Christians Were Slaves To Sin, But No Longer.

In Titus 3, Paul tells us as he did in another letter, we are to submit to rulers and authorities. Some people believe those in power in the USA desire to cause a revolution so they can change the system more quickly. Should this occur, God's children are not to participate in any revolt against the government as verse 1 clearly says.

There are many in the churches who ridicule and mock the President and those in power. Even though we may vehemently disagree with the policies and morals of those who rule, we should not participate in mocking or disrespecting them. The Lord placed them there.

Paul also gives us instructions on how to live. Please note Paul speaks to the believers and reminds them they "were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures". We are never told we can choose to continue in sin and be confident of our standing before the Lord. We are responsible to die to our old nature's desires.

If you are struggling with ongoing sin, (1)get into the war crucifying the desires of your old nature, (2)protect your eyes and ears from evil (3)and seek the Lord to fill you with his Holy Spirit and power.

Titus 3  ISV   

1Remind believersa 

• to submit to rulers and authorities, 
• to be obedient, 
• and to be ready to do any honorable kind of work. 

2They are not to insultb anyone or be argumentative.

• Instead, they are to be gentle and perfectly courteous to everyone. 

3After all, we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and misled. 

• We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures, 
• spending our days in malice and jealousy. 
• We were despised, and we hated one another.

4In grace our Savior God appeared,

to make his love for mankind clear.

5‘Twas not for deeds that we had done,

but by his steadfast lovec alone,

he saved us through a second birth,

renewed us by the Spirit’sd work,

6and poured him out upon us, too,

through Jesus the Messiahe our Savior true.

7And so, made heirs by his own grace,

eternal life we now embrace.f

8This saying is trustworthy.g I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have put their faith in God may devote themselves to good actions. These things are good and helpful to other people.

9But avoid 

• foolish controversies, 
• arguments about genealogies, 
• quarrels, 
• and fights about the Law. 

These things are useless and worthless. 10Have nothing to do with a divisive person after you have warned him once or twice. 11For you know that a person like this is corrupt and keeps on sinning, being self-condemned.

My hope is built on nothing less

Healthy Doctrine and How We Live

Paul gives us a marvelous outline for Godly living, but our culture is totally contrary to what Paul teaches us. We live in a system that makes it almost impossible to meet together as the early church did daily, and house to house. To live a Godly life we must each get into the scriptures for ourselves, find out what they say and obey God. The times are very evil and will get much worse.

As you go through these passages think about the TV. You will see each Godly principal is contrary to the message TV is taking into the homes. Do you think Jesus would have a TV in his house which is connected to the TV stations? I ask this regularly and I am horrified how often the answer is "yes".

Try taking it out of your house and you will find out how much it is worshiped and how valuable the Lord and you are, compared to the TV. If you have a question about Jesus having a TV connected to the stations, consider what Jesus had written in both the Old and New Testaments. Meanwhile, most of the pastors are asleep, lukewarm or cold and refuse to warn God's people.

2 Corinthians 6  ISV
 17Therefore,

“Get away from them

and separate yourselves from them,”

declares the Lord,j

“and don’t touch anything unclean.

Then I will welcome you.

18I will be your Father,

and you will be my sons and daughters,”

declares the Lordk Almighty.l

Titus 2  ISV  Guidelines for Christian Living

1But as for you, teach what is consistent with healthy doctrine. 

2Older men are to be 

• sober, 
• serious, 
• sensible, 
• and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 

3Likewise, older women are to

• show their reverence for God by their behavior. 
• They are not to be gossips 
• or addicted to alcohol, 
• but to be examplesa of goodness. 
• 4They should encourage the younger women to 
• love their husbands, 
• to love their children, 
• 5to be sensible and pure, to manage their households, 
• to be kind, 
• and to submit themselves to their husbands. 

Otherwise, the word of God may be discredited.b

6Likewise, encourage the younger men to be sensible. 

7Always set an example for others by doing good actions. 

• Teach with integrity and dignity. 
• 8Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned. Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us.

9Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, aiming to please them and not argue with them 10or steal from them. Instead, they are to show complete and perfect loyalty, so that in every way they may make the teaching about God our Savior more attractive.

11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 

• 12It trains us to 
• renounce ungodly living 
• and worldly passions 
• so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in the present age 13as we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah.c 
• 14He gave himself for us to set us free from every wrong and to cleanse us 
• so that we could be his special people who are enthusiastic about doing good deeds.

15These are the things you should teach. Encourage and refute with full authority. Do not let anyone look down on you.

Proverbs 3  ISV

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not depend on your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledgec him,

and he will make your paths straight.

7Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8This will bring healing to your body,

and refreshment to your bones.

Trust & Obey

Falling Away, The Teachers & Money

When I was growing up in the church, the vast majority of pastors lived modest lives. They had a modest parsonage and a modest salary. To think they would make money off of the people by selling them "their" tapes or books, would have been scandalous. 

Over time this has changed and now it is common to see pastors own their own "tapes and books ministry", or are simply paid more as they bring huge profits into the church. This has resulted in terrible consequences as the elders/pastors see the people as "a revenue stream" and regularly come out with new cd's, dvd's and books. 

As "warning does not make money" the result is the gospel, sin, repentance, hell, obedience,  holiness, etc, are replaced with man's teachings. Simply reading and teaching the scriptures will not make money and build large churches. All size churches are impacted by this. The more money that comes in the more pressure to teach things that please the hearer's ears and the more creative the pastors get at coming up with pleasing sermons to keep the crowd coming back. The best speakers make the most money and rule as kings over the largest churches. These same men have little accountability and can lead lives of perversion, but thrill and encourage the crowd on Sunday. 

Over time, the true Christians in that church do not even recognize what has happened. When I ask them if their pastor warns them, they will defend their pastor by giving some pitiful example of a warning their pastor recently gave! Even Calvinist preachers which were once known for warning people, tickle the ears of their people by preaching their "five points of Calvinism" and leave out or explain away the warnings of being holy,  fruitful, etc.

Let's take a look at what Paul says about elders/pastors in Titus.

Titus 1  Qualifications for Leaders in the Church

5The reason I left you in Crete was to complete what still needed to be done and to appoint elders in every city, as I myself commanded you. 

• 6An elder must beg blameless. 
• He must be the husband of one wifeh 
• and have children who are believers 
• and who are not accused of having wild lifestyles or of being rebellious. 
• 7Because an overseer is God’s servant manager, he must be blameless. 
• He must not be arrogant or irritable. 
• He must not drink too much, be a violent person, or make money in shameful ways. 

8Instead,

• he must be hospitable to strangers, 
• must appreciate what is good, 
• and be sensible, 
• honest, 
• moral, 
• and self-controlled. 
• 9He must be devoted to the trustworthy message that agrees with what we teach, so that he may be able to encourage others with healthy doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 

Luke 16:13  ISV  "No servant can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth!"

Child Abduction. Who Cares?

Our children are being stolen without leaving the home. How? As they watch TV. But who cares? The parents don't. I would cry, but it would do no good. Professing Christians are turning their children over to Satan's TV, movies, video, etc, every day. Parents do not care about their own spirituality, let alone their children. How will their children resist the evil one when their minds and hearts are being filled with death? They are being setup for failure and Satan plays for keeps.

Meanwhile the stinking preachers are silent and spineless. When they should be screaming a warning to get the TV's out of the homes, they are too busy tickling ears. A huge percentage of them cannot talk about TV as they are addicted to porn. They tickle the ears and let families perish. They refuse to take a stand for righteousness.

If you are a parent or pastor who truly cares, God bless you. You are a rare commodity. Hold fast to Christ and his teachings. Men, love your wives and wives respect your husbands. Men, lead your family, teach them and protect their eyes and ears. I am proud of you for coming out of the harlot system. Do not let TV, movies, video games, etc, open a portal for the satanic to enter your home!

This video is just a small sampling of the evil children are being fed. The mind control occurring that you cannot see, is beyond imagination. Some parents have been and will be shot by the children they the TV raised. The latest killing by a child in Albuquerque, NM, saw him kill his mother, three siblings and is father, who was a pastor. The news said the boy was into violent games.

Satan knows how powerful the following scriptural passage is. Do you? Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way appropriate for him, and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it."

The Love Of Money & Those Who Prey On Us

The scriptures warn us that in the last days it will be a time of deception and falling away. The false teachers who promise you God will bless you with money if you send them money are part of that deception. Their false claims wound people and their mockery of the truth cause people to fall away. Have you stopped to think that Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world if Jesus would bow down and worship him? Do you realize Satan's offer included ALL THE MONEY in the world?

People fail to understand this is a Satanic trap. If people send these covetous teachers money, looking to get more money back, Satan may give it to them if it suits his plans for the destruction of them and others! Meanwhile, the people who Satan has given money to believe they have received it from God and are encouraged to go on in their covetousness for money which is idolatry!!

I am shocked at how many people are deceived by these arrogant wolves who practice idolatry in their love of money. All idolaters who do not repent, will take part in the second death, the lake of fire.

Do not let listen to these false teachers and let them into your mind and wallet. Protect your eyes and ears and be renewed in your mental attitude. Get into the Word of God and do what God said to do, and be obedient when he says not to do certain things.

Ephesians 4 ISV 22Regarding your former way of life, you were taughtm 

• to strip off your old nature, which is being ruined by its deceptive desires, 
• 23to be renewed in your mental attitude, 
• 24and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, 
• which was created according to God’s imagen 
• in righteousness and true holiness.

Proverbs 4:23 ISV 23Above everything elsej guard your heart,because from it flow the springs of life.

Revelation 21:6 ISV  "...I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give a drink from the spring of the water of life to the one who is thirsty. 7The person who conquers will inherit these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8But people who are cowardly, unfaithful, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselvesb in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Do We Eagerly Wait For Christ's Appearing?

2 Timothy 4  ISV

1In the presence of God and the Messiaha Jesus, 

• who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead, 
• and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, 
• I solemnly appeal to you 2to proclaim the message. 

Paul realized he was in the presence of God and Messiah Jesus. As Paul appealed to Jesus, so is the Holy Spirit appealing to us "Proclaim the message", the gospel.
Be ready to do thisb whether or not the time is convenient. 

• Refute, 
• warn, 
• and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach. 

3For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, 

• but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people’s own desires. 
• 4They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths. 

Especially in the USA and western world, this day is upon us and growing worse. For the most part the teachers do not "refute" the world's evil system and those things that are entangling professing believers in sin. They do not "warn" them of destruction and judgment to come. The people are told they are under grace and that keeps them safe while they do the very things we are told will bring about "the second death" (Rev. 2:11). But OH how the teachers love to encourage hearers without "refuting" and "warning" them. Many professing believers are living a fruitless life and do not heed Jesus' warning of being broken off of the vine and thrown into the fire. (John 15:6 & /Romans 11:20&21). Remember, the Lord said "you must be holy because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16).  
5But you must be clear-headed about everything. 

• Endure suffering. 
• Do the work of an evangelist. 
• Devote yourself completely to your ministry.

6I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for my departure has come. 

• 7I have fought the good fight. 
• I have completed the race. 
• I have kept the faith. 

8The victor’s crown of righteousness is now waiting for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the day that he comes,c and not only to me but also to all who eagerly wait for his appearing.

How Things Are and What's To Come

Paul continues his letter to Timothy. He speaks to him of being in the last days. Over 1900 years have passed since and we find ourselves in the generation that has seen Israel become a nation. We see the one world government rising quickly. Some say it is already in place. We see the same things taking place which were taking place in the days of Noah and Lot. We see the stage being set for the man of sin, the anti Christ and the return of Jesus who will destroy him with the brightness of his coming. 

So in light of all this, what does the Holy Spirit of God have Paul tell his spiritual son and us about how we should live? Just as any good father would do, God the Father warns his children, but God does it best! He knows the end of things, before they are even created. His son, Jesus the Messiah who is God and man, made everything that is. The Father is so pleased with his Son! He has placed all of God in Jesus. 

2 Timothy 3  ISV

1You must realize, however, that in the last days difficult times will come. 

• 2People will be lovers of themselves, 
• lovers of money, 
• boastful, 
• arrogant, 
• abusive, 
• disobedient to their parents, 
• ungrateful, 
• unholy, 
• 3unfeeling, 
• uncooperative, 
• slanderous, 
• degenerate, 
• brutal, 
• hateful of what is good, 
• 4traitors, 
• reckless, 
• conceited, 
• and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 

5They will hold to an outward form of godliness but deny its power.

• Stay away from such people.
• 6For some of these men go into homes and deceive foolish women who are burdened with sins and swayed by all kinds of desires. 
• 7These women are always studying but are never able to arrive at a full knowledge of the truth.
• 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth. 
• They are depraved in mind and their faith is a counterfeit. 
• 9But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those two men,a their stupidity will be plain to everyone.

10But you have observed 

• my teaching, 
• my way of life, 
• my purpose, 
• my faith, 
• my patience, 
• my love, 
• my endurance, 

11and how I was persecuted and suffered in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

12Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in union with the Messiahb Jesus will be persecuted. 13But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.

Paul emphasizes the importance of the Holy Scriptures. The first thing Paul says is a sign of the last days is "men will be lovers of themselves". This is clearly shown in the teachers of today forsaking the teaching of the "God-breathed" scriptures and loving their own words more than the "God-breathed" scriptures, both Old and New Testaments . Joel Osteen has boldly said he has no problem with preaching his own words and then ending with a verse out of the bible. No wonder he is so deceived and deceiving.Paul told Timothy to continue in what he had learned from the "God-breathed" Holy Scriptures.  

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and found to be true, because you know from whom you learned it. 15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to give you the wisdom you need for salvation through faith in the Messiahc Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathedd and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.

We Are Commanded To Turn Away From Evil

This is a continuation of 2 Timothy 2 and my post "In Dying With Messiah, True Life We Gain", which was posted on January 23, 2013 (yesterday). 

Paul is talking to Timothy and gives a very serious command “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” In the west and specifically the USA, we have forsaken God's commands and warnings and are reaping accordingly. 

You will hardly find the TV teachers and pastors of large churches warning the people as they should. We do not see John the Baptist with a large church.. We must get into the scriptures and seek out the New Testament warnings. The Old Testament warns over and over also.

The teachers tickle the ears in different ways and I see it in most churches. They deeply harm and/or destroy their hearers. The hearers are comforted in their lost condition and the believers are not prepared to fight the good fight of faith and resist evil. Individuals and families are destroyed as a result. 

Who would agree with me that TV, movies, previews, worldly music, and worldly magazines are filled with evil? Yet, do we obey God? Paul told us under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” DO WE?

Who would you think wrote these words?

There are television sets in every home, every restaurant, every hotel room, and every shopping mall— now they're even small enough to carry in your pocket like electronic rosaries. It is an unquestioned part of everyday life. Kneeling before the cathode-ray god, with our TV Guide concordance in hand, we maintain the illusion of choice by flipping channels (chapters and verses) ¹

The writer was the man who founded the most famous public Satanist organization in America (the Church of Satan founded in 1966), Anton LaVey. He is also the author of a number of other books including "The Satanic Bible."

In all seriousness, LaVey continues to promote the religious significance of television, saying that:

... The birth of TV was a magical event foreshadowing its satanic significance. The first commercial broadcast was aired on Walpurgisnacht, April 30th, 1939, at the New York World's Fair. Since then, TV's infiltration has been so gradual, so complete that no one even noticed. People don't need to go to church any more; they get their morality plays on television.²

See article at  http://www.icr.org/article/739/

2 Timothy 2  ISV

19However, God’s solid foundation still stands. It has this inscription on it: 

• “The Lordm knows those who belong to him,”n and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lordo must turn away from evil.”p 
• 20In a large house there are not only utensils made of gold and silver, but also those made of wood and clay. Some are for special use, while others are for ordinary use. 
• 21Therefore, if anyone stops associating withq these people, he will become a special utensil, set apart for the owner’s use, prepared for every good action.

22Flee from youthful passions. 

• Instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness,r love, and peace together with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. 
• 23Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid discussions, because you know they breed arguments. 
• 24A servants of the Lord must not argue. Instead, he must be kind to everyone, teachable,t willing to suffer wrong, 25and gentle when refuting opponents. 
• After all, maybe God will allow them to repent and to come to a full knowledge of the truth, 26so that they might escape from the devil’s snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will.

I have attached a video. One man professes faith in Christ, the other likely is not. They do not understand all that is going on, but they are warning people and one point they make is the TV is sending out mind control commands. Do we really think that the government payed countless millions to "help us" convert to digital so we can have a better picture? Your TV is impacting your mind in ways we do not even understand. The boy who recently killed his mother, siblings and father, played violent video games.

3,000 Nazi occult scientists came to the USA after Germany was defeated. It was done in Operation Paper Clip. Many of these scientists were experts in mind control and had tortured and experimented on people and babies. Walt Disney used mind control knowledge to help Hitler raise taxes. Just think how many children he has impacted since.  Scientists have had about 67 years to perfect mind control knowledge. 

Do not forget! The people in power kill millions of babies a year. When a leader is responsible for allowing, thus encouraging the murder of millions of babies, do you not realize the day will likely come when he or she will kill adults for their own purpose, such as Hitler and countless other evil men have done throughout history? The man of sin is coming and people do not even see the connection.  

I do not recommend getting caught up in the countless videos about what is going on. That alone can depress you. If you are obedient to Jesus, you do not have to worry, for whether we live or die, we win. The question is do we want to be holy? "Without holiness, no man shall see God." Hebrews 12:14 

No. I do not like to warn. How do we keep silent while so many perish?

In Dying With Messiah, True Life We Gain

Brothers and sisters, do not be deceived by those who pervert God's word and cater to our old sin nature, teaching the lusts of the old nature are what God wants us to have. Wealth, for example. The Word of Faith movement is destroying souls. The scriptures truly teach the opposite, as we see Paul teaching his spiritual son. 

We are called to die to the old nature and its desires and lusts. I am not talking about our bodies, but about the fallen nature we are all born with. It brings death. This is the true Gospel. We repent and die to this old nature and through faith in Christ's payment of sin, we receive true, eternal life. Do not be deceived. Get into the scriptures. Both letters to Timothy tell us how to live according to God's requirements. 


2 Timothy 2  ISV

1As for you, my child, be strong by the grace that is in the Messiaha Jesus. 2What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.3Join me in suffering like a good soldier of the Messiahb Jesus. 4No one serving in the military gets mixed up in civilian matters, for his aim is to please his commanding officer. 5Moreover, no one who is an athlete wins a prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6Furthermore, it is the hard working farmer who should have the first share of the crops. 7Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you to understand all these things.

8Meditate onc Jesus, the Messiah,d who was raised from the dead and is a descendant of David. This is the gospel I tell others.e 9Because of it I am experiencing trouble, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. However, God’s word is not chained. 10For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive the salvation that is in the Messiahf Jesus, along with eternal glory. 11This saying is trustworthy:g

In dying with the Messiah,h

true life we gain.i

12Enduring, we with him will reign.

Who him denies,

he will disclaim.

13Our faith may fail,

his never wanes—

That’s who he is,

he cannot change!j

14Remind others about these things, and warn them before Godk not to argue over words. Arguingl does not do any good but only destroys those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as an approved worker who has nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of truth with precision. 16However, avoid pointless discussions. For people will become more and more ungodly,17and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that. 18They have abandoned the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place, and so they destroy the faith of others.