Beware Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

I was going to write on this very subject but saw an article in Christian Digest that said pretty much what I was going to write. So, enjoy this article by Pastor Jim!

By Jim Stockstill

February 20, 2020

To quote Chris Rosenbrough, “False teachers and false prophets have been and will always continue to be a very serious threat to the Church and to every baptized Christian. In today’s postmodern society it is not considered politically correct to speak this way because people wrongly believe that everyone who claims to be a Christian is a Christian, regardless of what they believe, teach, or confess. Yet, Yeshua warns us in his Sermon on the Mount about false teachers and false prophets, and describes them as wolves in sheep’s clothing and not as harmless people who should be ignored—or worse—tolerated.”¹

As directed by the Lord, for the last few years, I have not watched or listened to broadcast news nor read articles or publications from secular or Christian sources. Following the prophetic word, the Lord gave me on “warmed-up leftovers” and the false prophetic words that are so prevalent today, my son asked me to watch this short clip from Perry Stone. https://youtu.be/aH_f9eICGcs² According to Luke, “dad this guy sounds like the words you have been sharing on prophecy.” Personally, I do not know this minister but I agree with his sentiments as they are supported by Scripture (Yeshua HaMashiach, Apostle Paul, etc.) and similar to what Holy Spirit has been speaking to me.

As the Body of Christ moves into the year of “fire” https://trueconservativepundit.com/2020/02/01/its-a-minute-before-midnight/; Holy Spirit is grieved with the carnality and erroneous prophesies that are inundating many non-denominational Churches. We should heed what Yeshua said about prophets, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–20)

Paul went on to clarify this remarkable gift and how prophets/prophetesses are to operate (1 Corinthians 14:29-33) in home and/or church gatherings. The feel good “prophetic words” that please the flesh but do nothing for the spirit are loathsome and grieve Holy Spirit. Unvarnished prophetic truth from the Lord is intended for correction, instruction, guidance and confirmation – it is not intended to elevate the prophet or prophetess. Sadly, often to achieve an agenda, many shepherds welcome the feel-good, goose bump, everything is wonderful prophetic words that are soothing, pacifying, and often associated with prosperity. With much of what we hear is counterfeit, misleading, and often deceitful, their lofty words rarely give true Holy Spirit guidance for the individual or assembly and are commonly forgotten when the reality of tests, trials, and tribulation (John 16:33) confronts the believer within hours or days. On the other hand, are there true uplifting and encouraging prophetic words given today? – absolutely. Nevertheless, as the Israelites stoned, ridiculed, and mocked the prophets in the Old Testament, sheep today rarely hear (or want) prophesies as spoken by Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, and so many others.

With “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3), countless sheep prefer to hear about the goodness, compassion and mercy of our Heavenly Father but shy away from prophetic words that include; sin, conviction, repentance, and humility, or that nonbelievers must be “born-again” (John 3:7). The Lord is a loving Father and has all of those characteristics (Exodus 34:6) yet He desires (Psalms 51:6) that we follow His example and walk on the pathway of righteousness.

The primary difference between men like Jeremiah – a true prophet of God – and false prophets was their source of information. As we witness today, rather than speak the Word of the Lord, false prophets would deliver messages that originated in their own hearts and minds. “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hope. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord’” (Jeremiah 23:16). God will always distance Himself from false prophets: “I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied” (Jeremiah 23:21).

Another difference between true prophets and false prophets in the Bible is motivation. True prophets are motivated by loyalty to God above all else, whereas false prophets are motived by self-interest and a desire to be popular among the people (1 Kings 22:13–14). While Jeremiah foretold the grim truth of coming desolation upon Jerusalem, the false prophets promised peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). Naturally, the people of Judah, and many sheep today, preferred the pleasant messages of the false prophets. It is hard to imagine, but quoting Isaiah 30:10, the Israelites said, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies”.

Lastly, as we witness with endless “telethons”, tried and established messages of “robbing God” and schemes to fleece the sheep, often false prophets were hired for payment or spoke their messages for financial gain: “Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us’” (Micah 3:11).³

As we face dark days and the increasing manifestation of evil, may we pray Holy Spirit would give us discernment and to know those that are true shepherds and genuine sheep among us. May the Lord bless you with wisdom, guidance, and His divine protection. Selah

Blessings,

Pastor Jim

Your brother in Christ,

Ted

How To Know You're a Christian

I heard the story of a man who had been down on his luck and was desperate to make a little money. After a few other doors had closed to him, he had the idea of going to the city zoo, hoping to land a job feeding the animals. The manager at the zoo had no openings, but seeing how big this guy was, he offered him another position.

“Say,” he said, “our gorilla died the other day, and he was one of our most popular exhibits. If we got you a special gorilla suit, would you put it on and imitate him for a few days, until the new gorilla arrives? We’ll pay you well for it!”

The man was so desperate for work he agreed. In fact, after a few hours, he really got into the part—beating his chest and shaking the bars. Huge crowds were gathering. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all, he told himself.

But one day, he was swinging on a trapeze and lost his grip. His momentum carried him right over a tall chain-link fence into the middle of the lion’s den. Looking up at this intruder in his domain, the huge lion gave a ferocious roar. The crowds were mesmerized.

What was the gorilla to do? If he cried out for help, it would reveal his true identity.

He slowly walked backward away from the lion, hoping to climb the fence back into his own cage. The lion, however, with a hungry look on his face, began to stalk him step by step. Finally, in desperation, the gorilla hollered, “Help!”

Immediately the lion answered in an annoyed whisper, “Shut up, stupid! You’ll get us both fired!”

You see … things aren’t always as they appear!

There are many people today who claim to be Christians—who may even think they are Christians—but they are not.

What Does Being a Christian Really Mean?
It’s clear that many people really don’t have a grasp on what it means to be a believer. Do you? Are you one? Are you sure? What exactly is a Christian? Are you born that way? If not, how exactly do you become one?

Let’s look together at some clear biblical principles about what must happen as a result of someone truly finding Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior.

When you ask someone if he or she is Christian, one of the most common responses you get back is, “Of course I’m a Christian. I go to church, don’t I?” That’s like saying I am a golfer because I own a set of golf clubs. Or I’m a surfer because I own a pair of board shorts. Listen, to be a golfer you need to golf; to be a surfer you must surf; and to be a Christian you need to walk with God!

Don’t All Roads Lead to God?
Now you might ask, “Why is it so important that I be a Christian, anyway? Don’t all roads basically lead to God?” "That's what I have been told..."

Not according to Jesus!

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Only Jesus Christ—and no other—died on the cross for your sins. Only He promises you the hope of Heaven. Jesus essentially said the only way you can be certain your sins are forgiven and to know you will spend eternity in Heaven is by putting your complete trust in Him. And there will be tangible results to show you have done that.

Don’t misunderstand me, I am not suggesting that X amount of good works makes you a Christian. Far from it. In fact, all the good works on Earth will not save you.

The Bible says, “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5, NLT).

This, in fact, is one of the main things that sets apart Christianity from all other world religions. All other religious systems essentially say Do: “Do this and you will have good karma, or you will get to Heaven, or paradise, or nirvana.” In contrast, Jesus Christ says, “Done!” That’s what it meant when He cried out on the cross, saying, “It is finished.”

The transaction is complete. The price has been paid.

It’s What’s Inside That Counts
If you were to ask “the man on the street” what one must do to be a Christian, he would probably say: “Believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Believe in miracles, Heaven and hell. Go to church, pray, read the Bible and keep the Ten Commandments. And—oh yeah—probably be baptized. And start living a good life.”

I am going to make a statement that may be shocking to you: You can do all those things and not necessarily be a Christian! Don’t get me wrong; if you are a true Christian you should do all of those things. You see, the outward change is often without the inward. However, the inward change is never without the outward.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the elements of this “outward-inward” phenomenon.

A person may pray and still not be a Christian.

Most of us pray when we’re in trouble. But when the crisis blows over, what then? God said of Israel, “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me” (Isaiah 29:13).

You may pray with all the passion and regularity in the world, but if you have not admitted to God that you are a sinner, lost without Him; if you have not sought His forgiveness and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, it won’t do you any good. The psalmist wrote: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18, KJV).

A person may make visible changes in life and still not be a Christian.

People will “get converted” to get what they want. A non-Christian guy asks an attractive and virtuous Christian girl out on a date. But she turns him down, saying, “Sorry, I only date Christians.”

Suddenly, the nonbeliever is saying, “Oh … praise God! I’m really into this Christian thing, too.” Probably not! And it will only be a matter of time before the mask falls off and his true motives are revealed.

You can live a good life, be religious and even keep the Ten Commandments to the best of your ability and still not be a Christian.

Think for a moment of the account of the Rich Young Ruler in the Gospels. One of the accounts tells us that he came to Jesus and said, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

Jesus told him, “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” And then the Lord told him which ones.

The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” (See Matthew 19:16–21.)

Look how far this earnest young man had gone: He not only heard the commands of God, he kept them. And he had done it since childhood!

But he didn’t go far enough—he stopped short of following Jesus.

The story concludes with the young man turning his back on the Lord and walking away sadly. And there is no record that he ever came back to Jesus.

So let’s summarize. The outward without the inward is only an empty shell. You can pray, believe in miracles, hear the Gospel and even believe in its truth, and still not be a Christian. You can live an exemplary life, be religious and keep the commandments of God from earliest memory and still not be a Christian. You can be in church with other believers, hear the same message, receive communion, and even believe that Jesus is coming back—and still not be a Christian.

Who Then Is a Christian?
The real question before us is one that man has been asking for years. The Philippian jailer put it so clearly when he cried out, “What must I do to be saved?”

Paul’s response was significant, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Fine. But what does “believing” actually mean? The Bible says that even the demons from hell believe, and tremble at what they know very well to be true (James 2:19). Here are the essential elements of the Good News that we must believe and receive to become a born-again child of God:

Realize You Are a Sinner
Romans 3:23 tells us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In other words, sin has infiltrated the human race, and not one of us has escaped its effects.

The Bible says that prior to coming to faith, we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). The Greek word used here for “sins” is hamartias— “to miss the mark.” It was a term used in archery. This phrase came to represent missing or falling short of any goal, standard or purpose.

No human being in his or her own strength has hit that mark. Some of us may miss the bull’s eye farther than others, but not one of us has hit it.

Why? Because God’s “mark” is absolute, total, complete, flawless perfection! Jesus said, “Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Repent of Your Sins
To repent means to “change” or to “turn.” It’s like driving down the highway, pulling a U-turn and heading the other direction. More than simply being sorry, it is a word of action. Many people feel remorse for their sin but never truly repent. Remorse is being sorry; repentance is being sorry enough to stop.

In the story of the Prodigal Son, the young man knew he was wrong. But nothing changed until he acted on that knowledge, crawled out of the pigpen and started down the road toward his father and home. He had a change of mind that resulted in a change of direction.

Believe in and Receive Jesus Christ Into Your Life
The Bible says, “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

Jesus said, “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” (John 3:16).

This is because you realize that Jesus Christ is the very Son of God. He is the One who loves you so much that He died on a cross for you 2,000 years ago to pay the penalty for your sin, and then rose from the dead three days later. You need to believe that, and ask Him into your life.

Do it Now!
Good intentions are not enough. Agreeing with what I have said here is not enough. You must admit you are a sinner, repent of that sin, and put your FAITH in Christ.

The prodigal son could have repeated the words, “I am no longer worthy” over and over. He could have said it the rest of his life and still remained in the far country, separated from his father and home.

But he did more than repeat those words. He acted on them. He got up and started walking toward his father. You must do the same. He had to put his FAITH in his father's love for him. He knew what he was but he also knew what he had learned!

When? The Bible says, “Now is the day of salvation.” As with the prodigal, that first step might be a difficult one to make. But how glad he was when he felt his father’s arms around him and heard the words, “Welcome home.” Are you now perfect...not humanly but through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God, the Father, sees you as perfect...Enter into the joy of the Lord!

By Pastor Greg Laurie is senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, in Riverside, Calif., and featured speaker for Harvest Crusades.

Knowing Jesus is the true beginning of wisdom,
Ted

Sin Has No Claim Over Me

I have never posted a poem before but this one is special! It speaks of life and our desire for worldly dreams, and then it speaks of what really matters because often times those worldly dreams lead to imprisonment...oh not behind bars necessarily but a shackling of the soul. We are going to leave this world one day and as for me I want to hear the words from Jesus saying "Well done-good and faithful servant!" Don't laugh, everyone serves someone or something no one is truly the captain of their soul-not even the richest man! Here is Greg Holt's poem:

The World spoke

Its voice a lure

It drew me in

To sin for sure

I walked alone

My pain a shadow

Shackled by sin

A grave to follow

Forsaken and lost

You claimed me at great cost

Your mercy You gave

Your grace it healed me

My chains are broken

The shackles of sin opened

The Son has set me free

Sin has no claim over me

As I fall to my knees

I praise the One

Who gave it all for me

I have tasted

I have seen

You are good

Worthy of praise

We worship You

Worthy of sacrifice

We give our all to You

My chains are broken

The shackles of sin opened

The Son has set me free

Sin has no claim over me

Your forgiveness is a balm

Your love it heals me

Free at last

From the chains that bound me

Washed in the blood of the Lamb

Forgiven, clean, and free

The shackles have fallen away

Free at last

Free to be

As I was meant to be

Free at last

From a broken past

My chains are broken

The shackles of sin opened

The Son has set me free

Sin has no claim over me

by Greg Holt

Knowing Jesus is truly the beginning of wisdom!

Ted

Watch Your Heart!

by Pastor Greg Laurie

“Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.”

—Hebrews 3:12

Sometimes some of the worst sinners are people raised in Christian homes, because they rebel against it. On the other hand, sometimes some of the greatest saints come from Christian homes. It just depends on the person and what they are willing to do to be the best they can be as a person submitted to Jesus Christ.

We love to put all the blame on the parents. But we have a say about the direction we take in life, regardless of how we were raised (or not raised). In reality, we need to have our own faith. We can’t live off the faith of someone else. We need our own relationship with Jesus Christ.

Actually, one of the easiest places our hearts can become hardened to the gospel is in the church. As we hear the truth of the gospel, as we hear the truth of God’s Word, we decide whether we’ll be responsive or resistant to it.

The same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay. Let’s take the pharaoh of Egypt for example. Moses went to him and demanded that he release the Hebrews from captivity. Then Pharaoh watched miracle after miracle that Moses performed by the power of God. Yet Pharaoh hardened his heart again and again.

But then we read that the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart. Is it a contradiction? No, it’s two sides of the same coin. Pharaoh was the one who decided to harden his heart in the presence of God. We could translate that word hardened as “strengthened.” In other words, the Lord strengthened Pharaoh in the decision he already made. God simply confirmed Pharaoh in his choice.

Pharaoh dedicated himself to evil in direct opposition to God’s redemptive plan. He chose evil; God did not choose it for him. In fact, God offered him opportunity after opportunity to repent, but he decided not to.

Yes, hearts can become hard, even in church. So be careful.

This was too good to pass up. Why? Because if I am being honest, it happened to me and it can happen to you. None of us like knowing we can be wrong but the most liberating thing about Christianity is that we admit our wrong, recognize it for what it is, confess that wrong to the Lord and be willing to change! By the way, sometimes it may mean going to those we have harmed and ask for their forgiveness.

Knowing Jesus is the beginning of true wisdom!

See you next blog,
Ted

Create In Me A Clean Heart O God!

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10(NASB)

The hardest thing to do in today's political climate is ask the Lord to do a miracle in me. We need to remember not to allow hate to creep into our hearts for the corruptness of the other side. We need to remember when confronted with those who want to cause great strife that we are called to a higher standard. It truly is the hardest thing to do!

The corrupted gene-pool from our first sinning parents has been passed down the generations of humankind for six-thousand long years, resulting in defilement, disease, and death. No one is exempt from the death-sentence of sin, for ALL have sinned. ALL have fallen short of God's glory and ALL need a Saviour.

Trying to mend the old creation in Adam is man's futile pursuit, but God will have no dealings with the sordid deeds of sinful man, nor the scarlet sin-nature that permeates every cell of our fallen souls. We were conceived by sinful parents and were born dead in trespasses and sins. The legacy of everyone is that we were born in sin, and at enmity with God.

The essence of pure humanity was breathed into the first Adam by the Lord God Almighty, and man became a living being. God saw all He had made was very good. But Adam's whole nature became twisted and perverted due to sin and death, which entered into the equation of the entire gene-pool of humanity.

Although created in God's image, the progeny of Adam are all begotten in his fallen state, which is riddled with sin and which ends in death. As part of the human race, we are imputed with Adam's sin. Having been born into the human race, we have inherited a fallen sin nature from our fathers. Although we know what is good - we are incapable of doing good in our own strength, and although we know what is evil, we are incapable of avoiding it.

It is only by the redeeming blood of the second Man, (the last-Adam), that we can be washed clean by the cleansing power of the pure water of God's Word. It is only through saving faith in the gospel of Christ that man can be made a new creature and be raised into newness of life.

It is only by trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus that we can be reborn as a new-creation in Him, with a clean heart. It is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our identification with HIM that we can be declared righteous by God and have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us.

It was the heart-cry of David to have his heart washed clean of sin, for he recognised the stained condition of his fallen soul. 'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." he cried out. "Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me."

David had sinned against the Lord for his own selfish gain and to gratify his own inner lusts. Because of his sin, David's delightful fellowship with God had been severed. His joy in the Lord had been lost and his heart-conscience was deeply convicted. David was acutely aware of the evil he had done. He became increasingly conscious of his rebellious actions... for the sins he committed were ever before his eyes. 

Although the bitter fruit of his sin-nature was murder and adultery, David realised that his ungodly acts were sins against the Lord, which had deeply grieved the Spirit of God. "Against You Lord, and You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight", was David's bitter lament.

David knew the wrong he was committing when he lusted after another man's wife and stained his hands with her husband's blood, in an attempt to hide his adultery. David's soul had been blackened with sin and although he refused to immediately acknowledge his wrongdoing before God, his conscience refused to allow him to forget, until he cried out to God - admitting his sin and praying for a purified heart and a right spirit within.

Unlike David and other Old Testament saints, we never need fear that the Holy Spirit will depart from us, for since the cross He takes up permanent residence within each born-again believer. However, like David, we can resist the Spirit, quench the Spirit or even grieve the Spirit of God, which not only causes our fellowship with the Father to be broken but can suppress our joy and steal the perfect peace of God within.

But like David, if we confess our sin God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, purify our heart, renew a steadfast spirit within and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Like David... our insatiable cry should be, purify my heart O Lord. Cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and renew a godly spirit within me.

May we choose the good and eschew the evil so that our new, born-again-life in Christ (our new-nature in Him) may be increasingly conformed into the image and likeness of the lovely Lord Jesus - until it is no longer I that live (my old sin-nature in Adam) but Christ (the new-life I have in Him) that lives in me - ever prompting me towards Christ-likeness.

My Prayer

Thank You, Father, that in Your wisdom You do not renew and restore the old fallen sin-nature in Adam, but transform the new, born-again life I received, through faith in Christ. Thank You for the lessons we can learn from biblical saints like David, who was cleansed of his sin, when he confessed his faults and cried out to You. Thank You for the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit, and I pray that You would point out all the areas in my life that grieve You or quench Your ongoing work within. Create in ME a clean heart I pray and renew a steadfast spirit within me... and may Christ be seen in me as I submit to Your Spirit's leading and do only those things I hear from Him. In Christ's name, I pray, AMEN.

Knowing Jesus is the beginning of wisdom!

Your brother in Christ,

Ted

I HAVE REDEEMED YOU!

I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins are like mist;

return to me, for I have redeemed you.

 Isaiah 44:22

Pay attention to THE INSTRUCTIVE PICTURE: Our sins are like a cloud. As clouds appear in many shapes and shades, so do our transgressions. As clouds obscure the light of the sun and darken the landscape below, so do our sins hide from us the light of Jehovah's face and cause us to sit in the shadow of death. They are earthborn things and arise from the miry places of our lives; and when they collect and their measure is full, they threaten us with storm and tempest. Sadly, unlike clouds, our sins yield us no genial showers but rather threaten to deluge us with a fiery flood of destruction. How can it be fair weather when the dark clouds of sin remain within our souls?

Let our happy gaze ponder THE NOTABLE ACT of divine mercy—"blotted out." God Himself appears upon the scene and in divine generosity, instead of manifesting His anger, reveals His grace. He at once and forever effectually removes the mischief, not by blowing away the cloud, but by blotting it out from existence once and for all. Against the justified man no sin remains; the great transaction of the cross has eternally removed his transgressions from him. On Calvary's summit the great deed, by which the sin of all the chosen was forever put away, was completely and effectually performed.

Practically let us obey THE GRACIOUS COMMAND: "Return to me." Why should pardoned sinners live at a distance from their God? If all of our sins have been forgiven, let no legal fear hold us back from the boldest access to our Lord. Let backslidings be bemoaned, but let us not persevere in them. Let us, in the power of the Holy Spirit, work strenuously to return to intimate communion with the Lord. O Lord, restore us now, tonight!

The beginning of WISDOM is KNOWING JESUS!

Ted

the above by Truth For Life!

What Fear Are You Facing Right Now?

You drew near when I called on You; You said, "Do not fear!"

Lamentations 3:57(NASB)

How powerful, comforting and heart-warning are these words written by Jeremiah, the weeping prophet of Israel, who grieved over the shocking demise of Jerusalem and lamented over the ruins of David's golden city. "You drew near when I called on You," Jeremiah declared. "You said, "Do not fear - Do not be afraid!"

The invisible, omnipresent God is never far from any one of us, but His presence ofttimes seems distant, during times of deep distress and anguish of heart. But God in His wisdom often waits for His distressed children to recognise that their deepest heart-need is the Lord Himself, and that their severe lack, can only be satisfied in Him - as they come to Him in childlike dependence and trusting faith.

God in His grace often uses those times of darkness and distress to teach us important lessons of His grace, so that as we call out to Him for help and strength, we discover Him to be our great Support, our merciful Provider, the Rock on which we stand and our holy, heavenly Comforter.

God knows that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He knows that in our helpless state, His grace is more than sufficient for the need of the hour, for His strength is perfected in our insufficiency. God knows that His grace is more than adequate to meet all our needs, according to His riches in glory... and He wants us to know this truth and to reckon it as fact, in the inner recesses of our being.

Often, in His great wisdom, He will bring us to the end of ourselves, so that we discover that He alone is our refuge and strength. Over and again, in His infinite grace and everlasting love, we find Him to be our ever-present Helper in difficult days and times of trouble.

Though God, at times, may wait for us to call out to Him, He is neither slow to hear the cries of the disconsolate soul - nor is He slack in responding to the pleading cries of the breaking heart - for the very day that Jeremiah called out to the Lord for help, was the very time the Lord responded with those great words of comfort...from the God of all comforts - "Fear Not - I will be with you, to help you, and deliver you"

Jeremiah called out to the Lord on many occasions. His prophetic word was ridiculed, his prophetic writings were burned. He was flung into a deep, dry, dirty well and he watched the beloved city of David being ransacked by the marauding Babylonians, and the holy Temple of God being desecrated and burned with fire.

But when Jeremiah cried out to the Lord... the Lord heard his cry. When waters flooded over his head, and he thought he was going to die... the Lord came to his rescue. When Jeremiah called on the name of Yahweh, from the depths of the pit, and cried to God for relief and consolation... God did not ignore his pleading call for relief, and Jeremiah was able to confess.."You drew near when I called on You.. You said, "Do not fear!"

Jeremiah was helpless and there was no one to turn to, except the Lord. But God brought him to the place of helplessness, so that he would cry out to HIM, and the Lord would hear and answer. And Jeremiah's heart was encouraged and his faith was strengthened.

The prayer of helplessness is the simple sigh of the living soul, which is breathed into the heart of the living God. The whispered plea of dependent helplessness, rejoices the heart of God, and His immediate response is, fear not, my child, I created you and purchased you - I died for you and I love you.

When the eyes of the heart cling to the Lord in deep distress and childlike dependence, our muted voice is translated into an inner groan of the soul, and God draws near... and He hears and responds to every heart-cry of His children, with His gracious words of comfort - FEAR NOT.

My Prayer

Help me Lord, in my deep distress, in Jesus' name, AMEN.
"Fear Not - I will be with you, to help you, and deliver you"

The beginning of wisdom is KNOWING JESUS!

Your brother in Christ,

Ted

My Heart's Cry!

Because you are sons(and daughters), God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Galatians 4:6(NASB)

What a wonder of divine love and grace that we, who were once at enmity with God, have been so favoured by the Father, that we should be called 'sons', "and because we are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

The 'birth certificate' that confirms this amazing truth is the Person of the Holy Spirit, living in the heart of all who believe. It is He Who bears inner witness that we are sons of God. It is the Holy Spirit of God's own dear Son, Who has been sent into our heart, Who communes with us and cries affectionately.. Abba! Father!,

The privilege of the permanently, indwelling Holy Spirit began at Pentecost. He takes up residence in the body of every born-again believer, the moment he trusts in Christ. His presence within our heart, is both the guarantee and proof that we have been made 'sons of God' and joint-heirs with Christ.

Paul had been explaining to the Galatians... that following the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the status of believers changed from that of an underage child, with a promise of a future inheritance... to a mature son, who has received his inheritance from his father - and the Holy Spirit has been sent into our heart, as the confirmation of this glorious truth.

Before the cross, believers were looking forward with expectation to a promise that was yet to come. The Law that governed their lives was etched on stone tablets, that only permitted a distant, external relationship with God, which was carried out in an earthly Temple, through a human mediator - either a prophet or priest appointed by God.

Following Christ's ascension into heaven, it is grace that governs our lives. It is not the Law that was written on stone, that determines how we should live. It is the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that presides in our hearts. It is the indwelling Spirit of His Son in our heart Who communes with us and guides us into all truth. 

Paul describes those living under the Law as underage children, who had not yet achieved their maturity nor received their promised inheritance. This included all pre-cross believers, like Elijah, Daniel, Isaiah, and John the Baptist. However, those who are living under grace have a new, living, ongoing and intimate relationship with the Father, through the indwelling Spirit. This includes post-cross believers like Peter, James, and John - it includes Christians like you and me.  The proof of sonship is the permanently, indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ - without Whom we would tremble as we approach the Father, but Who cries in our heart - Abba, Father.

While pre-cross believers lived under the Mosaic Law, which governed their external relationship with the Father and placed many limitations on their relationship with Him... post-cross Christians are led by the indwelling Spirit. We are governed by a higher law - a heavenly Law - a limitless law - the Spirit’s Law of life in Christ Jesus, which set us all free from the limited law of sin and of death, that condemns every sinner. We are motivated by a law that is not limited by the flesh but one that is empowered by the Spirit of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

What incredible assurance to know that we are accepted by God - in Christ and made sons, through the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He guides us into all truth through His word and empowers us with His sufficient strength. What amazing love that He should pour out the wrath that we so justly deserve upon His dearly Beloved Son. He was despised, rejected and cruelly crucified, on our account. He died to satisfy God's righteous justice. His blood paid the price for sin, so that we who believe, could be elevated into a position of son-ship and be awarded joint heir-ship with Christ - by grace through faith.

Though once children of wrath and disobedience, all who have trusted Christ for Salvation have been positioned in Him, as children of His love. And by His grace, we have been given the additional gift, and guarantee, of God's indwelling Holy Spirit, Who took up permanent residence within our hearts, the moment that we trusted in Christ for Salvation.

No name or title for the eternal, almighty Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth, could be more profoundly personal nor intensely intimate than that of, Abba - dearly loved Father. Such language of sweet endearment is reserved for the closest of unions, and such was the life experience of the Lord Jesus.. and He is our pattern for life. He is our example to follow.

Throughout His earthly life, Jesus showed us how to maintain close, adult fellowship with the Father, and throughout our earthly walk we are to walk as Christ walked and to live as Christ lived - in sweet, mature communion, with Abba, our dearly loved Father.

Jesus set aside His glory for a season, and through humble, prayerful obedience, was enlivened, empowered and animated by the same Holy Spirit of the Father, Who dwells in us. Throughout His life, Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing and only said what His Father told Him - and we are to pattern our life on His life. Like Him, we will be strengthened and enlivened through His Spirit through the same, humble, prayerful obedience.

It is not trying to copy what Jesus did that gives us this intimacy, but living as Christ lived. It is living in mature, intimate fellowship with the Father. For it is as we maintain spirit to Spirit communion - the human spirit with Christ's Spirit - through the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit, that our hearts can whisper in steadfast prayer, joyful praise and intimate communion - Abba, my Father.

Addendum:

The world is divided and divisive because Satan is still the prince and power of the air. Still we have a hope that burns within us because God the Son now has the keys to death and hell! We are no longer condemned in Christ the Bible says, not because we are so wonderful-we all have bad days, but because of HIM! What HE accomplished on that cross has given us not only hope but a PROMISE of redemption. We are forever sealed by the Holy Spirit of God unto the Day of Redemption. Believer, trust in what your spirit cries out for that we can say "Abba, Father" with an honest voice that awaits eternity with Him!

My Prayer

Abba, my loving Father, I realize I am standing on the holiest of ground. Thank You for doing such great things for me. I desire to develop the depth of fellowship with You that is demonstrated through the life of Jesus, and pray that through the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit, my human spirit and soul will submit in humble obedience to His guidance - so that my inner spirit may commune with You, in godly intimacy... through Your Holy Spirit, this I ask in Jesus' name. AMEN.

Knowing Jesus is the beginning of wisdom!

See you next blog,

Ted

HE Will Establish You

One day you wake up in agony...not because of anything physically painful. You are stymied, not because of anything that has happened to your family, your job, or anything surrounding you. You can't sleep...why? What is wrong with me you ask? Suddenly just about everything you have ever done wrong comes before you like a movie. No, you're not dying you are wondering why God ever chose you to be his child! I can't possibly be a Christian I'm still sinning...I can't think of a day that goes by that I don't do, say, or think something I know is wrong according to His word...

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3(NASB)

How often the 'BUTS' of the Bible stand in stark contrast between 1) the faithfulness of God and His great goodness, and 2) the trite unbelief of His children and their sinfulness. We praise God for the many, eternal 'BUTs' in the Bible. And we rejoice for the glorious 'BUT' in this verse, where we read: BUT the Lord is faithful, Who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one. 

Paul had just been teaching about the revealing of the coming man of lawlessness and the deception that was to be poured out on humankind. He had reminded them that this evil person would oppose all that is good and would exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship - even to entering God’s sanctuary and proclaiming himself to be God.

It was necessary for Paul to teach these believers that lawlessness was already in the world and that the enemy of our soul seeks our ruination. BUT he joyfully reminds us that God is greater. GOD is faithful, and He has promised to establish us in the faith and guard us against the evil one.

We serve a good and faithful God, Who has promised to work His good work in the lives of all His children and establish each one in every good work and word. But we must be aware that we have a powerful enemy, who desires our downfall and seeks to shipwreck our faith. No wonder Paul was keen to remind this little group of believers that God is faithful to guard us against the evil one... that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan.

Earlier in the chapter, Paul had spoken of the mystery of lawlessness, which was already at work in the world, in those early days of the Church. He had also taught about the restraining power that was suppressing wickedness and keeping evil from reaching its fullness, and Paul encouraged his listeners to hold fast in their faith and stand firm in the truth of the gospel, because the days are evil. We all need to understand that humanity's wickedness and the wiles of Satan will continue to batter the saints OF God throughout this world - until Christ comes to set up His kingdom and puts all enemies under His feet. 

Humankind cannot be trusted, for man is disposed towards satanic perverseness and indifference to God. The faithfulness of God streams throughout the pages of Scripture, as seen in His many acts of mercy; His multitudinous promises of grace; His wonderful words of warning and His amazing gift of salvation. Conversely, the infidelity of man towards his Maker is a warning bell that tolls throughout scripture. It is a blaring gong that has resounded down through time, which contrasts the goodness of God with the perversity of man.

Man may be faithless and false - BUT God is faithful despite our inconsistencies. And He expands this promise of grace even further, for the Lord pledged to strengthen and establish His children in the truth of His Word - for we are HIS. In His grace, HE works in us and through us, for His good purpose. God knew us before the foundation of the world. He knows the number of hairs on our head and keeps our tears in His bottle.

And those whom God predestined, called and chose, He undertakes to justify and to sanctify and to glorify. And He is faithful to do everything that He has said, for our dependable God is Faithful and True. Yet, once again, this amazing 'BUT' subdivides into a further token of His love towards us, for He vows to keep His children from the evil of sin and the ploys of the evil one, who seeks to sift us as wheat and to pollute our witness.

Sin and death and Satan's snares have no power over us, for the enemy was defeated at Calvary and God will not allow us to be tested above that which we are able to bear - but will provide us with an escape route, from all the worldly principles and fleshly practices that are dangled before us as bait, to draw us back into the evil, world system.

God knows our weakness, and He understands that our faith may fail, BUT the Lord is faithful, Who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one.

My Prayer

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithful promises.. to strengthen, establish and protect me, even when my faith falters and I prove faithless and false to You. Keep me ever mindful of this truth and guide me in the choices I must make today. Use me as an instrument of Your grace and keep me from all evil, so that I may grow in grace and in a knowledge of You, and in my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ .. in Whose name I pray, AMEN.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, remember this...we are always a work under construction. Some have gone further with God than others but His love and mercy endures long, but we must be open to change. You're gonna be fine, rest in the Lord and trust in his ability to establish you in your faith!

Knowing Jesus is the beginning of wisdom!

See you next blog,

Ted