Tell It Like It Is
We Must Not Compromise God’s Word
In 2 Timothy 3:12 it speaks of those who have a form of godliness but who deny the power thereof. It says to turn away from this kind of people. When someone submits their life to Christ they become a servant of God. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 ; "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."
Paul stated, “I am crucified with Christ…” We no longer have ownership; this temple we live in belongs to God. It is not what I perceive or think anymore. We must no longer live by the dictates of our own selfish ways.
In 2 Timothy 3:12 it speaks of those who have a form of godliness but who deny the power thereof. It says to turn away from this kind of people. When someone submits their life to Christ they become a servant of God. Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 ; "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."
Paul stated, “I am crucified with Christ…” We no longer have ownership; this temple we live in belongs to God. It is not what I perceive or think anymore. We must no longer live by the dictates of our own selfish ways.
1 Corinthians 6:20 "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."
1 Corinthians 3:16; “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16; “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
God’s Word is Nonnegotiable
As I dialog with people about scripture, I often get a lot of personal opinions that go like this; “Well, this is the way I see it,” or they say, “Reality is what you make it.” The words, “thus saith the Lord or let us see what the Bible says,” are not always a part of the conversation. Satan has blinded the people of this world who will listen to him, it is not just however one perceives it.
Let me be honest here, Man’s personal opinion does not count when it comes to the Word of God. The carnal mind cannot separate light from darkness. People are occupied with philosophies and opinions; they do not know enough scriptures to quote a few verses, much less expound on God's Word.
Jesus authored the Gospel and we have no right to private interpretations. In 2 Peter 1:19-21 is specific when it says; “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
What gives us the right to think we know anything without the understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit? Godly wisdom comes by study, prayer, walking out our faith and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us and give us discernment.
In 2 Timothy 2:15 we are instructed, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Therefore, no one can know Spiritual things except it is given to them by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. “But God has revealed them to us (believers) through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? ”But we have the mind of Christ.” Spiritual enlightenment is released to those who have His Divine Spirit. There are conditions to God's Word.
A Falling Away From the Faith
As a child of God I am very concerned over what I see and hear. The Bible is so detailed, it warns about those who will be led astray by their own lust, as in Timothy 4:1-2; "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron....." God’s people must be very discerning when we here false ideologies and man made doctrines. There is an enemy that is after the spirit, soul and body of man.
Timothy, spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit when he said, "If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth.....”
The Word of God Exposes Sin
Sin is missing the mark, rebelling against Gods laws. However, the Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: We have all sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard and come short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).Yet, he came to earth, lived among us and went to the cross to pay the penalty of sin; that is something humans could never be capable of doing. Jesus is our spotless sacrifice. Jesus provided for us a way out of a sinful lifestyle if we will, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," Acts 3:19. "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:11. It is more than just hearing we must from the heart obey the Word; The proof is in the change of behavior.
Sin is missing the mark, rebelling against Gods laws. However, the Holy Spirit came to convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: We have all sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard and come short of the Glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).Yet, he came to earth, lived among us and went to the cross to pay the penalty of sin; that is something humans could never be capable of doing. Jesus is our spotless sacrifice. Jesus provided for us a way out of a sinful lifestyle if we will, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord," Acts 3:19. "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:11. It is more than just hearing we must from the heart obey the Word; The proof is in the change of behavior.
There are sins that are specifically named in 1 Cor. 6:1; "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, not adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor swindlers shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Let's look at Galatians 5:19-23 “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
If one studies God’s word it does not take long with the power of the Holy Spirit to see what displeases God. You cannot turn on a TV without these sins being piped into your home. It is carrying away our young and old. Most commercials are nothing but pornography. Women displaying their bodies and the crowds are seeing it so much that they have become insensitive to sin. The internet and television has given us many open doors to preach the gospel, to be used in many good and constructive ways, but it saddens me how much of it is used for porn and to solicit evil that is daily poured into our homes. Yes, there is a balance and we must exercise it, if we are disciples of Christ we must monitor what comes into the home.
There are things that we all must repent of if we want a move of God in this country. I have laid before God asking Him to reveal all the things in my life that is not pleasing to Him. We must constantly stay in prayer and praising our God for His awesome Mercy and Grace He extends to us continually.
Christian Women
The Bible tells those who profess godliness to be careful of how they act and dress.
(1Timothy 2:9-10). " And I want women to be modest in their appearance.They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do."
There is nothing wrong with nice things and looking your best; However, that is not the focus here, the character of a Godly Woman is what honors God. I love Proverbs 31;12-31. Look at verse 30-31; "Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!" I just love that!!
The Bible tells those who profess godliness to be careful of how they act and dress.
(1Timothy 2:9-10). " And I want women to be modest in their appearance.They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do."
There is nothing wrong with nice things and looking your best; However, that is not the focus here, the character of a Godly Woman is what honors God. I love Proverbs 31;12-31. Look at verse 30-31; "Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!" I just love that!!
Let me give a word here to the Moms, (dads,or whomever the caregivers) you need to walk in God's wisdom as you train those precious ones. You are daily preparing them spiritually and physcially for God's Kingdom or for the Kingdom of darkness. You cannot start too early, be aware, the Devil will set you up! Teach your children what the Word says about Godliness and Holy living and you live it before them; Example is the best teacher. God Help US!!
If you profess to be a Christian woman then please stop displaying your body for the whole world to see.There seems to be no shame. In Jeremiah 8:12 he prophesied; “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD.”
If you profess to be a Christian woman then please stop displaying your body for the whole world to see.There seems to be no shame. In Jeremiah 8:12 he prophesied; “Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD.”
Jesus Paid the Price for Sin
He Loves Us
He Loves Us
Jesus died to pay the debt for our sins and His Word says, “There is not one temptation of sin that we cannot over come through Him.” 2 Peter 1:4; “And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” God’s Word not only exposes sin, He has given us promises when appropriated will give us the power to overcome by the blood of Jesus who cleanses us and changes our life so that we can escape these sins, or the cross would be of no avail.
Yes, we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, but until the day we die we must seek to throw off this old man of the flesh and come up higher or go deeper in Christ. We all must call sin what it is, face it and turn from it. Jesus paid a very high price for us to ignore it. For God so loved He gave..
Jesus told it to them straight, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things" (Matt. 12:33-35). He told the religious they were playing church and not living the life, He made a whip with cords and drove the money changers out of the temple because they were lying, stealing and desecrating the House of Prayer. Surely that day some went home very offended and very angry at the truth. The truth will always anger those who refuse to listen.
Jesus told it to them straight, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things" (Matt. 12:33-35). He told the religious they were playing church and not living the life, He made a whip with cords and drove the money changers out of the temple because they were lying, stealing and desecrating the House of Prayer. Surely that day some went home very offended and very angry at the truth. The truth will always anger those who refuse to listen.
The individual who has made a commitment from their heart to Jesus Christ and who truly believes on Him stands with the Psalmist, "I delight to do Your will, O my God, You are writing Your law in my heart."
The Whole Counsel of God
1 Peter 4:11; “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
The truth of God is not a hush, quiet Gospel; we must present to the world the whole counsel of God. If you value and love what God has given you please live and teach the whole oracles of God.
We all have to answer for our few hours of foolishness or, our love and allegiance to Jesus Christ while we are camped on this earth. This is what it is like to me, camping for a short trip; Jesus will return, it will happen! We will stand before a Holy and just God having to answer to God for what we did with His Word of Truth.
Is your allegiance to temporal things that you cannot take with you? We had all better get our bodies equipped with the Word of God and submit daily to the Holy Spirit if we want to be victorious over sin and death.
The philosophies of this world will be your downfall if you fail to embrace the Truths founded in the Word of God. “Our position is not to develop truth but to discover truth.” Men penned the Word but God wrote it. All scripture is inspired by God but is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our life.
“God's Word is Truth.” Now that settles it, Hebrews 13:8-9, "So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them. His Word never changes it is the same yesterday, today and forever."
God's Word is freedom and not bondage, if we love Him we will wants to please Him. God's Love is a powerful weapon against evil. God so loves you and me. That is the most powerful message in the WORD OF GOD!
God's Word is freedom and not bondage, if we love Him we will wants to please Him. God's Love is a powerful weapon against evil. God so loves you and me. That is the most powerful message in the WORD OF GOD!
Our God is always teaching and revealing more and more Truth as we study
and grow in Him. It is never-ending; I love it!!!
Live and Proclaim The Word of God,
Joan Buchanan
John 17:17; "Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth."
Joan Buchanan
John 17:17; "Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth."