be shown by DOING things His way, and not ours. The greatest joy in my life comes from knowing that I have DONE the love I have for Him and others. A dear brother once said to me, and is so true that every difficulty is but a mere distraction that dissipates in the light of God’s love.}

^{10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.}

^{1 John 2:10 (KJV)}

^{Children of the day and of the light, I pray that each and every one of us will be encouraged, and provoked to grow in love more and more. God’s love will keep us from cracking, stumbling, or falling. God’s love will cause us to stand in His eternal truth without wavering. I have had people to tell me that I seem to “have it all together”.  The truth is I do not, but God does, and He is more than sufficient for every believer- our sole eternal standard. I thank God that I can rest secure in Him, and in Him only and NOTHING  else.GOD IS THE SOLE REASON FOR MY STABILITY, AS WELL AS ALL THE SAINTS (G40 HAGIOS). Only a fool will trust in him or herself. God’s way is the ONLY right way, and the Only right way is God’s way. Let us continually study His word, rightly understand it, BELIEVE AND  DO it out of love for Him who first loved us.}

^Love

^serola

 Brethren, I exhort you, excel in love (agape).

Sat, Jul 7th - 5:30AM

The Holy Spirit helps us to remain strong in faith, able to show God’s love to others and maintain our integrity even when we are being persecuted, slandered, or oppressed.

We can stand firm in our faith in the midst of trials, being strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

God’s people will not crumble under pressure because the Holy Spirit empowers us to persevere in love. Because of God’s love we know He will not allow us to be moved away from leaning, relying and trusting Him. Because we love Him, we know no trial of any sort, no affliction, persecution of any kind can shake us loose from His mighty hand.

God’s children are not hanging on by the skin of their teeth, trying not to fall. This is because the saints (G40 hagios) are not hanging on to God, but that God is hanging on to the saints (G40 hagios).

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ²⁸ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. ³⁰ I and my Father are one.

John 10:27-30 (KJV)

Love

Serola

Comment (0)

Tue, Jul 3rd - 2:31PM

Praise God who alone deserves all the worship, honor and praise, for All that He has done for us. I thank our God for His great faithfulness, and the fullness of His great Gospel towards us and all men. I pray we will consistently take time to look at love (agape) for our God is love.  Our God loves us, and wants- No commands that we love Him and one another.  God has told everyone completely about His love. I pray we all will continually refresh our minds and hearts, in understanding and living out His love, at every opportunity. God’s love is so powerful, so comforting, so filled with wisdom. His love casts out fear of facing whatever is necessary in this life. We must also love God’s truth without compromise.

¹⁰ Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law. Ro. 13:10 AMP

Brothers and sisters, It is an utterly evil person, who would preach that after a person is saved he or she can commit murders, and still go to heaven. It is not a safe place where such a perverse, wicked, and demonic doctrine is preached. How could anyone think it is fine to murder anyone, including the saints (G40 hagios). Many Christians  are warning about this false doctrine, and those who preach it. There are many false doctrines going about, but this one be warned, ranks as  extremely insidious as it promotes, approves validates, instigates, indoctrinates, activates, and inflames  its followers to see human life as so worthless, that murder is of no barrier to get into heaven,  COMMITTED AFTER A PERSON BECOMES A BELIEVER. Those who follow this murderous false doctrine, have no limit to the evil they will do. Christians must never be passive about standing against all false teachings. Those who know and refuse to take a stand are collusive participants.  Wrongful death suits, and suits of all kinds will result against those false brethren whose followers act out on these false beliefs. No doubt innocent children are being exposed to this hellish doctrine. Parents be on the alert to any unusual aggression in your children and teens.

 Let us continually pray that God, will stop the mouths of those wicked people promoting this  evil.  No person (regardless of his or her “office”) preaching this or any false doctrine should be allowed in the pulpit or the church. He or she is not just our enemy, but an enemy of God, fighting against our Lord and His Gospel.

Take heed brethren, to God’s word:

²⁵ And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. ²⁶ Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. ²⁷ For I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD.  ²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. ²⁹ For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. ³² And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Acts 20:25-32 (KJV)

²³ And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow me.

Luke 9:22-23 (KJV)

The good news beloved, is eternally true, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. The saints have nothing to fear, as God will establish, settle, and continually strengthen us in His love, for greater is He within us than he that is in the world.

Love