Saturday, January 4, 2025

The Therefore

The Therefore 
by David Brenneman 

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
A long time ago I was taught something about reading my Bible. That something was "when you find a therefore in your reading, go back as many verses as is necessary to find out what the therefore is there for".

Jesus used a therefore to make a point in all of His speaking that day to the people. 

He wasn't speaking to be heard...as the Pharisees and Sadducees were doing every single day. He was talking to people who indeed were sheep without a shepherd. People needing guidance and direction. Us.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them," think about that statement. For all of their days leading up to Jesus Himself teaching them all they heard were fruitless words. Countless days of do as I say not as I do from the Jewish leaders. 

Some of what His therefore refers to you just read. I encourage you to read back further. Ask the Spirit to explain it to you in the way you learn. 

To me...I understand differently than you probably do. To me...when Jesus said something about not judging...He meant do not write people off as to who is or isn't worthy of the Kingdom of God and salvation in Christ. We don't have that kind of authority. It's not up to us to decide who's worthy of Heaven and who should go to Hell. 

In this very same train of thought...Jesus teaches about righteousness judging of others by the fruits. Not casting the pearls of God's wisdom before those who are only out to destroy it.  

Do you seek to learn from your time in your Bible? It IS the Spirit's textbook for you. The basis of where salvation that you hopefully understood came from. 

Many don't read their Bible because it involves learning what the honest truth of God's word really says about sin and His definition of it.

If they don't read then they think they'll get away with things before Jesus.  

Doesn't work that way.  

The Spirit can and does still bring conviction. But you must choose to recognize that. 

Jesus wants doers of the Word and not just hearers only. His crowd then is the crowd now. Vast amounts of people hearing but not doing the Word of God. 

That's another element of our therefore today. 

Do you believe that anyone will ever get away with their definition of a good person or a good life over what God's Word says it is to be?

We're to become more like Christ. This is going to mean letting go of things that need to go. Regardless of how the world around us perceives it.

His therefore is there for us to really think about how we are really. Are we really doing the Word? Are we hoarding thoughts, actions, intentions, feelings about anything that's not ever going to grow us in Christ?  

There is no joking around here. 
Never once did Jesus explain sin and its consequences then say to take your time there's no hurry in repenting from it. 

Our world is never going to stop trying to throw Satan's arrows at us. We may be desensitized to many of them but without the shield of faith...how do you plan to keep from being hit? Without the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness. How are you going to defend yourself from this very real very constant threat? 

Satan's schemes are both soft and hard. Soft schemes are those where he has crafted a trap for you that is something you're very interested in. It may be nothing more than a perpetual distraction such as keeping a house clean just in case. It may even be a hobby or a job. It may be sports or other entertainment. Just enough to get you to wrap all your time, energy and effort into...so long as the Word of God isn't used or invoked.  

Think about this particular therefore. There's more there than you probably first thought about isn't there?

Pray about what you're wrapping yourself up in that you are thinking you want in your life. Are you absolutely sure these things are honoring God?  

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 never fear only trust and obey. Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus...but to trust and obey.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation. 

Friday, January 3, 2025

Not Our Time, Always His Time

Not Our Time, Always His Time 
by David Brenneman 

"Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.” 2 Chronicles 19:7.

"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.” But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:15-20. 

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16.

How often do you really consider yourself before God? How often do you weigh your motives between what you want versus what you know God wants of you?

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Matthew 6:19-24.

These events that you are very intentional about plugging into your life...these choices that you make where you don't even look at Jesus to see if He approves or not...are they worth it in His scheme of things for you?

How often have you went with the world in a decision to include someone or something in your life that God's Word is absolutely against?

It starts with peer pressure as a child and the process to desensitize you concerning the ways of the world. Training you in your upbringing and education to believe and accept things that are against the Word of God both for you and the world. 

When someone comes to Christ...there's a life more abundant to be had...but we need to live in obedience to see it.

Living in the past won't achieve it. 
Always finding ways to be busy regardless of no necessity to be busy won't achieve it.
Embracing facets of humanity that only appear to be safe and harmless...without first asking God...won't achieve it. 

"Oh its harmless! I'm not hurting anyone!" always hurts someone: you.

Raging against others all because of the status quo says to isn't Biblical.  

There's nothing harmless in ridiculing others. There is nothing harmless is disobedience to the Word of God: the person most impacted is you.

In 2025 what are you going to do to be serious about your walk with Jesus more than you were in 2024?

When Jesus took the Disciples away from others...it was to be with Him...not to fill that time with arbitrary things. 

Our lives are not our own. We were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  

Isn't that reason enough to behave accordingly? Isn't that enough to realize that we need to live out our salvation?

When you look at what you have planned even for today. Is Jesus in it beyond asking Him to bless the food? How are you going to look Him in the eye when the deeds done in your life are examined?

As Joshua once said...so do you say as well?

"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.
It does take work, effort, on the part of Believers to live out the Christian life before men and women. What would you rate your effort on a scale of 1 to 10?  

Is your life a list of have to do's? 
Is your life a list of need to gets?
Is your life really about living a life in such a way that people see your good works and glorifying your Father in Heaven?

The time we are given by the grace of God isn't ours. It's His. What are you really doing to live it that way?

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation. 

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Our Time to Spend? Hardly

Our Time to Spend? Hardly.
by David Brenneman

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.
- Charles Wesley 1739

… I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me
I see His wounds, His hands, His feet
My Saviour on that cursed tree
… His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid Him down in Joseph's tomb
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone
… O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
… Then on the third at break of dawn
The Son of heaven rose again
O trampled death, where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King
… O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
… He shall return in robes of white
The blazing sun shall pierce the night
And I will rise among the saints
My gaze transfixed on Jesus' face
… O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
… O praise the Name of the Lord our God
O praise His Name forevermore
For endless days we will sing Your praise
Oh Lord, oh Lord our God
… Oh Lord, oh Lord our God

-O Praise The Name (AnĂ¡stasis)
Song by Hillsong Worship

It's an amazing thing to wake up to the remembrance of a Promise Keepers event.  We were late getting there due to traffic I believe and so were others evidently.  We get there to find there had been technical difficulties so they hadn't started yet.  We walked into a stadium where singing to fill the time...over 15,000 men were singing "Praise Him! Praise Him!" with no music.

That moment brought to mind the hymn that I copied for you to read.  Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise!  In a moment of time I got to experience that.

Yesterday I began a new kind of reading plan.  In the evenings I am reading through the Bible. Starting January 1st I began reading it in two versions of the Bible.  NASB and CSV.  I have always strongly held to the NASB due to accuracy and the CSV that I have is a Spurgeon Study Bible. 

Truth be known for all of us...it will never hurt a single human being to spend a little more time with Jesus in their Bible.  If people can willingly waste time watching a television or going to the movies they, by that accepted definition, have that much time that can be spent learning from God's Word.

I was reading in 2 Chronicles 17 of King Jehoshaphat.  King Jehoshaphat gathered the known prophets of his day to go throughout the kingdom teaching the book of the law to the people. 

In decades past the Bible used to be taught in schools as both a moral compass and history.

In both these historically accurate accounts...the peace of God descended upon the land and the people.

In both these very same examples...in time both stopped and history recalls the grave perils that came from negligence.

The peace of God comes from the obedience of God in Christ Jesus.

What's more?  He's looking to see if you and I are...all the time...365 24/7. 

"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 2 Chronicles 16:9a.

What say you now concerning how little time you spend with Jesus? 

Ironically the defense of anyone given today on Earth wouldn't stand up in the Earthly courts let alone the Court of the Living God!

We are without excuse.  If our allegiance to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ really was as rock solid as we claim it to be...why do we eagerly spend so much time away from anything to do with Him?

Why must there even be a single excuse?  Nothing is more important than time spent with the One who bled and died for me...or you.

Going into 2025...forget resolutions.  Recommit to the life in Christ that you came to receive from God in Christ Jesus.  Less of you and more of Him in your life.

The world will think you're crazy.
The world will get mad at being put in less than 2nd place.  You will cost them time and money because  you won't be wasting your time storing up treasures here on Earth where moth and rust destroy.

Knowing that Jesus IS watching will this make a difference to you?  The Scriptures say that He never slumbers nor sleeps. 

Knowing this...does that make a difference to you? 

Knowing that your time with Jesus adds to the material making up that crown of righteousness that you will some day give back to Jesus...is this beginning to be more important to you?

While I make a living 40 hours a week...I still need my time with Jesus to truly live and to store my treasures in Heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy.  Time with Jesus prepares us for those conversations with people He brings to us to find that very same salvation we received from God.  Time with hours worth of sports and other forms of entertainment will never do that.  Millions of people gladly spend thousands per year on "their" teams, their entertainment and hundreds of hours watching...yet won't spend an hour in a Bible preaching Bible teaching church.  Won't at all consider giving money or time to the same said church. 

We hinder the work of the Spirit of God in us when we're not ingesting the Word of God or true time in prayer with our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Consider your ways says the Apostles.  Reaffirm your walk with Jesus in 2025.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face...and the things of Earth will grow strangely dim...in the light of His glory and grace...

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead 
by David Brenneman 

“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19.

We assume much when we think we have enough time and information. We do not know what's possible when complete obedience to God's Word comes to the for.  

We are often very blind to those things that have been traps for so long because we're convinced or have been taught those things we're accepted aren't traps at all. 

Going into 2025 I know that things are about to get real, as the saying goes.  

Something about this particular year says to me that significant things are going to be happening.  

"but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

How much have you missed out on because less than second best looked really good to you?

Trust the Word of God, don't look at me, or the person you see in the mirror. 

Life isn't what you do around the house. It's not the job we leave home to go do or the job done at home if you work from home.  

Your life is defined by your relationship with Jesus and no one or nothing else. Period. 

The works of your mind, soul, spirit should be aimed at the righteous life that God desires for you. Not the things that are of this world.  

The enemy of God comes to steal and to destroy. What is it that he's seeking to destroy in you? Your relationship with Jesus. It's the only thing that matters to Satan after someone comes to Christ for salvation. To those as yet unsaved his aim is to keep them in darkness. 

But oh you who claim the name of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior...his sights are set on any little thing that he's allowed to do to entice you away from the full life in Christ that's the desire of God for you.
Satan's not wanting anyone who's saved to succeed at the Christian life. Satan's not wanting anyone to seek the Lord with all their heart. Satan's not wanting you to give of your best as unto the Lord. 

But...the choice to believe these things rests with you. 

Your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your past is the past.  

Don't be so sure you understand your life as is appears to be in the here and now. 

Seek the Lord while He may be found.  

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14.

This passage isn't only for the perceived spiritual elite. There's no such thing as them. 

You have a calling in Christ and you are to be seeking out what it is in order to have a life hallmarked in obedience...to be able to give a crown of righteousness back to Jesus for all He's done for you. 

As you ponder the road ahead...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. 

Press on in Christ. Get rid of the wasted time wasted efforts that aren't adding to that crown of righteousness.  

Step into 2025 with the right mindset in Christ.  

For me changes are starting today. 
Risks will be taken in order to be more successful in my walk with Jesus. Whether people agree or not. Life isn't between me against the world. Life is my keeping up with Jesus and His purpose for my life in this world. 

It's all about perspective. It's not about cooking, cleaning, or whatever you put your hands to. It's what you put your heart and mind to. Your heart and mind are what the enemy of God wants to influence. He wants nothing to be given to Jesus as a crown of righteousness.  

Hello 2025...goodbye 2024...let's get this done.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.