Biblical Heart Check, On Guard

 Guarding your heart.

We are talking about the prayer to God, for Him to examine our hearts.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Pslam 139:23-24

Why is this scary? Because if you are being honest, God will show you the truth. Most likely you will have some serious changes to make. Deep serious changes. Real changes. Life-altering changes. You may be believing in God, however, you may still be living for yourself. This prayer and this series may have pointed out some things you must change in your walk with God immediately. Are you ready to do so?

We talked about these distractions of the heart.

Love of Money
Idolatry
Worldly Desires
Pride

How can you be more intentional about guarding your heart? This may sound somewhat simplistic to some, but the answer is with God's Word and prayer.

A great place to start is to examine your own heart. One of the biggest issues a lot of people have is unforgiveness.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15

Jesus tells us this

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25

Now I understand this can be hard. I have struggled with this one. I know it can be extremely hard to forgive someone who has intentionally used and abused you. Someone who has intentionally tried to hurt you or your family. It can be both fellow children of God or the unsaved, in which case you should not be surprised at all.

Let's start with the obvious. The unsaved. Those we have already talked about are the property of Satan himself. Those that live in and for the flesh. Of course, they hate you. Of course, they use and abuse you. Of course, they want nothing to do with you and your Bible-thumping self.

 
Jesus, or Yeshua, warned us about these. He told us this.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19

Of course, those living in and feeding their sins are going to hate you telling them they are wrong. Of course, those who do not believe in God or the Bible, will not listen to you. Jesus tells us that they cannot even hear God’s Word, for the sole reason, they are not of God.

In His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” our Lord said this.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

These are children who never grew up. They do not even understand. However, here is something else for you to think about when dealing with those who are lost. They are already lost. They are on their way to Hell. What in this world, what within your power, can you possibly do to them that is worthy to be compared to the Hell that awaits them?

It is Human Nature to hold grudges. It just is. We think and I hear people say things like this. “You have no idea how I was wronged.” “You do not understand what they did to me.” “ I just can't forgive them for this.” “I trusted them.” ”I did nothing wrong.” “They used me, abused me, and mistreated me.” “How do I forgive them for that?” My answer is simple to hear but may be hard to accept for some.

1- Your Father says so.
2- When you do, you allow God to justify forgiving you.
3- You give them over to God.

Think about that last one. Someone wrongs you. You hold anger in your heart. It festers. You come to hate that person. You play the event over and over in your mind. You are losing sleep. You are having a hard time with the whole situation. Them? They are just fine. They do not care. They are going on with their lives. You are the one who is still suffering. Let it go, and let it be in God’s Hands.

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written,

“Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21

When you fully understand it. When you claim it, you will live a more peaceful life. You will truly pray for, and mean it, for those who wrong you. You will fully get, and pray, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." You see, when someone wrongs you, you have the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, The Creator of all that ever was, is, or will be, God Himself, your Daddy, to turn to.

Those that wronged you? They got nothing. They have nowhere to turn. They have nothing they can do. When God turns His wrath upon someone or something, there is nowhere left to turn. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. There is NOTHING. Instead of being angry with them, or hate them, you should pity them. They are about to be devastated in ways only God can do.

What about your brother? What about your sister? Those fellow children of God? What about if one of them wrongs you?

“Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22

Jesus gives us a whole process of dealing with this situation.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17

If this happens, you are forgiven. You did your part. You let it go out of your hands and put the person in God’s.

However, there is yet one more type of unforgiveness that some, more than you think, have in their heart. Self unforgiveness. Some people feel that they are so far gone, that they have done such evil things, that a loving God could never forgive them.

I’ve got good news for you, you are the type of person that Jesus came to die for. You are right. You are that far gone. You have done the unforgivable. You are evil. You are worthy of an eternity in hell. Yet while you were in the middle of your sin, Christ died for you.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person, one would dare even to die, but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

You are right. There is nothing you can do. You can never make yourself good enough to even approach the Holy God. That is the whole reason Yesuah came. The whole reason that Christ died on the cross. The whole reason He rose again. There is no other way.

What happens when you do accept this? What happens when you do ask for forgiveness?

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

Look here.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

I love this passage in Micah. Turn to Micah 7 and read this with me. Remember. There is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, once you are adopted into the family of God, you ARE His remnant. You ARE His child. “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:17

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19

This is why it is so important to deepen your connection through prayer: Prayer is a powerful tool for communication with God. Regularly talking to God, expressing your gratitude, and seeking guidance can open you up to understanding His will.

Study scripture. Do not just read it. The Bible is God's living Word. Dedicating time to reading and reflecting on scripture can provide insights and direction for your life.

Find a local church that teaches the truth. Seek a spiritual community. Surround yourself with people who share your faith. Discussing scripture, praying together, and participating in church services can provide support and encouragement on your journey.

Slow down, stop even. Reflect on your actions: Consider how your choices align with your faith's values before making decisions. This can help you make choices that honor God.

Practice self-reflection. Regularly examine your thoughts and motivations. Ask yourself if your desires align with your faith's principles.

Remember, this is a lifelong process. There will be times when you need more clarification or make mistakes. The important thing is to keep striving to grow your faith and live a life that honors God.

Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yesuah's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Biblical Heart Check, Pride

 Pride

We are talking about this prayer that David prayed to God and challenges us to do the same;

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Pslam 139:23-24

As we have been talking about, it is scary for us to pray because of the answer that God may give us. We may be going to church. Some may even be reading their Bible all the time and praying daily. However, are there distractions in your heart? This is a big one. This is the original Sin.

Pride: Pride, or an inflated sense of self-importance, can blind us to our faults and lead us away from God. Proverbs 16:18 says

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

However, the world says we should celebrate Pride. You really cannot escape it. Our kids see it everywhere, from school to stores trying to cash in. While walking in a Mall or down a street in some towns nationwide. What am I talking about? Encouragement to celebrate sin.

Now understand. Yes, the flags and the signs, the stolen meaning of the rainbow on everything LGBTQ+, and the phrase “Celebrate Pride” are about this particular sin. However, it is not just the LGBTQ+ communities encouraging you to celebrate pride. We see it in many forms all day and every day.

What is pride? Pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or qualities or possessions that are widely admired. It is also the love of self. What do you think led to this?

“How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of the assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Highest” Isaiah 14:12-14

What do you think led to the fall of Mankind?

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:1-6

What do you think the devil tried to tempt Jesus with?

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“‘On their hands, they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Satan said If you are, and He is of course, but if you are, the Son of God, meaning you are the most important thing around, take pride in yourself and do whatever you want. Jesus said, uh, no.

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.’” Matthew 4:8-10

Pride. Pride caused the fall of Lucifer, now known as the Devil or Satan. Pride is what caused the fall of Mankind. Pride is what the devil tried to tempt Jesus with. Twice. Look what Jesus wanted to teach us during the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Wait. Did He say blessed are those who are proud?

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Are those full of pride?

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

No child of God, Jesus teaches us the exact opposite. Pride is a symbol of sin. It stands for sin. In some cases, it requires us to sin. Funny how when someone points this out, we are attacked and persecuted. Oh, wait, keep reading.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We live in a time when Romans 1 is played out right before everyone’s face.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, and malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:18-32

PLEASE, read that again. Reread it. Reread it. Fully understand all that is in this. Look around. Understand we are living in these times. Even some of our churches have stopped teaching the truth, in exchange for lies and opposite to what God says. This is also warned about in the Word of God.

“preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4

Prosperity Gospel, No Hell. No Sin. Compassion and Love say we must accept all and they need not change. God only wants you to love. There is no right and wrong. Each is their own god and we are all in it together. Just love. Live and let live. Jesus is not required. The Bible is not required. Just be you. Celebrate you. Celebrate Pride.

As I said, it is not just the Gay, Lesbian, Trans, and whatever other nonsense you want to call out, it is also daily teachings to us and our children, to be prideful. Be the next internet superstar with millions of “followers.” You failed the test little Johnny, that’s ok. You are unique and you tried, so do not worry about it. Take pride in who you are.” Did your team lose? Who cares? “You get a trophy because you played and you are awesome. Take pride in yourself.”

I'm not telling you to protest stores displaying Pride to cash in. You can if you so choose. I know people who will not step foot in any business that is attempting to shove sin down everyone’s throat. I’m not telling you to call or write to their headquarters. Not sure what that would do, to begin with.

But what I am telling you, are three things.

1- Be mindful of this. This is not compassion. This is not “love on display.” You are not celebrating anything good if Pride is involved. Most of these businesses that are trying to jump on the bandwagon are doing so out of the love of money and profit. Not out of genuine respect or love.

2- Be mindful of what God says. Understand that God condemns Homosexuality and all this other nonsense. Some places in The Word? Leviticus 18:1-5, 22-24, 29, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:49-51, Romans 1:18-32

3- You cannot avoid it. Your children cannot avoid it. So teach them what the reality of the truth is. Lay a foundation in them where God is the final authority. Not man. Not sin. God.

Pride is not a good thing. Pride is the original sin. We should never, as children of God, celebrate sin. We are to love those who are in sin. Attempt to guide them, teach them, and love them. Show them there is a better way and Jesus is His name.

Do you need to ask Jesus into your life? Say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Lead your children in this prayer when they reach the age of accountability. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

The Email if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Biblical Heart Check, Worldly Desires

 Worldly Desires

What are worldly desires?

Worldly desires: The Bible speaks of the world's allurements and how they can distract us from following God's will. 1 John 2:15-16 says

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—does not come from the Father but from the world."

You will go where your heart leads you. You do not have to do anything. Your heart will naturally seek out these things. See a pretty girl walking down the mall in front of you? See a handsome guy? Do you see an advertisement for something that promises to bring pleasure to your flesh? Whatever that may be. Even drugs and alcohol can fall into this category. They can make you feel really good. Temporarily. Porn? Gambling? The love of money even and what money can buy and bring into your life. Status? Position? Cars, houses, etc. All of these are worldly desires.

Why is this bad? Jesus puts it this way when talking about the Sower of the Seed and the Seed falling on shallow ground.

"The worries of the world, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful." Mark 4:19

What does that mean?

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” Luke 8:11-14

Sadly many fall into this category. Someone tells them about the gospel or invites them to church and they believe and receive the Word with joy. However, they never pick this up {Holding up the Bible} They never read this for themselves. Then they miss this or that Sunday. They spend most of their time in the world pursuing worldly desires. What do you think happens? That’s right. They fall away, or they never truly receive what God has for them. Worldly desires can and will produce the works of the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

These are natural for your flesh to crave. They are natural and not so uncommon as you think to those without God. Look around. Homosexuality, Transgenderism, and even a move currently to legalize and normalize pedophilia. Not making this up folks. They want ages removed so adults can have sex with kids and it will be all-natural and good.

We need to pray to God. Pray to your Father.

“Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” Titus 2:12

Why?

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

If it is from the world, then who is it actually from?

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

This is why it appears sometimes that those of whom you know, are intelligent, loving people, seemingly cannot even hear what you are trying to tell them whenever you say the name Jesus or talk about the Bible or God. They truly cannot hear you.

“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." John 8:47

It is this simple.

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:7-8

So how? How do we deal with worldly desires? The Word does not say, well try. No, the Word does not say, only sin on Tuesdays. No, it does not tell us to do our best. It says this.

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Colossians 3:5-8

“Put to death.” Kill them. Destroy them. “Put them away.” Why? Because Jesus is coming back. If you do the same things the lost are doing, you will become lost with them. You will perish if you commit the same sins as those perishing because of their sin.

Without God it is impossible. You will simply live the same as all others. In sin and die. However, you HAVE God.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” Titus 2:11-12

Train your mind to think about Godly things.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Remember child of God, you cannot serve two masters. Although many many oh, so many have tried, you cannot walk in the spirit and the flesh simultaneously. So Walk in the spirit.

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Galatians 5:16-17

Oh, I still remember. No, I did not leave it out. All that we have talked about, The love of money and stuff, Idolatry, and worldly desires, all lead us up to next time. Pride. The original sin. Join us next time, won’t you?

Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Biblical Heart Check, Idolatry

 Idolatry 

Today we continue to dive deep into this Prayer that David prayed to God and challenges us to do the same;

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Pslam 139:23-24

As we are discussing, it is scary for us to pray because of the answers that God may give us. We may be going to church. Some may even be reading their Bible all the time and praying daily. However, are there distractions in your heart?

How about this one? Idolatry: This refers to worshipping anything other than God, including created things or even ourselves. It can manifest in a desire for power, status, or pleasure that supersedes our devotion to God.

This one is so offensive to God and so easy for us to fall into, that He created the Second Commandment for it.

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:5-7

Idolatry is of course, any statue, or "any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." That would include the statue of Saint Peter, Paul, Luke, or John, by the way. That would include that statue of this or that Saint, by the way. That would include that statue of Mary, by the way. That would also include the statue of Jesus or the Crucifix, by the way. Just something to think about.

There is nothing wrong with being a good "Christian." Being a good "Catholic." "Jew." "Muslim." Whatever. There is nothing wrong with having faith in the church. However, when you read Jesus is "The Way, Truth, and Life," and your church or religion does not teach you that Jesus is the "Door," then you are in the wrong religion. If you read "Thou shalt not commit Idolatry" and walk into a church and see people worshiping at the foot of statues and praying to this and that Saint, you may want to rethink this. There is nothing wrong with obedience to a certain church or religion, as long as that church and religion is teaching you the Truth according to God. Not solely the traditions of men.

If you do not worship statues, good for you. Can you say Astrology? Horoscopes and such? The Sun, Moon, and Stars will not protect you, nor keep you safe. When you look upon them, you are looking at a Creation. They are to God, what the most beautiful building is to man. They are nothing more than created things. They have no life in them. God warns us about this in His Word.

“And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” Deuteronomy 4:19

This is growing and one that is the most seductive idol. The idol of self. You need nothing and no one. You are not only enough, but you are the best. Most important. You are a “god.” Sound familiar?

“How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of the assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit.

Those who see you will stare at you

and ponder over you:

‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook kingdoms,

who made the world like a desert

and overthrew its cities,

who did not let his prisoners go home?’ Isaiah 14:12-17

“You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” Lucifer, as he was known then, wanted to be the most important. He wanted people to bow down in front of him. Worship him. Look what he said to Jesus.

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

This is what he tempted Adam and Eve with.

“But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5

Look what society tells our kids. “There is no god.” “You only live once.” “You are special and you are in control of your future.” “Look out for number one.” If you put yourself out there, social media and such, you could be the next big thing.” “The next “influencer with thousands of followers.” Sound familiar?

Look at social media for a second. There are those on social media that make $30,000.00 a day for a 10-minute video. Some make so much money and have so many followers that they make videos where they give money away. Is there anything wrong with them giving money away to those who need it? No. Not really. But why are they? Think about it. Look at what Jesus said here.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4

Social media has become a source of child abuse. We have parents out there who are letting their underage daughters, some very underage daughters, dance in bathing suits, underwear, and in some cases, nothing, showing little bits of themselves for the pedophiles out there to watch.

Why? The more views, the more followers, and the more they could make money. We used to call nude or semi-nude pictures and videos of little kids, child porn. It used to be a crime. That no longer seems to be the case. Some of those happy little faces doing their dance are doing so because they are being forced to. There have been reports that in other countries, there are compounds full of young girls who are forced to make videos.

Even if we do not go to the extreme, just think about things like FB. Yeah, I know. I have one. I post these messages on it. I share pics, and I share life moments. I look forward to waking up and seeing how many people “liked” my posts. Where is the line though? Social Media is a tool. Like with all tools, it can be used for something good, or it can be turned and twisted into something evil. You could be reading this message on Social Media, or you could be watching porn. You get the point. You could even become consumed with how many “followers” you have as well so PLEASE be careful. The Idol of self is very powerful. One that can and will consume you totally if you let it. Think about this, even back in the day, people were worried about followers and being great. When Jesus was asked, "Who will be the greatest in Heaven?" He answered this way.

“And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:2-6

Jesus also told us this.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Mark 10:45

And here?

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:13-16

It is not about you. It never was. It never will be. It is about serving others. It is in the very service to others, that God can equip you and bless you. It is not about you. You cannot say you serve God if you are not serving others.

What did Jesus do? Teach, preach, and show the way. He came to serve us. He came to serve us to the point of His torture, abuse, and death. What have you done for your fellow man lately? We have not reached the point of torture and death in this country. Yet. People are being tortured and killed because of the name of Jesus all over the world. Yet they keep spreading the Word. Are you? Or are you worried about losing “followers” if you post something like the real meaning of the Rainbow? Are you worried about offending someone with the truth?

Think about this. If you are, are you now choosing to put yourself before God? Think about that for a second. If you are fearful, that you will lose followers, friends, and or even family, because of your faith in God, then are you not choosing yourself to be more important than God? Jesus put it this way.

“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming into his kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28

Again, folks, it is ok to be on social media. It is a tool and can be a great way to stay in touch with family and friends. It can be a good way to spread the Gospel. However, be careful that it does not become an avenue to sin. Either by viewing things you should not, or attempting to use it as a tool to commit the original sin. Pride and self-promotion. Remember another warning from Jesus. He said this.

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

Put the “Idol of Self” and all Idolatry away from you and do not seek it out again. Put that Idol of anything you put in front of God away, and do not seek it again. Put God First in your heart, and your head. Seek first His kingdom. Seek His will for you and your life. You will have a much fuller and happier life.

Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Biblical Heart Check, Love of Money

Love of possessions.

We are about to dive deep into this Prayer that David prayed to God and challenges us to do the same;

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Pslam 139:23-24

As we discussed last time, it is scary for us to pray because of the answer that God may give us. We may be going to church. Some may even be reading their Bible all the time and praying daily. However, are there distractions in your heart? We read things like this.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

We read things like this.

“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Yet we are told that the heart is evil. Without Yeshua or Jesus, it is. Without the Holy Spirit in you, it is nothing but a flesh-loving heart. It is easily distracted and this is what we will be talking about today. Here is one of the first and biggest distractions of a flesh-loving heart.

Love of money and possessions. The Bible warns against the dangers of materialism and the temptation to prioritize wealth over God. For example, Matthew 6:24 says

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Why? Because Jesus knows the human heart. He even told us this.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Why? Our love of money and our love for possessions. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” But I thought there was nothing wrong with wanting more. I thought keeping up with the Joneses was normal and a good thing. It helps you to desire to be better. Right? Wrong. Jesus helps you to be better. The Holy Spirit helps you to be better. God changes your heart, and HE makes you better.

What you are talking about is covetousness. Jesus said this.

“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

Why?

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28

Remember the story of the rich man and his barns?

“And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."'

But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

Jesus goes on to say this.

“And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” Luke 12:22-23

I have known workaholics. I have been a workaholic. I worked two full-time jobs and slept every other day or so. It only lasted about 7 months until something had to give. The sad thing is, that some people are so afraid of losing stuff, that they spend half their lives trying to stay one foot ahead of the grave, which puts them in it. You can only go so far on empty until you simply stop going. What is Jesus’s answer for us? His answer for us to have our needs met?

“And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:29-32

You are a prince or princess of Heaven. The Alpha, and The Omega, The Beginning and the End, The Creator of the Universe is now your Daddy. Are you going to worry about the electric bill? The cable?

If having a TV is a worry, you may need to rethink your priorities. If you cannot put food on the table, but you can watch your favorite show, you may want to rethink your priorities. If you cannot go to Bible Study, because you cannot miss your favorite show? Somebody say amen. If you cannot put food on the table because you have a $700.00 a month car payment, you may want to rethink your priorities. If your kids are wearing worn-out clothes and eating scraps, but you can afford those cigarettes and that alcohol, you should check your priorities. I warned you this series was going to sting some. We are doing a heart check. How is yours?

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11

We are going to end today with this. 1 Peter 4

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this, they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does”

Talking to you child of God

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter: 1-11

We do not know what tomorrow will bring. The rich man died on the eve of completing his bigger barn. Tomorrow is nowhere to be found. Jesus tells us that the morrow will worry about itself and is filled with evil. James tells us this.

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16

What is your heart's desire? Is it money and stuff? Or are you doing what God said to do?

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Be the child of God, that God calls you to be.

Have you been adopted into the Family of God? Would you like to be? It is simple. Say this prayer. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

Email if you wish to contact me, it's truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Biblical Heart Check

 Biblical Heart Check

I truly believe this is one of the scariest prayers a human being can pray to God.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Pslam 139:23-24

Why is this scary? Because if you are being honest, God will show you the truth. Most likely you will have some serious changes to make. Deep serious changes. Real changes. Life-altering changes. You may be believing in God, however, you may still be living for you. This prayer and this series may point out some things in your walk with God that you will need to change immediately. Are you ready to do so?

The world says to follow your heart. In some cases, some churches falsely teach this as well. “See, God is all about love. Love comes from the heart. Love one another without judging, no matter what, or you are not loving. Follow your heart and desires in business, life, and all things. You will be healthy, wealthy, and wise. Forget about that old concept of sin and hell. A loving God is not going to send you to hell. Do as you will. Follow your heart and you will be a good person and a loving person, full of compassion and love.”

This is a lie straight from hell itself. It is the worst thing any child of God can do. Why?

“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9

God saw this before the flood and He said this.

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

Following the flood, God said this.

“The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lord said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.” Genesis 8:21

The flood did not fix us. The flood did not heal our hearts. You are still born into evil, and we are still evil, and “every intent of the thoughts of our hearts is still only evil continually.” This is just a fact. If you do not have God, you are evil. Following your heart will lead you down evil paths. You will do evil things. This is what we will be talking about in this series, “Biblical Heart Check.” If you dare, join us for the next few weeks, and we will do just that. Here is what is coming up.

What distractions or desires tend to take root in your heart? Here are a few:

Love of money and possessions: The Bible warns against the dangers of materialism and the temptation to prioritize wealth over God. For example, Matthew 6:24 says

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Pride: Pride, or an inflated sense of self-importance, can blind us to our faults and lead us away from God. Proverbs 16:18 says

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

Idolatry: This refers to worshipping anything other than God, including created things or even ourselves. It can manifest in a desire for power, status, or pleasure that supersedes our devotion to God.

Worldly desires: The Bible speaks of the world's allurements and how they can distract us from following God's will. 1 John 2:15-16 says

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—does not come from the Father but from the world."

How can you be more intentional about guarding your heart with God's word and prayer?

Are there any areas of unforgiveness, bitterness, or pride that may be hindering your spiritual growth?

What practical steps can you take to live a life that is more aligned with God's will?

I am warning you that this is not going to be one of those feel-good, “God Loves you” sermon series. “God wants you to be rich” sermon series. This is going to be an in-depth, possibly painful to some, hopefully, ground-shaking, heart-melting, God-molding, life-changing, series.

I pray that God will lead us through this. God will speak to us through His Word and His will and His way will be known to us. That we, as children of God, will be changed for the better. I say this a lot, but in series like this one, I mean it more than I can say. Please, do not take anything I say as absolute truth. Do not simply follow me and share whatever I say because I say it. PICK THIS US {Holding the Bible} READ IT! Look it up yourself. If you come across something in here {Holding up the Bible} that offends you, you are wrong. It is you that needs to pause and look in a mirror. You need to pray about it and ask God “Why am I so offended by this?”

Why am I seemingly wasting an entire Sunday for this coming right-up message? Because I want you to get ready. I want to get prepared. I want you to pray about it. We are going to pray here in a second, but I want you to pray about it yourself. Prepare yourself to hear God’s Word and feel the convictions if they come. Prepare yourself to be ready to make some possible life-changing choices and grow closer to God. Let us pray.

“First of all, all the praise and glory be to you, God. We come before you to pray as your word declares, for eyes to see, ears to hear, and most importantly, a heart to receive your Truth, your Word, and your Righteousness.

We understand that your ways are higher than our ways. We know that your thoughts are higher than our thoughts and that we don't know anything unless you reveal them to us through the Holy Spirit and your Word.

We have an image of ourselves, and our lives that may or may not be in line with you and your Will and plans for us and our lives. As we go through this sermon series, I pray that you speak to us and to whomever you choose to directly and deeply into our spirit so that we do not miss what you have for us. Even if it is something that you know will offend us, tell us, show us, guide us, and help us to understand.

We love you God, and we yearn to be closer to you. Please be with us, in your precious and Holy Name, Amen.”

We have a new home base, coming to you live from NY. New beginning, new season, same God. Same Truth. Same Yeshua. Nothing has nor will change until the end of time as we know it here on Earth. Nothing will change by geography, time, or the will of man. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. What was sin, is sin, and will mostly kill you quicker today than ever, and the result of living a life outside of God and His Will is death. Are you ready to fully have God examine your heart? Are you ready to truly pray,

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Are you honestly ready to hear God’s answer?

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!