Walking In The Darkness

Friends,
What does it mean to “walk in the darkness”? (1 John 1:6)

Answer: It means to be (live / abide / dwell / remain / continue) in the darkness.

What is this “darkness”?

Answer: It means “spiritual darkness”.

And what does that consist of?

Answer: It consists of all that is not of God.

What exists that is not of God?

Answer: All that is not holy, pure, and of the Truth.

Now, with this knowledge, let’s read 1 John 1:5,6 which say, “… God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk [be, live, dwell, remain, continue] in the darkness, we lie and do not live [walk, abide, etc.] by the truth.” We know that if we do not live by the Truth, we will not come to “know the truth” (John 8:32) nor be set free by the Truth who is Jesus and God’s Word (v. 32,36 & 14:6 & 17:17 & Rev. 19:13), nor will the Truth be in us. (1 John 2:4)

If the Truth is not in us, then the Spirit of God (of Jesus and the Father) is not in us, nor we in Him. Consequently, we are not in the Light, but in the darkness. In God there is not one speck of darkness. So if we are IN Him, and He IN us, how can we abide in any darkness or any darkness abide in us? It’s impossible. Yes, we may glance back at the darkness, for it is always trying to tempt us or catch us off guard, but to walk back into it (to BE in it), we most certainly have made the choice to turn from Jesus. Again –yes, this happens too. (1 John 1:8) But if or when it does, we’ve sinned and must confess our sin, turn away from it, and run back into Christ. He will forgive the one who confesses his sin (v. 9) and who is truly contrite for having broken the holy covenant of the Spirit, and He will “purify us from all unrighteousness.” (v. 9) In other words, He will make us a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17) again. But if the old is not gone, then there is no new creation, for a new creation in God’s eyes means a clean creation.

I realize I am being somewhat redundant, but this is because I find that most people are not really reading what God’s Word is actually saying. This last week at the train stop I was talking with some evangelists that I often see there, and though I’ve addressed it many times with one of them who has a real problem with a continuation in sin, he still can’t fully accept that OSAS (once-saved, always-saved) is a false doctrine. I have exhorted him repeatedly to quit thinking he can sin and preach at the same time and be on the road marked “Eternal Life”. (Thankfully, he seems a tad closer to the Truth, for he said he was quite alarmed at having read recently the parable of the talents in Matt. 25:14-30, especially the last verse where the “worthless servant” got thrown into Hell.)

“Servant,” my friend squeaked. “The guy had been Christ’s servant.”

“Yes,” I said, “And how about the parable of the unmerciful servant whose huge debt the Master cancelled? The guy had pled for mercy, so… God had forgiven him. But because the guy afterwards did not have mercy on his fellow servant, God revoked His once-declared mercy and ‘turned him over to the jailers until he should pay back all he owed’.” (See Matt. 18:21-35)

My point is that people need to stop holding to false teachings and instead “hold to Christ’s teaching” (see John 8:31) –the only teaching that sets us free from being “a slave to sin” (v. 34) and enables us to dwell in freedom. (v. 32,36) That place of freedom is The Light –God. (1 John 1:5) This is why verse 7 says that “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from every / all sin.” This verse needs to be read carefully, not through the lens of Deception’s teachings. It doesn’t say that the blood of Jesus saves us from sin’s penalty (though elsewhere we’re told it does this also). It says here that Jesus’ blood purifies us from every sin. –Purifies us.

Friends, we are not purified if we still have sin in us. But if we’ve been purified, we have fellowship with other purified, cleansed, clean individuals, as well as with God Himself. (1 John 1:3) How do we attain this, have this, and keep this clean fellowship? We do it by stepping into and remaining in the Vine (John 15:3,4) who is also called “the Word of God” (Rev. 19:13) –(who is God –John 1:1)– and “the Word of life.” (1 John 1:1) “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) “The life appeared… the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.” (1 John 1:2) This is Jesus. He is being called “the life” and “the light of men” and “the eternal life.”

John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” Col. 1:13 says, “He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness…” Sadly, though, most people love darkness instead of light, and they even hate it and will not step into it. (John 3:19,20) Why? Because the light would expose their evil deeds. (v. 20) But… “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light…” (v. 21) For as Jesus says, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (8:31.32) The Truth sets us free from the darkness that we may walk in the light.

Stepping, by faith, into Jesus who is the Truth, the Light, the Life, is how we step out of darkness. Dwelling in Jesus who is the Word and the Way (the True Teaching) is how we continue to stay clear of the darkness.

If we are not continuing in, holding to, and putting into practice –the Truth, then we will not be in the Light, but will instead be in the darkness. The darkness is all that is not of the Holy Almighty God. This includes all that God calls wickedness, hatred, evil, lawlessness, and sin. If we partake of any of this and continue to do so, we then have no part with God –no peace with Him, no fellowship with Him, and no salvation available through Him. (Heb. 10:26) We’ve negated His mercy by our deliberate choice of choosing to accept the lie over the Truth, and choosing to abide in the darkness rather than the Light.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

Rocks Are Given His Keys

Friends,
This morning I answered an email I’d received last night from an evangelist in another state who asked me to pray about some things, including his workplace where the mental abuse is getting almost unbearable. I promised that I would continue praying for him and added that I would also be praying that the abusers’ mouths would be stopped by the Lord Himself.

Then tonight while reading a devotional… and under today’s date, was the verse, Matt. 16:19. In this verse Jesus says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Many people disagree as to what, and to whom, Jesus is promising this. Some say it’s addressed only to Peter, while others say Jesus is promising this to the whole church, Peter being the initial human rock upon which Jesus has built His church. (See v. 18) I myself believe Jesus’ emphasis in verse 18 is not Peter, but the church, even though in verse 17 He calls Peter blessed for having been enlightened by the Father that He (Jesus) is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (v. 16) For in verse 18 Jesus says, “And I tell you that you are Peter [meaning rock], and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades [Hell] will not overcome it / will not prove stronger than it.”

In other words, yes, Peter is “rock”, and Jesus builds His church by beginning with a particular rock (Peter), but Peter’s spiritual strength is merely a beginning, an example, of the strength of Christ’s church. For Jesus states that the evil realm (Hell’s gates) will not prove stronger than… –what? –The object of the sentence is not Peter, but the church. The evil realm will not be able to overcome the church! Why? Because we will all be rocks! And this, because we are all in the Rock –Christ! (1 Cor. 10:4 & 1 Peter 2:8)

So, “As you come to Him, the living Stone… you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house… through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4,5) It is through Him and in Him, that we are also stones… rocks… offering ourselves and our spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. (v. 5) Therefore, we, like Peter, are rocks –but only as we abide in Christ. So, for those who do abide in Christ, we share in “the riches of His glorious inheritance” (Eph. 1:18) –“His incomparably great power” (v. 19), a new birth from above of the Spirit (John 3:3-8) which makes us totally new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), a participation in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and “every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3)

What then, is Jesus saying in Matt. 16:19? Jesus is saying that as we rest on and in Him, the Rock, we can use the keys of His kingdom, those keys which give us authority to” bend a bow of bronze” (Ps. 18:34), “run through a barricade” (v. 29), and open and close doors. (Matt. 16:19)

Yea, I’m tired of abuse –whether it be mental, verbal, physical, or spiritual– from abusers who oppress others in order to gain wealth or glory for themselves. I think of the family man who got shot dead this week because he was one who was speaking out against those who are stealing the land of the indigenous people group we worked with overseas. Who is stepping forward to bind these abusers from implementing their plans of greed? Some are trying. The world actually has numerous humanitarian organizations… But sadly, much effort and money are wasted, for such is the case when we work in our own human might rather than in God’s.

So how is Christ’s true church to make use of His keys? We are to speak out in the name of Jesus. Speak out to people –kings and governors…– but especially to the Lord –and out loud so that all the spiritual realm can hear. What do we speak out? We speak out praise and exaltations to the King of kings. We speak out thanksgivings to Him. We speak His Word back to Him. We pray, we petition, we weep.

Besides using words to bind and loose, to close and open doors and hearts and mouths, we act. We go, we help, we learn, we “train ourselves to be godly.” (See 1 Tim. 4:7) And when we’ve done all this, we ask of God once more, we leave the request before the great Throne of Grace, we thank Him for what He is going to do, and we go about our business, standing in unwavering trust in “the God who performs miracles.” (Ps. 77:14)

This is how we, rocks in Christ’s kingdom, use the keys of His kingdom; and God will honor it and command that it be done. That is, if we’ve done it in the Spirit, done it in line with His will, done it while being found in Christ.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

Decrees From Proverbs 11

Friends,
God’s Word is either true, or it isn’t. If it is, then we’d best read it, study it, take its warnings to heart, and put its instructions into practice. Here are just a few truths –found in Proverbs chapter 11, out of the many in God’s Word:

~~ “A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings himself harm.” (v. 17) Isn’t this the truth! What a joy it is to know a kind man, to be in his fellowship, to watch the precious way he treats his family and all others he comes in contact with. This man is gentle and mature, he does not act in malice, he never takes revenge, and his humility brings him honor –honor which he never flaunts– as well as blessings of all kinds from the Lord.

But what about the cruel man? This man performs his daily tasks with no one but himself as the focus of his concern. He may do kind deeds, but the deeds are done only so he might receive prestige and a good reputation. If anyone, even those he is pretending to help, cross him, this man retaliates in anger and revenge. But his hostility, soon enough, reap for this man loneliness, frustration, grief, ruin, and disgrace.

~~ “The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.” (v. 19) The truly righteous man is the man who daily makes the choice to be found hidden in, abiding in, Christ –He who is Life (John 6:54 & 10:10 & 11:26 & 1 John 5:20)– for righteousness and life can only be attained while abiding IN the Vine. (John 15:1-10) Truly, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6)

But what about the man who pursues evil? Well, although he may appear to prosper for a time, the path he struts down, (rather, stumbles down), is the path that leads to misery, death, and horror. He has sown to please his sinful nature, thus from that nature he will reap destruction rather than eternal life. (Gal. 6:8) Oh, that this man would heed Ezek. 18:30,31: “Therefore, O house of Israel (My chosen people), I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel (My chosen)?”

~~ “Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.” (v. 21) This is a fact –a certainty. And which one we reap for ourselves –punishment or freedom– does indeed depend upon our behavior, our words, and what God sees in our hearts. (Matt. 12:34-37 & 23:28 & John 5:29 & James 2:24) Anyone who is not pleasing to Him, God labels wicked –including the sexually immoral, the greedy, the drunkards, and the slanderers (1 Cor. 6:9,10)– “for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.” (Eph. 5:6,7) For “without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14)

~~ “The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.” (v. 23) Again, it may take time, but the end will reveal this declaration true. For the righteous desire what is in line with the will of the Lord; the wicked desire, strive for, and hope for, only that which is foul in the nostrils of God.

~~ “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” (v. 24) The generous man will receive abundance and will prosper. (v. 25 & 22:9 & Ps. 112:5 & Luke 6:38 & 2 Cor. 9:6) However, the man who cheats his fellowman, will be repaid with the fire of God’s wrath. (Jer. 21:12)

Is God’s Word true? It is. And as Jesus says in John 8:51, “I tell you the truth, if a man keeps My word, he will never see death.” However, if a man does not put the Word into practice, he is like the foolish man whose house (life) “fell with a great crash.” (Matt. 7:27)

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

Disaster Decreed For Disobedient

Friends,
To everyone, Jesus stills calls out “in a loud voice, ‘If a man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.'” (John 7:37) How do we come to Him and drink the waters that bring salvation? We listen to His Spirit who we find in His words. For “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (Jesus in 6:63)

Therefore, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters… Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?” (Is. 55:2a) Why do people spend their efforts on “all that is meaningless” (see Ec. 1:2) when He who is “the bread of life” (John 6:48) is available right there on our shelves (the Word of God –John 1:1,14 & Rev. 19:13) –ready to give us this Bread, that which alone can satisfy?

We must read Him! We must listen to His Spirit in the words! “Listen, listen to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isa. 55:2b) –Richness of peace, security, safety, joy, abundance, love, His presence, His fellowship, and all else that He delights us with.

“Give ear and come to Me; hear Me, that your soul may live.” (Isa. 55:3) If we do not give heed to what He is saying –saying through the Spirit in the Word– our soul will not live. For only through Him is there life –true life and life everlasting. For “He is the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20) This is why only by remaining in Him and His words (John 15:1-8), which we do by meditating on and obeying His words (v. 9,10), are we inside of Eternal Life.

Jesus has told us that His Spirit and His words are what give life, and that the flesh (that which is not of these, but of man) will not bring life. (John 6:53) Then why are people so foolish as to eat what the world offers? “Their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.” (Jer. 5:6) Therefore: “The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you.” (11:17)

“This is what the LORD says: ‘For three sins of Judah [His chosen], even for four, I will not turn back My wrath. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept His decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods [and false ideologies]… I will send fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem.'” (Amos 2:4,5) For those who “cast righteousness to the ground… and despise him who tells the truth” (5:7,10), God declares, “I will fix My eyes upon them for evil and not for good.” (9:4)

Come to the waters of Life, everyone, for if you do not, your own conduct and actions will reap for you a punishment that will pierce you through. (Jer. 4:18)

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

Help To One Starfish Can Multiply

Friends,
My mom has been telling me for a few months now about how their pastor has been strongly encouraging the congregation to witness everywhere. So this past Sunday she said he preached it again, and this time he told about a funeral he’d conducted in 2010 where about 400 people came who were either homeless or homosexuals. And why was this? It was because there had been a man coming to the church who had been witnessing and ministering to that type of people for some time before he died. And why had he been doing that? It was because, after quietly coming to the church for a while and sitting in the back, he had made the decision that he was through with sin and bondage (he’d been a male prostitute) and was thus gloriously saved and filled with the love and zeal of the Lord.

But one thing that caught my mom’s attention was that the pastor stated that this born-anew man had initially come to the church because of an encounter on the street: A girl had talked to him about the Lord, and it had made him want to seek God and seek freedom from sin. “I wonder if that girl was you,” my mom said and she told me the guy’s name that the pastor had stated when reading a letter the dying man had written. “Maybe,” I said, thoughtfully, though I certainly can’t remember all those I’ve witnessed to down there for the past 15 years.

What if “the girl” had been me? But if it wasn’t, it was someone else, and either way it’s exciting –for it means that fruit is coming forth from the efforts of people evangelizing out on the streets! It means that someone met this male prostitute where he was at and shared Christ, love, freedom, and hope with him, enough for him to truly “seek and find” (see Matt. 7:7,8 & 13:44-46) the Savior. And just think: Not only was this dying man’s soul saved, but he also then went out sharing Jesus and the Good News. If 400 people came to his funeral, then at least that many must have received from him some small (or big) seed of Truth and righteousness.

This story should be encouraging for those of us who are already witnessing throughout our communities, and encouraging too for those who have thought about doing so but haven’t yet. Why not?! Think of the multiplication of doing so: You witness to 50 people, three turn to God. Those three do the same, and so nine turn to God. Let’s say one of those 12 later speak to a crowd where ten are converted. This continues for a number of years, and… well, there could be thousands that get to Heaven because you started it –and did so by saying just a few simple things… like, “I’m encouraging people to read God’s Word and follow Jesus.”

It could mean the difference of Heaven or Hell for multitudes, really.

Well, I was highly encouraged to hear this. It gave me renewed motivation to obey verses such as Gal. 6:9 which says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Truly, our labor is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58), so let us therefore ask of each other, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.” (Eph. 6:19) “Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” (Col. 4:4) And may we always “be wise in the way we act toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.” (See v. 5) For who knows if we just may be witnessing to someone who will later become a great preacher, evangelist, missionary, or……. mom.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

P.S. Here below, I paste the parts of two motivating emails I received this last Sunday afternoon from two individuals half a globe apart. Notice how both of them speak of how important to lives (theirs and others) it is that we keep on trying, laboring, caring, praying, evangelizing, helping… for some of the starfish, some of the trees, will eventually be saved and bring forth good fruit.

““““““““““““““““““““““
“God gave you a burden of intercession for the little starfishes that foolishly swim close to the shores…. (how I remember being a foolish little starfish myself and how God would never let me go and He would send people to help me and pray for me and talk to me so that I would turn back from my backsliding and back to Him… I am so grateful for those brothers and sisters. I thank God for them. May you keep interceding for the foolish little starfishes and never never let them go, even if it is one soul, precious it is in His Eyes.

Take care sister Rachel… God keep you in His service and perfect will.”

““““““““““““““““““““““
“Tears, sister.

Tears because I felt His pleasure, and knew beyond all doubt that He cared for me, cared about all my labors, and was growing me, and teaching me to be patient.

Tears because He doesn’t give up easily.

Tears because had He given up easily, I would have been lost.

Tears because He said to me “Do not grow weary in well doing, for IF, IF you do not give up, you will reap a harvest.” This spoke hope to me about all the spiritual labors of 11 years.

Tears because I recalled His pain over His choice vine… Can He be justified in His judgments which are coming on the earth? Yes, absolutely.

We are His servants and His children. We are in Christ, knowing that the axe is laid at the root of the trees that do not bring forth good fruit. We plead, “Let it alone one more year…let me dig around it, and fertilize it, and if it bears fruit…wonderful. If it doesn’t, fully are you justified in cutting it down!” (Luke 13:8, my paraphrase.) The Spirit and the Bride say COME…come, the door is closing.

Tears are good. They make the heart soft.

love to you in our Lord and Savior,”

OSAS Is Indeed A Falsehood

Barbara,
Thank you for commenting at my comment page. However, you are adhering to a doctrine (“once saved, always saved” –OSAS) that uses God’s Word and then twists it. There are many such twistings in the world, but they are the cunning teachings of men, not God. If we read God’s Word and “correctly handle the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) then we will understand that Jesus really does command such things as this: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus is indeed commanding that we “Be perfect” just as God is, in the same way that God is. He is not saying, “You already are perfect, therefore, don’t worry.” No, He says, “Fear God who… has the power to throw you into Hell.” (Luke 12:5) For “unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (13:3) This does include the once-saved person who, by his willful continuation in sin, “defiles the dwelling place of God’s Spirit” (see 1 Cor. 3:16,17) and instead inherits Hell (Heb. 10:26,27), for he “has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified [–notice the past tense–] him.” (v. 29)

To repent does not mean a one-time, sentimental prayer. It means a turn from sin and a walk in the opposite direction –completely away from it. If we turn back to sinning, then we’ve stepped off the path of following Jesus, we’ve stepped off the path of being “in” Him, we’ve stepped off the path of “imputed righteousness before God”, and we’ve turned back onto the path of following sin.

You’re right, we cannot live a holy, blameless, perfect lifestyle on our own. It is a daily slaying of Self in the power of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16) for “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passion and desires.” (v. 24) If someone has not crucified their sinful nature, then this person simply does not belong to Christ. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” (1 Cor. 4:20) People can talk, or claim, what they want, but as 1 John 2:4 says, they merely lie (to others, as well as to themselves) –“having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Tim. 3:5) What they are denying is the Spirit’s power (for godliness) in them, as well as Christ’s Spirit Himself, whom God has extended to us by which, and through whom, we live blamelessly. As Titus 1:16 says, “They claim to know God, but by their actions [of sinfulness and unbelief] they deny Him.” You, Barbara, simply do not believe Him. You think you do, but by admitting you are still a slave to sin, you clearly are not trusting in His words to us, nor in His power He extends to everyone who takes ahold of Him by faith.

To repent and follow Jesus is not an election of favoritism “For God does not show favoritism.” (Rom. 2:11) As Rom. 2:7-10 point out, the reward of eternal life does definitely depend on what we do –the deeds (that is, the continuous action), of accepting the Truth enough to walk in it. As Peter says in Acts 10:34,35, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.” (See also Eph. 6:9 & Col. 3:25) God judges based on justice and mercy, not on injustice or partiality. (2 Chron. 19:7 & Dt. 32:4) He who makes decisions and judgements based on favoritism or partiality sins (James 2:9), but in God there is no sin.

God’s invitation is extended to all and it is this: To choose salvation –which means choosing freedom from sin’s power and sin’s penalty. With this invitation, God also extends (to all people everywhere) the power of His Spirit by which we can make this choice and walk accordingly. God is willing and eager to give us His Spirit’s help, but it is our choice. Furthermore, the whole walk… the whole path… our everyday life.. is a continuous choice –a choosing to faithfully, continually follow Jesus and remain IN Him.

If our “old self was [truly] crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless” (Rom. 6:6), then “anyone who has died [to Self] has been freed from sin.” (v. 7) We are either “slaves to sin, which leads to death [spiritual death], or [slaves] to obedience, which leads to righteousness.” (v. 16) “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (v. 22) This says very clearly: If we are not freed from sin, then we are not going to inherit eternal life. For we cannot serve two masters. (Luke 16:13) And let’s keep in mind that our lifestyle, our thoughts, our heart, our words… are the proof (James 2:14-26 & Mark 7:20-23) of whether or not we really have been freed from the slave-master of sin.

The “benefit” in Rom. 6:22 is actually an exceedingly marvelous gift that should overwhelm us with constant gratefulness. For the “benefit” is a “participation in the divine nature” (see 2 Peter 1:4) –God’s nature! And as 1 John 3:9 says, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s nature remains [abides, dwells] in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” And if we are born of God, we “are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:9) Do you think that if we are indeed controlled by the Spirit, we will continue to sin? How? Read this whole verse carefully: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if [notice this word “if”] the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” It is a sad reality, but those who are not born of the Spirit cannot fathom what we are talking about. They grope around in the darkness, The Lie; so they do not walk in the Light, the Truth, and thus cannot comprehend that we really can dwell / live / abide in the beautiful gift of God’s holy nature.

Barbara, you are proclaiming here to “everyone” that I am a false teacher. I’d be careful before the Lord about this and be sure you are correct, as well as consider that I have taught the Truth at this site with abundant support from Scripture. I wonder how many of my messages you have read…? but I will encourage you to read several, and with an open heart and mind, asking the Spirit of the Lord to give you insight. Please take warning from Jesus when He says in Luke 13:24, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” People are trying to enter while at the same time “rejecting the Truth” (Rom. 2:8) –which is precisely why they are not able to enter. The narrow door is Jesus, the Truth. There is only one Truth-way and we must be IN it, which means “in” Jesus. Please study what this means, for God’s Word teaches differently than what you are teaching.

God’s Word does indeed teach, “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.” (1 John 3:6)

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

The Disguised Lie Grows

Friends,
This morning in our church we had a message on Daniel, chapter 2, particularly the interpretation of the king’s dream, along with corresponding verses from Revelation. Our pastor discussed history’s seven empires which have ruled Israel and how the eighth one (which is still to come) actually “belongs to the seven.” (Rev. 17:11) Do we know these seven empires? If we don’t, it’d be wise to restudy our history lessons… as well as to continuously study God’s Word, for the two not only confirm each other, but will help us as “The Great Delusion” continues to spread. For though “The Great Deception” has long been preparing the way for this eighth king, its success is now increasing like a flood.

Jesus says, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect –if that were possible. See I have told you ahead of time.” (Matt. 24:24,25) The Lord is telling us ahead of time so that we’ll study God’s Word, the Truth, and get to know Him so that we won’t be fooled. For “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thes. 2:9,10) What is the result of their rebellion against God, against Truth? Verse 11 tells us: “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.” And where does the lie take them? Verse 12 says, “and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”

To refuse to love the Truth… to refuse to love it enough to study it… IS wickedness. For without Truth we not only err, but we’ve allowed ourselves to be open to enemy attack. What foolishness, and what deliberate treason, to make provision for oneself to be captured by enemy soldiers –especially knowing full well, as we all do, what the enemy really seeks.

The enemy’s intention is to woo, deceive, or force everyone to worship him –to usurp that which only God is worthy of. This has been Satan’s arrogant, disgusting, and evil desire ever since, and for which, he was banished from his honored position in God’s presence. (Ezek. 28:11-19) However, if he can’t get humans to do it directly, he finds ways to get them to worship him indirectly. This is what he’ll do in pretending to be the world’s savior, and also disguised as Christ, he’ll perform miraculous signs so as to legitimize his insistence that the whole world worship and obey this “real” savior. (Rev. 13:8,11-18) And unfortunately, “Because of the signs…, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.” (v. 14)

Will Bible-believers fall for this deception? Yes, many will. 2 Tim. 4:3,4 warn, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine… They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Their ears will have been listening to the Truth, but later turn aside from it, listening to falsehoods instead. Moreover, false teachings “will spread like gangrene” (2:17) causing people to “wander away from the truth.” (See v. 18)

Following Jesus, a must for salvation, is a continuous process. This is what “remaining in the Vine” means. (John 15:5) It is what “walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4) means. Jesus is the Truth. (John 14:6) Combined together, this all means that he who does not walk in the Truth, does not follow Jesus nor remain in Him. It also means that such a person will not be saved from Hell. For as Jesus says in John 15:6, “If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

The best way to remain in Jesus, to keep from being deceived, and to partake of eternal life now and into eternity (John 6:54 & 8:51), is to do it the way He says to do it: By walking in the Truth –God’s Word. (John 15:3,7 & 17:17)

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

Blissful Sleep Granted

Friends,
The Lord, our tender, compassionate Shepherd, “grants sleep to those He loves.” (Ps. 127:2) What a comfort to know this. To know He cares about the needs of our body, our spirit, our mind, our emotions… and gives us peace and rest and sleep.

We work, we run here and there, our minds whirl, our hearts ache, our eyes grow weary… weary from reading, studying, weeping for souls… and after the assignments, the Lord says, “Now rest, Honey.” And if we obey, He gives us true, refreshing rest.

The world doesn’t say this or provide this. Oh, they may chirp, “Aw, take a break, enjoy life, put your feet up, have a beer, indulge in a one-night stand, blow your money on a world-wide trip…”, but that’s not a recipe for rest, or peace of mind, or contentment, quietness, or sound sleep. That’ll only bring us more slavery –to debt, to sin, to man, to the system… as well as a conscience that can’t be at peace until it’s “seared as with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:2)

Jesus is our Rest. (Matt. 11:28 & Heb. 4:1-11) “For He Himself is our peace.” (Eph. 2:14) As we step into Him, doing so by abiding in His words (John 15:3-5), He gives us that “peace of God, which transcends all understanding, and which will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.” (See Phil. 4:7) Meditating on God’s Word, The Truth which makes us holy (John 17:17), is the avenue by which Jesus gives us His peace, a peace very unlike the kind the world gives. (14:27) Jesus is The Word (John 1:1,14 & Rev. 19:13), so as we abide in The Word, we find real peace, comfort, and rest. As our Lord says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have peace.”

But do most people remain in Christ by remaining in His words? No, they do not. And if some do, most of these do it with wrong motives –for their own glory or selfish gain, for Biblical knowledge, of for the prestige of looking and sounding righteous. But deep down they find no peace, no rest. Why? Because they are not actually IN Christ. They may be eating the words, but that’s all; they are not eating Jesus Himself who is The Word –the Spirit in the words. As Jesus says, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.” (John 5:39,40)

A chapter later Jesus says, “I am the bread of life… I am the living bread… I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you… [but] the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.” (6:48,51,53,57) Jesus says very clearly that only the one who eats and drinks Him “has eternal life.” (v. 54) For only this same person “remains in Me, and I in him.” (v. 56)

So how do people live out their lives who are not IN Christ? They live in vain. They abide in emptiness and all their works and strivings are for nothing. Ps. 127:2 in its entirety says, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat –for He grants sleep to those He loves.” Or it can be translated: “… –for while they sleep He provides for those He loves.” In other words, if the Lord provides for those He loves even while granting them sweet sleep, then why toss aside His gift of sleep by overworking? He’s not asked it of us, nor will any of our work be blessed or profitable unless… (see v. 1) … unless the Lord is the One doing it through us, and we through Him –as we remain IN Him and He in us. And if this is the case, we can relax. For after doing His bidding each and every day, and tossing our cares to Him one last time as we lay our head on the pillow, we can rest assured in this promise: “He grants sleep to those He loves.”

It is a blissful promise for sure.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

He Takes On Our Battles

Friends,
A friend who lives in another city called me yesterday afternoon to share with me an example of how the Lord fights our battles for us. She said that some boys (or young men) who lived across the street from her started giving her trouble because she had complained to them last week about their loud music. The same day one of the boys came over to tell her they didn’t like the flower wreath on her door, and another day… she had a nail in her tire. My friend, who has a side job of cleaning a church, asked the pastor of that church to pray about the situation; so he prayed with her right then. She also asked her own pastor to pray, and then left the matter, unafraid, with the Lord, trusting Him to protect her.

Well, the Lord answers prayer, for a few days ago, when my friend came home from work, another neighbor ran out to meet her, pointing to a huge hole blasted through the roof of the boys’ house. Their meth lab had gone awry, and afraid of the cops, the antagonists were long gone, certainly never to return to bother my friend.

We praised the Lord together and I said I very much appreciated hearing this testimony. I said that it’s interesting too as 2 Chron. 20:15 was on the back of my flip calendar the day before and I’d been mediating on the wondrous truth of it. It says, “This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” We talked about how the Lord does indeed fight for us when we are helpless but cast our concerns and problems to Him. I mentioned that I’d just written this week on 2 Chron. 13:18 & 14:11 about how God comes to our aid and gives us victory when we rely on Him. I also reminded her of Ex. 14:13,14: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians [the enemy] you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Verse 15 then says, “Move on” which teaches us that while we continue to do what we were initially instructed to do (like keep working, and not run and hide), the Lord will deliver us.

An example of this Truth is in 1 Chron. 14:8,9 when an enemy “went up in full force” against King David. David did not retreat but instead went out to meet them, inquiring God about his decision. “The LORD answered him, ‘Go, I will hand them over to you.'” (v. 10) After David defeated the enemy, he said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand.” (v. 11) We learn then, that God is our deliverer, leader, commander, and warrior, but that He is these —through us! It doesn’t necessarily mean we fight (though we do with spiritual weapons –2 Cor. 10:3,4), but it means we go forward with our daily tasks in calmness of spirit, it means we go forward with any new instructions, and it means we “stand our ground”, clad with the armor of the Lord. (Eph. 6:13)

Eph. 3:20 says, God “is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” It’s His doing, but He does it through us —and to the degree that our trust and obedience and effort enables Him. We must believe this Truth though, so that we can fully comprehend it and thus appropriate it, for once we do, our lives will be dynamically and victoriously different.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

Saints Aim For Constant Perfection

Friends,
“Am I a saint?” This is a question we should all ask ourselves as we obey 2 Cor. 13:5 which says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” One test is this: “Aim for perfection.” (v. 11) And this: “Be perfect.” Perfect, as in “perfect”? Yes, perfect as in, “as your heavenly Father is perfect.” This is Jesus’ command to us in Matt. 5:48. In other words, we are expected to be perfectly perfect. Spotless. Blameless. Pleasing to God. Furthermore, we are to “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.” (2 Peter 3:14) Let’s not let the deceivers deceive us, for God’s Word would not command us to aim, strive, and make every effort, if it was not necessary. But it is necessary, for perfection does not come to us automatically.

“Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6) Jesus walked in perfection. So must we. This is our daily, constant goal. If we stumble, we have an advocate with the Father (v. 1), but God’s expectation of us is that we are done with sin. (3:6 & Rom. 6:2,6 & 1 Peter 4:1)

Now, who is to walk as Jesus did –that is, in perfection? If we look at 1 John 2:6 it says, “Whoever claims to live in Him…” Who? “Whoever claims…” That is, those who are claiming something. What are they claiming? They are claiming to live IN CHRIST. This means anyone who considers himself born again, born anew, born of the Spirit. For if anyone can’t consider himself these things, then he can’t consider himself to be in Christ. For those who are “in” Christ, also have Christ in them. (John 15:4,5) “And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (Rom. 8:9)

I realize I am spelling this out in detail. But this is because there are so many who take one Truth of Scripture and twist it so that the whole counsel and doctrine of God’s Word is saying what it is not actually saying. I am therefore encouraging us all to read carefully, interpret Scripture with Scripture, and understand what is really being said!

What God’s Word is truly saying is this: Every single person who expects to inherit eternal life must be born of the Spirit. Every single person born of the Spirit must aim, with every effort, to walk as Jesus did –in perfection and blamelessness before God– not only clothed with Christ’s imputed righteousness, but in literal lifestyle. These individuals only are those who can claim to be saints. And only saints can claim to be God’s people –those who belong to Him and will live with Him forever.

Here are some verses that refer to saints:

Ps. 85:8 — “I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints –but let them not return to folly.” (We see here that God’s people and God’s saints are one and the same.)

Eph. 1:1 — “To the saints in Ephesus, the believers who are faithful in Christ Jesus:” (We see here that saints are faithful servants, true to their calling, ones who remain in Christ.)

Phil. 1:1 — “To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:” (We see from this that all “in Christ” were considered saints and that sainthood did not rely on one’s spiritual job description.)

2 Cor. 1:1 — “To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:” (We see a specific church body addressed, and then grouped in “with all the saints…”)

Rom. 1:7 — “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:” (That’s everyone in Rome, for all are loved by God (John 3:16) and all are called –that is, invited and commanded– to be saints.)

Those addresses at the beginnings of other New Testament books show that the intended recipients of the inspired letters are those who are sanctified and called to be holy, those who are called to be obedient, and those who are called to remain in Truth and love. In comparing them with those I’ve referenced above, it can be seen that the letters are being written “to the saints” and “those called to be saints” –that is, those, who by the power of the Spirit within them, aim for constant perfection –continuously.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel