About Christianity

Last Updated: 08/08/2008 23:14                                                                                                                                           |

A Christian is simply one who follows the teaching of Yeshua (Jesus). You become a Christian recognizing your personal sins against God and accepting by faith that Yeshua died on the cross for the remission (covering) of all sins and rose to life again on the third day. There is more to the story, but that's what the Bible is for. It should be a Christian's foundation for all beliefs. Ask the Lord for a greater hunger for His Word, and He will give it. I asked and I have received! The belief of a Christian is centered on Christ and He is the only way to the Father and eternal life (John 14:6). This makes those in the "all-inclusive" crowd upset. They like to shoot the messengers when it is the One True God who laid down these rules. The Bible said that many would be offended because of Christ. He's the Creator of this universe, He has the right to make the rules. "Being good" has nothing to do with heaven because heaven is simply being where God is. If you don't believe in the God who makes the heaven, or want to be with Him, why should you expect to be in heaven? They can be mad all they want, it won't change the facts, and when the time comes, it will be them who suffer in their shame for all eternity for rejecting the only One who was able and wanted to save them. God loves all His creation and wants none of them to perish, but alas, He gave us all free will, so it is your choice.

Please listen to Paul Washer - Know You Are Saved

Persecution of Christians worldwide is increasing, keep your brothers and sisters in Christ in your prayers!

International Christian Concern - We are a non-profit and interdenominational human rights organization [501 (c)(3)] dedicated to assisting and sustaining Christians who are victims of persecution and discrimination due to practicing their faith. Since 1995, we have been assisting the worldwide persecuted Christian church by providing assistance, awareness, and advocacy striving to exemplify faithfulness to our Lord and to our donors.

How is a Christian supposed to live?

James 1:2-8
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Psalm 73
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?" This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

We have rules that govern our lives, but they aren't oppressing. They're there to guide us away from actions that are contrary to the foundation of love and keep us close to our God, who IS love (1 John 4:4-10). They're a reference and guidelines for our everyday life. The 10 Commandments is that guideline. Yeshua made it clear that all the laws of the prophets hang on two commandments, love God, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40). However, keeping your life in line with the 10 Commandments will naturally bring you to a place of synchronicity with God's heart because all those commandments hang on the concept of love. If you break the commandments, you show a lack of God's love in you. God said nothing He wrote can be changed and He means every word. In our quest to become more in line with God, these are a great resource. I've explained each commandment as best I can to show the idea that love is the foundation of all of them. If you truly claim to live by loving standards, then these should be no problem. We find everything we need for our spiritual lives in the Bible. It is our spiritual food (Luke 4:4) that teaches us God's ways of true love and true compassion. Our faith in God comes from knowing what the Bible says, so it is an important part of being a believer to read the Bible.

Romans 10:13-17
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 12:3-17
For consider him [Yeshua] that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, [Genesis 25:19-34] who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Remember in all things that God loves you. He has your best interest at heart with the following.

Shadows of Love

Exodus 20:1-17

And God spoke all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (1)

Our God is a jealous God. Why? Because He is the ONLY God. All others are deceptions and misleading by the forces of darkness. If we have other gods before the only real and true God, we won't be listening to Him for guidance and we will be placing ourselves under the ownership of one who has our eternal destruction in mind. God is Love and He created us to have communion with Him, not someone or something claiming to be Him. Can a watch deny it's designer? The human body is multitudes more complex at just the cellular level, let alone all the parts that work to produce living flesh. It was all designed and it was designed to house eternal beings created for communion with their Creator, for us to exist. He knew us before we existed and created us because He loves us. He gave us free will though, so each person has their own choice to make that nobody can make for them. They can choose reality or vain imaginations. The real God is not going to save those who don't recognize Him though, at their own request.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (2)

The ancients and even some today worshipped the sun, cats, and a wide variety of physical things of stone and wood. The ridiculousness of this is apparent when you understand that all the elements will be melted with a fervent heat and a new heaven and new earth will be created. 2 Peter 3:10-13 What good will worshipping a destructible thing as a god do? Your eternal soul, God's gift of existence to you, will exist long after those physical things are gone. The stars don't answer back, they aren't sentient beings. We are eternal beings, you have an eternal God who created us, and was therefore there long before us eternally. The I AM is a statement of existence. God is outside of time, one of many dimensions of our universe, and therefore always was and always will be. He is the ultimate statement of I AM. He has given us existence and the free will to choose where to spend it, with Him or not. If God is Love, then I don't want to be where He is not forever. See if you would like to be forever separated from the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-26

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain^H7723; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. (3)

What does it mean to take the Lord's name in vain? Most assume it's swearing. Examining the original Hebrew translation reveals a more accurate definition. The term "vain" is defined in the concordance as H7723. It means desolating, evil (as destructive); literally (ruin) or morally; figuratively idolatry, uselessness; false, lying, vain, vanity. This should be a good indication that it isn't specifically swearing, but further claiming or saying things in God's name that are contrary (lies) to His Word. This would be those who create false doctrine and claim it is God who made it. Saying they serve a God of love and issuing hate and spite. Using His name falsely for something God never intended. It has the flavor of saying something is from God when it is not. It desolates His name because consequences are always negative when we stray from God's ways of love. People think they're serving God when they are serving mans' interpretation of God or the enemy's lies about God. Read His Word, all of it, to see what He is truly like.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (4)

There are many who I feel are legalistic to this to the point of saying if the Sabbath isn't recognized on a Saturday, then it isn't recognized. Some have grown up on a different week setup where Sunday is the last day of the week. This is how I have grown up. I believe it is the principle and the recognition of why the Sabbath is observed that is important. It should be pointed out that our calendar in the West isn't even in line with God's calendar, nor is the Jewish nature of it recognized by many. Remember that God created for six days, and then rested the seventh. We should follow His example because He set it for a reason. I believe it should be a time of rest in Him, meaning a time of focus and reflection on Him. My relationship with Him is daily but life is daily too and we, like any intimate relationship, need that mutual focus time. Personally, I believe it is because God wants us to be able to rest so He mandated a time where we would rest. I believe He did that so for one day out of seven, He could communicate better with us as we are less distracted by the things of this world, or at least we should be. As Christians, that time of rest should be spent close to God. This isn't to say the rest of the week shouldn't be, but the Sabbath should be a time of reflection and recognition of God's mighty design, great wisdom, and endless love for us. Clearly, the more time we choose to spend with Him as our guide, confidant, and ally, the closer we are to Him and we are observing the Sabbath daily as we rest from the world and praise Him and meditate on Him with His Word. The flesh does everything it can to keep us from that time. Just slow down and take some time with Him. Ask Him to give you greater desire. He knows your heart better than you do. 1 Chronicles 28:9

Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God gives thee. (5)

Disrespectful children seems to be a growing trend today. I believe it is because the love of many has grown cold. If love is completely selfless, as giving up your life for a friend, then growing cold would be more selfish. The more self-centered society gets, the colder our love gets. This is one of the many signs of the end in Matthew 24 that is seen in the lack of respect from a less loved generation programmed young to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Even so, our parents should love us with an unconditional and selfless love. They are the ones we can trust to be looking out for our best interest. We should respect them as elders and teachers. They will teach because they love. There is trust in that relationship that is not found many other places in this world.

Thou shalt not murder. (6)

This should be a no-brainer. A lot of people translate this as kill, including many Bibles, but the original Hebrew is translated especially as murder H7523. There is a difference between murdering and killing. There is no justified murder. The difference can be boiled down to intent. Murder is the killing of someone for selfish reasons. Anything else is either an accident, self-defense, or for the good of future community members, capital punishment, at risk because of unrepentant self-centered people.

Thou shalt not commit adultery. (7)

Only a person who is thinking selfishly and without love would abandon their spouse in favor of temporary physical relationships with others. It is the fulfilling of lustful desires of the flesh. The Bible says the Spirit God gave us is at constant enmity with the flesh. Galatians 5:17 | Romans 8:5-8 Again, the commandments revolve around the idea of preserving true love. True love has nothing to do with sex. I believe Romans 13:14 speaks to dwelling on Christ to prevent desire of the lusts of the flesh.

Thou shalt not steal. (8)

Needless to say, stealing is a selfish act that takes from others for personal gain. This is contrary to love and selflessness. It is the same foundation for many of the things we are not to do, selfish focus and pride of self. If we only ever think of ourselves we won't understand from any other perspective and we'll live in our own little world, willing to take advantage of others to get what we want. The kicker is that all the physical stuff we could want doesn't mean a thing. One day it will all be gone. What does matter is relationship, and God's laws, love God with all your heart and love your neighbors as yourself promote these relationships and communication with God and with each other.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (9)

What does it mean to "bear false witness?" It means to lie. Lies are manipulation tools used by selfish individuals to redirect blame to others or heap praise onto themselves. In this case it is more directed at something detrimental to your neighbor such as accusing them of something you know is not true. This can be to get back at them, therefore putting yourself above them in other's eyes and your own.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. (10)

Coveting is defined in Hebrew as delighting in, lusting after. In context to this commandment, we are not to lust after those things which aren't our own. Why? Because if we live in the mentality of coveting our neighbor's things, it can lead to breaking the other commandments such as not to steal, murder, or commit adultery among them. It is best to not covet anything of this world because our treasure is built up in heaven, not here on earth. Matthew 6:9-21 Again, this is all based on selfish pride. This is what God detests the most and the cause of Lucifer's fall.

That's really not so bad, right? When one holds to these commandments, they live happier lives with less heartache and drama. These are shadows of Love and that is the spirit of the Law. We can't fulfill the Law perfectly, but we can try. When we follow the above 10 Commandments, it shows a heart of selfless love. We will not put our own self interest above the free will of anyone around us. When we take away someone's free will, it shows a character flaw of selfishness and pride. When we obey these laws, we show a heart of love for our neighbors. For the Christian, it should not be about the Law, but a heart of love for God and for each other, the law becomes fulfilled. These are the things of the spirit.

Romans 2:11-16
For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified: (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.

James 1:22-27
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing. If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Romans 13:8-14
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Galatians 3:23-28
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

When we rely on God, we aren't so engrossed in the things of this world, the physical things, and it becomes easier and easier to stay in line with God's commandments for us as we conform ourselves to the image of Christ. It isn't a task, but a privilege to follow what is right and express God's love in all things to all people. Here is what Yeshua (Jesus) said relating our relationship to Him as the vine and us as the branches.

John 15:1-17
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

That shows just how selfless true Love is. Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of that love when He gave His life to save all of ours. We all sin, Romans 3:23, but through acceptance of Christ's sacrifice and establishment of the law, there is no condemnation as we try to live our lives in accordance to God's Word. His grace and sacrifice is sufficient to cover our weakness, but that doesn't mean we can go against God time and again. We live our lives according to His Word. If we love Him, we will obey Him.  Our weaknesses keep our pride in check and God can really use the humble. 2 Corinthians 12:9 We are saved by faith in God's grace Romans 4:13-25, not by legalistic holding of the law Colossians 2:16,17. A true Christian wants to be like Christ 1 Peter 2:18-25 and in so desiring, has a love for the law and for following it not to be blameless, but because of our love for God's Word and desire to live in His ways. Thank God for Christ, His Son, who came to willingly die for the remission of our sins so that we could forever be with Him!

John 4:23b
...the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Galatians 3:6-15
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

Romans 3:19-31
Now we know that what things so ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

John 17:20
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

1 Timothy 4
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery^G4244. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

From God Thoughts Wired: "The Overcomers Get All The Good Stuff!" Subscribe

"To him who overcomes..."
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21

PART 1: OVERCOMING...SIN

The first (no particular order) of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is: -Sin.

"Sin is crouching at your door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
Genesis 4:7

Yes, we must master sin. "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3). That being the case, it simply boils down to skills and choices. Is it fair for me to suggest that, "The time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries" (1 Peter 4:3). So, skills and choices. First, the skills:

"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lust."
Romans 13:14

Solomon put it this way,

"Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it and do not walk by it; turn away from it and pass on."
Proverbs 4:14-15

And then, the choices. "Choose for yourselves today, whom you will serve...But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself" (Joshua 24:15; Daniel 1:8). Skills, choices, mastery over sin. And the overcomers get all the good stuff...FOR ETERNITY.

PART 2: OVERCOMING...SELF

The second (no particular order) of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is: -Self.

"The heart is deceitful above all else and desperately sick."
Jeremiah 17:9

"I have found the enemy and the enemy is...me!" Whoever coined that phrase certainly had an understanding of the human dilemma . "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely shall be delivered" (Proverbs 28:26). Wow! It's not wise to put our trust in our own feelings. We must always evaluate our thoughts and emotions and attitudes through the grid of God's word. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). Beware the "self-sins." Self-centeredness. Self-justification. Selfishness. Wherever conflict exists, there's an awfully good chance that there's a whole lot of "self" goin' on.

PART 3: OVERCOMING...THE WORLD

The third (no particular order) of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is: -The World.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world."
1 John 2:15

How do we overcome "the world?" I used to think that discipline was enough. It's not. Don't get me wrong. Discipline is important! Indeed, discipline is vital to a successful Christian walk...but it is not enough. "He who walks with the wise shall become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm" (Proverbs 13:20). If the alcoholic spends all of his time in bars, he will eventually fall no matter how much discipline he has. The compulsive gambler will fall if he spends too much time hanging out in casinos. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14). In the world, but not of the world. That's the key!

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever...Therefore come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord."
2 Corinthians 6:14-18

We are called to love those who are in the world. Reach out to them. Be-friend them. Care about them. Witness to them and be the hands and feet of Jesus for them. Enter into their lives in order to expose them to the "light" of Jesus. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). But PLEASE always remember: It is never God's will to diminish our light in the hopes of reaching those who are in the dark. That's called compromise. Jesus calls it being "lukewarm" (see Revelation 3:15-16). I call it...BEING DECEIVED!*

*Beware the preacher who is embraced by the world. Jesus said of His true followers, "I have given them Thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 17:14). And He also said, "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19).

"It is amazing the distance some Christians go to seek persecution and all so unnecessary. Draw a little nearer to Calvary, and persecution will seek you. The world still hates the man who hates his sin." -A.W. Tozer, A Word in Season, p.110

THE WORLD WILL ALWAYS HATE THE MAN THAT HATES SIN!

PART 4: OVERCOMING...OTHER PEOPLE

The fourth (no particular order) of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is: -Other People.

"'They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you', declares the Lord."
Jeremiah 1:19

Relative to the others, this is by far and away the greatest challenge (in my opinion). The following is what I call "The Grand Test:" Let the positives in others point you toward God, Without allowing the negatives to pull you away from Him.

I've been studying (and attempting to practice) this concept for a little more than ten years now and I've identified three components. Three keys to becoming an overcomer in the area of other people. "The Grand Test" requires three attributes:

• Love. This kind of love, found only in God, "Does not take into account a wrong suffered" (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
• Humility. "For this finds favor (with God), if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly..." (1 Peter 2:19-20).
• Submission. "While being reviled, He did not revile in return, but kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges justly" (2 Peter 2:23).

Yes, I call it "The Grand Test," and we are given this test virtually every day...sometimes many times a day. Love, humility, submission. The highest of the "high roads." But "To him who overcomes..."

CONCLUSION: OVERCOMING...DEMONIC FORCES

The fifth (no particular order) of the five key areas in which we must {attain the knowledge, develop the skills, and cultivate the will} to overcome is: -Demonic Forces.

"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:12

As far as we are concerned, the skill is simple. "Don't give the devil an opportunity" (Ephesians 4:27). However, this is only half the battle because, "The devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). He is proactive! So, when the devil (demons) come knocking on your door the key is to "resist him (them)" (see 1 Peter 5:9). James 4:7 promises, "resist the devil and he will flee from you." (see Jesus in the wilderness for a perfect model of this, Matthew 4:4-10). And how do we "resist" demonic forces? By putting on the full armor of God.*

"Take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist..."
Ephesians 6:13

*For an in-depth discussion on this topic, click on: The Bible Says Series: Armor of God

Here is an article by Ray Gano that speaks to today's Christians and those who are not. We are not Christians because we say we are.

It is interesting, I was reading the following…

Romans 12:1,2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

There are several things that stick out in my mind when I read these verses.

1. Which is your reasonable service
2. Be not conformed to this world

The sad thing is, both of these items I see very little of in our churches today.
We know that God came to earth in the flesh and lived a perfect life. This is so far outside our scope and ability, it is hard to understand. But more than that, God in the flesh as His only begotten son gave His life so that we might live.

That is a pretty tall order. So much so that we as mere humans do not have the ability to earn this gift, deserve this gift or ever pay this back. We are blood bought souls which the price was paid on the cross. It was a very dear price also, the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So what is our reasonable service? Giving our all in the service of the Lord; everything we have, every breath we take, every action, every thought; everything that is what our reasonable service is. Look at what Christ gave us. But look at today’s world and worse, look at today’s Christian.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you….”

Read the quick definitions of each of these quickly.

Fornicators - The Greek word is pornos {por’-nos}, from which we get “pornography”

Idolaters - The worship of idols, images, or any thing made by hands, or which is not God

Adulterers - It means to have unlawful intercourse with another’s wife or husband.

Effeminate - To make womanish; to unman; to weaken, a sissy boy.

Abusers of themselves with mankind – Sodomites one who lies with his or her own gender; an abomination unto God.

Thieves – 1. One who secretly, unlawfully and feloniously takes the goods or personal property of another. The thief takes the property of another privately; the robber by open force.
2. One who seduces by false doctrine. John 10.
3. One who makes it his business to cheat and defraud; as a den of thieves. Matthew 21.

Covetous - Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess; directed to money or goods, avaricious.

Drunkards - One given to ebriety or an excessive used of strong liquor; a person who habitually or frequently is drunk.

Revilers - To feast with loose and clamorous merriment; to carouse; to act the bacchanalian. (feasts of Bacchus hedonism – if it feels good, do it)

Extortioners - The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting any thing from a person by force, duress, menaces, authority, or by any undue exercise of power; illegal exaction; illegal compulsion to pay money, or to do some other act. Extortion is an offense punishable at common law.

Did you catch that last part? “And such were some of you…” Some have woken up to the fact that they were living in sin and have corrected it. They realize the duty “Which is your reasonable service.”

Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world…” And yet there are the many trappings that we refuse to let go of. But more than that, we are now allowing the world into our church by just slapping the word Christian on it.

Look at the definition from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11a again. Those sins are the norm in today’s churches, not the exception. Not only have we conformed to this world, we wallow in the muck and mire that the trappings of the world offers. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE LOVE IT TOO!!! It feels so good to wallow in the flesh.

If you are one of these partakers, it feels good now. But do you live for the Lord as is your reasonable service or do you live for Satan and wallow in the trappings of this world slapping the word “Christian” on it? Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Folks if you are one of these partakers of the flesh, here is what you should expect and in fact Jesus himself warned us…

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Many people confuse these verses with cults like the Mormons, JWs, Moonies, ect. The problem is that these cults and false religions DO NOT call Jesus Christ Lord when the rubber meets the road.

ONLY CHRISTIANS CALL HIM LORD! So who is Christ talking to in these verses? Us… Christians. Folks, to be a Christian is a life changing event. You just don’t say some cute little prayer or check off some box and you get to heaven. Your life reflects your decision. Your reasonable service will show through. You can’t help but for it to show. If you are one of God’s children, He will have it no other way. But if you are one who has the Lord in your heart and still living in the world. Several things may happen, your life will be miserable because you are not serving him as is your reasonable service, OR… God is going to take you home. You may even face both.

If you are a Christian and you are still here breathing, then you have a duty to the Lord. That is to live a proper life with out being involved in those things mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11a as well as in other passages in scripture. You know in your heart what is and is not acceptable to the Lord, Jeremiah 31:33 states that God’s law is written on the hearts of men. So to put it bluntly, there are no excuses for “not knowing.”

Being saved by Grace is not a license to sin either. But when we look at the church today, that is just what they are doing.

Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world…

We as the church have become so conformed; there is no separation between the two. What secret sin are you living in where you have just slapped the word “CHRISTIAN” on it to justify your flesh to yourself? Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Which Kingdom will you inherit? There are only two, God’s or Satan’s? But more so… Who Do You Serve? Jesus stated the following…

John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If you do not have Christ in your life, you will spend eternity in hell. This is a fact. It does not matter if you believe this or not, it is the truth spoken by Jesus himself. If your name is not written in the Lambs Book of Life you will go to hell for what you have not done and that is accepting Christ as your personal savior. To be placed in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you need to turn your life completely over to Him. Having “head” knowledge or “just believing in Christ” is not the same as having “heart” knowledge with Christ living in your heart. Even the “devils” believe in God.

James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

We work hard at Prophezine to show that Bible Prophecy is coming to pass. Because of this fact, we know that the Bible is true. Since the Bible is the truth and is the inerrant word of God, there is a heaven and there is a hell. If you claim the title of “Christian” then take account of yourself this day. Many claim the title, but we read in God’s Word that the title does not get you into heaven.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Who you serve will determine where you will spend eternity. If you are not serving Christ and a true child of God, then you are serving Satan and a child of the enemy. If you are not 110% sure, then take account of yourself, your very life depends upon it.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Need for Salvation

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh⁴⁵⁶¹ are manifest, which are these;

• adultery,³⁴³⁰
• fornication,⁴²⁰²
  • Indulge in unlawful lust or idolatry
• uncleanness,¹⁶⁷
  • Moral/physical impurity
• lasciviousness,⁷⁶⁶
  • wantonness (deliberate, without motive), filthy, negative vices
• Idolatry,¹⁴⁹⁵
  • Image worship (literal or figurative)
• witchcraft,⁵³³¹
  • Medication ("pharmacy"), by extension magic, sorcery
• hatred,²¹⁸⁹
  • Hostility, enmity
• variance,²⁰⁵⁴
  • Quarrel, contention, wrangling, debate, strife
• emulations,²²⁰⁵
  • Unfavorable zeal, jealousy, malice, indignation
• wrath,²³⁷²
  • Fierceness, indignation, passion (as if breathing hard)
• strife,²⁰⁵²
  • Provoking contention, intrigue
• seditions,¹³⁷⁰
  • Disunion, division, dissension
• heresies,¹³⁹
  • Choosing disunion
• Envyings,⁵³⁵⁵
  • Ill will (detraction), spite
• murders,⁵⁴⁰⁸
  • To slay
• drunkenness,³¹⁷⁸
  • intoxication
• revellings,²⁹⁷⁰
  • carousal, letting loose, rioting

and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is

• love,²⁶
  • Affection, benevolence, charity
• joy,⁵⁴⁷⁹
  • Cheerfulness, calm, delight, gladness
• peace,⁵¹¹⁵
  • To join, prosperity, quietness, rest
• longsuffering,³¹¹⁵
  • Patience, longaniminity, forbearance
• gentleness,⁵⁵⁴⁴
  • Kindness, moral excellence, usefulness
• goodness,¹⁹
  • Virtue, beneficence
• faith,⁴¹⁰²
  • Moral conviction of God's truth, persuasion, credence, assurance, belief, fidelity
• Meekness,⁴²³⁶
  • Gentleness, humility
• temperance:¹⁴⁶⁶
  • Self-control, continence

against such there is no law.

Regarding faith, there is another aspect that must work simultaneously, that is works. If we believe, then we must also act in obedience to God's Word. We're not saved by our works, that is through the shed blood of Christ alone. However upon believing in our salvation by grace through the blood of Christ, His love flowing through us should translate to action.

James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The example given above has to do with clothing and feeding those in need. When you give something to someone with no expectation of anything in return, it is selfless.

John 15:13,14
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Yeshua laid His life down for us, showing the greatest love there is - completely selfless. So expressing love to others in our actions, our "works" is an expression of our faith. Giving selflessly whether it is food, clothing, a helping hand, a listening ear, or whatever comes across our path in life; our actions express our faith in giving selflessly. Faith translates to action and if it does not, that faith is dead. I am still growing in this area myself having just recently woken up while living in this world of selfishness. Be observant in life, looking to help others. It doesn't have to be with money, I myself have little of that, but share the Gospel. It is the most important and valuable thing a Christian has to offer because for those with ears to hear, it is the message of eternal life in the presence of God! Share the hope that is in you!

1 Corinthians 1:17-31
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

In the New Age movement, and in some Christian circles, there's the idea that we are little gods. This humanistic approach to understanding God is usually built on other belief systems than the Bible alone, which I feel addresses the question that it brings up and it goes back to deception, what we are warned of.

John 10:30-38
I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Genesis 3:5
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

It was that desire to be like gods is the temptation that led to the disobedience and brought with it the curse and subsequent knowing of good and evil. Notice that doubt was introduced to what God said in order to tempt Eve. Lucifer and his followers work the same in trying to destroy faith in the Bible today. Without this knowledge there could not be sin since there was no law to transgress save one, eating of the tree. Once they did that, they gained knowledge of evil. The choice to have that knowledge opened Pandora's box of choices and the introduction of our capability for evil as well as good.

Psalm 82
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

So we are children of the most High and know good from evil, we are in this way gods subservient to the one God by acting like He does according to His Word. The following of God's ways of selfless love are "good" while doing things contrary to this are "evil." The key is having the spirit of God in us and acting as such.

The word "god" is is also figuratively a magistrate; Strong's H430. So we are not gods in the all-knowing sense of course, but we are His representatives on earth acting on His behalf to share His selfless love with others as a witness to His love. We are not infallible as God is and history is evidence of man choosing evil over good continually. Death is a part of the curse of being tainted by evil after gaining the knowledge of good and evil. However it is just a blink in eternity. In eternity, we will have immortal bodies as the angels are now. It was the fall in Genesis 6:1-9 that Jude 1:6 talks about when the angels left their first estate to pollute the genetic lineage of mankind in an attempt to prevent the advent of Christ and our salvation.

Matthew 22:23-30
The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

The wicked always have power over the poor because they lust for control and power while the poor in spirit are taken advantage of, something I think we're seeing that now in the world. The concept that we are gods in the sense of human might and intelligence doesn't fit with history. Examining history shows that those men who claimed to be gods were tyrannical dictators who had no compassion for those "below" them and amassed wealth and power by which to exert control which usually brought death to the general population.

There are many New Age beliefs that center on us as our own gods, our own "Christ consciousness," but like I said earlier when we have that attitude it tends to lean towards a selfish nature that dictates rather than an open position of love and mutual respect. This is not true in all cases, I'm sure, but you can always judge a tree by its fruits. When division, mistrust and strife are the result, the tree's not producing the fruit of love. The heart of a man of pride is something to be cautious of, especially when a position of power that can puff up pride. What's that saying, "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely?" We will see this happen when the antichrist declares himself God at the abomination of desolation.

Jeremiah 17:9,10
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

The Bible says that those who are humble and loving will be rulers with Christ according to God's ways of love. In this way we are co-rulers under His authority and so the relationship of God and man will be one of communion and not a dictatorship like all the little self-proclaimed god-men of today. It's all about the spirit behind it. Those who are humble and give all trust and authority to God over their own desires are the children of God who will rule and reign with Him, looking out for those under their watch, not looking out for themselves. I just want to align myself more with God's ways.

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

I think many Christians try to provoke each other more than to love sometimes. Pride is an issue for all of us at times in life, and pride comes before a fall. Some Christians like to compare and point fingers rather than admit they're in the same boat. So while we may be children of God and do God's will with the authority of Christ, we are still fallen and battling our selfish nature, made more difficult by the enemy trying to flatter us and puff us up so he can take advantage of that pride to do his will. This is why we must be aware and guard our minds with God's Word. With great power comes great responsibility and we are told to act in accordance with God's will, revealed in His Word not our own plans and desires to build ourselves treasures on earth.

Matthew 6:1-21
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The greatest treasure we can have in eternity is the communion with God that begins right now in prayer through to His coming and eternity while bringing the Truth to the lost so that they too will be in communion with us in heaven and not separated from God. Our treasure is not always seen here and now but comes by doing God's will now for future benefits to all that love God. We are chosen for our love of God to be kings and priests to our God where we will rule and reign with Him, and under Him, for eternity. Until then, our job is to warn and build up those who have ears to hear with the Gospel of salvation through Yeshua the Christ. The time to put on the immortal is fast approaching and time is running out. See why here.

The importance of remaining obedient in order to "know" God

1 John 2
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Matthew 10:24-33
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

To me the fear of God is the fear of an eternity completely separated from Him. God is love. The second death is eternal life, but separated from God in all ways, which I count as no life at all. No more love, hope, peace, goodness or any of the things that bring us true joy. That frightens me to my core. It causes me to test my heart and check my ways against God's. But the more I build my relationship with Him, the less there is fear as my desire is for His ways that naturally lead me to Him.

Psalm 119:104-106
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

The straight and narrow path is the one you walk when you have a goal in mind, a destination. When you desire what is at the other destination, you don't deviate but for obstacles that block your path. These stumbling blocks of self and worldly pleasures are meant to lure you from your path leading to the one source of salvation and the goal of the bride of Christ and our blessed hope, to meet Yeshua in the clouds at His coming. He is our focus and our goal, taking us from this world to His Father's house with many mansions, New Jerusalem for the marriage of the Lamb. When your desire becomes Him and you understand His heart for you, the fear is more for those who reject God because they do not believe. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, the Bible.

Matthew 7:21-27
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

John 15:7-18
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

This last one lays out the applicability of Christ's death for the sins of those that obey Him. Christ showed that greatest love for a friend by giving up His life for His friends. He then says we are His friends IF WE DO WHATSOEVER GOD HAS COMMANDED US. That is a conditional statement. We are only His friends if we are obedient to His Word, the Bible. It shows our desire for relationship through trying to understand God according to His Word. Relationship is key and is communication, or prayer. Through this relationship, Yeshua sends the Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us. How do we develop that relationship?

Psalms 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

How do we "know" God? God created laws which, if followed, represent His Spirit of love, peace, joy, patience, longsuffering, goodness, gentleness, faith, meekness, and temperance. In order to truly know God, we must emulate His ways. Then we will see from His perspective and know Him deeper. Therefore, knowing God means obedience to His ways. We are called to do His Word and be like Him. The best way to do that is to read His Word, which is for us to understand the things of God.

Acts 17:30,31
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

If we know we are given understanding through the Bible and that it is our guide, we should desire to know what it is we might do that would be an offense to God. God winked at the ignorance in times past, but through Christ, we're called to repentance. Repentance requires acknowledging sin and turning from it to God. That means we must understand what God considers sin. Personally, I want to understand how to live my life as well, and the mysteries of God. I'm going to be a king and priest ruling and reigning with Christ. 

Proverbs 25:2
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

We're also not to be ignorant about spiritual gifts. This means we must understand them and the only place that gives that information is the Bible.

1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

This passage reveals much about speaking in tongues and prophesying as well as women in the church and letting ignorant people be.

1 Corinthians 14:20-40
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

So I encourage those who haven't accepted Christ as their personal Savior to get alone and talk to Him. You don't have to know what to say. Just ask Him to reveal Himself to you and enter your heart. Ask forgiveness for those sins you've committed against God and others. Accept Yeshua as your Lord with the intention to obey His Word even at the cost of the desires of the flesh.

Ask for a hunger for His Word, the Bible. If you truly want to get to know Him more, He will answer you. And if you truly want to understand Him more, take the time to read His Word that He has preserved over thousands of years for your eyes. He may not speak to you with a booming voice and lightning and thunder, but you will know when He does. Get quiet and listen to that still, small voice.  You will know those thoughts by their alignment in scripture.

He has promised to answer John 16:23-28 if your heart is humble and right before Him, acknowledging Yeshua as God in the flesh who came to save you from eternal separation from God. Place God before all else, even family and friends. Matthew 10:32-38 Not to the point of not speaking to them, but make your allegiance to God before all. Our true brothers and sisters are those who do God's will. Matthew 12:46-50 They will be the only ones accepting Christ, and therefore the only ones who will live in eternity with you. That is why it's so imperative to reach out to those you love with the gospel.

The world looks on Christians as Bible thumpers. In reality, we just recognize the Truth and the danger in rejecting that Truth written in the Bible, the Gospel. That God came in the flesh and lived a perfect life to be nailed to a tree and accursed, taking all the sins of history to Himself. He rose again from the grave defeating death and gives the promise of eternal life through the sealing of the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is ask and receive and obey God's Word.

Hebrews 10:22-39
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Remember this too, that Christ didn't come into the world to accuse us, but to cover our sins and eliminate them from our record! It is Satan that accuses us before God as with Job. It is God who sent His only Son into the world to die