I am saddened that the holy fear of God is all but lost. I am afraid the power of God’s holy people is all but broken. The Gospel and its simple message has been replaced with man trying to find a better way to reach people. I once considered myself fairly intelligent by the world’s standards but anything I may have known I now consider worthless and foolish. The only thing that matters is knowing Jesus Christ and the Gospel by which I am saved.
No matter how hard man tries, the small gate cannot be made larger. Only Lot and his wife were saved out of Soddom. Only Noah and his 7 family members were saved from the flood. These events symbolize that most people will not choose God’s way, the narrow road that leads to life. Don’t be fooled by what man teaches. Don’t be led astray by the doctrines of demons. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Carrying a cross is extremely difficult. Dying on that cross is that much harder. But we must die for a time if we are to live forever. John 12:24 “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
Have we forgotten that the road to Jesus Christ is narrow? In the Gospel of John Jesus said if you love me you will obey my teachings. In second Timothy the Apostle Paul said that in the last days people will be lovers of themselves. If we love ourselves we cannot love God. If we love ourselves we live to please ourselves. If we love God, we live to please Him regardless of how uncomfortable that makes us feel. If we love God and do His will, we will be persecuted. Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
God is perfect. God is just. God is holy. Holiness cannot exist with evil. We are by nature evil. God sent his son Jesus Christ, to provide a way for us to be holy. It is through Jesus Christ that our evil nature is covered. Clothed in Jesus Christ, we are able to stand before God acceptable, as undeserving as we are. If we are not holy now, we won't be holy then. If we don't have a relationship with Jesus now, we won't have a relationship with him when we die. It is through Jesus Christ that we are able to turn from sin and live a holy life despite how evil our true nature is.
No matter how hard man tries, the small gate cannot be made larger. Only Lot and his wife were saved out of Soddom. Only Noah and his 7 family members were saved from the flood. These events symbolize that most people will not choose God’s way, the narrow road that leads to life. Don’t be fooled by what man teaches. Don’t be led astray by the doctrines of demons. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Carrying a cross is extremely difficult. Dying on that cross is that much harder. But we must die for a time if we are to live forever. John 12:24 “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
Have we forgotten that the road to Jesus Christ is narrow? In the Gospel of John Jesus said if you love me you will obey my teachings. In second Timothy the Apostle Paul said that in the last days people will be lovers of themselves. If we love ourselves we cannot love God. If we love ourselves we live to please ourselves. If we love God, we live to please Him regardless of how uncomfortable that makes us feel. If we love God and do His will, we will be persecuted. Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
God is perfect. God is just. God is holy. Holiness cannot exist with evil. We are by nature evil. God sent his son Jesus Christ, to provide a way for us to be holy. It is through Jesus Christ that our evil nature is covered. Clothed in Jesus Christ, we are able to stand before God acceptable, as undeserving as we are. If we are not holy now, we won't be holy then. If we don't have a relationship with Jesus now, we won't have a relationship with him when we die. It is through Jesus Christ that we are able to turn from sin and live a holy life despite how evil our true nature is.
When God comes back on the earth He is not coming back to give the world a hug. When Jesus walked the earth, he came to love and to teach but when he comes back again, the words that he spoke when he was here will judge those on the earth. For those that turned from sin and followed His teachings, there will be life. For those that didn't obey His teachings, there will be eternal separation and condemnation. It is hard for man to be saved. It is hard for a man to be holy and righteous in a world that is perverse and evil. That is why 'wide is gate that leads to destruction.' The path of least resistance is a very wide path.
Demons believe Jesus is the Son of God. Matthew 8:28-29 “When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” A belief does not make you Holy. Holiness comes from turning from evil and turning to God. What do you get excited about? What do you hate? What do you love? We must choose to turn away from the world. We must choose to live a holy life. We must choose to be one of the few that truly finds Him. We must love the truth more than anything else.
If we show Jesus love by obeying His teachings, shouldn’t we know what His teachings are? How can we know His teachings if we don’t read His Word daily? How can we know what to do if we don’t hear His voice? How can we be led by the Spirit if we are living in the flesh? Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” We can’t fool God. God knows who love Him. If we love the world, we do not love God. If we love God, we will be dead to the world. We can know about God and call His name and still not know Him. We can serve others and pray and still not know Him. We can worship Him in song and gather on Sundays and still not know Him. To live in the Spirit is to die to self. We receive the Holy Spirit when we obey Him. Without obedience we will never know Him.
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” How do we know if we know Him? We will love what He loves and hate what He hates. We will have a completely new nature. The world’s flashing lights will no longer interest us. Acquiring things will not bring us joy. We will keep His commands. We will be persecuted. We will live as Jesus did. We will die to ourselves. We will hunger for His Word. Praying will be one of our most favorite things to do and we will do it often. We will be directed by the Holy Spirit. We will hear from God. Anger will rise up in us only out of our love for God. We will bear everlasting fruit. We will be bold in our faith. We will turn from all sin. We will be filled with joy. We will consider human wisdom worthless. The sin around us will make us uncomfortable. We will desire holiness. We will seek time to be alone with God. We will have confidence that God hears our prayers. We will be thankful in all circumstances. We will rely on God for our every need. We will be consumed with an internal hunger to bring God glory.
May the Lord Jesus Christ give you all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you may know Him better and better.
Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
1 Corinthians 10:20-21 “No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”
Psalm 102:17 “He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.”
1 John 2:3-6 “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, yet do not sin." Do not let the sun set upon your anger,”
James 4:4 “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
1 Timothy 4 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 5:1-7 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.”
Philippians 2:5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”
Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”
John 15:10 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
John 15:20 “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 14:15-17 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Galatians 6:14 “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died.”
1 Corinthians 5:11 “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
John 14:23-24 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”
2 Timothy 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2 Peter 2:7 “But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.”
Matthew 11:25-26 “At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”
1 Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.”
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Demons believe Jesus is the Son of God. Matthew 8:28-29 “When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” A belief does not make you Holy. Holiness comes from turning from evil and turning to God. What do you get excited about? What do you hate? What do you love? We must choose to turn away from the world. We must choose to live a holy life. We must choose to be one of the few that truly finds Him. We must love the truth more than anything else.
If we show Jesus love by obeying His teachings, shouldn’t we know what His teachings are? How can we know His teachings if we don’t read His Word daily? How can we know what to do if we don’t hear His voice? How can we be led by the Spirit if we are living in the flesh? Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” We can’t fool God. God knows who love Him. If we love the world, we do not love God. If we love God, we will be dead to the world. We can know about God and call His name and still not know Him. We can serve others and pray and still not know Him. We can worship Him in song and gather on Sundays and still not know Him. To live in the Spirit is to die to self. We receive the Holy Spirit when we obey Him. Without obedience we will never know Him.
2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” How do we know if we know Him? We will love what He loves and hate what He hates. We will have a completely new nature. The world’s flashing lights will no longer interest us. Acquiring things will not bring us joy. We will keep His commands. We will be persecuted. We will live as Jesus did. We will die to ourselves. We will hunger for His Word. Praying will be one of our most favorite things to do and we will do it often. We will be directed by the Holy Spirit. We will hear from God. Anger will rise up in us only out of our love for God. We will bear everlasting fruit. We will be bold in our faith. We will turn from all sin. We will be filled with joy. We will consider human wisdom worthless. The sin around us will make us uncomfortable. We will desire holiness. We will seek time to be alone with God. We will have confidence that God hears our prayers. We will be thankful in all circumstances. We will rely on God for our every need. We will be consumed with an internal hunger to bring God glory.
May the Lord Jesus Christ give you all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you may know Him better and better.
Hebrews 12:14 “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
Luke 5:16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
1 Corinthians 10:20-21 “No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”
Psalm 102:17 “He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.”
1 John 2:3-6 “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry, yet do not sin." Do not let the sun set upon your anger,”
James 4:4 “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
1 Timothy 4 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
1 John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Ephesians 5:1-7 “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.”
Philippians 2:5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”
Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”
John 15:10 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
John 15:20 “Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 14:15-17 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Galatians 6:14 “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died.”
1 Corinthians 5:11 “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
John 14:23-24 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”
2 Timothy 3:12 “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2 Peter 2:7 “But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.”
Matthew 11:25-26 “At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”
1 Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.”
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”