Is Your Heart Haughty

It's simple, God in His wisdom gives ample warning about pride in the wrong things and in the wrong ways. Narcissistic are those who feel superior to others. God has a plan to bring you down. It won't be pretty and it won't be fun. Save yourself a lot of grief and repent now before it is too late. We are seeing it play out on the political stage right now. The most prideful are those who put themselves above everyone else and it will be remembered. The price is high and costly. Alistair Begg has a whole series, this is only a remnant of that series. By the way, women can be Narcissist too!

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty.

Proverbs 18:12

It is an old and common saying that "coming events cast their shadows before them." The wise man teaches us that a haughty heart is the precursor of evil. Pride is as clearly the sign of destruction as the change of mercury in the barometer is the sign of rain, and far more infallibly so than that. When men have ridden the high horse, destruction has always overtaken them.

Let David's aching heart show that there is an eclipse of a man's glory when he dotes upon his own greatness (2 Samuel 24:10). Observe Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty builder of Babylon, creeping on the earth, devouring grass like a beast, his nails grown like the bird's claws, and his hair like eagle's feathers (Daniel 4:33). Pride made the boaster a beast, as once before it made an angel a devil. God hates high looks and never fails to bring them down. All the arrows of God are aimed at proud hearts.

O Christian, is your heart haughty this evening? For pride can get into the Christian's heart as well as into the sinner's; it can delude him into dreaming that he is "rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing."1 Are you glorying in your graces or your talents? Are you proud of yourself and your spiritual experiences?

Be careful, reader—there is a destruction coming to you also. Your flaunting poppies of self-conceit will be pulled up by the roots, your mushrooming graces will wither in the burning heat, and your self-sufficiency will become as straw for the dunghill. If we forget to live at the foot of the cross in deepest lowliness of spirit, God will not forget to discipline us for our good. A destruction will come to you, O unduly exalted believer, the destruction of your joys and of your comforts, although there can be no destruction of your soul. Therefore, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."2

1) Revelation 3:17
2) 1 Corinthians 1:31

Knowing Jesus is the true beginning of wisdom,

Ted

I AM YOURS AND YOU ARE MINE

Okay I admit I copied this too! But it is worth hearing because often times we don't feel close to the Lord the way we should. We might even wonder if we are truly His! David committed some foul sins that could send anyone to hell. However what made David different was that he was quick to repent. He actually learned from his sins! The New Testament records that God considered Abraham and David a friend! Two very different men but were they? Read about them and see for yourself:

I am Yours and You are Mine

Say to my soul,
'I am your salvation!'

Psalm 35:3

What does this sweet prayer teach me? It shall be my evening's petition; but first let it grant me an instructive meditation.

The text informs me first of all that David had his doubts; for why should he pray, "Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation'" if he were not sometimes exercised with doubts and fears? Let me, then, be encouraged that I am not the only saint who has to face such faltering faith. If David doubted, I need not conclude that I am not a Christian because I have doubts.

The text reminds me that David was not content while he had doubts and fears, but he proceeded directly to the mercy-seat to pray for assurance, for he valued it as much as gold. I too must work to foster a continual sense of being accepted in the Beloved and must have no joy when His love is not shed abroad in my soul. When my Bridegroom is gone, my soul must long for Him.

I learn also that David knew where to obtain full assurance. He went to his God in prayer, crying, "Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'" I need to be often alone with God if I am to enjoy a clear sense of Jesus' love. When my prayers cease, my eye of faith will grow dim. Much in prayer, much in heaven; slow in prayer, slow in progress.

I notice that David would not be satisfied unless his assurance had a divine source. "Say to my soul . . ." Lord, speak to me! Nothing less than a divine testimony in the soul will ever content the true Christian.

Moreover, David could not rest unless his assurance had a vivid personality about it. "Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'" Lord, if You said this to all the saints, it means little unless You should say it to me. Lord, I have sinned; I do not deserve Your smile; I scarcely dare to ask for it. But oh, say to my soul, even to my soul, "I am your salvation." Let me have a present, personal, infallible, indisputable sense that I am Yours and that You are mine.

Pastor Alistair Begg

Knowing Jesus is the true beginning of wisdom!

Ted

Cubic Zirconia Christianity

Is there any believer in this world that does not ever commit sin? NO! Jesus, was the only sinless one. Otherwise He could not have delivered us as a sacrifice before the Father for our sin. However, we are to be a repentant people for our sins and hate sin for what it does to all of us. Unfortunately there are frauds within the Christian community that choose to lead us in the wrong direction. How can I tell a real Christian from a fraud...Jesus said by their fruits ye shall know them. Become a very careful fruit inspector Christians! I saw this article that I thought was too good to pass up. Consider it a warning. Read Galatians 5:22-23 to find out what a fruit inspector should be looking for in a believer.

By Dr. Donald Whitchard

“Just as there are fake diamonds out in the world, there are those that have been hurt and deceived by what I refer to as ‘cubic zirconia’ people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but when put to the test, their walk and talk are just so much spiritual costume jewelry, fit for the trash bin in the end.”

“Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”

• Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)

“He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: “This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

• Mark 7:6 (NKJV)

“But why do you call me, “Lord, Lord”, and not do the things which I say?”

• Luke 6:46 (NKJV)

“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

• Titus 1:16 (NKJV)

Charles Spurgeon, the great servant of Christ in 19^th century England, was reported to have said that if the LORD calls you to preach His Word, don’t stoop to become a king. In other words, he believed that once a man received a call to preach, it was to be his main area of service to the Lord Jesus for all of his life. Certainly this was the case for Mr. Spurgeon and the thousands of men who have felt God’s pull upon their hearts and lives to enter full-time vocational ministry and all that goes with it. I believed shortly after my conversion and calling to service that this was to be my lot in life according to His will and plan for me. What I believed, however, and what was given to me during my years of service, showed me that God’s call for people to be saved extended beyond the confines of a church, and that there was a huge mission field that a lot of folks would not have thought of unless God opened their eyes to see the potential.

Part of my service to Christ involved what some believers would define as “secular” work. However, the reformer John Calvin taught that every Christian’s occupation and skill was their “ministry” because honest work was a way of serving God and being biblically sound.

Scripture commends physical work (Genesis 2:15; 3:19; Exodus 20:9; Leviticus 23:3; Psalm 104:23; Proverbs 13:11; 14:23; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:12). We will be given work responsibilities in the millennial kingdom when the Lord Jesus comes back to rule and reign after He has rid the world of the effects of evil and the deception of the devil (Luke 12:37; John 14:1-3; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 20:6, 21:1-7). Whatever we do or say as a believer is to be done for the glory of God.

Part of my personal work history has been in the field of fine jewelry. For several years I was a sales representative of a major jewelry chain and was to manage the store in which I worked until my diagnosis of bipolar disorder made it impossible to carry on with that responsibility. Part of my job included training and expertise in diamond and gemstone authenticity and grading, as well as sales techniques and general knowledge of repair basics. I did very well in this job and averaged around $20,000 per month in sales, so the money was good and I enjoyed working with my fellow associates to the point of where we were more like a family. As with any job, there were both high and low points. Let me give you one such example that will be a lead into the main point I will be presenting in this article.

One Saturday afternoon a lady came into the store and asked if I would take a look at her diamond cluster ring and check to see if the prongs for the diamonds needed attention as well as clean it while she looked around. Part of my job was to not just look for any problems with the merchandise, but to inspect the authenticity of the stones. She had told me that her husband had purchased the ring from another chain at what seemed to be a very good price, considering the number of diamonds on the ring that seemed to be of a high quality and showed no signs of perceivable flaws that are found in a majority of retail variety diamonds, which make up at the most 2-5% of all diamonds mined in the world. The other varieties of diamonds are used in industrial fields such as drill bits for oil rigs.

Now, however, there are jewelry companies that specialize in what are known as “laboratory” gemstones, where scientists have been able to replicate the structure of genuine stones from the earth, process them in laboratory settings, and cut them into varied shapes to be used in the manufacturing and sale of rings, bracelets, pendants, and necklaces with these stones that are genuine in chemical and physical structure, but are a product of artificial development to meet the demands of the market. This is not a means of deception, but since there are just so many stones coming from mines, the need has arisen to create gems from alternative sources. The quality and color is nearly identical to the genuine now more than ever and are just as real.

There are also artificial diamonds known in the industry as cubic zirconia, which are used primarily in costume jewelry and cheap imitations for those consumers who want the look but not the expense of the real thing and will often buy such jewelry from merchants on the varied TV shopping channels as an example.

Unfortunately, there are those unscrupulous merchants who will put artificial stones in diamond jewelry and pass them off as the real thing, or repair specialists who will substitute a stone or two for the genuine in order to make a quick profit. You probably know where I’m going with this, so I’ll cut to the chase. I carefully checked each stone on the customer’s ring using an electronic device that tests a diamond’s authenticity by the heat it absorbs. I went over several stones a few times and had to break the sad news to her that the ring that seemed to have too good a price was made primarily of cubic zirconia as well as genuine stones. To say that she was upset was an understatement. I showed her every step I took and the reading given by the testing tool to assure her that I was not jesting.

The sad fact is that her husband had been ripped off by someone who wanted a quick buck and he had not been as careful as he should have when buying the ring. In what was undoubtedly a loving act on his part turned out to be a loss not just of money, but almost soured them on any other purchases in the foreseeable future. They did end up buying a new, genuine ring from me and were thankful that I had taken the time to help them. Just as there are fake diamonds out in the world, there are those that have been hurt and deceived by what I refer to as “cubic zirconia” people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but when put to the test, their walk and talk are just so much spiritual costume jewelry, fit for the trash bin in the end.

Christian celebrities and prominent preachers that were once thought of as solid and reliable in their respective areas of service have been proven by either their own words or exposed in scandals as to be nothing more than fakes and frauds who used faith as a means to wealth, influence, or as a way of presenting teachings and “revelations” that appeared to be biblically grounded but were upon careful discernment and examination to be misleading if not downright blasphemous, harming all who had embraced their respective works and ended up walking away from any semblance of faith in God due to the deceit thrust upon them. There are outright frauds who will be exposed to the light of God’s judgment, but this same judgment is also reserved for those who thought that all was well with them spiritually because of their lifestyles, repeated “sinner’s prayers”, works, dependability, service, self-assumed “goodness” and trying to love by rules of religiosity that might impress their peers, but the Sovereign God sees right through the deception and false sense of security.

Holding on to a “pet sin” and not repenting of it as well as rebuking and walking away from it, for example, may be a symptom of false conversion. I’ll be the first to confess that I have had to deal with this problem throughout my life, and it is understandably hard to confess the problem to God because you might have asked repeatedly for forgiveness only to go back to it often, especially if you’re not continually walking with Him and focusing on those things that are pleasing in His sight (2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 1:9-10; 3:22). We need to thank the LORD that His Spirit will convict us and set us right (John 16:7-8, 13) when these times occur.

If you’re not feeling remorse or sorrow over a sin and have a desire to seek forgiveness and restoration, you may be a “cubic zirconia”; a fake, false, and deceived person who truly needs to be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ. Let this be a firm but compassionate warning. Nobody likes a hypocrite that attempts to explain away their sins or blame others for their own faults. You will be exposed (Luke 12:2; Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 John 1:6, and Revelation 20:11-15). Let that truth sink in and convict you if needed.

We have GOT to be genuine in our confession of faith before the Lord Jesus Christ and the watching world. The days of grace are coming to a conclusion and any moment we could be meeting the LORD in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; John14:1-3; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 10:11-21; Acts 1:1-11). There will be many who will be left behind to face unspeakable horror and the unrelenting wrath of God for seven years, only to end up in the Lake of Fire for eternity. Jesus and His apostles told us to let our light shine (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:7, 2:10, 15-16). We are to be holy, not “holier-than-thou”. Our lives need to be as brilliant and fiery as is a masterfully cut and mounted diamond, where the work and life we live for Christ in this ever-darkening world draws the sinner out of the darkness and into the light that is our Lord Jesus Christ. Be real and be ready, for our redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).

Knowing Jesus is the true beginning of wisdom!

Ted
A NOTE:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ don't forget we battle on three fronts, the world and it's values, the flesh and it's desires and wants, and the devil who would do anything to disqualify and bring us to naught so we are ineffective in our witness. The good news is this: God's GRACE goes before us and His Holy Spirit will lead us out of the wilderness of sin if we will only ask. All our righteousness is filthy rags the word of God tells us but it is not about us. It is about what Jesus did on the terrible hill called Golgotha. Because he was the sinless lamb fit for the slaughter for us that all the SIN of the world was put on Him, he endured the cross, died and rose again VICTORIOUS over SIN and has the keys of death and hell in His hands. Glory to God in the Highest! Jesus did what we would never do for ourselves...

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