I pray that you are Strong in Body and Spirit

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 Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. Some of the traveling teachers[b] recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth. I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. ~ 3John 1:2-4

This is my prayer for the people in my life…. that you are healthy in body and strong in spirit. I get great JOY in this. But the more important message in this little one chapter book is to take care of those who bring the Gospel Message to others.

He goes on in this chapter talking about workers not taking a penny from unbelievers. I really never caught that before but what an IMPORTANT statement and important way to do ministry. Being an evangelist is not about MONEY… or even being supported. This is where many have gone wrong in ministry. IF the body of Christ was obedient to the teachings we have and took care of those traveling, those preaching and teaching the Word of God and those traveling and teaching was obedient to the teaching ministry would be much different and the world would NOT look at us as always trying to get their money!!!

Such a GREAT word that has impacted my life today.

Now go out and have an EPIC day today!!

YOU NEED THE CHURCH and the CHURCH NEEDS YOU!!!!

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Live in the Truth

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

I am writing to remind you, dear friends,[c] that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came[d] in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we[e] have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. ~ 2John 1

This is from 2John — this book is just one chapter but is very powerful and full of truth. He is writing again to encourage those who have come to the faith to remain strong. He is warning that there will ALWAYS be people coming along, coming into our churches who will bring a false teaching. It may sound good and if you do not know the Word of God and you do not have relationship with God you will be deceived very easily and it clearly says that if you walk away you have NO relationship with the Father or the Son.

He says to LOVE one another and again here he is speaking to believers — WE NEED ONE ANOTHER to remain strong, to teach, protect, have my back and I have your back. Take care of one another, walk through life with one another. DO NOT try to be a lone ranger Christian it is way to easy to be led astray!!! And you might make the difference in someone else’s salvation. YOU NEED THE CHURCH and the CHURCH NEEDS YOU!!!!

Now go out and have an EPIC day today.

Do not allow anything……

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 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts ~ 1John 5:21

As he closes out 1John this is the very last verse in this book…. the entire book is about those who are children of God and those who are not…. those who are led astray and those who are not. Those who “think” they are saved and have eternal life and those who are saved and have eternal life. His point is trying to show us how easily we can be led down the wrong road and that road leads to death. And just how do we know, how do we remain strong and in Him? He sums it up right here!!!

21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

So with that said what fills your heart? Really think about this…..

Work? Money? Alcohol? Anger? UnForgiveness? Bitterness? Envy? Sex? Sports? Drugs? Entertainment? Your home? your family? Marriage? Cars? Motorcycle? The list could be endless….

Some of these are not bad things but we must be careful not to allow ANYTHING to take God’s place in your heart. God wants you to enjoy life…. I can tell you that you will enjoy life to the fullest when He is NUMBER ONE in your heart. It’s one thing to want to be His child and another to actually being His child.

Now go out and have an EPIC day today.

Spirit of God or Spirit of the Antichrist?

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Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet[a] acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception. ~  1John 3:1-5

There are a lot of “religions” in the world today. How do you know what is right and what is not? I have heard people say it doesn’t matter, God knows the heart, or as long as you are a good person, or do good things. I have heard people say I am confused and not sure. I have people come to me with some of the strangest and craziest “doctrines” or beliefs I have ever heard. Like they have discovered something NEW and nobody knows about.

What about all the different religions within so called “Christianity”? What about all the do’s and don’ts in different religions? It’s really over whelming when you think about it. You lose friends and family over it. So how do you know? Most are based on Scriptures!!

If a person claiming to be a prophet[a] acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist….

And not only that but ……

If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

It’s not rocket science , it is a deep relationship with the Father, the Holy Spirit lives within us and will ALWAYS reveal truth or deceptions. Remember Hebrews 4:12-13 — For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Now go out and have an EPIC day today!!

Even if you feel guilty……

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19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. ~          1John 3:19-20

These 2 scriptures come out of the writer speaking of KNOWING who is a true believer by his actions, his love and his confidence. The entire chapter is very powerful and I would suggest reading it. Here he speaks of standing before the Father. I know many who feel like they do not deserve to even pray, man I’ve been there myself and it is always because of our guilt. There is a huge difference between a believer with guilt before God and a non-believer standing before God with guilt.

AS A BELIEVER we can stand before God with great confidence even is we “feel” guilty. The word say that God is GREATER than our feelings” I don’t know about you but that gives me great confidence!!! The bottom line is “he knows everything” he knows how I feel, He knows my heart, He knows my repentance, He knows my brokenness, He knows EVERYTHING.

This also means I cannot hide anything from Him EVER!! This is another test of true follower of God… I am very thankful for His LOVE!!!

Now go out and have an EPIC day today. .

Are we to Love?

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Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer,[a] that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer[b] is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. ~ 1John 7-11

Sometimes the church people are the most judgmental and hateful people around…. seeing this shows that there is something very broken in the lives of people who claim to be believers. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE the body of Christ, I believe that the church is needed and a viable place in the world, especially as we head into the end times.

We are to LOVE everyone, the word say we to even love our enemies! But when it comes to brothers and sisters in the Lord it’s a different level and type of love. So what is broken that would make people be hateful to a fellow believer?

Actually it’s pretty simple. RELATIONSHIP with the Father… Knowing Him and His heart….knowing the Word….Being transformed….our minds being renewed, and finally new believers being mentored / taught how to live out the life. This is a very hard road to travel it is against the grain of the entire world…. it’s a eternal mindset. Is it doable? YES YES and a thousand times YES!!! It take strong leaders, strong parents teaching their children and a New Heart, a renewed mind.

Now go out and have an EPIC day

 

In Him there is not Darkness…..

The Light of God

This is the message we heard from Jesus[c] and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. ~ 1John 1:5-6

I have written over the last 2 months from Proverbs, 1 and 2 Timothy – 1 and 2 Peter and now I’m going into 1,2 and 3 John…. In these next three books he writes with a very deep truth…. and again it’s all about our “Love Relationship” with Jesus.

He states, GOD IS LIGHT and there NO darkness in Him. The light exposes everything, there is NO hiding when in the light, there are NO secrets when in the light, you can’t fool anyone in the light. If you are walking in the light, if you are in relationship with Him, in LOVE with Him and RESTING in Him it is impossible to be in darkness. BUT if you claim to claim to be in the light,…. claiming to be a “strong” man or woman of God, a person who loves the Lord with all you have and yet have secret sin…. the word says that you are a liar!! It is impossible to live in the darkness and have fellowship with God.

God still loves you in the darkness, but the relationship is void……he will never stop loving you and wanting you but he will hand you over to the desires of your heart. It is not a game, a relationship to play with, it is you ETERNAL salvation…. you will never be in the light if you are only looking for an escape route when life is over…. you enter into the light as you fall in Love with Him. KNOW HIM!!! This takes place by His word, prayer, worship, fellowship and obedience. A road less traveled.

As for me, I wake up every morning with this… I am a liar, I cannot be trusted with my life, I NEED you today Jesus, expose to me any wrong in my heart, any anger, jealousy, envy, hate. I need you, I need to be in your resting place this day.

When you get there….. everything is exposed.

Now go out and have an EPIC day today!!

Are you growing?

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17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. ~ 2Peter 3:17-18

The entire book of 2Peter is about false teacher, false gods, wicked people, and God’s people. He talks about what will happen to the just and the unjust, he explains why it appears the wicked are getting away with it and it seems unfair. He addresses about every issue living in this world. and he ends it with this.

You already know…. so…. BE ON GUARD!!!! Do be so unsecure in your life in Jesus that you lose your own secure footing!!! Those are EXCELLENT words but HOW? Man there are times you see people flourish, they have money, power, seem to have it all….while I try to keep up with PG&E bill. Well thank God he answers this question for all of us……

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.…..

This is the message in every book through the Bible — KNOW HIM, FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM

Now go out and have an EPIC day today

False teachers?

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There is not much I can say to add to this, to explain it… this is DIRECT and to the point. He protects his children while he condemns false teachers who lead other’s off to hell. I couldn’t help but think of an old movie that speaks of this very thing…… check out the clip at the bottom of this..

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell,[a] in gloomy pits of darkness,[b] where they are being held until the day of judgment. And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment. 10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings[c] without so much as trembling. 11 But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord[d] a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.

12 These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. 13 Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception[e] even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. 14 They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. 15 They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor,[f] who loved to earn money by doing wrong. 16 But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

17 These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. 18 They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. 19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. 20 And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. 21 It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. 22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.”[g] And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.” 2Peter 2

There are NO excuses…….

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By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. ~ 2Peter 1:3-7

There are NO excuses for living a life that is always weak and strong, no excuses for not walking and growing in your faith, no excuses for falling into traps. God has GIVEN us EVERYTHING we need to live a godly life!!

If this is true we have no excuse when we fall, the only reason we fall into stupid is because there is something broken in our relationship with the Father. We can be busy in church, we can be leaders, we can be preachers and still fall into the trap, just go through the motions with a broken relationship with your father. Remember the enemy is always trying to find ways to kill you and me!! There is a place where you have protection and it takes HARD work, it is know as the “secret place” or God’s resting place.

I have fallen into such deep crap in my life and I have NO excuse for it.. EVER!!! My fault for allowing my love to grow cold and not look for satisfaction from Him. HE GIVES US EVERYTHING WE NEED!! That my friend is a PROMISE!!! Live the good life… it is possible and it is SWEET

Now go out and have an EPIC day today