ECCLESIASTES 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

What is the conclusion of all things? We are born, we live under the sun for a time and then we die. In most cases we live a somewhat long life. In every life there are seasons. There can be good times as well as bad. When we are young it appears that time is standing still and we wish for tomorrow. As teenagers we long to be a sixteen or to reach the age that we can drive, once we get there we long to get a job or finish high school, to get married or be on our own, to have children and the list goes on and on. Then one day we look and time is gone, it seems so short, much different than it was when we were young.

What does it all mean? What is the answer to the quest of life and what we face along the way? The name of this is ( winter time is coming ). My wife and I enjoy watching birds and small animals in our yard as they go about their day. Each of those birds or animals are preparing for the winter that; even they know is in front of them. Mankind is actually a lot like normal animals, we also need to prepare for the winter time of our lives.

I often think about my dad when I have this mindset. His dad died when he was only nine years old ( 1931 . The night he died, he laid in the dead where he died at home until the next day when they could get someone to come pick him up. There was his wife and all his children there to deal with his death. We don’t see things like that today do we? Everything is so convenient for us that we never experience the things that are important for us to understand as we grow and mature. We seldom see death because its hidden in a hospital where only a few people see it. All the ugliness of life is placed behind a wall of some sort to protect us from the reality we must face at some point.

In my life, I’ve seen to small sisters die; two years apart. Both of this coffins laid in the Livingroom of our house until their day of burial. Now, all those things are handled a funeral home far out of site.

Children today are raised in a way where they only see the good things of what we call life. All the bad things, at least as much as possible are kept out of sight and they never gain any knowledge of them and are totally not prepared for the things that must unfold in their lives.

This is just a couple of things that I thought of in trying to unfold the topic ( winter time is coming ). There are any number of things that we could speak of in general life that could be a topic of discussion but, my passion is helping people prepare for the spiritual aspect of their lives. I can see how physical knowledge of certain aspects of every life prepares us for the spiritual aspects of life, even as we live our lives out. Things such as a pet kitten or dog dying. That brings about a discussion about the death of people we love. It’s a teachable moment as they say.

I heard a man preaching a message once ask the people he was preaching to if it was anyone there that could say they had no trouble in their lives, no problems? After he made that statement he then said; if you can raise your hand and say; you have no problems, then just hold on because it right in front of you. The Bible says ( Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble ).( Job 14:1 ) So, it doesn’t matter whether you believe the word of God or not, that doesn’t change. That is the focus of this article. I want to some how take theses types of events in out lives and show or teach the preparation of eternal life. It has to take place while we are growing and maturing in our normal lives.

We are spiritual beings whether we except that fact or not. There are certain aspects of our lives that are going to come to pass no matter what out belief or trust might be in. For instance, the day you were born; you charted a course in your life toward death. Can you change that fact? We, as individuals cannot even change the fact that we were born.

I’d like to point out something in the ( book of Job ) the we seldom ever hear about. This is in ( Job 1:8 ): God , speaking to Satan asked him this question ( hast thou considered my servant Job? This is just part of what he said but I just wanted you to see that these two men being, God the Father and Satan are discussing about the man Job. High above whatsoever Job was actually doing; the two spiritual powers of this world and the heavens are talking and planning things around this one man. Is there anything Job could do to make that not happen? Not a thing. This was all a part of God, preparing Job for the fact that he would stand before him one day. We might not think so but, we need that preparation, we need to bring that about in our children.

The Bible says this: ( Hebrews 9:27 ) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: ( 28 ) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

It says there that we all have an appointment and that unto death. Although we might face things in our life just as Job faced, things we could call the (winter time ) in our life, death doesn’t have to be one of them. It says that Christ was offered once for the sins of many. It also says that unto them that look for him; are you, at this moment looking for him? If you are, it says he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

That second return is for those that are ( looking for him ). That means that through study and awareness that you are preparing for that day. Do you realize that even insects, animals prepare for wintertime? Yet, seemingly we, as people willingly step out into eternity without any preparation. Insects and animals work feverishly all summer long to prepare but, we waste our whole lives and never consider truly preparing for a day we know must come.

If you will study Job you will see that he had something in his life that God wanted him to see. It took all that he went through for him to be able to see that one sin. The blessing is that he did see it and corrected it. We always want to see the bad in things that happen in our lives when, it’s very possible that they are stumbling blocks in our lives that God placed there that our spiritual eyes might be opened.

No matter what you have faced in this life, how bad you might think its been. It will be nothing compared to the wintertime you will face if you face death without Christ in your life.

You must prepare to meet him ( ye must be both again ).

How is that word defined and has it changed over the years? There’s a little book I read some time ago called: ( THE TRAIL OF BLOOD ), The author is J.M. Carroll.

Basically what it does it shows a timeline of how Church movements and different denominations came into being and also, when. The point of the book is that there has always been a group of people that stood firm on the concepts of God’s word, never altered or followed any group that apposed that truthful teaching.

If you ever get a chance to read that little book you will notice one specific thing. All through the years since the resurrection of Jesus Christ; what those people or, what they were called changed. This became necessary because as time moved on each name they were called by became corrupt in the true teaching of scripture therefore, causing true believers to change and set themselves apart from the corruption within that teaching.

I believe that for some time now we have reached and live in a time when true born again believers need to separate themselves from the term ( Christian ).

I know that within each denomination and religious organization there are still many born again believers and those believers have very little say in the decisions that are made in those places. Most of those places have been overtaken by a religious mindset that true believers reject and in many cases they have no alternative place to go.

The real problem is to get people caught up in that to realize what is and what is not real. Most people are easily persuaded by popularity or popular opinion, not knowing or understanding the true walk with the Holy Spirit or a real relationship with God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You’ve heard the saying: ( you are what you eat )? Well, over the last few decades we have become what we have been eating spiritually. We’ve grown fat and overweight, in bad spiritual health because of what we have been fed by religious men and women.

Most members of the average local Church will look at a cult or some other religious group and say just how hard it is to change that mindset. Are we not the same way?If I walk up in your Church and began to show you where you are not pleasing God in the things you are doing, what are you going to say?

Satan, with the assistance of the religious world has blinded the eyes of the leadership in most Churches and they cannot see the error of their own way.

Now, in what we call the Christian circle, you can basically believe anything you desire, say you believe in Christ and you will be excepted by almost every other denomination that calls themselves Christians.

The problem is, we never change and we don’t expect others to either. There’s something wrong with that picture. Since there’s only one Bible, one truth then we all cannot be correct. When and if we find the truth that shows where we are wrong, don’t we have to change what we believe to that known truth?

In the Christian movement today we are not asked to do that. As long as we fit a profile that suits the people in control, we are fine, no change needed.

It’s time to set a new course. To pull away from the Christian religion and to find a name that truly represents those that seek a new life in Christ Jesus, old things being done away with and all things seen as new in our transformation toward his will for our lives. To do less is to bring shame and reproach to the born again experience and that of Jesus Christ. We must allow the man that lives within to be seen outwardly. We must allow God’s word to be made anew in us and separate ourselves from the corruption we see in the world and seeping into the very core of our Churches.

Listen to this verse. ( 2 Timothy 2:7 ) Ever learning and never able to come to knowledge of the truth. Verse ( 5 ) says this: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

I purposely reversed those two verses to make a point. Christian people go to Church Sunday after Sunday but never leave with any more spiritual knowledge than they had the week before. Can’t we say ( we are ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth?

I have people that are friends of mind that attend Church regularly. They go to Sunday school and preaching, every Sunday for years. If you ask them if they are saved? They say; yes. They’ve joined Church, been baptized but, if you ask them if they know they are going to heaven when they die? They only have a ( hope so ) salvation.

Why can’t we gain that knowledge in our Churches? It’s because those Churches ( have a form of godliness but, deny the power thereof ). They teach every week but never teach you about the eternal security that is found in and comes with the new birth. If you tell me you are saved but you can’t say you know you’re going to heaven and not hell then, tell me, what exactly have you been saved from?

There’s always been people that doubted their salvation but, it was not because our Churches didn’t stand on the biblical concept of eternal security. Each denomination might have their own thoughts on that concept but, the point is that now it’s the Christian Churches fault that it’s not being taught.

Let’s notice a verse. ( 2 Corinthians 6:17 ). Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

In the very first verse in that chapter he beseeches ( not to receive the grace of God in vain ). How can that be done? How can we take the grace of God in vain?

He tells us, if we continue to read that ( he has succoured us ), meaning he has given us assistance, helped us. We. As sinners were on our road to hell, without hope. In quick sand, a place we could not be freed from without help. He, God the Father, by his Spirit and the blood of Jesus Christ his son lifted us, as born again believers out of that hopelessness and gave us life.

When it appears that we are still in the sin that we say he has taken us out of ( we ) as born again believers ( Take his grace in vain ).

When Jesus Christ, by the Spirit of God, truly moves into your heart, at that point it’s vain to remain as you are. The whole born again experience is, by definition, a willingness to change from what and who you are to become more like Christ.

My whole point is that our Churches on our communities cannot be seen or heard anymore. They have become just a fixture without the real power to change.

To make this point I’ll tell a story about an evangelist of old time. His name was D.L.Moody. The story is told that when he would come to a town to hold a revival that the power of God was so powerful around him that people would actually get on their knees and repent at his appearance.

I can’t say that actually happened but why is it that people pay little attention when they ride by our Churches now? Why is it that, at our very presence as believers, people pay little attention us?

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?

I often wonder about this. What did I use to be? And, if I’m different now, what has Christ to do with my difference? Let’s say I use to be a drunk. However, my family is proud of me because I quit drinking. Can Christ be seen in that? If we never speak in his name or show a picture of him in our own lives then is not the fact that we stopped being what we use to be in vain as far as our life is concerned?

Before I was born again I use to curse terribly. Almost every word out of my mouth was a curse word. When Christ moved into my heart, I quit cursing. Well, is that all it is to having Christ in my heart?

Now, in my life, my desire is to allow Christ to speak through my flesh and not me myself. My desires and the things I deem important are passed and now what he desires to talk about is what reigns in me.

If being a Christian is simply cleaning your life up and having the praise of people then;where is Christ? When we are born again he lives within us and his glory is revealed through our flesh. Our will becomes his will and we do the work of the Holy Spirit of God the Father.

I’m not simply a Christian; I’m born again. Where do you stand with Christ? Have you been born again?

( Galatians 4:19-20 )

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, ( 20 ) I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

We see here that the Apostle Paul had shared the gospel with these people, seen them proclaim Christ, now their lives do not show forth the gospel he preached unto them. He saying he stands in doubt of them and he is still travailing because he want to see Christ formed in them.

That’s what I’m trying to say. If we cannot see Christ in what we call ( Christians ) then it’s time to change what we are called.

Let Christ be seen in you!

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie;

Just out of pure curiosity, when is the last time you heard the term ( Jesus is coming again ) in your Church? Do we even teach ( the rapture ) anymore? Do we believe he is coming again? Look at this verse: ( 2 Peter 3:4 ) And saying, where is the promise of his coming?for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.

Have we, as members of the body of Christ began to doubt that he is coming back for his Church?

LUKE 12: 37-38-39- 40

Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ( 38 ) And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. ( 39 ) And this know, that if the Goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. ( 40 ) Be ye therefore ready also: for the son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Also, ( Matthew 24 ) is a very revealing chapter concerning end times. However, in that chapter he is talking to Jewish people and showing them what will unfold before the great tribulation. The truth is that the rapture takes place seven years before those thing occur.

My spiritual eye is open and paying attention to little things that I see transpiring that causes me to ponder in the coming of Christ and, just how close are we to that day?

I don’t know whether he will return in my lifetime. I will say that I’m sick of this sin cursed world and I long for his appearing. The Bible tells us that there is a reward for those that love his appearing. ( 2 Timothy 4:8 ) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

As a young believer, I heard a message once about the two prophets in ( Revelation 11:9 ). In that verse and scripture before and after it says that all nations and kindreds would see their dead bodies.

I wondered, how can this be accomplished? Now we have cell phones and the ability to see things almost instantaneously is real and right before us.

The Bible say; in ( Matthew 24 ) as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be when the son of man cometh.

As a young believer some 40 years ago, I never dreamed I’d see a day that wickedness and ungodliness would be as prevalent as it is in our world today. In more cases than not, no thought of what God thinks about the sinful life that is lived and, the minds of men and women are completely reprobate against all that is called God, even Jesus Christ and those that desire to walk with him are seen as evil.

My whole point in writing this is to point out that our Churches, at least the one that I attend is completely silent on these types of things.

Think, if a believer cannot go to Church and be instructed and informed about the coming of Christ, then what is that saying about the spiritual mindset of our spiritual world? If a sinner cannot go to a local Church and feel the convicting power of God, where is he to go?

The Bible says that it’s time to awake out of sleep. ( Romans 13:11-12 ) 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. ( 12 ) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast of the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

We, in our Churches need to wake up, get stirred up and realize that this is not a game and, that God is not playing. Satan is active and he knows he has but a short time. ( Revelation 12:12 ) Therefore rejoice, ye heaven, and them that dwell in them, Woe to the inhabiters of earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time.

Actually this is speaking of a time after the rapture has already taken place and, believers are already with our Lord. However, he is hard at work right now.

( CLIMATE CHANGE ) is a religion, believe it or not. In reality those that fall prey to its teachings are seeking to protect an earth that God has promised to destroy as we know it.

Now consider, why is it that this is being so highly pushed at this point in time? The main actors in this movement know that change is coming. Although their facts might be wrong and their faith is in the wrong person or thing; they see and realize that the end as we know it is coming. They push their ( heart felt belief ) and desire people to prepare. On the other hand, we, as believers, by faith can see it all unfold in scripture. We have the truth and can see how God has designed every aspect of the reformation of the heavens and earth but; we never talk about it.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 -Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

This event, we call the rapture marks the end of the ( Church age ) which began on the day of Pentecost in ( Acts 2 ). It also is the start of ( Tribulation period ), the last week of God’s dealing with Israel.

Exactly how this takes place; I can’t say. In saying that, this is what I mean. Will our whole bodies simply disappear? Or, will our clothes be left behind? Actually, it doesn’t matter does it? The event will happen at some point. Born again believers will be caught up together to meet Jesus in the clouds. If you read the verse preceding the one I quoted, it says that ( the dead in Christ ) will rise first. Every time I read this I’m reminded of a verse: ( Matthew 27:52 ) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

That event happened as soon as Jesus gave up the ghost on the Cross of Calvary. God, did not have to do that and, there is a reason for that occurrence. However, God wanted for his people to know and realize that something major just happened, more than simply a man dying on a cross.

Looking at that verse, I can see how that when the rapture takes place, whether it’s with the graves being opened or something about ( we which remain ) being evident, God will make it known that something has changed?

Now, I’m going back to the verse we began with. ( God will send them strong delusions ) that they will believe a lie.

You can take what I’m about to say for what it’s worth. God loved us so much, even as unworthy sinners as we are that he came down, born as we are, lived in a sin cursed world and went, suffered an died on the Cross of Calvary that we might have eternal life if we would allow him , by faith to be our savior.

Today, we go to Church, we play, we eat and pay very little attention to the spiritual details of the Almighty God. Look at what the Bible says about the people of Israel. ( Exodus 32:6 ) ( 1 Corinthians 10:7 ) Neither be idolaters as were some of them; as it is written, the people say down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

There are people that know the gospel, members of Churches and have never truly submitted their lives to Jesus Christ. I’m telling you, that when Jesus comes back in the rapture and you are left behind, God will see to it that you will be deceived. You looked at the price and sacrifice he made as a small thing when you had a chance to make difference for him but, did nothing, now, for you it’s to late.

In the last few years, I’ve actually heard people, political people, well known say that climate change would cause people to disappear. They say that ( climate change) is causing over population of this world and that at some point it will adjust itself.

I say, in ignorance of scripture, they are seeing the rapture of God’s people and seeking to fix the earth they love and cling to, without even knowing truth.

Right on the other hand, our spiritual leaders are not even talking about it. There’s something terribly amiss in that picture.

They are correct. This world is going to change, as designed by God and, Jesus Christ is the only way to be prepared for that change.

Do you realize that when God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden that every animal in that Garden was, shall we say ( tame ). They actually stayed that way until Noah placed them two by two on the Arc. However, the very minute they came off that Arc, that changed and, the way we see those animals today remains the same.

( Genesis 9:2 ) And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth. Now, let’s ( fast forward) ( Isaiah 11:6 ) The wolf shall also dwell with the lamb, a Nc f the leopard shall lie down with the kid: and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall feed them.

We can also see this in Ezekiel and Hosea. These are books of prophecy and we can about this actually unfolding in ( The Revelation ). There shall be a new heaven and a new earth. ( Revelation 21:1 ) And I say a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth we’re passed away; and there were no more sea.

Jesus, speaking to his people said( all these thing shall come to pass ). In Noah’s day this world was destroyed by water. Every living creature that was not on that Arc perished. We are taught in scripture that ( this world ) will never again be destroyed by water. The coming event will be by fire. ( Global warming ). Also, do you realize that the Church will be raptured before that seven year event but, the Nation of Israel will be hear during that time and many will survive all that happens? As a matter of fact, the Bible says that: unless those days were shortened, there should no flesh be saved. ( Matthew 24:22 )

This seven year period is ahead of us, it’s coming. Biblically speaking, it has all to do with the Nation of Israel. We see this in ( DANIEL 9:24-27 ) Here we see that God determined ( 70 weeks ) of desolation upon Israel. If you study that out you will find that each week is a period of ( seven years ). 69 of those weeks were finished when Jesus Christ was crucified and for some two thousand years the Church has been ushered in. This age being ( the age of grace) will end one day with the rapture the Church and, the final ( week )( seven year period) will then be carried out. It’s also known as ( tribulation period ).

Unlike the flood of Noah where all flesh that was not on the Arc was destroyed, during this period, all flesh will not be destroyed and, when all is complete and the earth and heavens are new then Israel will inhabit the earth, Jesus will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Church, body of born again believers will be living in a ( city made of gold. ( Revelation 21 )

My point in saying all this is that we are not being taught the art of spiritually seeing these thing and the art of watching as small things advance toward the coming events.

in closing, I’ll say this. ( James 4:8 ) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

If you take the time to read ( Exodus 20 ) you will see that God wanted his people ( Israel) to come and talk with him. However, because of fear they left it to Moses to talk to him and said ( we will hear you ). God’s desire is to have a relationship with each of us. He wants us to draw nigh to him, to know him and allow him to teach us and to be informed of all he is doing.

We can’t just allow men to teach us because of the corruption within our flesh and the ability of man to deceive.

Satan is alive and well and, very willing to deceive any person to refuses to allow the Spirit of God to open their eyes.

STAND UP, learn what God has to say, be prepared to stand before him and most of all: KEEP YOUR LAMPS TRIMMED, JESUS IS COMING!

There are four books we call the gospels in the Bible. They are the first four books in the New Testament. Each of these four books; while being interwoven reveal Jesus Christ in a different light. The gospel of Matthew reveals Jesus Christ as the ( King of the Jews ). The gospel of Mark reveals Jesus Christ as the ( Servant of man ) . Luke reveals Jesus Christ as the ( Son of man ) and the good John reveals Jesus Christ as the ( Son of God ).

As we look into the phrase Jesus said to Nicodemus in ( John 3:7 ) he is saying it as the Son of God. It is a spiritual statement to which Nicodemus, like many can’t understand. Since Jesus made this spiritual statement, now he must teach the concept that he is speaking of.

Not only is this statement to Nicodemus but every person must have this same experience if they intend to, as we say:( go to heaven ) when they leave this earth.

While being born again is a choice, it’s also more than just a choice. Many people live within the mindset that simply saying they ( believe in ) Jesus Christ is being born again. Many of the Churches, by the way they present Jesus Christ also leave the impression that ( believing in ) Jesus Christ is all any person needs to do.

If we make a simple observation here, just in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus; we can see my point. Nicodemus, standing and speaking with Jesus, can we agree on the fact that he ( believed in ) Jesus Christ? He would have a hard time denying his existence.

Nicodemus looking at Jesus in the flesh, was also hearing what he was saying in the flesh. If you will notice he even says; how can this be, can a man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?

We know from scripture that Nicodemus also was around when Jesus was crucified and rose again. ( John 19:39 ) And there came also Nicodemus, which at first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.

We see these things but, all this does not mean that he was born again. It’s possible he was but, if so it goes beyond simply what we see.

Jesus, as he spoke with Nicodemus taught him of the spirit within him. Actually it had nothing to do with the flesh of Jesus Christ but the spirit that lived within him.

We must be born by that spirit. I realize that Jesus in the flesh didn’t sin did he? The Bible says he knew no sin but, if you could talk to the Pharisees of that day; they said he was a sinner.

In other words, if I, or any person was capable of living like Jesus Christ in his flesh, would that fact get us to heaven?

Often in our Church settings we are left with that as being the born again experience. We, as Church members set, what we consider the legal guidelines for membership in or perspective Churches. If our members live up to those guidelines and, say they believe in Jesus Christ we consider the to be born again In reality, being born again has nothing to do with the lack of sin. When we see ourselves as sinners and, realize we need a savior, something else has to happen.

Jesus said: that which is flesh is flesh but, that which is spirit is spirit.

Before we are born again the very spirit that guides us is flesh, born of the flesh. Being born again is being born or allowing the same spirit that lived in the flesh of Jesus Christ to come into you and replace the spirit that was born of the flesh. Once that spirit lives within you; it’s not that your spirit leaves but rather you now had a spirit within that will help you overcome the weakness of your flesh. It becomes a choice to whom you will serve.

Being born again is, first of all your willingness to ask God the Spirit to come and live within you, realizing that you are a sinner and in need of that spirit. Secondly, God having the power to make that transformation.

Faith is another key. I like to share this Biblical truth when I talk about this. The children of Israel were commanded to bring a lamb to be sacrificed to the high priest. That lamb had to meet certain criteria in order to become that sacrifice. When any one of the families in Israel approached the priest with that lamb; the high priest never looked at the people which brought the lamb. His eyes were on the lamb to be sacrificed, he wanted to make sure that lamb met the criteria in question.

Being born again is me or you placing all we have on Jesus as that lamb that met that criteria. When God the father looks down he only looks at the perfect lamb of God, being Jesus Christ. He doesn’t look at me. He already knows I do not meet the criteria.

My faith, being born again is in that fact. I place my eternal destiny on the perfection of Jesus Christ and that alone.

Another point that can be made here is this. In ( John 1:14 ) the Bible says that the ( word ) was made flesh and dwelt among us.

My faith is in what that word tells me. When this world is in fire; I’ll be standing on that word which is Jesus Christ.

Have you been born again? Do you know him? Has his spirit been born in you?

Marvel not at the things that I say; ye must be born again.

In the spiritual realm; what does that mean? I don’t even know that ( believism ) is a real word however, that phrase was coined a few years ago and I believe it became a well known practice by many Churches without even realizing it.

So, I’m not an advocate of ( Christian education ) not in the higher learning class such as the colleges and universities. I say that as a man that has no formal education. Many might think I need to be taught proper writing and English skills. You, might be right but, when it comes to a spiritual education we must be very careful who is doing the teaching and why. As we get into what this term is actually doing you might see why I say that.

Just as we see in secular education, our colleges and universities have become institutions of basic indoctrination into political beliefs, so have the main stream religious schools streamlined what they teach and their main focus is not on teaching students to hear what the spirit of God has to teach them.

There was a time when you could clearly see a difference in the basic doctrines of every denomination but now they are all somewhat the same with just minor differences. The difference has more to do with what they will allow from a physical standpoint rather than any doctrinal argument.

I see this as all stemming from what I’m calling ( easy believism ). Because of this, there is no argument about doctrinal stands or what spiritual truth is or,how God might truly see how we live in the flesh.

The argument! In reality, the man in a Church setting; standing behind the pulpit represents, ( absolute truth ), as present by the Holy Spirit of God. Every person within that building is seen as wrong and, needing to conform to that truth. That is the argument. It is between God the Father and our sinful flesh.

This is a good verse to make this point ( Isaiah 1:18 ) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though you’re sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Easy believism is the ability to get people to say they believe in Jesus Christ. At the time this belief was started someone might go out on the street and ask someone if the were saved, do you believe in Jesus Christ? If that person answered no, then the spokesman would give them a little scripture and ask if the would like to be saved, if the answer was yes then they would pray. That person then became another number of people that was led to the Lord that week. Did that person actually get saved? Now, we basically do the same process in all our Churches. Once any person goes through the motion of saying they believe, joining Church and being baptized, there is never a question about whether any change is made or they are never challenged beyond that point. In most cases now, if you are in good standing with the Church you are a member of then, you are considered pleasing to God the Father.

Look at this verse of scripture: ( Galatians 4:19 ) My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Now, look at verse ( 20 ) I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

Where did we get the idea that being born again is an easy thing? Believing in Jesus Christ is an easy thing but, that in itself is not salvation.

When we consider ( easy ) let’s start here with the messenger. The actual person that has a duty or burden to help another person see their need to be saved, to be born again. The very first thing the messenger has to accomplish is to bring a person to the knowledge that they are worthless and without hope in the body of flesh they live in. The truth is, you are a sinner, lost without God and there is nothing good about you. There is no reason that God should care for you and just as you are; hell should be and will your eternal home. The messenger has the responsibility to bring every lost person that is a candidate for salvation to the knowledge of those absolute facts, according to God’s word. The first goal of the messenger is to bring the sinner to the knowledge of his lost condition.

The ability or power of any person boldly doing that is not easy and, above that, it takes the spirit of God to cause the sinner to see what the messenger is seeking to relay to him. The Apostle Paul used the analogy of ( travailing in birth ). It’s not many women that I know if asked, will tell you that child bearing is an easy task. In order for a child to be born, that pain is going to have to be faced.

Easy believism seeks to have spiritual birth without the messenger having to face any pain. Let’s take it as step further. The Apostle Paul says ( until Christ be formed in you ). Once a mother goes through the pain of child bearing, isn’t that just the beginning? The Apostle Paul even says here that, because of what he is seeing ( he stands in doubt of them ).

I like to point out that ( the Church ) is the mother of salvation. The messenger is the pastor that is willing to stand and bear the pain if necessary, saying all that needs to be said to help the sinner see his lost condition. The Church he pastors supports all that he says and, once new birth happens the Church takes that babe in Christ under her wing and spiritually nurtured that child to spiritual maturity.

When it comes to true salvation; can I prove or make you see the point I’m making? I’m willing to try.

The way I would choose to bring true salvation to light would be like this. True salvation has a beginning, a present and a future. Easy believism only shows you the beginning. The Apostle Paul makes two statements: ( I want to change my voice ) and ( until Christ be formed in you).

Seeking to utilize what he’s says in these two quotes; he is considering that their salvation has already begun, it had its beginning.

The Apostle Paul, being the messenger paid the price and convinced these people that they were sinners, there was nothing about them that pleased God and, in their sinful state, without the blood of Christ, hell would be their eternal home. These people had been born again, in that; they had given up their right to be themselves and, had began the process of dying to themselves and becoming new creatures in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul left this work, he gave the pastor of that work the responsibility now to ( form Christ in them ). He says ( I want to change my voice ) meaning he’s upset with what little change he sees in these people.

Just because we say we have ( Christ in us ) does not mean we are all he desires for us to be. The preaching of God’s word in power has a transforming power. It causes us to die to ourselves daily and become more like Christ. We become willing servants to the voice and will of God. This is the challenge of the pastor, to preach with that power, to bring about that change in you. It’s never ending, the burden is constant and if he is where God desires for him to be then, he will not be satisfied until ( Christ be formed in you ).

Being born again is ( past tense) but ( present tense) would be, the pastor , the Church ever pressing you to die more to yourself and allow Christ to rule and reign in your mortal body.

In a Church setting, from the most spiritually mature to the babe in Christ, just when you think you are where Christ wants you to be spiritually then the pastor, the voice piece of God the Spirit; jerks the rug out from under your feet, giving you another spiritual challenge, something else to give up in you flesh. After every service, you head home, challenged pressed to be more like Christ. ( UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU ).

The preaching of God word is ( THE CHANGING OF HIS VOICE ). It’s passion, desire, burden.

The Bible says this of Jesus Christ. ( Isaiah 50:7 ) For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Can you imagine that? Such determination to carry out God’s will and no thought of his own. A true pastor’s heart is this intent, bound and determined to prepare every person in his charge to the exact spiritual place God would have them be. His mindset is: if you are in my Church, you will be prepared to stand before God one day.

Then, if we consider ( future tense) salvation it would be actually standing before Jesus Christ as your savior, prepared to do so because your Church, your pastor willingly paid a price to see that come to pass.

There’s nothing easy about true salvation. Even Jesus Christ in the garden prayed for God the father to let the cup pass from him. ( Luke 22:42 ) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Jesus Christ gave up his self to do the will of the Father, are we to do less? Just as God did not allow the cup to pass from his Son, Jesus Christ meaning that his death on Calvary was needed for true salvation to happen.

You pastor, your Church has the cup of responsibility laid upon them and it will not pass from them. If they do not take on that responsibility then that is not God’s will; they walk away from the will of God and left sinners in the hands of an angry God.

Jesus, in his flesh could have walked away, the Apostle Paul could have, the man that preached the gospel to me, could have, even I can. However, each of these people made a choice to suffer, to pay what ever price necessary that salvation might truly come to sinners.

As you go to your Church next Sunday, you know what’s in your heart; whether you are truly born again or not, you know whether you are dying to yourself and yielding to Christ but, every other person in that building is a potential candidate for salvation, you can’t see their heart.

We need, while recognizing that we cannot judge any man, show concern for their spiritual growth. We must push and seek to raise the spiritual attitude of every person, acknowledging the fact that ( Christ needs to be formed ) in every person. The possibility that each person is not saved is real and, should cause a true believer to be burdened for those people. We must understand that those same people are looking at you and wondering, with concern about your salvation.

In the average Church setting, from the pastor to the people, if this is not the case then, ( easy believism ) more than likely rules in your Church.

I’m asking you: do you know Jesus Christ as you savior? Have you been born again? I ask, simply because I care. Are you dying daily to your will and, allowing him to be seen in you? I asked because I’m concerned.

The fact that we live in a corrupt, sin cursed world and can be deceived is real.

Easy believism is simply man making you feel good about yourself and actually closes your eyes to the true will of God for your life. God wants you to go far beyond the voice of man and truly seek to hear the voice of God the father. When all is finished and we stand before him, you’ll be glad you did.

Could this title be considered an oxymoron? Is it even possible for any person to say they believe but yet not be born again? The answer to this question is; yes. I often use these verses to make this point.

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: ( 14 ) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7: 21

But everyone 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,

My heart, while very burdened for those that are outside the Church, lost and undone without Christ; Is most burdened for those that frequently go to our Churches, say they believe in Jesus Christ but are being deceived about what it truly takes to know him. When we read these two scriptures, we often assume that all the people that have joined a Church, especially the members of our Church, have chosen the (strait gate) but, if that is the case; why even mention (verse 21)?

In my studies, and desire to understand scripture, I see clearly the difference between these two terms: ( kingdom of heaven ) and ( kingdom of God ). Here, Jesus is speaking to his people, ( the Nation of Israel ). I only make this point because they assumed that just because each of them were born into the family or nation of Israel they were automatically pleasing to God. That statement was not true then and, just because you are a member of a Church now does not make you pleasing to God or even in his family.

Over the course of my walk with Christ; I’ve asked many people this question: are you saved? Have you been born again? In most cases their answer would be (I’ve been baptized, I’ve joined Church). At that answer, I’d reply, that’s not what I ask you.

Today, if you asked me if I am a Christian? My reply will always be this. I’ve been born again, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. I’m solely dependent on him for my salvation.

My faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work on Calvary affords me the ability to boldly say: (I know I’m going to heaven when I die). Evidently, simply being a Christian doesn’t give one that ability. Because, in almost every case when I asked (Christians) if (they know) they’re going to heaven when they die? They always reply I hope so.

Contrary to what’s popular today, God, through the blood of his son, Jesus Christ does not offer (hope so) salvation. The only kind he has to offer is (know so). I understand that it is a growing process to get to that place. And it doesn’t mean that if you say (you hope) you don’t have salvation, that salvation is not yours. The things we say are simply words. Whether we say, (know so) or (hope so) is just words. The point is that salvation, the kind that God offers is (know so) we are just not taught to seek that knowledge and most people never study to know for themselves.

We lean only on the understanding that is offered or taught by our favorite local Church.

While I’m not a judge of any man’s salvation, I am very concerned about people that are unbelieving Christians. There are many people that say they are Christians simply because they have been baptized and have joined a Church somewhere.

Over the course of my walk with Christ; I have been to two homes of families to witness to the sons in that house. Both were young men that I had met while working on different jobs. Both of these two families were members of the same religion or Church denomination. In Both cases, when I began to ask the young men if they were born again, their mothers replied (yes, they are) before either young man could speak. Even though a religion or, Church denomination might teach that simply being born in a family that is a member of that particular religious organization and, no matter what your mom might say, it does not change the fact that each person must be born again.

With a heartfelt desire, I want my children to go to heaven when they die. However, no matter how much I might desire that, I cannot make that decision for them, neither can any Church. The term (unbelieving Christian) Is speaking to people with this mindset. Each individual must go through a process that is designed by God the Father. The act of being born again is not a question of how a Church or religious organization defines that act or, even a family member. I will concede that the fact that many Church members are not born again is because of the lack of truly allowing God, through his Spirit to do his work in the heart of family members or, Church members.

We often speak of (abortion) in a physical sense. (I believe) that Churches and religious organizations all across our country and, our world are committing (spiritual abortions) and don’t even realize it. Now, if you don’t like that term because it implies that birth has already began, how about (birth control)? That means we are doing things that actually stops spiritual birth from forming in the people that come to our Churches. Just how might we do that?

Before we get into this, I’d like to make a statement here. (I Believe) that filling our Churches with (unbelieving Christians) is by design. (I believe) that it comes from the top of our religious organizations, colleges and universities. It starts with the teaching and the control of what is being taught in our local Churches. In general, (I believe) that many pastors and Church leaders are ignorant to what is actually happening to even their own personal walk with Christ. Are they saved/ born again? Like I say, I’m not a judge but, that doesn’t mean I’m not concerned. The Bible tells us this:

2 Corinthians 2:11

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

I only show you that verse to ask: are you ignorant of his devices? And, has Satan got an advantage over you? When The Apostle Paul says (we) are not ignorant of his devices, to whom is he speaking? I ask that question because I believe that many Church leaders and members are ignorant of his devices, they just don’t realize where they stand with Christ.

If you ask the average husband and wife, what it takes to bring about physical birth; they can answer that question. The average pastor and Church member can answer it as well. But, what about be (born again)? What does it take to be born of the Spirit, born the second time in the same life you have? Can you answer that?

Jesus Christ looked at Nicodemus and said: (Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.)

John 3:7

MARVEL NOT THAT I SAID UNTO THEE, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

Nicodemus was a teacher in Israel and (HE KNEW NOT THESE THINGS). Why would it marvel us that our spiritual leaders today don’t understand the new birth?

So, what does it take for you to be born the second time? One of the first things any person must come to an understanding of is this. In your flesh, no matter who you are or, what you think; God is not pleased with you.

Romans 3:0-15

As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. (13) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: (14) Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: (15) Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes.

This is every person that has ever been born. In our flesh we are completely worthless to a Holy and righteous God, just as we are. Although the law, and that, even of God; has its value; it cannot teach people to be Godly. Man alone, cannot be taught to be Godly. It has been tried and failed. So, what profit is the law of God?

Galatians 3:24

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

No pastor, no Church leader, no university can teach you not to be a sinner. No parent can teach their children not to be a sinner. That is an impossible task. We all are sinners by nature. I agree, we all should seek to teach righteous living but, we must be willing to always point out that we are sinners and because of that undeniable fact, we must teach the importance of being born of God’s Spirit.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

God the Father, is completely willing to justify us in our sin but, we must understand that we are unworthy sinners in need of what he offers. Look at the next verses:

Romans3:24-26

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) 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; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Christianty has become full of unbelievers in the sense that they have never seen a need to change anything in their lives to be called a believer. The Apostle Paul was a man that declared that he killed believers and also had them put in prison. In (Acts 9) we see the conversion of that same man. What if he never changed anything in his life? Would you mind explaining the difference in him and you, whatever your sin might be?

We must come to the end of ourselves, see ourselves for who and what we truly are and, then allow the Spirit of God to transform us into what he would have us be.

Being born again is a beginning. Just as you had a beginning in your first birth. It’s when you see yourself as a hopeless sinner and, completely unable to help yourself therefore, you call on Jesus and ask him to move into your heart and become your guide, your Savior. You confess your willingness to learn of him and conform to who he is.

Personally. I believe in eternal security. There are those that teach and believe that a person can lose their salvation after they are born-again. So, what is truth? Can a person lose their salvation? I’ve written something about this very recently. However, since we are speaking of unbelieving Christians, this might be a good place to once again show you some scripture to point out what it takes to be born-again.

I’d like to begin this by making this point. The pastor of any Church is like the captain of a ship. He is completely responsible for every person on that ship. He is the one that makes every final decision and, the only one that will face the consequences of the choices thereof. If we look, first of all in the book of Galatians we can see a picture of what often happens in Churches. In this book the Apostle Paul was the man that established this work. He started it on solid fundamental doctrine as laid out by God’s Holy Spirit.

After he departed, things changed. Look at:

Galatians 1:6-7

I MARVEL THAT YE ARE SO SOON REMOVED FROM HIM THAT CALLED YOU INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL: (7) WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER; BUT THERE ARE SOME THAT TROUBLE YOU, AND WOULD PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

It’s a couple of ways we can see that would cause this to happen. First of all. you can count on the fact that anywhere God’s Spirit is at work, the spirit of antichrist will be there as well. If you will notice, he says: (ye were so soon removed) speaking directly to the Church. I would say that the Apostle Paul, when he departed left a group of Elders in charge of that Church. We see in the Book of Acts that this was the way the business of a new formed Church was carried out. I always like to point out that the New Testament had not yet been written at this time.

What does that mean to a newly formed Church? That means that since there is no scripture to support truth ye; those men must be willing to allow God’s Spirit to speak to their hearts and yield to that Spirit. In the case of Galatia, they could rely on the things that they had heard from the Apostle Paul, trusting that what he taught was absolute truth and stand against any person that sought to teach anything different.

We can say, speaking of those two things being the man teaching and the whole congregation of people, somewhere there was a weak link. It’s very possible that one or more of the Elders that the Apostle Paul left in Charge was a plant from Satan, an antichrist seeking to tear down truth. He or they impressed upon the others and even the whole congregation that what the Apostle Paul had taught them was false therefore, upsetting the truth in the whole Church.

Here, if I asked you this one question, how will you answer it? The Apostle Paul said this: (another gospel). Then he says, (which is not another, but there be some that trouble you). How many true gospels are they? There cannot be but one true gospel. If we allow God’s Spirit to speak, that is the gospel we will hear!

Now, let’s look at this:

Galatians 4:19

MY LITTLE CHILDREN, OF WHOM I TRAVAIL IN BIRTH AGAIN UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU.

Can Christ be formed in an individual if the true gospel is not taught? Actually, that solely depends on the individual. If the Spirit of God lives within your heart, then you can glean truth from any person that is teaching scripture and grow thereby. At the very same time, if a babe in Christ listens to false teaching they can easily follow the man teaching rather than understanding how to hear God’s Spirit. That can create the lack of spiritual growth and even handicap that individual for life! It also can set up the formation of a whole Church of unbelieving Christians.

Let’s consider the Church of Galatia. Let’s assume that every person there was born-again babes. After the departure of the Apostle Paul the Church began to teach false doctrine. The members of that Church remained babes in Christ as a rule because of the teaching they received. As time moved forward all those members died out or possibly left because they rejected the doctrine being taught. However, the Church was filled with people that called themselves Christian but, believed a false doctrine. That is what they taught their Children and all other people that came to that Church.

I used the term (false doctrine). The Apostle Paul used the term (another gospel). Personally. I believe that the term he used is far more effective. In many Churches Jesus Christ is often mentioned. We talk about him in Sunday School, in our Church services and so on but, the message we hear is not the same message that the Apostle Paul taught to the Church of Galatia. It’s (another gospel), just simply using the same name!

I also often make this statement. It’s very possible that the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the (Church of Galatia), the Church never heard that letter. Although it was delivered to the Elders, they simply didn’t read it to the people. Let’s say you are a pastor; another pastor writes you a letter basically scolding you for teaching for teaching (another gospel) or write the letter addressed to your people, since you are the spokesman for those people, you get the letter. Once you read it, are you going to read it to your people?

It’s the same principal as (I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK) (Revelation 3:20). In that verse, Jesus Christ himself is seeking to get into the Church building but cannot!

I’d like to go back to the (Book of Acts), the early days of the Church to make a point here.

Acts 2:4

AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE.

The first point that I’d like to make here is this. Each of these people were individuals. We see that each of them was filled with thew Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues. However, it was all the same Spirit.

I’m going to make the argument here that every one of these believers, being filled with God’s Spirit said exactly the same thing. If you will notice, it says (as the spirit gave them utterance). As we look at this and study through this context, we see that there were:

Verse 5

AND THERE WERE DWELLING AT JERUSALEM JEWS, DEVOUT MEN, OUT OF EVERY NATION UNDER HEAVEN. (6) NOW WHEN THIS WAS NOISED ABROAD, THE MULTITUDE CAME TOGETHER, AND WERE CONFOUNDED, BECAUSE THAT EVERY MAN HEARD THEM SPEAK IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE.

Here, the Holy Ghost is revealing absolute truth to men that speak every language under heaven. He’s using the 120 believers to do so. If there were twenty people listening to the Apostle Peter as he spoke, all twenty of them spoke a different language, they all heard what the Apostle Peter said in his own language.

My point is that no matter what one of the 120 believers might have thought, it didn’t matter on this day because it wasn’t the individual that was speaking, it was the Holy Ghost of God. If you will continue to read, you will see that the Apostle Peter did become the keynote speaker, as he spoke every person understood all he had to say.

We must understand this: the very Holy Spirit of God has just revealed absolute truth to these individuals. The question now is, what are they, in their flesh going to do with that truth? Let’s change it a little. Let’s say you are a member of a Church that has exactly 120 members, you are being one of them. On this particular Sunday morning all 120 believers are attending Church. Your pastor stands to deliver the Sunday message. He, (your pastor) is on this day completely sold out to the will of God and speaks exactly the truth God lays on his heart. Each of you, as members hear this message. Now, what are you going to do with the message you just heard?

So, what actually happened on the (Day of Pentecost)? Let’s first see what has just come to pass. Jesus Christ, God, in a body of human flesh has just lived among men. Those men rejected him for all he said he was. They, by their own choice nailed him to a cross and watched until he died. After he died, they took him and laid him in a tomb. After three days he arose from that tomb and walked among the very same men that had placed him on the cross.

The Bible says in:

1 Corinthians 15:6

AFTER THAT, HE WAS SEEN OF ABOVE FIVE HUNDRED BRETHREN AT ONCE; OF WHOM THE GREATER PART REMAIN UNTO THISPRESENT, BUT SOME HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP.

Personally, I believe that the only people that actually seen Jesus Christ after his resurrection was those that believed.

On the day of Pentecost, God created a situation where his Holy Spirit spoke through the flesh of men and those men had absolutely no control over what was being said or done by that Spirit. We don’t have a record of what that Spirit said as those people spoke at that time. What we do know is that every person said the same thing and, every person heard the same message. Again, we can ask, what did they do with the message they heard?

You, as an individual, are you an (unbelieving Christian)? What was it that these people said? What did the multitude hear? Look at this:

Acts 2: 12-13

AND THEY WERE ALL AMAZED, AND WEREIN DOUBT, SAYING ONE TO ANOTHER, WHAT MEANETH THIS? (13) OTHERS MOCKING SAID, THESE MEN ARE FULL OF NEW WINE.

In the next few verses, we see where the Apostle Peter brings a message. The message he brings is a message that every person that is lost needs to come to and understanding of. That being that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world, for your sin and mine. Although I wasn’t present on the day he was crucified, I was just as guilty of his crucifixion as any man there!. Every sinner needs to understand that fact first and foremost!

As far as what the Holy Ghost said to the multitude using the voice of these 120 believers, I don’t think it much difference that the average man speaking to the average congregation on any given Sunday morning. If your pastor is (sold out) to God’s Spirit, preaches a very powerful message to the people at Church on a Sunday morning, you, as an individual still have to be willing to hear that spirit! If not, then you are no different than those on the Day of Pentecost that thought those people were filled with new wine, mocking them!

In closing, I’d like to share part of my testimony to make a very powerful point. I am a (BELIEVING CHRISTIAN)! I’ve been born again, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, completely trusting in His Righteousness for my eternal security!

As I make that point, the very moment that I became born again I had absolutely no knowledge of all that the pastor preached on that one Sunday morning. Now, consider this verse:

Acts 16:31

AND THEY SAID, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED, AND THY HOUSE.

Here, the Philippian jailer that this verse is speaking of was at the very same place I was the moment I was born-again. Although we both had asked Jesus Christ to be our savoir, all that the Holy Ghost had said as the preacher was preaching, we had no idea, no understanding about any of what was to transpire in our lives.

This is the point. The very moment of a true born-again experience, the very Spirit of God instills something within the heart of the believer that creates a yearning to know and understand truth! To come to an understanding of how God works in the heart of every believer. On the Day of Pentecost, that experience was a beginning, even if the truth was rejected that day, it was still there for the taking for every person that had the yearning to understand.

When God first spoke to my heart, just a few Sundays before my salvation it stirred a yearning within me (TO KNOW)! The yearning (TO KNOW) hasn’t stopped until this day forty-five years later. That yearning has nothing to do with Church membership, baptism, any preacher, any opinion of any man, any doctrine that any person might teach. It has to do with a personal relationship with God’s Spirit that abides within my heart, a desire to (Know Him) and all that he is.

As we end this, I’ll show you one other group of verses that I believe sums up what I’m saying about unbelieving Christians, people that call themselves (Christian) but have never been born again.

Matthew 13:3-9

AND HE SPAKE MANY THINGS UNTO THEM IN PARABLES, SAYING, BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT FORTH TO SOW; (4) AND WHEN HE SOWED, SOME SEEDS FEEL BY THE WAY SIDE, AND THE FOWLS CAME AND DEVOURED THEM UP: (5) SOME FELL UPON STONY PLACES, WHERE THEY HAD NOT MUCH EARTH: AND FORTHWITH THEY SPRANG UP, BECAUSE THEY HAD NO DEEPNESS OF EARTH: (6) AND WHEN THE SUN WAS UP, THEY SCORCHED; AND BECAUSE THEY HAD NO ROOT, THEY WITHERED AWAY. (7) AND SOME FELL AMONG THORNS, AND THE THORNS SPUNG UP, AND CHOKED THEM: (8) BUT OTHER FELL INTO GOOD GROUND, AND BROUGHT FORTH FRUIT, SOME AN HUNDREDFOLD, SOME SIXTYFOLD, SOME THIRTYFOLD. (9) WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR. LET HIM HEAR.

This is just a parable. We see that as the Sower sowed seed, they fell at different places. Each one of those places is a picture of (your heart). So, let’s look at these hearts. First of all. we see the fowls. You, as an individual just heard the true gospel of Jesus Christ. When you left Church, you met a few friends of yours and begin to share what you heard. Those friends told you that what you heard was a lie, you need to leave that alone. Therefore, you believed your friends and never went back. That seed that was sown into your heart was just devoured by (the fowls of the air)!

Now, I truly lie this second one and (I believe) that this one is more prevalent than we often think. (FELL ON STONY PLACES). I also this particular one can be compared to (FELL AMONG THORNS). Now, with this in mind, let’s find another verse to put with this one:

Jeremiah 18:4

AND THE VESSEL THAT HE MADE OF CLAY WAS MARRED IN THE HAND OF THE POTTER: SO HE MADE IT AGAIN ANOTHER VESSEL, AS SEEMED GOOD TO THE POTTER TO MAKE IT.

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As an individual, you can count on this absolute fact. Just as you are, the way you come to Christ, your vessel is marred, and it has to be completely remolded into God’s will. Ther are many people, most people that have very stony hearts. Very often, when we say we except Jesus Christ, we don’t realize what we say we are excepting. When we say that the sed fell on stony ground, you did hear that word, you know you need salvation. Now, the question is are you willing to conform, change who you are for his glory?

Far more often than we like to admit, this is what happens. We like to paint a picture of salvation but that’s all it is, a picture. We’ll change Churches, we’ll change pastors, we’ll even change scripture to be able to stay just as we are, and we’ll find a group of people that will except us Just as We Are! Even a Pastor!

There are hamburger chains that came up with a scientific way to make a hamburger. Every burger is basically the same with maybe a few exceptions. At the same time the flavor of the burger is very enticing to those that desire them. Many won’t even consider making their own burger with real ingredients.

Out Churches today has formed their very own version of this. (It’s scientific salvation)! The pastor is scientifically formed to suite each Church, the books they teach from are scientifically formed to teach the very same things. Do you realize that most Churches today will not even take a stand on what version of the Bible to use? Have it your way! You can use any version you like.

I normally never call any denominations by name. And even here I’m not trying to raise one above another but rather trying to make you see what has happened over the last few years. Do you realize that not many years ago that a Pentecostal believer would stand on the concept that a Baptist believer was wrong in their belief and also the Baptist believed the say way about the Pentecostal? The same way with Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran. There were even different divisions of Pentecostal believers and Baptist alike. While we still might see the different divisions of them all, there is never an argument between them!

The reason for that is simple. Many of them are filled with (unbelieving Christians). They are all alike and there is no noticeable difference in any of them! The stony hearts are all the same and the thorns have sprung up in each different denomination and choked out all of what use to be considered great conviction on the hearts of men and women.

The average Church today has become more about personal preference rather that the convicting power of God. And believe it or not most people that will say they believe will also stand before God with the same spiritual level of spiritual knowledge that they had the day they joined whatever Church they are a member of.

How about you? I always content that it’s all about the spiritual understanding of each individual. Do you know, will you confess before your Church that you know without a doubt that you’re going to heaven when you die? When and if the convicting power of God’s word fell on your heart did it fall on good soil and is it still growing and maturing until this day or, are you stuck in some denomination, still confused about what truth is?

I also wonder what Bible you choose to use, and why? One point I often make about the way we readily change scripture today is this. Not too many years ago we didn’t have very many choices as far as the word of God was concerned. Most people used the (King James Bible) I still do. However, If I had a doubt about whether what I was studying was truth or not, I won’t trust any man and his version of scripture, I’d try to go back to the original text in Hebrew and Greek to find the answers I needed.

Today we have the ability to do just that! Most people settle for a (Hope So) salvation because they never take the time to seek truth on their own. If you are a (unbelieving Christian) meaning you can’t say for sure that you have been born again, all you know is that you joined Church and was baptized, even confessed you believed in Jesus Christ but, you can’t say that you have ever truly been born again. don’t you think your eternal destiny is worth your time to seek to be truly born again?

This is not me speaking to you but, this is what scripture tells you to do:

2 Peter 1:10

WHEREFORE THE RATHER, BRETHREN, GIVE DIDIGENCE TO MAKE YOU CALLING AND ELECTION SURE: FOR IF YOU DO THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FAIL:

Let’s go back a couple of verses:

2 Peter 1:8-9

FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUD, THEY MAKE YOU THAT YE SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. (9) BUT THE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF, AND HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS ALD SINS.

When we speak about (clay in the potter’s hand) this chapter, if you will allow God’s Spirit to speak to you, and mold each of the things mentioned in these verses within your heart then all denominations and religious beliefs will cease to be important to you. The true life of Christ will reign in your members!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

October 17,2019

This week the Democratic candidates for president had a debate. While that debate was airing; the freedom from religion foundation had a commercial aired. The spokesman boldly said that he was not afraid of burning in hell.

While I am not a member of ( the freedom from religion foundation ) I, like those members am free from religion. I, like this spokesman, have no fear of burning in hell.

There is a great difference in me and this spokesman though. I am a born again believer, I’ve been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ and I am a member of the family of God.

This transformation in a person’s life has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with a relationship, a choice, a birth.

While I would argue that mankind and the world has made Christianity a religion, actually the born again experience is not a religion.

Salvation is a free gift from Jesus Christ to anyone that chooses to believe. Since that gift is free by definition, I don’t have to do anything. The things I choose to do for Jesus Christ in my time on earth, I do by choice, no forced to by any religion or having to be part of any religious organization.

I often think about the word ( Protestant ). That word, by definition is saying that a person left or protested one religious organization and joined another. There are many Churches that are called ( Protestant Churches ). I’m not a Protestant, I never rebelled against any one religion joined another.

The Apostle Paul once made the statement that he was a member of the ( Jew’s religion )( Galatians 1:13-14 ). He makes the point there that he was separated from that religion by God, through his Son, Jesus. The Jews are not a religion either, you must be born a Jew to be one. They had made that mindset ( a religion ).

There is a denomination that calls themselves ( non-denominational ). By default, do they not become a denomination within itself? The ( freedom from religion foundation); does it not become ( a religion) by default?

I thank God, through his Son Jesus Christ that I have set free from the religions of this world and am a part of his family by his marvelous grace.

Some religions appear to be working toward God while others are, or appear to be working against all that God is. Nonetheless, they all are religions.

In our world we have the Church of Satan, people that religiously worship Satan, although it’s apart from God, it’s still a religion.

In reality, there is no middle ground. We either walk with God by faith, trusting in him through the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ or we follow Satan. You can place any name on the religious organization that you choose to but you are either worshipping God through the blood of Jesus Christ or you are a follower of Satan.

Ignorance is bliss. Many people, although very happy, even satisfied end up in a burning hell. All the boasting they might do, all the happiness they might have will end the very second hell is their home.

Religion is something we think we can do to please or displease God, depending on the mindset of the religion. Actually, religion has nothing to do with the true and living God. Without realizing it we contradict God’s whole purpose when we cause anything to be done religiously. God desires a personal relationship with those that walk with him.

Salvation is being born into God’s family and that by choice. I might not always be a good child of God, but I’m always a child since I’ve been born into his family.

So, I can join the freedom from religion foundation and still walk with Jesus Christ; am I correct? That being because I am free from religion.

THEN SAID I, LO, I COME ( IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME, ) TO DO THY WILL, O GOD.

As a man that has a great passion for the very souls of the people that live on this earth, my mind and heart is continually searching to find ways to help those same people to see God the Father. In more cases than not he is right in front of us and we just can’t find the vision to see him.

Let’s add another verse to this one to help make the point that the God of this universe desires to speak with you but, he also desires that you desire to know him and speak with him.

HEBREWS 11:6

BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.

God the Father loves individual relationships, people that seek to know him apart from anything else or anyone else. The political aspect of the average local Church has done away with that very concept and, we can even say that it has become a part of the mindset of the world.

The concept of personal study and learning who God is by meeting him in his word is not taught therefore, most people don’t put the two together. They don’t realize that studying God’s word is actually allowing him to converse with you, praying is you conversing with him.The Bible says to ( PRAY WITHOUT CEASING ) ( 1Thessalonians 5:17 )

That means that God is pleased when we converse with him continually.

When you, as an individual consider where God is; where would that be? ( I believe ) that the religious world and our spiritual teachers want us to think God is far away and that we need them to help us to communicate with him and to know him. ( I believe ) that teaching keeps them important when, in reality God’s Spirit is within every born again believer and we can be taught by that Spirit through his word even without the aid of any person. That is actually what God desires.

God’s plan is to use pastors, teachers and evangelist to bring us to a point that we don’t need them. The new birth, our spiritual birth is just like any other birth. At some point we become self sufficient in our spiritual walk. That’s because of the fact; God lives within our hearts. We become a body in service to him.

Can you see how a man or person all alone on an island can be walking close to God the Spirit? That without the aid of any Church or other person?

We often call our Churches today ( worship centers ). Why do we do that? Is that, in itself teaching us that we have to come to that place to worship God? Look at this verse ( 1 Peter 2:9 ) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light.

The ( ye ) there is speaking of the Church but not a local Church, it’s the body of Christ and ( you ) are a part of that body no matter where you might be, that is physically. You don’t have to be ( in a local Church ). You can be at home, at work, on vacation. The fact that you are a member of the body of Christ puts God within you, at that, at all times.

When we realize and place our faith in the reality that God lives within each of us individually and the word of God is alive, knowing that these two things are as real as one person speaking to another then we began to understand truly how God’s Spirit teaches us to know him. As we study scripture and ask him questions, we learn. We can be driving down the road, lying in our bed, sitting in our recliners or even be sitting in our local Church.

We, far too often rely on the teaching and educational tools created by men and the doctrines of religious organizations to gain our spiritual education. In my experience as a believer the best teaching comes from one on one conversations with the very Spirit of God that lives within me.

Look at this verse: ( Romans 8:16 ) The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

So, what does God’s spirit say to you? The Church or you pastor might tell you you are saved but, what does God’s spirit reveal to you? If your answer to that question is ( I don’t know ) then that is something you, as an individual needs to work on. When we consider, God living in us and a whole book written about him, for us, how can we not learn to know for ourselves and allow him to bear witness with us that we are the children of God?

It’s a matter of spiritual maturity that we need beyond the teaching of any Church, it’s a personal relationship with our savior that we must seek on our own.

I personally hold our local Churches and their leadership responsible for our lack of understanding the concept of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s a-shame we stay in our perspective Churches and are never taught this, we are not challenged to have a ( know so ) salvation or to understand the art of hearing God as he speaks.

I often wonder where our true love is. Do we simply love our pastor or Church or are we seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ? When I hear people that have been Church members for a long time say they only hope that are saved I wonder what they’ve been taught their whole life and, if they have been born again.

God comes to us in the volume of a book. He willingly takes abode up in our hearts when we ask him in. We can become spiritually self sufficient because of those two facts and have an assurance that surpasses all understanding but we must seek to know him and learn to hear him.

When I was born, my mom and dad took me, nurtured me and taught me as I grew. They helped me to become a man and, at that time I started to stand on my own two feet.

The born again experience should be the same way. The pastor, being the head of the Church and the Church being a type of a mother should nurture each born again believer to spiritual maturity bringing them to the knowledge of hearing God’s Spirit on their own. The spiritual leaders in every Church should show forth spiritual confidence in their knowledge of scripture and their ability to hear God as he speaks to and through them.

As parents, if we fail to prepare our children for maturity we cripple our children for life. As leaders in our Churches do we not do the same thing? If we don’t teach one generation to hear God’s spirit then what happens to the children of that generation?

I’d like to make one other point before we close this. God made it incumbent for men to bring salvation to those they say they love. In other words, God placed himself in the heart of man. Only man can allow him to speak. What I have within me, the love of God within me must be heard through my lips or it’s not heard at all. My responsibility to my children, to all those I say I love is to share the gospel of Christ with them in power and in truth.My responsibility is to teach, to bring about spiritual maturity to all that I can reach. I can’t make one person hear what I say but, I can see that what I say is all that God speaks to me.

The Bible says: ( 2 Corinthians 4:3 ) But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

I don’t want the gospel to be hid in me. My desire is to allow the man that lives within me to be seen and heard in every way possible. My desire is that the volume of the book written of him to be heard through my lips of clay. That he, Jesus Christ might be seen in me for the world to hear.

Are you saved, do you know Jesus Christ as you savior?

Can you imagine being hated or killed simply for what you believe or believe in? As we consider this look at the wars that are fought over simple power struggles or different opinions. We see individuals that might fight over all kinds of things, the same with nations but, what about a spiritual battle?

I live in The united States of America. A nation that has always been seen as a ( Christian nation ). That means that this country, as a nation recognizes Jesus Christ as the only way of Salvation, we believe in a sovereign almighty God.. That God lived in the fleshly body of Jesus Christ.

If we consider what happened to this nation on September 11,2001; what we see is a country being attacked by an enemy that looks far beyond simply controlling this nation. We were attacked simply because of our spiritual stand. Consider, on that day, it didn’t matter what the individual people in those buildings or planes believed, all that mattered was that this country had to be put down because of our belief as a country. It could have been people in this country that died that day that believed just as the enemy of this country believed but, it didn’t matter; they were guilty by association. It might have been Atheist or agnostics, that didn’t matter, they too, were guilty by the same association.

While I believe, and can clearly see how this spiritual battle started long before this attack , just consider where we are as a nation since that terrible day. This country, called and recognized as a ( Christian nation ) cannot mention the name of Jesus Christ in the halls of our government, we can’t offer a prayer in Christ name without being chastised or criticized for doing so. We can’t teach our children the very principles that we say we stand on, that is,not in the halls of our government.

I still believe that we are a ( Christian nation ). The vast majority of the people, families and the way they think about Jesus Christ is actually no different than it has ever been. Our voice is simply not heard in the very chambers that we are told we control. The average politician always tells us one thing when he or she is campaigning, seek our vote but, does quite another when they actually get the office they seek.

There’s a verse of scripture that comes to mind as I say this: ( Joshua 24:15 ) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The verse is proudly displayed in many homes across America and, I suppose around the world. however it’s one thing to hang out that shingle but quite another to actually do what it says.

The Bible also tells us to turn back to the ( Old Paths ). Jeremiah was a prophet that basically sought to say what God told him to say but he was rejected by his own people. This is one thing he told them ( Jeremiah 6:16 ) Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

As a nation, we need to find that place to go back to. Over the years, many things have changed, little by little and day by day. Most of those things were so suttle that we paid very little attention to but should have placed a mark in the sand and refused to be pushed back any farther at that time.

We were made to believe we were being to harsh and needed to be more receptive to the ways of others however, who is it now that is not being receptive?

In my life time one person went to congress and demanded that we take prayer out of schools. Consider: at that time most of our elected officials used as part of their platform, being members of our local Churches. We listened to them, expected them to stand as we stood, did they spiritually sell us out? If we fast forward until today, do you ever hear a politician mention very much about where he stand spiritually? Have we raised a couple of generations of people that truly would not understand the ( Old Paths ) that many people seek to go back to?

If we walked into the average classroom in this country today and ask for any one of the students in that classroom to stand and offer a prayer for our nation, what would we find?

I love the nation I live in ( The United States of America ). I’m seeking those Old Landmarks ) where a man could shake hands and you could put confidence in what he said. Where a man that stood behind a pulpit truly sought to say what God told him to say. When men were men and women were women and also were proud of who they were. I seek a time when people sought the face of God in prayer, truly ask him the simple things such as how should I dress and God, help me to walk in you statutes today and reveal you glory in all that I do and say.

I seek a time once again when I can walk into what we call ( God’s house ) the Church and truly feel the power of God. I seek prayer warriors that bend their knees toward God and actually expect to hear from him. A time when, not only did people pray but dedicated their every day walk to prove what they said they were. People that didn’t just talked the talk but walked the walk. Old things in their lives had passed away and all things had become new.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary and arose from the grave to justify you, to save you? Have you asked him to come into your heart and be your Savoir? I still believe that millions of Americans believe this. Let’s begin to seek the Old Paths once again and change this country for the glory of God.

We fight a spiritual battle now. This battle cannot be won with weapons of war. Our enemy has to be defeated with power from in high. It begins with as many people as possible down on their knees in prayer. It starts with a change in the spiritual mindset of each person. A true turning to a Holy and Righteous God, the God of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob.

When we turn back to the ( Old Paths ) in every aspect of our lives; beginning with discipline in our homes, with our children and causing our legal to do the same, then that will be a begging. The reason I point out discipline is because we have confused the love of God with the lack of discipline when, Jesus Christ did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. When we do wrong the penalty for what we do wrong is still the same.

We need strong spiritual dads and wives with a submissive attitude toward their spiritual husbands, raising their children with Godly influences. We need men behind our pulpits that preach God’s word without repentance and stand against the principalities of this world, allowing God to speak through them.

Looking forward, what do you see? As a man that seeks the ( Old Paths ) looking back, I never dreamed I’d witness what I see in this country today. And, that’s just in the last twenty years. If we don’t change our course what will our grandchildren face twenty years from now?

I’m asking you as an individual to began to stand and fight the spiritual battle. The Bible says this: ( Janes 4:7 ) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

Can you see in that verse that the Devil is actually a coward. Once we become willing, by the power of God within us to fight back, he runs. He only can when we allow him to do so.

Lord, I pray that you will help me to start this within myself, to seek to be a voice, one that cries in the wilderness and to become all you want me to be.

Open our spiritual eyes, show us the path back to the center of your will and help us to be willing to pay any price that needed in the process of changing ourselves to become a voice for the change in each of us individually and in this nation. The very souls of our children and grandchildren are at stake.

I ask all this in the name above all names, Jesus Christ, AMEN