Randy, You Boast In A Counterfeit

Hi again, Randy,
I hadn’t heard from you in a while, till today, but maybe you are reacting to my last post..? Well, we are all entitled to our opinions and I am comfortable with the explanations about mine that I have given you many times. But, since the Lord, who wants no one to perish, is patient (2 Pe. 3:9), then I will extend patience again also.

Your claim of believing the True Gospel means nothing; what matters is that you truly do believe it and uphold it through your actions, words, thoughts, attitudes, etc. Yes, we must believe 1 Cor. 15:3,4, but that is not enough, for even the demons believe and know what Jesus did in making the way for humans to be saved. Instead, we must believe the Truth, repent of all sin, and walk in the Truth and holiness by walking in the Holy Spirit and His power. This is how we remain crucified to sin (Rom. 8:9 // Gal. 5:16,24) which we were crucified to when we underwent the new-creation-baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. (Rom. 6:1-7 w/ 2 Cor. 5:17 and Col. 2:11,12)

I’m not sure why you continue to contradict God’s Word which states over and over that we cannot indulge in the sinful nature and still inherit Heaven. (Mt. 5:27-30, Rom. 8:13, Gal. 5:19-21 & 6:8, Eph. 5:5, etc., etc.) 1 Cor. 6:9-11 states point-blank that those who commit immorality, idolatry, slander, etc. are wicked and will not inherit God’s Kingdom. Verse 11 says, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified…” This passage reveals that once Jesus washes a person, that person is not allowed to continue in sin. To do so is to be ignorant of the Truth. (1 Pe. 1:14) However, if a person does sin, they must confess, renounce, and turn from the sin, and Christ will forgive and wash them again. (1 John 1:9 & 2:1)

As I mentioned in my last post, we have been commanded, “Be holy in all you do.” (1 Pe. 1:15) Do you think you don’t have to obey this command, Randy? You do. We all do. If we do not obey God’s / Christ’s / the Scripture’s commands / teaching, we do not love the Lord (John 14:15 // 1 John 5:3) and He will not make His home within us. (John 14:23)

Jesus told us, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.” (John 15:4) This is a choice He has given us. He tells us how: “If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love.” (v. 10) So, “if anyone obeys His Word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.” (1 John 2:5a) If anyone does not obey, he keeps himself ignorant of the Truth (John 8:31,32), remains a slave to sin (v. 32,34) –and “a slave has no permanent place in the family.” (v. 35) It is certainly a fact of the Truth: “Those who obey His commands live in Him and He in them.” (1 John 3:24)

1 John 1:6 speaks about those who “claim to have fellowship with Him [God] yet walk in the darkness”, stating that such people “lie and do not live by the Truth.” Chapter 2, verse 4 states similar: “The man who says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the Truth is not in him.” Randy, do you do what God commands? When? Only sometimes? You admit you continue to sin, yet 1 John 3:6 says, “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.”

Do you not believe these many verses I’ve pointed out to you? How about 1 John 2:5b,6? It says, “This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.” Jesus walked sinless. That is our goal every day, every minute, and at the level we are at, we are to be striving, in the Spirit’s power available to us, to get a perfect score. If we don’t, we repent; but we strain for perfection continuously, taking every measure to throw off all hindrances. (Phil. 3:12-14 // Heb. 12:1)

Randy, you will be held accountable for mocking the words of God I have quoted over and over for you to read. You choose to listen to a counterfeit gospel and you do not want to let go of it. The True Gospel does hold us accountable for what we do and what we continue to do. “God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give Eternal Life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the Truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.” (Rom. 2:6-8) Verses 9-11 confirm it again –that for every single human being, without favoritism (including toward those who think they “will escape God’s judgement” –v. 3), doing evil versus doing good (that means, evil works versus good works) brings about distress as opposed to honor.

Titus 1:16 reveals, as well, the importance God places on actions. It shows that claiming to know God is useless for those who, by their actions, deny Him. Then there is 3 John 1:11 which says, “Anyone who DOES what is good is from God. Anyone who DOES what is evil has not seen God.” Jesus Himself says, “Those who have DONE good will rise to live, and those who have DONE evil will rise to be condemned.” (John 5:29) 1 John 3:10 informs us on how to tell who God’s children are as opposed to the devil’s children: “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God.” The words do, doing, does, and done are words that speak about actions. Therefore actions, the Bible teaches, do reap for a person Condemnation or Life. The good a person does (present tense), which is necessary for completing faith (Ja. 2:17,22,26), is what solidifies a person as justified before God. (v. 24)

Randy, it is not Good News to tell sinners they can choose salvation from sin when they, like you, aren’t actually going to be saved from sin. (Can’t you see that if you are still in sin, you are not saved from it, but are still its prisoner?) How is 2 Pe. 2:18,19 not descriptive of you and your group? –Mouthing empty, boastful promises of freedom while appealing to people’s cravings for sin, and all the while being slaves of depravity yourselves? “Blackest darkness is reserved for them” (v. 17) and likely for you. Getting washed and then going back to wallowing in sin (v. 22) is going to place you under more severe punishment than had you not known Jesus. (v. 20 // Heb. 10:26-31) By denying the Gospel’s power to transform behavior, your “form of godliness” is a counterfeit. (Rom. 1:16 w/ 2 Tim. 3:5-8)

Rachel

God Requires Lives Lived Holy In Everything

Friends,
Here are some things that are essential to knowing God’s Truth:

1. God’s Word commands us to be holy (Heb. 12:14 // 1 Pe. 1:15,16), meaning “holy in all you do” (1 Pe. 1:15), and “to live a holy life.” (1 Thes. 4:7)

2. Through God’s Word we have been given God’s divine promises, power, and Spirit for all we need, as we are instructed by Him (Eph. 1:19 & 3:20 // 2 Pe. 1:3,4), in “how to live in order to please God.” (1 Thes. 4:1)

3. Pleasing God is about walking in His will, and as 1 Thes. 4:3 tells us, “It is God’s will that you should be holy.”

4. Therefore, no matter what we claim to possess, without holiness –holy living in all we think, say, and do– we will not inherit Eternal Life. (Mt. 7:21-23 // Heb. 12:14 // 1 John 2:17)

Hoards of people are walking in deception as they listen to those who tell them what they want to hear –that God’s grace covers all their sinning as Christ’s holiness (which they think they live in) hides their depravity from God’s eyes. They refuse to believe God’s Word which states “that all will be condemned who have not believed the Truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thes. 2:12)

All means all, “For God does not show favoritism.” (Rom. 2:11) Yes, all who walk in rebellion / sin / falsehoods will be condemned (Jude 1:4) and destroyed (v. 5) with “those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” (v. 7) Even those who self-centeredly neglected to bless Christ’s brothers will be sent to “eternal punishment” (Mt. 25:46) “into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (v. 41)

Jesus warned us, “Those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.” (John 5:29) Consequently, contrary to what many false teachers teach, we should indeed be living our lives here on earth in reverent fear of God. (1 Pe. 1:17) For God, “who judges each man’s work impartially” (same verse), will declare all to “be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thes. 1:9) who “do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (v. 8 ) As Jesus strongly warns, “Fear God who has the power to throw you into Hell.” (See Luke 12:5) And as Heb. 10:26-31 warns (in essence), “Keep sinning, you who claim to know the Truth, and the dreadful experience allotted to God’s enemies –of judgement to a raging fire– will be yours.”

Truly, only if we persevere and do not shrink back will God be pleased with us. (Heb. 10:35-39) Truly, only if we do the will of God, will we receive His promise of salvation. (v. 36,39) Yes, pleasing God by doing His will is definitely required, for truly, “God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Eph. 5:6)

Without question, God’s Word reveals that He has called us to live holy –to think, speak, and behave with holiness (1 Thes. 4:7)– by making “every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him.” (2 Pe. 3:14) Following a distortion of the Scriptures will absolutely lead to destruction (v. 16), including for those once in God’s grace (v. 17,18 // 1 Cor. 3:16,17 // Heb. 12:15), so “making every effort to add to one’s faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love –in increasing, progressing measure– is crucial for being welcomed into Heaven.” (See 2 Pe. 1:5-11)

“Those who reject this instruction [which is coming straight from God’s Word] are not rejecting the messenger, but rather are rejecting God Himself.” (See 1 Thes. 4:7)

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

Matthew Chapter 13 About The Weeds

Friends,
While in prayer and praise yesterday morning, the Lord reminded me of the passage about the weeds and that it is the devil who sows those weeds among the good plants. I found the passage in Mt. ch. 13 after hearing from the Lord some things about that familiar parable and I again read it more meditatively this morning. There truly is a lot of knowledge about the good and evil kingdoms we can glean here, but one main thing the Lord is reminding me of is that it is indeed the devil who is doing the evil work on this earth, including amongst the Body of Christ.

This means several things: It means that the evil kingdom is at work. It means that the devil is placing evil people throughout the world and alongside righteous people, and within holy churches and upright families. It means that the evil individuals and the wicked deeds are not present because of the Lord’s command, ordination, or orchestration, but are present due to the direct effort of the devil. It means that since Christ’s Kingdom is advancing through God’s children, and that evil is advancing through Satan’s children, there is division and conflict. (Mt. 10:34-36 & 13:38 // 2 Cor. 6:14-18)

Let’s note the details of what Jesus is teaching us: The Owner of the field (the field being the world –Mt. 13:38) was asked, “Sir, didn’t You sow good seed in Your field? Where then did the weeds come from?” (v. 27) The Owner (who is God/Jesus –v. 37, the Creator of the world and the Cornerstone of the Church) answers, “An enemy did this.” (v. 28a) Jesus later reveals exactly who that enemy is: “The enemy who sows them [the weeds, the sons of the evil one –v. 38] is the devil.” (v. 39) It’s Satan. Satan sows his people in among the people of God.

But when is the devil able to do this? We have a hint in Mt. 13:25: “But while everyone was sleeping, His [God’s] enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.” Isn’t this why Scripture continually warns us to be alert to the schemes of the devil? (John 10:10 // 1 Pe. 5:8,9, etc.) Satan slithers around looking for those who are sleepy, lazy, and unfruitful, those who are leaning toward pride, rebellion, anxiety, weakness, and the concerns of this world (Mt. 13:21,22), and those who, even as they sit under the Word, allow their hearts, eyes, and ears to grow calloused to what Christ actually commands. (v. 11-17) Among these the devil is able to do his work. Among these the devil plants impostors. (2 Cor. 11:13-15) Then, with Satan’s evil power within the thorns and weeds, sin and chaos becomes rampant everywhere.

Many of Christ’s servants may ask, “Lord, shouldn’t the weeds be pulled up?” (See Mt. 13:28b) But Jesus tells us that this could cause some of the wheat to also be pulled up before harvest. (v. 29) It’s true, some of God’s people could be harmed if those weeds close to them –those who live with them, who they are entwined with, or who they love– are destroyed while walking life with them. Some wheat, distraught and unsettled, could lose their faith, could lose their minds, could lose their livelihood… So God allows the weeds to continue amongst us.

But not always. (Acts 5:1-11 & 12:21-24 & 13:6-12, etc.) And not forever. The weeds –all who do evil and all who cause sin (Mt. 13:41)– will be “pulled up and burned in the fire.” (v. 40) –The fire “where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (v. 42) But “the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” (v. 43)

Our Father is God, the Most High, the Creator of the world. Satan is the father of those who choose to rebel, who choose to sin, who choose to turn to deceptions, lies, and the desires of the sinful nature. God is not the One who sows the weeds. Satan is the one doing it. God is sovereign, yes, but He does not cause sin, do sin, or orchestrate others to cause or commit sin. God gave everyone free choice, and it is the devil –he who used his free choice to rebel– and it is the weeds –those who used their free choice to walk Satan’s road instead of Christ’s road– who are the ones polluting our world, our churches, our families, our companies, our governments, and even our own hearts / minds / spirits, if we are around them.

So if the weeds remain with us, what are we to do? We are to separate, we are to leave, we are to avoid… those weeds. If they are still persuadable and will listen to us, then prayerfully, the influence of Christ in us will spread into them. (Mt. 13:33) But, if their ears are closed, we must shield ourselves from their defilements seeping into us. (1 Cor. 15:33) We must be alert, discerning, and filled with the Holy Spirit of the Lord, continuing on in advancing Christ’s Kingdom with every effort, every thought captive to Jesus (2 Cor. 10:5), every piece of armor on in order to protect ourselves and to demolish evil strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3-5 // Eph. 6:10-18), and submitted fully to the power and instructions of our Owner (Rom. 8:9 // Eph. 3:20,21 // 2 Pe. 1:3,4) –Jesus, who is fully God. (Col. 2:9)

But, “‘Woe to the obstinate children,’ declares the LORD, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not Mine.'” (Isa. 30:1) “…plans that are not Mine.” Who carry out plans… schemes… ideas… beliefs… conduct… that are of the devil.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

St. Patrick’s Captivity, Conversion, & Call

Friends,
When I taught in the public school, I always tried to include, the week before St. Patrick’s Day, a history lesson about St. Patrick, particularly because it was a great way to bring up discussion about Christianity. Not only did the discussions prove to allow the students to evangelize their classmates, but I found the story itself fascinating and it seemed that the kids did also. So when someone sent this article (below) to me a few days ago, I found it to be an exceptional summary of the account and want to pass it on also. It is written by Paul Johansson of Central Lutheran Church in Elk River, Minnesota.

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Central,

What would St. Patrick tweet? I ask because this Sunday is St. Patrick’s day.

First let’s remind ourselves who St. Patrick is. In the late 4th and early 5th century after the time of Jesus, near the edge of the Roman empire, somewhere in northeastern England, there lived a Roman Briton name Patricius, (later known as Patrick) who was 16 years old. Patrick was somewhat rebellious, by his own admission.

When he was 16 a band of Celtic pirates sailed from Ireland and conducted raids in that part of England. Patrick was captured during one of these raids and taken against his will. Once in Ireland, Patrick was sold to a tribal chieftain, a Druid named Miliuc, who put Patrick to work herding cattle. It was long, arduous and lonely work.

He writes in his Confession: “After I reached Ireland I used to pasture the flock each day and I used to pray many times a day. More and more did the love of God, and my fear of him and faith increase……as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time.” Patrick began to identify this presence with the Triune God he had learned about as a child. Without any other human beings, Patrick was become a heartfelt Christ follower and his captors began to notice a change in him.

At the same time, he began to identify with the very people who had enslaved him. He learned their language and culture, understood their worldview. He began to love them deeply and saw them as beloved humans and not the barbarians most Romans considered people outside the empire to be. Still Patrick was a slave and wanted to be free.

After six years in captivity, he received a vision one night in a dream where a voice said to him, “You are going home. Look! Your ship is ready.” In the morning he began the 200 mile walk to the seacoast and eventually found himself on a ship bound for France and then made it back to England. Soon after he rejoined his family, Patrick had another vision. In this dream, a man he knew in Ireland came to him with letters from his former captors. As he read the letters in his vision he heard them crying as if they were one voice: ‘We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.’

When Patrick awoke, he interpreted this dream as a “Macedonian call” much like the Apostle Paul had experienced. Patrick believed that he was being called to go back and ‘walk among’ the very people who had enslaved him. He would now be the captor, capturing these people with the good news of Jesus Christ. He studied for the priesthood and eventually got permission to back to Ireland despite the protests of his family and some church superiors.

Typically, the Roman Church wanted new converts to be “Romanized.” They were expected to learn Latin, adopt Roman customs and do church the “Roman way”.
Patrick adopted a radically different approach. Patrick knew it was all about walking with people and helping people find God in their lives and experiences. About 700 churches and monastic communities were planted by him as he walked with people. Women were usually part of Patrick’s ministry team, with men and women serving side by side.

The effect of Patrick’s ministry on Ireland was nearly a complete transformation. On St. Patrick’s Day we celebrate someone who was willing to use a tragic and unfair circumstance in his life as a springboard to make a difference amongst the very people who had enslaved him.

So, what would St. Patrick tweet?

WALK WITH PEOPLE AND BE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS TO THEM!
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This Sunday our Journey Through Mark leads us to Mark 11:12-25. Take time to read and reflect on the Word as you prepare for worship!

Paul

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Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel

For Battle, Worship Jesus

Friends,
I had a really great worship time with the Lord over the last few hours, full of battle and worship songs, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Since, as usual, it was impromptu, it’s hard to get any of it written down; but here, as I sing this, is an effort to do so:

Oh Lord, I come to You,
To worship and bow down,
To love and adore You,
You are the King of kings,
Almighty Rock.

Jesus, Song of Strength,
You are our holiness.
Jesus, the Lamb
that was slain for us,
We thank You for salvation.

You who rose,
Are King and Warrior,
The evil realm
loses it hold.
I sing of Your might,
And walk in the Truth
You are.

Praise and glory,
Worship and love,
Be given to You everywhere.
Wisdom and beauty,
Splendor and honor,
Be ascribed to the God
Most High.

Jesus, thank You,
For Your love.
Thank You that we can walk
In Your power and grace.
You who are mighty,
Have invited us to rule and reign.

So in You we live
Victorious and good.
You are our Shield and High Tower.
Our Protector, our Savior,
Our Shepherd.

Splendor is Yours,
We see that, God.
And we honor and praise
You for it.
Compassion is You,
You also are love,
And we rest in Your
beautiful comfort.

So, rise up, people of God,
Walk in the freedom He’s given.
Go to the nations,
Proclaim He’s victorious,
And tread on the enemy’s schemes.

Shine forth, O Lord,
Through us, always.
Shine forth, O Jesus,
For their deliverance.
The King of kings,
And Lord of lords,
Is there to ransom all.

I encourage us all to walk in the Lord’s will and power at all times, doing so by saturating our spirit in praise to Him, as well as with prayer and thanksgiving, and utilizing the faith that moves mountains.

Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel