The Missionary’s Message is the proclamation of Christ Jesus -

Repentance and remission of sins should be preached…to all nations…” (Luke 24:47). The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is “for the whole world.”

A missionary is someone who is bound by marriage to the stated mission and purpose of his Lord and Master. He is not to proclaim his own point of view, but is only to proclaim “the Lamb of God.”
- Rethinking Church by Francis Chan

We are sometimes alone in our faith...and that aloneness would be painful if it wasn't for the presence of our heavenly Father.

Our willingness to stand alone before God is the bedrock test of servanthood and faith.

 It is easy to stand with the crowd --- to do God’s will as long as we know that others will agree with us.

 But from God’s perspective, the life of a true servant requires solitude, an intense faith to follow Him, and a desire to serve Him without notable recognition.

 - unknown author

Who do you worship?

Look at the mountains, woods, and plains.
Look at the oceans and beaches.
Look at your hands and feet, look at others around you.
Look at the world around you.
Who made all of these things? God did, not mother nature. (that term gives me the heeby jeebys every time I hear it or read it.)

 A great many people in America today are involved in nature worship. Any reference to mother nature reveals the contents of a person’s heart, and how they think.

 But if a professing Christian is whole heartedly sold out for Jesus Christ, worldly terms such as in the above will not leave their lips as they do the people of this world.

 - unknown author

We might read...


...many Christian writings from various sources, both ancient and modern, but there is only one true source and that is God’s word contained within the Christian bible.
The Christian bible is the only trustworthy source of truth. All else is only informative speculation.

You are only a tool in the hands of the Master...


If you are a Christian writer, preacher, evangelist, or doing the Lord’s work in any way --- Do Not seek a name for yourself. Hold up the name of Jesus only.
There are many people that fill the pews of churches on Sundays who are good, upstanding, and moral people...

- www.intouch.org/listen/featured/religious-but-lost
What evangelists write or preach should have only two elements,
1. showing those who are lost the way of salvation,
2. encouraging other Christians on to greater victory.

 Showmen entertain,
Evangelists state the facts.

Today' Church in America

- The Christian Mission in a Dying Culture -
John MacArthur

There is only One Truth and that is God’s Truth

In this modern world we live in a large number of people think everyone is going to heaven and they refuse to believe in hell. This is disaster in the making.
Many of them are in churches that call themselves Christian.

 Genuine Christians follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament and do not veer off to the right or the left.

 - Will Everyone Go to Heaven?
by Wayne Jackson

- Who will go to heaven?

Those who hesitate when called lose a great blessing

Matthew 4:18-22
:18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. :19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” :20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

 :21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, :22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

 Dear Friend,
Do likewise when the Savior calls you...don’t hesitate, respond at once. You may not have a second chance. Death can happen to any of us without a moment's warning, and then comes eternity.

What is the object of your devotion?

Do You Worship The Work?
- by Oswald Chambers

 Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him. A great number of Christian workers worship their work. The only concern of Christian workers should be their concentration on God. This will mean that all the other boundaries of life, whether they are mental, moral, or spiritual limits, are completely free with the freedom God gives His child; that is, a worshiping child, not a wayward one. A worker who lacks this serious controlling emphasis of concentration on God is apt to become overly burdened by his work. He is a slave to his own limits, having no freedom of his body, mind, or spirit. Consequently, he becomes burned out and defeated. There is no freedom and no delight in life at all. His nerves, mind, and heart are so overwhelmed that God’s blessing cannot rest on him.

 But the opposite case is equally true– once our concentration is on God, all the limits of our life are free and under the control and mastery of God alone. There is no longer any responsibility on you for the work. The only responsibility you have is to stay in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him. The freedom that comes after sanctification is the freedom of a child, and the things that used to hold your life down are gone. But be careful to remember that you have been freed for only one thing – to be absolutely devoted to the one you serve.

 We have no right to decide where we should be placed, or to have preconceived ideas as to what God is preparing us to do. God engineers everything; and wherever He places us, our one supreme goal should be to pour out our lives in wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

What are you doing with the resources God provides for you to serve Him?

Commentary in NLT Life Application Study Bible, for Matthew 25:14-30

 Matthew 25:15 The master divided the money among his servants according to their abilities. No one received more or less than he could handle. If he failed in his assignment, his excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed. Failure would indicate only laziness or hatred toward the master.

 The bags of silver represent any kind of resource we are given. God gives us time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities, and he expects us to invest them wisely until he returns.

 We are responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.

 Matthew 25:21 Jesus is coming back --- we know this is true.
Does this mean we must quit our jobs in order to serve God? No, it means we are to use our time, talents, and treasures diligently in order to serve God completely in whatever we do.

 For a few people, this may mean changing professions. For most of us, it means doing our daily work out of love for God.

 Matthew 25:24-30 This last man was thinking only of himself.
He hoped to play it safe and protect himself from his hard master, but he was judged for his self-centeredness. We must not make excuses to avoid doing what God calls us to do. 

 If God truly is our Master, we must obey willingly. Our time, abilities, and money aren’t ours in the first place --- we are caretakers, not owners.

 When we ignore, squander, or abuse what we are given, we are rebellious and deserve to be punished.
Commentary in NLT Life Application Study Bible, for Matthew 25:31-46

 Matthew 25:29, 30 This parable describes the consequences of two attitudes toward Christ’s return.
The person who diligently prepares for it by investing his or her time and talents to serve God will be rewarded.
God rewards faithfulness.
The person who has no heart for the work of the kingdom will be punished.
Those who bear no fruit for God’s Kingdom cannot expect to be treated the same as those who are faithful.

 Matthew 25:31-46 God will separate his obedient followers from pretenders and unbelievers.
The real evidence of our belief is the way we act. To treat all persons we encounter as if they were Jesus is no easy task. What we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus’ words to us: Feed the hungry, give the homeless a place to stay, look after the sick. How well do your actions separate you from pretenders and unbelievers?

 Matthew 25:32 Jesus used sheep and goats to picture the division between believers and unbelievers. Sheep and goats often graze together but were separated when it came time to shear the sheep.
Ezekiel 34:17-24 also refers to the separation of sheep and goats.

 Matthew 25:34-40 This parable describes acts of mercy we all can do every day. These acts do not depend on wealth, ability, or intelligence; they are simply acts freely given and freely received. We have no excuse to neglect those who have deep needs, and we cannot hand over this responsibility to the church or government. Jesus demands our personal involvement in caring for others’ needs. (Isaiah 58:7).

 - compiled by J.M.

Are Christians perfect?

No we are not.

 We may love the Lord with all our heart and mind...but we will never be perfect until the day our heavenly Father takes us home.

 And if anyone who bears the name of Christ thinks they have been perfected in the here and now, they have been fooled by their arch enemy the devil.

 In the verse below John is not talking to unbelievers, he is addressing the Church.

read:
1 John 1:5-8 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

Christian writers should not write like the writers of this world...

...we have a different calling,
A sacred trust from our Lord that we might show others the way to Jesus and eternal life.

God has gifted every Christian with a special talent. And if we are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit each one of us can use that talent to proclaim the message of Christ to those around us, and we will if we love them.

One of the greatest advantages of writing instead of being a speaker is that if you say something in front of others that you should not have said --- it's said. Too late to take it back. And people have long memories.

Thank God I only write.

I can't count the number of times I've written things I shouldn't have, mostly severe rebukes. (we shouldn't be overly severe, and I sometimes am.) But the Lord in His loving mercy has, many times, woke me up at different hours of the night and whispered lovingly in my ear, "You can't say that, it's way too harsh.

Most often I would get out of a nice warm bed, go in and turn the computer on, open up my working site and delete the offending material.

Why such urgency you might ask.

Because while it's night where I'm at it's daytime on the other side of the world and that harsh critique is being read by others.

Do you see the upside of writing.
We have time to review, correct, and change our tone before it's too late.

- Have a wonderful day, and let Jesus hold your pen for you.

An Open Door

When the Lord opens a door, go through it and Fear Not.

Thoughts can condemn or give praise…

Every thought that enters our mind, unproductive or productive, good or bad, the Lord who lives and rules above will hear it loud and clear.

 Considering that we have an all knowing, all powerful God who created and named every heavenly body in the entire universe, things we see and things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:3 and Colossians 1:16), shouldn’t every one of us who go by His name cleanse our thoughts and purify our speech.
- The Testimony of two former Ghost Hunters Turned Christian. -
- Prophetic Signs that we are in the End Times -

Pray...

Christians in the free world should pray for the Christians in North Korea who are under terrible oppression. Spiritually they are under another Nero.

A Timeless Reminder

This nineteenth century message has been paraphrased for the twenty first century so that you might better understand what this beloved brother in Christ was saying to us.
May you the modern reader be greatly blessed as you absorb this message.
And all of you who propagate the message of salvation meditate on it seriously and apply it to your life.
- this introduction is from the editor of Christian Faith Digest
--------------------------------------


 - by Charles Spurgeon
read I Corinthians 7:20

 Every person should stay in the same place of ministry God has called them to.

 Some persons have the foolish notion that the only way in  which they can live for God is by 
becoming ministers, missionaries, or Bible teachers. But! how many would be shut out from any 
opportunity of witnessing for the Most High if this were the case. 

 Beloved, it is not an office, it is earnestness; it is not a position, it is grace which will enable us to glorify God.
God is most surely glorified in that shoemaker’s stall, where the godly worker, as he plies the awl, sings of the Saviour's love, yes, glorified far more than by a paid official religiousness performing his priestly duties. 

 The name of Jesus is glorified by the poor unlearned cart driver as he drives his horse, and blesses his God, or speaks to his fellow labourer by the roadside, as much as by the popular evangelist, who, throughout the world is thundering out the gospel. God is glorified by our serving Him in our humble vocations. 

 Take care, dear reader, that you do not forsake the path the Lord has chosen for you by seeking better and better occupations, and take care you do not dishonour your profession while in it. Think little of yourselves, but do not think too little of your calling.  Every honest trade may be set apart for the gospel that you might reach others for Christ. 

 Turn to certain passages in the Bible, and you will find the most menial forms of labour connected either with most daring deeds of faith, or with persons whose lives have been illustrious for holiness. Therefore do not be discontented with your calling. 

 Whatever God has made your position, or your work, stay in that place, unless you are quite sure that he calls you to something else. Let your first care be to glorify God to the utmost of your power where you are. Fill your present sphere to His praise, and if He needs you in another He will show you. 

 Lay aside selfish ambition, and embrace peaceful content.

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22

The tragedy of persecution.
- China's Boxer Rebellion

WE ARE COMMANDED by our God and great King above to…

1)  Love our NEIGHBOR Romans 13:9
x
Love our ENEMIES Matthew 5:44
Love our BRETHREN John 13:34,35
Love our SPOUSES Colossians 3:19; Tit 2:4
Love the WORD of God 2 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 John 2:5
Love and OBEY GOD with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind Matthew 22:37,38

 You will notice that "Love our enemies" is at the top of the list.
We all love those close to us...but if we cannot or just plain refuse to love those who hate us we cannot possible love the Lord Jesus Christ, and when we claim to be a Christian we are lying, and projecting a false image of the Christian faith.

Never forget what Christ has done for you and never forget what you were.

Memory can be a blessing or a curse. In the spiritual life, it can be very healthy to remember what life was like before we met Jesus. If you remember where you started, you’ll appreciate much more the grace of God that has brought you to where you are today.

 So Never Forget we were sinners, and we still are.
But we said "Yes" to Jesus and that is what sets us apart...not our imagined perfection.

In God's family there is discipline if we sin, and that discipline can sometimes be painful.

The Lord will chasten His best beloved servants if they cease from full obedience to Him.
It is far better to be spanked by the Lord now (which shows He loves us) than to be discarded and reside in hell for eternity.

 The punishment of sin is everlasting, but the fatherly chastisement of it in a child of God is but for a season. The sickness, the poverty, the depression of spirit, will pass away when they have had their intended effect. Remember, we are not under law, but under grace. The rod may make us smart, but the sword shall not make us die. Our present grief is meant to bring us to repentance that we may not be destroyed with the wicked."

 We must not only bear our own afflictions patiently, but we must do all we can to help those who are in misery.
We must have compassion on the souls of others, and help them; pity those who are in sin, and seek to snatch them as brands out of the burning fire.

 This is in part from Charles Spurgeon's "Faith's Checkbook" August 14th.

Blessings for those who obey God and Curses for those who don’t.



Are you willing to take a risk?

To laugh, is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep, is to risk appearing weak.
To reach out for friendship, is to risk rejection.
To expose feelings, is to risk revealing who we truly are.
To dare to dream, is to risk appearing immature.
To love, is to risk having your heart broken.
To live, is to risk dying.
To hope, is to risk despair.
To try, is to risk failure.
But the greatest hazard in life is … to risk nothing.
Stay on target when preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ,
He is the only way to heaven.

A link to the web site of...

In Touch
"At In Touch Ministries, our mission is to lead people worldwide into a
growing relationship with Jesus Christ
and to strengthen the local church."

-Dr. Charles Stanley

Trust and obey ... a Christian hymn

1
When we walk with the Lord
  In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
  While we do His good will,
  He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
  Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
  But to trust and obey.
2
Not a shadow can rise,
  Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
  Not a doubt or a fear,
  Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3
Not a burden we bear,
  Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
  Not a grief or a loss,
  Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4
But we never can prove
  The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
  For the favor He shows,
  And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5
Then in fellowship sweet
  We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
  What He says we will do;
  Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

 - https://youtu.be/mmGb3zRv6xE - - https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/582 -

Christians must leave the building to reach others

What will you do?













We must leave our safety zone and the warm feelings of those who agree with us and meet head-on the hostility of a world without faith. Only under these conditions can we effectively introduce others to Jesus Christ the risen Lord.

This is what the first believers did and we should do likewise.

 Acts 8:1-4 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

About the 4th century and later, Christians came under the false teaching that only the clergy preached the word and the laity only went to church. Nowhere in the New Testament is this taught.

Jesus tells us to go.

 So if you feel like you’re stagnating in the church building you probably are... then go out and be the Church, because that is our reason for remaining on earth.

Where do you place your faith?

Do you worship your bible, or do you worship God?

 You can be sure of this...
...the Word of God is the Word of God whether it is within the pages of a book or in digital format on your computer or whatever device you may have at your disposal.

 It is very sad that some Christians think that the bible can only be in book form, and if it isn't it is not the true word of God. What a tragedy to think that way.

 God is to be worshiped, not words on a page. The words on a page, whether in book form or digital only point us to God's will for our lives that can lead us to Salvation in Christ.

 So do not let others lead you into legalistic bondage, but be led by the Spirit of a Holy and Righteous God.

ALL Good Things are from above...

...and nothing is of ourselves.

The Christian Is Never Alone


- from one who has no one left except Jesus.

Beloved Christian, if you are hurting remember this...

Rough grain must be crushed to make fine flour.
- Complaining Is Not The Christian Way

Eight Ways to Identify Cult Brainwashing

...a refresher Course for longtime Christians

 1.) Part One: Milieu Control

 2.) Part Two: Mystical Manipulation

 3.) Part Three: The Demand for Purity

 4.) Part Four: The Cult of Confession

 5.) Part Five: The Sacred Science

 6.) Part Six: Loading the Language

 7.) Part Seven: Doctrine Over Person

 8.) Part Eight: The Dispensing of Existence
- The Danger of Apostasy
- Unbiblical church music
- How do I know if I am a Worldly Christian being deceived?
- A message to the modern church
- Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness (1 Corinthians 7:1-40)
- Separating From Unbelievers

- Stop Stressing About Money (Part 2)
A lonely path is sometimes best -
For it is there that we hear the voice of God and learn.
Do not add or take away from sound bible teachings in order to add numbers to your church roles.
Those who do are in grave danger.

Not Harmless

Christians...be on your guard against godless sayings. They are not harmless sayings, they can creep in and damage one's faith.
- It's Father God, Not Mother Nature!
by Bill Brinkworth

Search these things out for yourselves.

Trust and Submit to the will of Jesus

Each new day can be a new blessing if we submit to the will of Christ in our lives no matter what happens.

 For a whole four days I was faced with an extremely bad situation (or so I thought) that at my age could have resulted in my death.
Just worry, worry, worry, and very little sleep, and I did not want to share this with anyone.

 I finally gave up and told our Lord, “I’m yours. You own me. You do with me whatever pleases you, even to the point of losing everything, even my life. I’m tired of being afraid.
I will always love you and trust you no matter what happens.”
The next morning what I thought was a bad situation had simply vanished.

 Dear Christian friends, no matter what kind of a trial you are in. No matter how bad it is. Trust Him with everything, even your own life.

 And if you are not a believer in Jesus repent of your unbelief, asking His forgiveness and trust Him and accept His free gift of eternal life. He will change you from within.
And this can only be between you and the Lord Jesus Christ, you don’t need a middle man.

The Christian's Future is Certain

- What Is Heaven Like?