12/06/25 GOD'S ANSWER TO INTERNAL STRIFE

12/06/25 GOD'S ANSWER TO INTERNAL STRIFE

If you repair the holes in the hull, you won't need to bail the hold to stay afloat.

And this is what I have been crying aloud for half a century. Not only has the American Church failed to repair its doctrinal and ministry damages, but it has also been allowing loose cannons (unsaved people and carnal believers) to cause even more damage. Each person determines his own relationship with God and the family of God. This is why there is resistance and rebellion in the local church. People do not want to submit to legitimate authority.

God is the Ultimate Authority; He is our Commander; He is our King of kings and Lord of lords; He is our Sovereign Ruler. God has given mankind free will. We choose to either submit to God's rule or rebel against His rule. Rebelling against God's rule will be punished by God. Rebelling against God's rule is sin, and the wages of rebellion is death (eternal separation from God).

God has many different roles and titles. God is King, Lawmaker, Judge, Lord, Shepherd, King of kings, Lord of lords, Savior. But as the Ultimate Authority, He has appointed human leaders to lead according to His will.

God has set up a system of rules and relationships.

God created the family, with the husband and father in authority over the family.

God extended the family to tribes and a nation (Israel).

God appointed leaders over tribes and nations as His representatives.

God's appointed leader of the nation of Israel was a Shepherd/King.

The shepherd cares for, protects, leads, and feeds his sheep.

God wanted to be King of Israel, but He allowed them to appoint a human king. This was a mistake on Israel's part.

God wanted a Shepherd/King relationship with Israel, and God extended that model to human leadership.

In the New Testament, the kingdom of God is not a national entity, but a spiritual family, which the Bible calls "The Church."

The Church is universal, with only one Lord, but the Church also has a local presence, and God appoints qualified men to be servant-leaders in those local churches.

It is the responsibility of the Officer In Charge (Pastor) to keep the local church ship-shape and to launch an offensive against the enemy. Very few have cried aloud, very, very few have launched an offensive against the wiles of the wicked one.

Personal holiness of heart and life is neglected and rejected by a vast number of "pastors" in America, and social holiness, which is corporate Christian action in society (not to be confused with humanistic "social justice"), is left undone, allowing darkness to invade every area of life, beginning with very young children.

We should not only speak out against the powers of darkness, but we should also mount a concerted offensive against the gates of hell, and a vigorous rescue effort to set the prisoners of sin free.

We don't reach our destination by letting the ill winds and contrary tides direct our course. We must take steps to become what God wants us to become, and our churches must come under God's authority and submit to Spirit-led leadership in order to fulfill God's call to reconcile the lost to Jesus.

Programs, ministries, projects, and goals are valid, provided they are according to God's will, and empowered by God's Spirit and carried out by believers who are sanctified and fit for the Master's use.

It is commendable for a Christian to want to grow in grace and progress in sanctification, but desire and growth do not replace faith and following. God wants us to be filled with His Spirit NOW; God wants us to be pure NOW; God wants us to be obedient and productive NOW.

In the same way that a sinner (an unsaved person) becomes a believer (justified, a child of God) in the moment they trust God for salvation, so too a believer becomes a Spirit-filled, heart-purified, entirely sanctified Christian at the moment the believer trusts God to purify their heart.

Some folks have intentions to become a Christian, but without faith, surrender, repentance, and following Jesus, then all that the person has is GOOD INTENTIONS, and someone has said, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Some folks get a good start by turning from sin and turning to Jesus, but they must move on to the Spirit's fullness.

12/06/25 WITNESSING TO SOMEONE IS PERSONAL

12/06/25 WITNESSING TO SOMEONE IS PERSONAL

Sometimes people resist or reject a Christian's attempt to witness to them by saying, "Religion is a personal matter." (Don't worry about the word "religion" here. We know what they mean. They are referring to their "spiritual life" or their relationship with God.)

And yes, it is a personal matter. But that does not mean it is a private matter or a secret matter. "Personal" is not to be confused with "intimate." Health, safety, economics, and morality are all personal matters, but that does not exclude them from being addressed in public or interpersonal communications. But this is a different discussion.

I want to point out that witnessing (sharing our own testimony concerning Christ and His salvation is not only personal for the hearer, but it is also personal for the Christian who is witnessing.

This is part of the problem with many who want to be "spokesmen" for God. They see themselves as "recruiters," "salesmen," "way showers." Actually, a witness is like one hungry person telling another hungry person where to find bread, or one traveler who has expert guidance available helping another person who is lost.

Witnessing for Christ is not policing for Christ, or judging for Christ or sitting on a jury for Christ or executing the sentence for Christ. Witnessing is offering to those who are enslaved to sin a way out of sinning and offering to the terminally ill healing and deliverance from their malady and offering to the guilty an advocate and a new life, and offering to the prisoner deliverance and freedom. We are not God's legal representatives; we are God's diplomatic corps, offering reconciliation to His enemies.

But our responsibility is not simply reporting; our responsibility is to tell folks the Good News in love. The old saying, "I don't care how much you know until I know how much you care," applies to those who are God's ambassadors. Witnessing is not simply giving a news update or book report. Witnessing is giving of ourselves to other people. Witnessing is putting our lives on the line for another person's salvation. Remember, the Greek word for "witness" is the same word as "martyr."

We need to be in a right relationship with God to be a witness to others. In fact, Christians need to be emptied of self and filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be Biblically qualified. Remember, after Jesus told the disciples to go into the world and be His witnesses, He told them to wait for the Baptism (purifying fullness) of the Holy Spirit.

This is essential because being a witness for Christ is not simply about words; it is about the life transforming power of God in the life of a believer. Our whole life is our witness, not simply our words. Our life needs to be totally surrendered to God at all times. People will decide whether our message is valid by the way we live. The New Testament constantly addresses this issue. We are to surrender completely to Christ, and we are to walk consistently in His light. We are to do good works so that men might see Christ in us and glorify our Father in heaven.

Do not think that the main thing is to broadcast the Good News, we are to live the Good News. We are the examples of Christ's saving power. God not only commands us to be holy, but He also makes us holy if we totally surrender to Him. We are directed to become living sacrifices, not conformed to the world, but transformed into the image of God's Son. We are to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is not just an appearance; this is the reality of Christ in us. This is not superficial; it is our inner man reaching out in love to those who are in need.

This kind of life is not cheap or flippant. It is not simply a form of godliness; it is true salvation with the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is very personal, but people should be able to see the salvation of God through our behavior.

12/04/25 BEING ON MISSION

12/04/25 BEING ON MISSION

Always on duty.
Always on call.
Always on mission.

We hear these phrases used in reference to doctors, law enforcement, pastors, and mothers.

The principle is also applied to children of God (followers of Christ).

Being a Christian is a full-time reality (commitment, relationship, experience). I am not referring to nominal Christians (Christian in name only), or to cultural Christians; I am referring to actual Christians (born again, Christ-following, Bible-believing).

Though the three phrases are good, I choose to use the phrase, "Always on Mission."

"On Duty" might imply "forced compliance." As Christians, we do have duties, but we do not do our duty because of Divine oppression or legalistic rules. We do the will of God because we love Him, not because we are coerced, or because we are seeking rewards, or because we are earning our pay. It is true that we owe God everything, but we gladly surrender to Him because He is worthy and because we are grateful.

"On Call" indicates that we are not actively involved at a particular time. We tell folks, "Call me if you need me," but that is not the viewpoint of a Christian toward God. The fact is, we are already called, and we are answering that call. We are not putting God's call on hold. We wait for God's leading, but not for His call. As sinners (people living in sin), we are called to salvation (faith, obedience, and newness of life), and as believers, we are called to service. As Christians, we have accepted the call to salvation and the call to service. God leads us day by day and step by step, and we follow when He leads us in a new or distinctly different pathway, but that is part of our call. Jesus said, "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me."

"On Mission" is a phrase that indicates we are currently active in our service to God. Our mission is an ongoing, never-ending life mission. There will be times when we have special or particular "missions" within our (life) mission.

I am always "on mission," but sometimes I am called, led, or directed to do a specific mission within my life mission. Witnessing for Christ (telling others the Good News and manifesting His presence in my life) is my mission. My constant mission is to love, follow, and serve God and to tell others around me about Christ. I am always a witness (because my life witnesses to my relationship with God, either good or bad), and as a faithful witness, I am always ready to give my witness (tell someone about my relationship with God), but sometimes I am sent specifically to witness to others about Christ.

Therefore, when I am involved in daily or routine activities, I am still on mission. God's word tells us, "Whatever you do, do as unto the Lord." In my daily activities, I am watching and listening for God's leading to tell the Good News to someone. But sometimes I go out into society for the express purpose of sharing my testimony and proclaiming the Good News to others.

In my going, I may share with several people, but I am always asking God to lead me to the person He has prepared for this encounter. I also ask God to give me the opportunity and ability to be a "meaningful" witness.

In fact, the other day I was "voice texting" a message to myself, which I wanted to put on Facebook. In the text, I was pointing out the importance of asking God to lead me to a person with whom I could have a meaningful witness. While I was dictating on my phone, God actually took me straight to someone. I had to stop dictating my post in order to do my mission within my mission. As I had been praying, it was not only an opportunity to share with someone, but it was a very meaningful and successful encounter.

I had at least three meaningful witnessing opportunities on our trip to Morehead on Wednesday. There are various ways an encounter can be categorized as meaningful, and you may not always know how meaningful your witness has been. Remember, just like everything else, which we do as believers, "we witness by faith."

12/04/25 PROPER ALIGNMENT

12/04/25 PROPER ALIGNMENT

Christians are children of God, members of God's family, parts (members) of Christ's church (Body of Christ, Bride of Christ, Building of Christ). The Church has only One Head, and His Name is Jesus. Christians are strangers, aliens, sojourners, foreigners in this world; we are in this world, but we are not of this world. Christian citizenship is in heaven. God is our King, and we are His ambassadors. When there is conflict, we are to obey God and not man.

Since we are citizens of heaven and since God is our King and since we are God's ambassadors, Christians live according to the law, rule, authority of God and we represent Him faithfully in this world, submitting to legitimate authority but giving our unrestricted allegiance to only God. The kingdoms (nations) of this world are temporal. Even the best and greatest of nations are fallible and will fail because of their own rebellion against God.

Christians appreciate the sacrifices made by people for the public good, but Christians are first of all, subjects of God and serve His purposes. If the direction of any people conflicts with the will of God, Christians are faith-bound and duty-bound to be faithful to God's eternal purposes.

Christians must be faithful to God's word, to God's will, to God's way. This means we are not committed to establish any human purpose which is in conflict with the revelation of God. Being part of the global community, a nation, a political party, a local community, a culture, a religious organization, a local church, a family is always subsidiary and secondary to being a follower of Christ.

If you want to be a New Testament Christian, then you need to have no other gods before you. Your life, your belongings, your relationships, your goals, your vote, your service, your very life belongs to Jesus.

God should never be "second" on the list. God should never get your "leftovers," your extras. To surrender anything less than your all to Jesus is not even within the realm of salvation.

The Father gave His all, the Son gave His all, and those who love and trust Christ give their all to God.

12/04/25 CULTURE MATTERS

12/04/25 CULTURE MATTERS

Being a Christian means becoming a new creation and becoming a part of a new family. This includes changes in your nature, beliefs, thinking, speaking, behavior, relationships.
I asked Google, "What does culture include?" It gave me an AI answer along with other links. I share this AI response below, which is thorough and accurate. I sometimes use computer searches for general information, if it is valid and saves me time. I don't let AI do my thinking or guide my Bible study or belief system.

CULTURE does influence and impact our beliefs and behavior. If your salvation (your right relationship with God through Jesus) does not transform you and correct the detrimental parts of your cultural experience, then you are not going to be conformed to the image of God's Son and you will not fully follow Jesus.

Being conformed to the image of Christ includes instantaneous changes and progressive changes. Sound doctrine and the whole counsel of God are essential for experiencing and living the Spirit filled life. This will include cultural changes, which come by, "walking in the light, as He is in the light," and "doing that which is pleasing in His sight."

Sadly, people want their eternal status changed but they do not want their lives changed; they want God's blessings, but they do not want to accept God's Lordship. People refuse to let Biblical Christianity change their cultural values and they reject Biblical changes that their children need to make, enslaving their children with cultural heritage. Do not hold on to your earthly culture. The new life, the new path of salvation will lead you out of the entanglements and darkness of the old life.

Remember, the Bible says, "we are new creations in Christ, old things are passed away and all things become new," and we are to, "walk in newness of life," and "come out from among them and be ye separate, says the Lord."

If your culture is not dominated by salvation, then your culture becomes your god. Don't hold on to a "worldly treasure." Take hold of the heavenly treasure with both hands.

Each phrase in the following description of CULTURE should be considered. Your culture will either agree with the Bible, or it will not. This is where the importance of the great Biblical truth of "being crucified with Christ," becomes evident.

In our New Birth we put on the New Man, we receive life from Christ; but in our being Crucified with Christ we put off the Old Man, we die to the world, the flesh and the devil and we are made pure, even as Christ is pure. As the Scripture says, "Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded."

Consider the following points as they relate to the Christian experience and life. Salvation is a "WHOLE PERSON" reality. It transforms the whole person, and it makes the person whole.

GOOGLE AI said...
Culture includes shared behaviors,
beliefs,
values, and attitudes,

as well as the
social norms,
institutions, and
knowledge
of a particular group of people.

It encompasses both
nonmaterial aspects like language, religion, and customs,
and
material aspects such as tools, art, and physical objects.

Nonmaterial culture
Beliefs and values:
Shared understandings of what is right and wrong, good and bad, and what is important to the group.

Language: Spoken and non-verbal forms of communication that allow for social interaction and influence how people think and perceive the world.

Norms and customs:
Rules and expectations for behavior, including social habits, etiquette, and rituals.
Symbols:
Things that stand for or represent something else, such as gestures, objects, or ideas.

Material culture
Artifacts:
Physical objects created by a group, including tools, technology, clothing, and art.
Institutions:
Organized systems that shape society, such as legal, political, economic, and educational systems.
Cuisine and music:
The specific foods, music, and other arts that are characteristic of a group.

11/26/25 BEWARE THE UNHOLY GHOST WRITER

11/26/25 BEWARE THE UNHOLY GHOST WRITER

A few days ago, I dictated a document on a personal "voice to text" app, which included basic statements about a religious movement that is hostile to the Bible, Christianity, and the God of the Bible. However, when I viewed my recording (in order to post it), the name of the hostile religion was not in the document, either in text or in audio. On its own, my "voice to text" app removed words like Islam, Muslim, Islamic.

I do not get AI to write my documents. However, most writing (even personal writing) online has a basic level of AI activity (such as spell checking).

The AI editing was done before I started to post it online, therefore it had nothing to do with social media. This re-writing of my own words took place on my own document, changing my document and the message of my document.

You should be careful with what you think your computer is documenting. I make enough mistakes on my own, but they are accidental. However, the kinds of changes made by internet programs, social media and your own computer can make your writing to be totally contrary to what you are wanting to communicate. Also, consider what you are being told by AI. Sometimes you need to read between the lines in order to see what is written on the wall.

I am not ashamed of my beliefs, my faith. I don't hide my commitment to Jesus or my doctrinal position, but Christians in a Christ hating, Christian persecuting society need to be wise in their public presence. The enemy of your soul is waiting to ensnare you and present you as an evil person. It is already happening and will intensify in the days ahead.

Don't trust the sinking Ship of State or the failing lifeboats of human endeavor. Jesus is your best hope; Jesus is your ONLY HOPE. Do not trust in horses or chariots or in the sword of steel or the arm of flesh or the deceptive philosophies of this world, or corrupted cultures and counterfeit Christianity.

America has ignored and rejected God and His word until folks don't even know where to turn for help today. We are now in an emergency situation. We will not recover most of what we have lost in the last half century, but we can snatch some from the flames in the days ahead.

11/22/25 WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OURSELVES

11/22/25 WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OURSELVES

Regardless of the good family, regardless of the good home, regardless of the training, regardless of the material or spiritual advantages, regardless of the educational attainments, regardless of the social standing, regardless of the moral standards, regardless of the talents or accomplishments, regardless of the Christian influences, regardless of the community that a child is born into or is raised in or is initiated into, the responsibility to do that which is right, to choose that which is right, to believe that which is right is always left up to the individual as the offspring, child, the youth, the young adult, or the mature and elderly person.

Parents have the responsibility to provide the best environment for their children, but the choosing of the path is the responsibility of the child.

Adam and Eve were brought into a perfect world by a perfect Parent, with perfect provision and perfect training, but they made their own decisions. Though none of Adam's children have had the same advantages, we have all had the same responsibility. God does not hold us accountable for another person's enlightenment, but He does hold us accountable for our own choices.

There is great advantage in a godly home, beginning at birth and continuing through all of the changes, opportunities, obligations, privileges and challenges of life. The advantages are immeasurable, including a home with love wisdom, kindness, patience, training in righteousness and godliness, discipline, self-control, self-sacrifice, compassion, justice, interdependence, trust, mutual support, encouragement, guidance, respect, faith, acceptance, forgiveness.

But the way (manner and direction) a person chooses to go (whether child or adult) is their own personal decision. Take advantage of your blessings, do not be overcome by your curses. You decide on good or evil, right or wrong, God or Satan, life or death, righteousness or wickedness, and the right choice will always lead you into ultimate success and fulfillment.

We were all born into a world of trouble and trial, but we were also born with the advantage of God's personal love and concern for us. No matter how difficult life is and no matter how many obstacles we face, Jesus is the Light that lights every man that comes into the world and God is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. No one should squander their opportunities. But the people reading this post are not disadvantaged or abandoned. If you are reading this, you are part of a society that is highly blessed with Christian truth, love, guidance, support.

How much greater are the benefits of those who are born into Christian circumstances! Don't waste your opportunity to communicate God's truth and grace to others, and don't miss your opportunity to receive truth and grace from others. We will all be held accountable for what we do with God's gifts. And remember, God gave His Son, God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and God gives us everything that pertains to life and godliness.