True Christians Must Walk In Love That Never Fails

Paul, talking to believers, tells us that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be done away with when Christ makes everything right. They will then be unnecessary. Faith, hope and love remain, but the greatest of these is love. Are we growing in love? I was talking to the Father yesterday and was concerned about this. As a result of the great wickedness that is going on, it is so easy to become callus as we hear over and over about the evil things that are going on.

We must judge ourselves. Are we drifting away from walking in love? If we are, we are walking away from Jesus, who is Love. True love only has one source, Jesus the Messiah who gave himself over to his Father to receive the wrath of God for our sins. Because Jesus was God he survived it. There is nothing Jesus could have done to show his love for mankind than to take the wrath of God that is due each of us. He paid the price for sin. We could not. If we reject that, there is no hope for us as that leaves us under the wrath of God, unprotected by the blood of his Son.

We must trust Jesus, say no to the things we want, turn from our sin and follow him continually. Matthew 16:24 ISV. Do not give up brothers and sisters. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus' face!!

1 Corinthians 12 ISV
27Now you are the Messiah’sg body and individual parts of it. 28God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and those who speakh various kinds of languages. 

• 29Not all are apostles, are they? 
• Not all are prophets, are they? 
• Not all are teachers, are they? 
• Not all perform miracles, do they? 
• 30Not all have the gift of healing, do they? 
• Not all speak in foreigni languages, do they? 
• Not all interpret, do they? 

31Keep on desiringj the better gifts. And now I will show you the best way of all.

Continuing into 1 Corinthians 13 ISV

1If I speak in the languages of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal. 

2If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all secrets and every form of knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. 

3Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself,a but have no love, I gain nothing.

4Love is always patient;

love is always kind;

love is never envious

or arrogant with pride.

Nor is she conceited,

5and she is never rude;

she never thinks just of herself

or ever gets annoyed.

She never is resentful;

6is never glad with sin;

she’s always glad to side with truth,

and pleased that truth will win.b

7She bears up under everything;

believes the best in all;

there is no limit to her hope,

and never will she fall.

8Love never fails. Now if there are prophecies, they will be done away with. If there are languages, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9For what we know is incomplete and what we prophesy is incomplete. 10But when what is completec comes, then what is incomplete will be done away with.

11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. 12Now we see only an indistinct image in a mirror, but then we will be face to face. Now what I know is incomplete, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13Right now three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Apathy Wars Against Obedience To God

For most of my life I believed the gifts of the Holy Spirit had ceased. That is so very horrible. In our day we do not see them at work as we should. I believe this is a direct result of kings/pastors taking over the children of God. They do all the talking and for the most part give very little of God's word in the scriptures. The people come and listen to the king and multitudes do not search the scriptures and judge as they should what the king/pastor says. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not at work when the the body, the church, comes together.

Brothers and sisters, if you listen to a pastor for your food and do not search the scriptures and obey what they teach, you are spiritually anemic at best. It is time to wake up as the night is coming when you will not be able to work for God. Paul, speaking to true believers tells them::

1 Corinthians 12 ISV

1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. 

• 2You know that when you were unbelievers,a you were enticed and led astray to worshipb idols that couldn’t even speak.
• 3For this reason I want you to be aware that no one who is speaking by God’s Spirit can say, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4Now there are varieties of gifts, 

• but the same Spirit, 
• 5and there are varieties of ministries, 
• but the same Lord. 
• 6There are varieties of results, 
• but it is the same God who produces all the results in everyone.

7To each person has been given the ability to manifest the Spirit for the common good. 

• 8To one has been given a message of wisdom by the Spirit; 
• to another the ability to speak with knowledge according to the same Spirit; 
• 9to another faith by the same Spirit; 
• to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit; 
• 10to another miraculous results; 
• to another prophecy; 
• to another the ability to distinguish between spirits; 
• to another various kinds of languages; 
• and to another the interpretation of languages. 

11But one and the same Spirit produces all these results and gives what he wants to each person.

John 9 ISV Jesus said:

4Ic must do the work of the one who sent med while it is day. Night is approaching, when no one can work. 5As long as I’m in the world, I’m the light of the world.

Are You A Genuine Christian?

Paul writes to the believers in Corinth and he is troubled about the way they are treating each other and the disrespect some were showing when they partake of the Lord's supper. As a result many of them were weak and sick and many were dying.

Brothers and sisters, are we judging ourselves? How do we judge ourselves? It is not by the words of the ear tickling preachers of this generation who build big churches and get wealthy by making you feel good. We judge ourselves by the Word of God, the scriptures!

Are you treating the Word of God for what it is? Are you treating it as the word from God that tells us what we must do to be saved and how we must live after we believe? Or is the Word of God treated by you with indifference? Are you practicing holiness or sin? Are you judging yourself?

Do not be followers of the ear tickling teachers and preachers. Do not partake in their wickedness. Do not trust man with your soul. Please hear Jesus when he says:

• 21“Not everyone who keeps saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom fromd heaven, but only the person who keeps doing the will of my Father in heaven. 
• 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn’t we?’ 
• 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!’”e

1 Corinthians 11 ISV
17Now I am not praising you in giving you the following instructions. When you gather, it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For in the first place, I hear that when you gather as a church there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. 19Of course, there must be factions among you to show which of you are genuine!

20When you gather in the same place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21For as you eat, each of you rushes to eat his own supper, and one person goes hungry while another gets drunk. 22You have homes in which to eat and drink, don’t you? Or do you despise God’s church and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you—how the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, 24gave thanks for it, and broke it in pieces, saying, “This is my body that ish for you. Keep doing this in memory of me.” 25He did the same with the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. As often as you drink from it, keep doing this in memory of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

• 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks from the cup in an unworthy manner will be held responsible for the Lord’s body and blood. 
• 28A person must examine himself and then eat the bread and drink from the cup, 
• 29because whoever eats and drinksi without recognizing the body,j eats and drinks judgment on himself. 
• 30That’s why so many of you are weak and sick and a considerable number are dying.k 
• 31But if we judged ourselves correctly, we would not be judged. 
• 32Now, while we are being judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so we won’tl be condemned along with the world.

This music video shows many precious verses. After you listen to the song, it is worth pausing the song and reading them. 

The Apostle Paul Warns Of Falling Away

Are you trying to serve two masters at once, God and demons? Paul gives us a very strong warning that this is not possible. Paul tells us there is a danger of us not finishing the race and becoming a castaway. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 24“No one 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 God and riches!”n

Brothers and sisters, please turn away from the ear tickling preachers of our day and get into the scriptures. The God who sent his son to redeem us warns us over and over in the New Testament. For the most part, the preachers and teachers have abandoned the warnings and tickle our ears and sell us their own words in books, cd's, dvd's, etc. There is a war for your soul. Do not trust man. Preachers are building big churches and getting rich off of tickling the listener's ears. Have no part with such teachers. They are blind leaders of the blind. Study the New Testament. 

I show the warnings of Jesus and his disciples throughout my blog posts. Paul gives us very serious warnings. Starting with the last verses in 1 Corinthians 9, we read: 

1 Corinthians 9 ISV
24You know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize, don’t you? You must run in such a way that you may be victorious. 25Everyone who enters an athletic contest practices self-control in everything. They do it to win a wreath that withers away, but we run to win a prize thatj never fades. 26That is the way I run, with a clear goal in mind. That is the way I fight, not like someone shadow boxing. 27No, I keep on disciplining my body, making it serve me so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 10 ISV

1Now I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the fact that all of our ancestors who left Egypta were under the cloud. 

• They all went through the sea, 
• 2and they all were immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 
• 3They all ate the same spiritual food 
• 4and drank the same spiritual drink, 
• for they drank from the spiritual rock that went with them. 
• That rock was the Messiah.b 
• 5But God wasn’t pleased with most of those people,c and so they were struck down in the wilderness.

6Now their experiences serve as examples for us so that we won’t set our hearts on evil as they did. 7Let’s stop being idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to play.”d 8Let’s stop sinning sexually, as some of them were doing, and on a single day 23,000 fell dead. 9Let’s stop putting the Lorde to the test, as some of them were doing, and were destroyed by snakes. 10You must stop complaining, as some of them were doing, and were annihilated by the destroyer. 

11These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down as a warning for us in whom the culmination of the ages has been attained. 12Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing securely should watch out so he doesn’t fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

14And so, my dear friends, keep on running away from idolatry. 15I am talking to sensible people. Apply what I am saying to yourselves. 16The cup of blessing that we bless is our fellowship in the blood of the Messiah,f isn’t it? The bread that we break is our fellowship in the body of the Messiah,g isn’t it? 17Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, because all of us eat from the same loaf.

18Look at the Israelis from a human point of view.h Those who eat the sacrifices share in what is on the altar, don’t they? 19Am I suggesting that an offering made to idols means anything, or that an idol itself means anything? 20Hardly! What they offer, they offer to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to become partners with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot dine with the Lord and dine with demons, 22or you’ll provoke the Lord to jealousy, won’t you? Are we stronger than he is?

The Gospel And Those Who Do Or Do Not Repent

Friends, one thing I have come to see is how easy it is to read the warnings in the New Testament and think that we can still go on continuing in sin. When Paul writes, he often talks to the entire group as believers and brothers. You would assume then that they were all God's children and died as such. When we look at this closer, it does not appear that was Paul's intent.

We see him talking to them as believers in verses 1-8, but if we are not careful we will fail to see the very sobering warning to the brothers in verses 9-11. This may be the reason Charles Stanley told a so called believing homosexual that if he continued as a homosexual he would lose his reward. That is damnable false teaching as we see below. All sexually immoral people will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6 ISV

1When one of you has a complaint against another, does he dare to take the matter before those who are unrighteous and not before the saints? 2You know that the saints will rule the world, don’t you? And if the world is going to be ruled by you, can’t you handle insignificant cases? 3You know that we will rule angels, not to mention things in this life, don’t you? 4So if you have cases dealing with this life, why do you appoint as judges people who have no standing in the church? 5I say this to make you feel ashamed. Has it come to this, that there is not one person among you who is wise enough to settle disagreements between brothers?a 6Instead, one brother goes to court against another brother, and before unbelieving judges,b at that! 7The very fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves is already a defeat for you. Why not rather just accept the wrong? Why not rather be cheated? 8Instead, you yourselves practice doing wrong and cheating others, and brothers at that!

9You know that wicked people will not inherit the kingdom of God, don’t you? Stop deceiving yourselves! Sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, 10thieves, greedy people, drunks, slanderers, and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 11That is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiahc and by the Spirit of our God.

Jesus the Messiah, clarifies this in his own words in Revelation 21 ISV:

5The one sitting on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new!”

He said, “Write this: ‘These words are trustworthy and true.’”

6Then he told me, “It has happened! 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.”

Churches, Their Failure To Discipline & Apostasy

One sign of the falling away that is taking place in our day, is the failure of the church leadership to discipline those in serious sin. Ear tickling and wicked pastors will not discipline. We are first and foremost to judge ourselves to see if we are in the faith. We are also not even to associate with a so-called brother who is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunk, or a robber.

Paul warns the church in Corinth about a believer who is sexually sinning. Does your pastor? If not, why do you listen to him? Could it be we like our ears tickled? What would happen if Joel Osteen preached these truths and the warnings of the scriptures to "his" people? Would he not go from the nations largest church to becoming a side walk preacher? Money, fame and power are great tempters.

1 Corinthians 5 ISV

Disciplining for Immorality

1It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, and of a kind that is not found even among the gentiles. A man is actually living with his father’s wife! 2And you are being arrogant instead of being filled with grief and seeing to it that the man who did this is removed from among you. 3Even though I am away from you physically, I am with you in spirit. I have already passed judgment on the man who did this, as though I were present with you. 4In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are gathered together (and I am there in spirit), and the power of our Lord Jesus is there, too, 5turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of his body,a so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.b

6Your boasting is not good. You know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough, don’t you? 7Get rid of the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough, since you are to be free from yeast. For the Messiah,c our Passover, has been sacrificed. 8So let’s keep celebrating the festival, neither with old yeast nor with yeast that is evil and wicked, but with yeast-free bread that is both sincere and true.

9I wrote to you in my letter to stop associating with people who are sexually immoral— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, greedy, robbers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing to you to stop associating with any so-called brother if he is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunk, or a robber. You must even stop eating with someone like that. 12After all, is it my business to judge outsiders? You are to judge those who are in the community, aren’t you? 13God will judge outsiders. “Expel that wicked man.”

Do we understand that God is holy and warns us we must be holy because He is holy?

1 Corinthians 5 ISV

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah,k is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not be shaped by the desires that used to influence you when you were ignorant. 15Instead, be holy in every aspect of your life, just as the one who called you is holy. 16For it is written, “You must be holy, because I am holy.”l

Joel Osteen - Deceived And Deceiving

I am heart broken to know that countless thousands of people are being deceived by Joel Osteen. The scriptures tell us this would occur in the last days as people would raise up teachers to tickle their ears.

2 Timothy 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. 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. 

This video does a great job showing why you should have nothing to do with Joel Osteen. He is indeed a deceiver and deceiving those who raised him up. My blog and this post is dedicated to the saving of those who will come out of false teaching such as Joel and follow Jesus the Messiah. Do not trust your souls to teachers, but repent (turn from your sin) and follow Jesus the Messiah. Get into the New Testament scriptures and learn what Jesus and his disciples taught.

Joel is in the dark and tickling ears for those who love the dark. Do you think the devil wants me tell you to get into the scriptures? Hardly! They are the words of life. Joel is teaching doctrines of demons which leads to death.

Romans 16 ISV Paul gives us the final warning to the church in Rome.

17Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and sinful enticements that oppose the teaching you have learned. Stay away from them, 

• 18because such people are not serving the Messiahl our Lord, but their own desires. 
• By their smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 

Joel does not teach the scriptures and whole counsel of God. He tickles the ears and does not warn the people. Unless God intervenes, his listeners will never know "the teaching you have learned" which Paul shows is critical in verse 17 above. Please get into the scriptures.