Open Heart Surgery Part 3 Christians Kill their wounded!

I have a bee in my bonnet today...

I just read some blog that I will not name that just slammed the crap out of a well known RICH Word of Faith preacher. It is to me a prime example why there is so much division in the body of Christ.

Christians kill there wounded...Always bashing everyone over the head b/c they do not agree with the same man made doctrine.

I've personally been insulted by a couple preachers who used words like "stupid" to discribe Word of Faith believers which I identify as. GOD SAID IT-THAT ENDS IT.

How hard would it be for Christians to stop bad mouthing each other and pull together on the things they do agree on.

If you do not believe in "blab & grab" WHO REALLY CARES?! Who are you to tell someone they can't believe what the bible says. It's in there, it's a biblical, so it's doable! It's a spiritual concept relating to faith.

It's funny, as Christians, we accept Jesus purely on faith. There is no physical evidence present to prove the inward change of our heart. No certificate, no plaque, not even an email from heaven that proves we are Saved. No, it is by FAITH we are saved.

So why put limits on the infinite God with your finite mind? Did He not say He is the God of the impossible?  Have you ever read the bible and seen all the physically impossible things that were doable!

When was the last time YOU parted a sink of water vs God's red sea? Could you shout down a wall such as the wall that surrounded Jericho? Could you stop the sun from setting? Can you raise yourself from the dead?

God did! He does the impossible all the time! Where's your faith girl? If God's Word is true than you can do what He said you can do and you can have what He said you can have. It's in His Word! And God does not lie!!!!!

It's called COVENANT! We are married to Jesus and just as a husband provides for his wife, and gives her good things just for her enjoyment, why can't God? He is our husband!

There are at minimum 26 verse in the bible that tell us that God wants us to be sucessful and prosperous! I'll take that thank you very much!

Sweet heart hear me...God does not want you to live in lack. Poverty is the biggest lie that the devil twisted into mans mind. When you are poor you can not even help yourself! When you prosper, the sky isn't even a limit!
Debt is a trap! Stop it dead!

Your key to getting out of debt is giving to God so that God can trun your pennies into dollars! I am a tither. I tithe on every bit of my income. I even tithe on money I find. Why? Because my goal in life is to be a giver but I can't be a giver if I am broke!

I also volunteer alot of my time and talents as much as I can because a lazy man does not prosper.

In my season of rest right now, I am spending my time studying Gods word and giving of my time as much as I can till God brings me my next assignment. So even though I am not "earning" a living right not God is supplying and teaching me the tools for what I will need next. There is no excuse to be idle when you are waiting on the Lord. Idleness leads to alot of bad things and one of those bad things is back biting and gossiping.

Instead of killing your brother or sister in Christ with your mouth, why not back them up? You'll go alot further in life having your brother or sisters back instead of stabbing them.

Friends, we are one army with many tents full of individuals who experience God & life individually. Raise your brothers & sisters up instead of tearing them down.

It's not right or acceptable to condemn someone because you do not personally agree with what the teach. I don't believe I have to talk to a priest to get to God, but I won't condemn someone who does.

When you get to heaven, I promise you whether or not you are Baptist, Full Gospel, Word of fairh, Pentecostal, Wesley, Calvin, Reformed, Brethren, Methodist, rich, poor or ugly  IT WILL NOT MATTER! The only thing that will matter is JESUS!!!!!!

Start today to giving your life over to Gods call to holiness. Stop worrying about rich preaches and what they do and focus on what truly matters, your own personsl walk with the Lord.

Open Heart Surgery Part 2 - Facing Sexual Tempation

I will be using point blank blunt talk in this post. If you are offended easily...keep reading. It's time you heard the truth.

 

Sexual Temptations

 

NEGATIVE Temptations are a very real problem in today's world. By negative temptation I mean things that are harmful to your life and body. I'm not talking food temptings, that's a whole other ball of wax, I'm talking  The sins of flesh like adultery, sexual sinning, the more aggressive natures of sin. 

While over eating isn't good for you, and can cause you harm in the long run and breaking your diet by scarfing a cookie may seem horrific, it's not going to hinder your salvation...I hope. We'll tackle eating problems in another post at some point. I have opinions on that too!

 

Lets start with the biggen ADULTERY...

It's one of our Commandments: THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. But why? Weren't there a ton of multi partner unions in the bible? Yep...in the old testament there was mention of concubines yet adultery was punishable by DEATH. There is a distinction made between a concubine and committing adultery. It all depended on the status of the women in that time and is also under the Old Testament Law. 

 

PRAISE THE LORD FOR GRACE! And a new covenant!!!

 

There are no recorded concubines in the New Testament. Wikipedia has a good article on the custom of Concubinage and I will take this quote: "There are no concubines in the New Testament. St Paul emphasizes that church leaders should be in monogamous marriages,that believers should not have sexual relationships outside marriage and that unmarried believers should be celibate.Marriage is to reflect the exclusive relationship between the husband (Christ) and wife (his church),described as a "mystery"."

 

Marriage is scared. Lets get that straight. It is the ONLY covenant that was instituted and has existed since before the fall of man. It was instituted in perfection between 3 people: God, man & woman. And that is how it should remain. Even in this "modern" world.

Friends, just because mankind twists the laws of the land, does not mean that God will change His mind on what He has spoken. And just because we stand under the New Covenant of Grace, does not give us license to sin, EVER.

 

I was asked a question from a friend who is not a believer if I was given the chance, would I ever cheat on my husband. That is a legitimate question in today's world.  I gave my answer time to form and told her: 

 

No, I would not. Even if the man in question was a young Yul Brynner, I would not. And not because I love my husband, and not because I have a family and not because of my reputation. I would not and will not cheat on my husband because I fear God. Now, I'm not scared skittle-less of God, I don't think that He would strike me dead because there are plenty of Christian adulterers all over the world and they are still living. I fear God in Love. I truly love my God, and I want to please Him in all I do. I want more than anything else to be "Holy, Blameless, without spot or wrinkle" when I am presented before my God as His bride on that Great Day. I am SAVED after all and frankly I have no excuse to cheat on my husband. Being saved is a LIFE CHANGER in my mind. It flips the rules of engagement on it's head. I am not subject to "well everyone else does it". I'm not everyone else and I take my vows before God very seriously.

Now if you are on the fence for this particular issue and are thinking, well my spouse cheated on me therefore I have the "RIGHT" to get even, I want to urge you to GIVE YOUR BRAINS A SHAKE. You do not have the right to sin AT ANY TIME! Man...how many times have any number of us heard from our parents, "If little Susie jumped off a bridge would you follow her?" That's the same principle. When is tit for tat ever a good idea. That only cause more harm to any situation.

I counseled a young couple once upon a time before they were married and the young man who I would have loved to slap that taste clean out of his mouth said, "Well I don't know what the future holds, I am a man, so I might just do it, because it's what men do." I tell you what...yeah, the hairs on my head stood straight up and my skin literally crawled...I am surprised the look on my face didn't kill him. I asked him if he honestly thought that that was a valid point in his up coming marriage. He did. He was raised in the church folks. This is the next generation we are producing. I know...keep shaking your head. 

 

Men--if there are any of you guys reading, this is the example that is being left for the up coming generation. Who's shoulders do you think this issue should fall on? Yes friends, OURS. The 30 and over crowd. This is what we are showing our children what is "good and acceptable". This is one huge distorted dust bunny that the church has been sweeping under the carpet for years. We do not speak out against it, because we might hurt someones feelings...TO FREAKING BAD FOR THEM!!!  It's not about them any more it's about Jesus Christ and what he's done that we ought to live holy and blameless!!! Sexual sins have become ACCEPTABLE in today's church. WHY??? Because we are turning away from WHAT GOD SAID to What man feels!

 

How many of you are familiar with the marriage counselor Mark Gungor? I love this guy! He's blunt, brutally honest and straight to the point. He's pretty much the most on the ball man who speaks on these topics ever, and doesn't giggle his way through a question. (His link to his webshow is provided below.) I happen to agree very much with what he has to say on the issues of sexual sins in the Christian world. 

 

Anyways, Mark Gungor has a term he uses MMOG which stands for "Masturbating man of God". We can throw a "W" in there for women too. See, sexual sin begins small and innocent. I bet that ever person alive has at some point or another dealt with this particular issue which is the beginning note lust of the flesh.

Now the bible is pretty much silent on this subject and there are both views for and against, I stand on the against side now. For years I wondered and asked but never got a clear answer until I decided that God's way is the right way and God's way is putting down the desires of the flesh in favour of lifting up the desires of God.

See Lust starts at a young age now. We live in a world of sex. I know young boys as young as 7 & 8 who talk about sex and look at pornographic images of women all the time! It's not right! Sex has been taken out of it's natural beauty and twisted to the lust we see in this world! It's been distorted beyond reason!

 

 Here's the point...

 

In Lev 11:44-45 God said very clearly, "Be ye holy for I am Holy."

In 1 Peter 1:13-21- again we are being called to live holy lives. To move away from the desires of our flesh and focus on God.

 
Verse 15 says: But because the God who called you is holy you must be holy in EVERY aspect of your life.
Masturbating falls under this, adultery falls under this, sex out side of marriage falls under this.

Daily, we are told to "crucify our flesh and our corrupt natures along with its passion and desires".(Gal 5:24). Our flesh wants it's way ALL the time no matter what the cost. Our flesh tries to dictate what it wants to do to our Spirit! Moment by moment we are to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.'' (2 Cor10:5)

The question that remains is what is Who are you going to serve? Is a fling with some person who is not your spouse because your physical needs aren't being met at home worth it? Is giving in to your flesh worth it? Or do you think it's time to start answering God's call to Holiness? What is your motive? What is pushing you? How do you reconcile your decision verses knowing the Word of God. 

Is Jesus Christ and His Holy Word, your ultimate authority in your life?

 

Eph 5:1 tells us to be imitators of God, not imitators of this world. Consider this really hard, what does this world have to offer you? See Gods call is for everyone! The opposite of ANY sin,no matter what it is, is answering God's call to Holiness! 

 

When you put these temporal things behind you and focus on God and what He desires for you, an sexual fling pales greatly in comparison to the true satisfaction that can be ONLY found in Jesus. Sex is great, in the context of marriage, but Jesus is greater still! So again, which master are you going to serve with your body? Your flesh or Jesus as a living sacrifice holy and set apart for Him? Keep in mind that ALL sexual expression outside the bonds of marriage is against biblical teachings.

 

Temptations are only in the flesh!

Jessie Duplantis hit this one right out of the park, when he was talking about Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he said and I quote "The devil is unscrupulous. The boy never fights fair. Notice that he waited until Jesus was weak with hunger to start tempting Him with food. What does that reveal to you? Temptation number one reveals that Satan works in the realm of the FLESH. Where are you weak? Never forget that the devil never attacks you where you are strong. He always chooses the weak spot. His aim is to tempt you with the very things he thinks you will fall for --and it will always be in the realm of the flesh. But he is easily confused and if we resist him, he will get out of town. Jesus proved that!" 

(the complete article is linked below)

Notice what was said here...Satan works IN THE FLESH. He can only tempt you in your flesh. In your desires. And the bible said that these desires ARE KNOWN to us, they are common to us. So a sexual sin is something that is common.

1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The devil can only tempt you with things that interest you. Things that will attract you and are known to you. See, when you open yourself up to say pornography, that becomes an addiction to you. Studies have shown that it becomes an actual physical addiction like being a habitual drug user. So when you open this little door into your life as a Christian man or woman (yes women look at porn...*surprise*) then you've given the devil free reign, he's not only going to step in, he's going to bloody well dance in! 

A while back I heard the sad story of a famous preacher who "fell from grace". The man was married with a family and one day while at the corner store he saw a porn mag on the shelf. He let his gaze linger there for a while before he went about his way. (A sin seed was sown) Eventually, the looking at the cover turned to flipping through the pages at the store, (the seed took root) to buying one, (the seed sprouted) to bringing it home, to masturbating to it, to ignoring his wife, and progress to adultery. Eventually, he was found out, disgraced, lost his pulpit and stepped down. His marriage broken, his life ruined and all because he put his Shield down for a brief look at a porn mag.

James 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

 

See, sin looks so cute, so innocent and lies like a cheap rug. It tells you, no one gets hurt, it's all about you, you have a right, it feels good, you deserve it, blah blah blah blah...but the reality is this,sin is sin is sin. No big ones, no small ones. Sin is SIN and sin produces DEATH as an end result. Not necessarily a physical death but it destroys many things like lives and marriages. 

 

When you decided to have an affair you are now putting your flesh above God. You are in essence saying that your gentiles rule you, and you don't care that God has specifically said "Thou Shalt not". See the bible speaks about the sin of adultery more than 30x and it's never painted right. That's our sick,sick,sick world. 

 

Friends, as I keep saying, when are we going to put God first and our desires dead last? You know it is actually possible to live weeks on end without sinning. I know it's true, because I've tried and succeeded. Sinning is a choice! We sin because we want too. We do wrong because we want too. We put ourselves first and God last because we want too. These are choices that we make on our own with no help. 

 

God is getting fed up with us people. He's not going to put up with our nonsense forever and if we continue on in the ways we are going, you best believe that you will get your comeuppance tout de suite!  

 

How much longer, oh claimed follower of Jesus, will you mock Him? Will you trample on His Holy Word, will you willfully disobey His commands to live for your flesh? How much more do you think you will get away with? Do you not know that the LORD God sees everything? Do you not know that there is nothing hidden that He does not see or know?! HE HAS GIVEN US A WAY OUT!!! Holiness! HOLINESS is what He wants from us! He wants a chosen, separate people who are willing to step away from the rudiments of this world, away from the lies and deception that the world spews, those who are willing to follow at a high cost. You will lose your friends, you may lose your family, but you will never lose Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith!

 

You do not have the right as a follower of Jesus Christ to sleep around! You do not have the right to dishonour your vows and your marriage bed! You are playing with fire and you will get burned! 

 

He said to die to your old self, not drag that sorry thing around with you! You are a Royal priesthood, a holy nation! People chosen to follow Him! These are not silly rules! These Words are LIFE to the Soul! 

 

If you are in a adulterous affair, even if it's an online affair, it's time to unplug and move back to your spouse. You have been unfaithful and are bring a curse on you and your house!  Repent! Turn away from your sins! Be ye holy for I am Holy! Declares the Lord God! 

No amount of sexual favours will ever compare to the Love of Jesus Christ! With Him you can over come any situation. With Jesus at the centre of your life, your marriage can be revived. Divorce can be turned around. Love can begin again! All one has to do is call on Jesus and He will renew you!

***If you are not saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ, you can continue on sinning, oh sorry, living for yourself...but know right now, you are not going to see heaven. There is but ONE way there, and that is ONLY through Jesus Christ. No matter how sweet and kind you are, if you do not know Jesus you are S.O.L.

www.markgungorshow.com/

http://www.jdm.org/magazine/jesse5.pdf 

http://www.webmd.com/men/features/is-pornography-addictive

Open Heart Surgery Part 1: Working your life away

What's your heart motive?

Man, folks, I literally just finished the most inane argument a couple could have with my husband...cell phone alarms. I adore my alarms.I make an alarm for all sort of things. Getting up, leaving for school, picking up for school, 10 min bed warning, go to bed...it's just plain fun to me even though I don't need them. I have awoken every morning since before high school between 5-5:30am without an alarm clock. I am rarely if ever late, even though sometimes I try and I still end up being early. It's just not in me to be late. I don't like it. I don't like wasting peoples time any more than I do my own. I especially detest being late for church or work...


Apparently, my grandfather who died several years before I was born, use to get up at the crack of the crack of dawn. Once upon a time he was a farmer, had the worst luck of any man ever to live. Bought a horse that died the next day. However the man was "thrifty". He didn't waste nothing! Not even water. When he was done his meal and if there was a desert present, he'd flip his plate and use the bottom! "Why dirty another dish"? He'd say.

I guess as a farmer, he made the best use of his day. My mom recalls him working hard before he had to give up farm living. I honestly don't know much more about him then his temper and how hard he worked. But I really don't think there was much joy in his life. He drank an awful lot and was miserable more times than not.  At least that's what I heard of him. And I often wonder why.

I know this lovely person, he's a super hard worker. But man, he's miserable. He works all day long, day after day and just complains like the devil. Never happy, never satisfied, hard to be around...and completely alone. He has put WORK in front of GOD.

Folks, God did created us to work. That was part of the plan. That's why Adam was told to take care of the garden of Eden. He was meant to work it, but in his work he was meant to enjoy it.

Eccl 2:24 There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God.


Eccl 3:22 I saw that there's nothing better for people to do than to enjoy their work because that is their lot [in life]. Who will allow them to see what will happen after them?



Work was intended  to be fulfilling but as usual we've changed the rules of the game. See we WORK to LIVE and that's not how God intend us to be. Now cool your jets bub before you quit your job or start spitting at the screen, let me explain. YES we must work in this world to get money, that is our "lot in life", but our problem is, we aren't working for the joy that it should bring, we are working to provide for our families and our needs.

Eccl 6:7 Everything that people work so hard for goes into their mouths, but their appetite is never satisfied.

That is because THIS IS NOT OUR JOB! THAT IS GOD'S JOB! He supplies our needs.

2 Cor 9:8 Besides, God will give you His constantly overflowing kindness. Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things.

Philip 4:19 My God will richly fill your every need in a glorious way through Christ Jesus.


See we are seriously wasting our work time working so hard for so little gain. We need to stop and revise how we approach the way we "work".  

The bible says in Deut 2:7a "The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands."

So we know that what we already do is blessed, even if it's cleaning up with the "Honey dew" wagon or church toilets after a street outreach breakfast. But HOW we do it is the key to being JOYFUL and fulfilled in our work situation.

The Bible says in Col 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 


Our work place is our MISSION FIELD. We are to show the rest of the world the true JOY of the LORD that is suppose to be filling up our lives, instead of going to work pitching a fit because so and so has asked you to do a little extra. Do it with joy because God sees every little detail you are doing. Instead of sitting with the chronic complainers, refuse to complain and be glad you have a paying job!


Me...I've been unemployed since I move to this little island 2.5 years ago. Recently, I stopped searching for work, and decided that since summer is almost here, and I'm far to cheap to pay for a babysitter when school is out, that I would start to focus my time on something far more important and that is getting right with God.  

See I use to apply to any and every job I could...I didn't even get a reply from Tim Hortons!!! And who knows more about coffee then me?! Hardly anyone I know! But I am blessed that my husband has a job that takes care of us, so that I can have this training time. 

This is not to say that I don't volunteer. I volunteer alot. I volunteer at church, at school, at community events. I'm a great volunteer that no one can pay! Story of my life. I work hard and do take the odd paying jobs too that come way. I have subbed as the janitor of my church. Nothing is beneath me. I cleaned literally pooped cover stalls after the street out reach breakfast at our church. I swear, the man was trying to paint "A Starry Night" on the stall walls in poop!!! I suffered! I suffered greatly! And now you get to imagine it.(I'm a giver)  But you know what, instead of freaking out, I just sang my little heart out the entire time I scrubbed that stall clean. Because I had a job to do, and it was to clean. I am very efficient with my time when I get out of my way and start praising God for the opportunity to serve Him. A  pastor friend of mine asked me years ago, if God asked me to clean toilets would I... I guess I would. 


Friends, there are some seriously horrendous jobs out there, and if you shift your focus off of you providing for you, and focus your faith on the fact that you are working to honour God, I guarantee you THINGS WILL CHANGE!

 See, the key here is putting down your flesh as it is in many occasions. Our flesh demands attention and demands alot of ego stroking every so often. But when you take your focus off yourself and ask God what He wants for your life, your job can become so much easier. 

What motives your heart? MONEY OR GOD? 

Ask the Holy Spirit who lives in you to give you New and innovative ways to do a boring mundane existing job. He's smart! He's has more ideas then you can shake a stick at! When I have a hard time figuring out something, I ask God to bless my hands for the labour that I am about to do. And you won't believe the "accidents" that turn out to be exactly what I need to do! God knew! All I had to do was get out of my way!

I'm a jolly girl! Ask my husband! I love singing, whistling, and being joyful. I have a sense of humour like none other and I just love to laugh. I have a joy that is not my own, I have God's joy in my soul and it helps to make dull times fun. 

The Holy Spirit is gracious and if you call on Him to help you in your boring or overworked life, He will help you. Take the focus off of you having to provide for your family and focus it on, I work because I want to build the kingdom of God, things will change! Perspective will change. Habits will change! You will become a GIVER!!! You'll love to give, you will give so much that you will get so much more! God loves a cheerful giver and that includes your time at the grind stone!

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he told them, “Go, eat rich foods, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who cannot provide for themselves. Today is a holy day for the Lord. Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength.”

Every day is a good day when you give it over to Jesus! Give it all man. Why be a miserable complainer when you can enjoy your life! Don't let money become your be all and end all...take the focus off of serving money and put the focus on what will honour God in your work life and watch the changes happen!

Going to the Hospital Sunday morning

Just because someone goes to church does not mean they know Jesus.

Just because someone goes to church and may quote scripture to another does not mean they know Jesus.

To go to church and expect everyone to be outgoing, friendly, and loving is ridiculous.

Yes, Jesus does change people from the inside out but people need to realize that not everyone who professes Christ is a true follower of His ways.

Friends, the best way to look at Church is  to look at it like it was a hospital for broken people, from all walks of life. 

You would not go to a hospital to find strong healthy people.  You expect to find the sick, lame, dying and dead. And so you should also approach church in the same light. Come expecting to meet the people who need Jesus.

Jesus said "come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matt 11:28

Jesus said to them "It is not the healthy who need a doctor,  but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:17

If you come to church with the mind that everyone there is on various stages in their very personal quest for that Jesus kind of perfection then maybe your heart will soften towards them. We are all running a marathon race and every single believer in Jesus will stumble at some point.

***REALITY CHECK***
WE ALL HAVE BAD DAYS!

Friends, the commanality in my all my post is the thread of Holiness.  Jesus realizes that perfection was hard but He knew we could handle Holiness.

Approaching others with the mind that they too are damaged goods may help deter that spirit of offense that many people stumble on. If your life is focused on WHAT DID GOD REALLY SAY vs Joe Blow is a JERK who goes to church then YOU heap coals of fire on our adversaries heads!

Everyone's walk is different.  But if you approach others with the Father Heart of God and in true Jesus kind of love then you truly are His disciple.

Only Jesus is perfect...I am 100% certain that I am far from perfect. I know most of my church friends are far from perfect and to expect them to be perfect is just plain stupid.

Perfection in this life is difficult but Holiness is achievable!  The quest for Jesus kind of perfection leads to holiness! If everyone put Jesus's way first all the time and put there flesh in check and actually walked the love walk this world would not be the way it is! We would be in a love filled world! But we are not...DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU!  Go against the grain and choose to walk in love even when the world around you hurts you. Choose forgiveness over offense. Choose to see that hurt people are everywhere and expect to see them in church too.

It's not about you...it's about Jesus Christ, the author & finisher of our faith.  

For such a time as this

Friends! What an exciting time that we live in! Praise God!

We are possibly on the verge of seeing the King of Glory come in! Can you imagine seeing Jesus descending from Heaven and this wicked age coming not only to it's knees but coming to an end!

Not only this good news but also do you all realize that at no other time in the history of our world has the knowledge of Jesus Christ been so known! And not only that, but millions of us actually have the same knowledge that only Jesus had while He walked this earth! Not even the disciples had the wisdom that we have today! We walk in the fullness of Jesus Christ!

Friends, time is short. Things are happening now that were written about centuries ago. I know we have been waiting 2000 years for this event, and with much anticipation we hope together.

The pieces are falling into place. The Gospel is spreading like wild fire! Souls are coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!

I know I am waiting expectantly!

Friends, my mom had a saying, "we are either on the edge of disaster or the verge of a miracle,  start praying, it will change your life". So lets keep praying, keep standing firm and keep our eyes on Jesus Christ who time is almost at hand!

Don't let the fear of man stop you from talking about Jesus, get BOLD and don't back down!

Remember folks, Jesus is THE ONLY way! That's right,  if they don't believe on Jesus and His saving grace they are in danger of hell fire!

Friends, I know it's hard and I know there is some fear but the reality is this, life is short, Hell is real, Hell is forever.

If you don't know Jesus and want to get into relationship with Him, all you got to do is call on His name, confess your heart to Him and let Him walk with you. You dob't any fancy words or long prayers, "Jesus Help me, I need you" is as simple as it gets! Get plugged in and let Jesus love you!

The Gospel and Homosexuality by David Platt - The best teaching I've heard so far!

The Problem with twisting God's Word

Twisting scripture has done a lot of damage to some people. The deceit of man has caused many a soul to fall away. False teachings are everywhere.  There are so many doctrines out there, who knows what the truth is anymore! 

It's time to stop this nonsense! It's time to get back to the Truth of God's Word and the ONLY way to do that is to pick up your Bible and search the scripture for What God Really Said not what someone has devised from their own natural mind or what feel good message is being pedaled in today's world. What does God REALLY say?

Today we are going to tackle one of the more voiced deceptions that has hit the church in these modern times and is ripping apart our very fabric...

Homosexuality

Yeah you read right, go big or go home right. But here's the difference, we are going to search the Scriptures and leave our personal opinions out...What did God really say? Now of course I am going from the point of view that you who are reading this are using God for your moral compass. His Word is final in all matters. However, if you do not believe His Word, stop here, this isn't going to be of any interest to you, and may offend you. God's Word only applies to those who believe in Him.

Let's kick the hornet's nest already.

The Bible is crystal clear on it's stance on the ACT of homosexuality. God Himself calls it an abomination (kjv), a detestable sin. Keep in mind though that ALL sexuality outside of the marriage covenant is against the teachings of the bible. 

Sin is sin, no matter how big or how small. 

Let the scriptures speak for themselves.

In the beginning

Gen 1:1a In the beginning God created...

Gen 1:26 -28
²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Gen 2:21-25
²¹ And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ²² And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. ²³ And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ²⁴ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. ²⁵ And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

After The Fall

After the fall as the dust begins to settle we see all sorts of bad things begin to happen. The earth is cursed, it produces thorns and thistles. Murder is the big one. One man's disobedience causes a drastic changed in the walk between God & man. 

Gen 18: 20-23 KJV

²⁰ And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
²¹ I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
²² And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.
²³ And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

³² And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

Gen 19:1-11, 24GWT

19 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed with his face touching the ground. ² He said, “Please, gentlemen, why don’t you come to my home and spend the night? You can wash your feet there. Then early tomorrow morning you can continue your journey.”

“No,” they answered, “we’d rather spend the night in the city square.”
³ But he insisted so strongly that they came with him and went into his home. He prepared a special dinner for them, baked some unleavened bread, and they ate. ⁴ Before they had gone to bed, all the young and old male citizens of Sodom surrounded the house. ⁵ They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to stay with you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.”
⁶ Then Lot went outside and shut the door behind him. ⁷ “Please, my friends, don’t be so wicked,” he said. ⁸ “Look, I have two daughters who have never had sex. Why don’t you let me bring them out to you? Do whatever you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men, since I’m responsible for them.”
⁹ But the men yelled, “Get out of the way! This man came here to stay awhile. Now he wants to be our judge! We’re going to treat you worse than those men.” They pushed hard against Lot and lunged forward to break down the door. ¹⁰ The men inside reached out, pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. ¹¹ Then they struck all the men who were in the doorway of the house, young and old alike, with blindness so that they gave up trying to find the door.

²⁴ Then the Lord made burning sulfur and fire rain out of heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah. ²⁵ He destroyed those cities, the whole plain, all who lived in the cities, and whatever grew on the ground.  

Leviticus 18:22
"Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin." (NLT)

Leviticus 20:13
"If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense." (NLT)

Judges 19:16-24
That evening an old man came home from his work in the fields. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, but he was living in Gibeah, where the people were from the tribe of Benjamin. When he saw the travelers sitting in the town square, he asked them where they were from and where they were going.
"We have been in Bethlehem in Judah," the man replied. "We are on our way to a remote area in the hill country of Ephraim, which is my home. I traveled to Bethlehem, and now I'm returning home. But no one has taken us in for the night, even though we have everything we need. We have straw and feed for our donkeys and plenty of bread and wine for ourselves."
"You are welcome to stay with me," the old man said. "I will give you anything you might need. But whatever you do, don't spend the night in the square." So he took them home with him and fed the donkeys. After they washed their feet, they ate and drank together. While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, "Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him." The old man stepped outside to talk to them. "No, my brothers, don't do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful. Here, take my virgin daughter and this man's concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don't do such a shameful thing to this man." (NLT)

1 Kings 14:24
And there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations that the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. (ESV)

1 Kings 15:12
He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. (ESV)

2 Kings 23:7
He also tore down the living quarters of the male and female shrine prostitutes that were inside the Temple of the LORD, where the women wove coverings for the Asherah pole. (NLT)

Romans 1:18-32
But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.... Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NLT)

1 Timothy 1:8-10
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine ... (ESV)

Jude 7
And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgment. (NIV)
 

 So what now?

WE all need to recognize that WE ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23. Any form of sexuality outside of God's design is sin and WE are all guilty of sin! So what does God say?!

THE OPPOSITE OF HOMOSEXUALITY IS HOLINESS!

That's right, Answering God's call to holiness! Putting what GOD SAYS above what you SAY or THINK! This is NOT about you, it's about God and what He Desires for you! He wants you to have HIS VERY BEST!

Let the scripture speak for itself!

1 Peter 1:14-16  
¹⁴ Because you are children who obey God, don’t live the kind of lives you once lived. Once you lived to satisfy your desires because you didn’t know any better. ¹⁵ But because the God who called you is holy, you must be holy in every aspect of your life. ¹⁶ Scripture says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 John 3:6-10 
⁶ Those who live in Christ don’t go on sinning. Those who go on sinning haven’t seen or known Christ.⁷ Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you. Whoever does what God approves of has God’s approval as Christ has God’s approval. ⁸ The person who lives a sinful life belongs to the devil, because the devil has been committing sin since the beginning. The reason that the Son of God appeared was to destroy what the devil does. ⁹ Those who have been born from God don’t live sinful lives. What God has said lives in them, and they can’t live sinful lives. They have been born from God. ¹⁰ This is the way God’s children are distinguished from the devil’s children. Everyone who doesn’t do what is right or love other believers isn’t God’s child.

2 Corinthians 7:1

7 Since we have these promises, dear friends, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and live a holy life in the fear of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

⁷ God didn’t call us to be sexually immoral but to be holy.

 Leviticus 20:26 
You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

Isaiah 35:8 
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

1 Corinthians 6:19 
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
 

Psalm 51:10-12 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Peter 4:1 

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

3 John 1:11 

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

Romans 12:1 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

1 Thessalonians 4:4 

That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

1 Peter 4:7 
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

LIVE FOR  JESUS...DIE TO SELF!

Galatians 5:16 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 8:13 

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Galatians 5:24

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:19-21 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Colossians 3:5 

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Galatians 5:1-26

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Galatians 2:20 

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

 Galatians 6:7-8 

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Galatians 5:25 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15