Open Your Eyes and Really See

Open Your Eyes and Really See 

by David Brenneman 

“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will. Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:32-51.

"So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Do return, O Lord; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants." Psalms 90:12-13.

It's hard for some to accept the truth of God even as Believers I think. Some may say that the sense of urgency to proclaim the gospel of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ isn't as urgent as it appears to be.  

We can easily fall into complacency much as those being written to in the Bible. We can think that His return is far off in the future when the truth is it CAN be any day...when it IS going to happen any day now.

It's oh so easy to get swept up in the moment and not put much effort into the learning we're to be engaged in by the Spirit of God.  

There once was a cartoon of a Grandpa being asked by his Grandson why he read his Bible so much. The response was he was studying for his final exams. 

God the Father left the Spirit here to teach and I have to wonder if He's a frustrated Teacher! Students who don't listen or try to listen. Thinking they have enough of life figured out and aren't paying attention in class. 

They go about their lives claiming to be Believers yet don't try to live out the Christian life. They may go to Church but don't open up their Bible on their own time to learn or get to know Jesus themselves. 

Nobody knows exactly when Jesus will return...yet oh so many thousands and thousands of people live life like it wouldn't be today.

Jesus Himself said "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.".

Before He left the command was given to make more disciples teaching them all that He commanded them. 

Jesus said that it was good that He was going because the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would come and teach them all things. 

Are you studying? Are you seeking to learn what you can from the Spirit of God? Do you put other things before your time with Jesus?

Are you ready for that day and hour of which can be at any time now?

Are you only taking in the Word of God when you're at Church?  

If so, do you think so little of what Jesus did for you? Is your respect for your Teacher that low?  

In Malachi we read of how little respect the people and leaders had for the Lord. They were rebuked for it. Would you be?

All I once held dear, built my life upon

All this world reveres and wants to own

All I once thought gain, I have counted loss

Spent and worthless now, compared to this

… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

… Now my heart's desire is to know You more

To be found in You and known as Yours

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All-surpassing gift of righteousness

… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

… Oh to know the power of Your risen life

And to know You in Your sufferings

To become like You in Your death, my Lord

So with You to live and never die

… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

… Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

… I love You, Lord

"Knowing You" Graham Kendrick 

Will you be shocked or overjoyed in that instant in the twinkling of an eye that we are found to be in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Jesus had a lot to say in the opening chapters of the book of Revelation about lukewarm Christians. None of it was good.  

Getting warm by being around Christians isn't it. Living by Christian principles isn't it.

A real relationship with Jesus is what's it. A relationship where we learn from the Spirit to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Ready to leave when He calls, found by Him to be doers of the word and not just hearers only who delude themselves. 

How do you look at your life now?

Got some things to change? Priorities to redo? Good. 

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

YOU Don't Know...You SHOULD Be Prepared

YOU Don't Know...You SHOULD Be Prepared 

by David Brenneman 

“Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." Matthew 24:32-44.

I read these words this morning right after reading in Isaiah, interestingly enough, also talking about prophecies of the last days. 

We all get hyped when someone we haven't seen in a while says they're stopping by. We all get excited when an unexpected event happens that's more than we thought possible really did happen and brings us great joy. At home we probably go on a cleaning streak in record time before these special people show up. Maybe try to arrange a special dinner or snacks n coffee or tea. 

Our excitement at the return of Jesus Christ for us, those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, should rank up there with those sentiments. 

But why doesn't it? 

Why does several hours in a novel not bother us a bit but reading a chapter or book in our Bibles seems dreary?

Why is it oh so easy to change plans at the last minute to go to a game but more often than not we struggle to go to Church on a Sunday morning for the same amount of time?

Why is it tithing seems so incredibly difficult yet we can plunk down $20 or more at a restaurant just because someone suggested that it's a good idea?

Why aren't we respecting the Word of God more than we do? In Malachi you read of the beginnings of the mess Jesus dealt with in His ministry. The beginning of the Pharisees and Sadducees. People who in that book were called out by Jesus for their apathy and disrespect for Him. People who were only showing outward signs of following the Lord but inside they had forgotten all about what following God was all about. 

Look in the mirror...Malachi is today's world too. We can easily show the same signs in our lives.

Getting more excited over a football game and team than we do about Jesus working in the lives of people or of His pending return. 

Getting more excited about people or vacations than spending time with Jesus on a personal level. 

Showing great disregard for tithing. But making sure we have a nicer than needed car or a big screen television. Making sure we spend hours getting clothing or hair styles and nails done but neglecting a life in Christ that we're to be living.  

Neglecting, forgetting, that our Savior and Lord is GOING to keep His promise and come back to take us home. 

As a child I used to spend many weekends at my Grandparents house. I would know what was coming and get all packed to go with great anticipation. Waiting for my Pappy Brenneman to come around the corner to our house to pick me up. There was once a time when I gathered now that he had a rough day and forgot me. I was waiting and waiting. Looking both ways up and down the street. I learned later that my Mom called out and asked if he'd forgotten.

Do you have your priorities in order?

Are you holding back, from what God gave you, for you and haven't shown respect enough to God to tithe? Have you disrespected Jesus enough to neglect Him in your daily life? No excitement that you're about to enter His Throne Room in prayer?  

Someone once said that you make time for whatever you think is important to you.  

If you aren't, then my Dear Reader, you don't think that much of your salvation in Christ Jesus. The Author and the Perfector of your faith. The One who lived a perfect life and went through horrors unimagined to die in your place on a cross. Who endured the agony of death for all mankind including you and arose again 3 days later victorious over sin, death and the grave.  

Are you thinking differently yet?

Are you looking around at your possessions and see just what took the joys that really belonged to God?  

Are you beginning to rethink just how you're going to appear to be should this very hour or day be when He returns?

What good are personal successes that have nothing to do with being who you were meant to be in Christ? 

What good are experiences you crave that will do nothing towards growing in Christ? 

"I deserve..." is the beginning of leaving Jesus behind and lowering His worth in your life. 

When will you really give Jesus what He deserves? Honor, respect, love, joy and all the rest?

Don't think you're really appeasing your conscience by tithing very little yet spending much on yourself.  

"Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: 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 many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21.

There's no premeditation in my writings each day unless God starts a kernel of a post a day earlier. So if any post makes your toes hurt from being stepped on...good.  

Are you really giving Jesus the honor and respect He deserves from you?

Are you really looking forward to the day He comes back for you?  

Is there anything you're doing in life that isn't truly honoring God?

It has to have been the work of the Spirit of God in me when I had the notion of reading the same passages in several Study Bibles at the beginning of January. Then it was like the Spirit pushed me farther to go from the idea of 2 to 4.

It's been amazing! I never learned how to study and had been praying on how to. Then this happened. 

I am excited about the return of Jesus Christ for me and all who believe. I want my life to be found by Him at His return ready for to be with Jesus. 

Do you? Are you thinking differently about what your real priorities are rather than what you tell yourself and others that it is?

"For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." - Jesus 

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

Lawlessness on the Rise...Now

Lawlessness on the Rise...Now

by David Brenneman 

"Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. " Matthew 24:1-14.

"a state of disorder due to a disregard of the law.

"the country's descent into lawlessness"" the dictionary's definition of lawlessness. 

Right before our very eyes we see lawlessness increasing...and by way of the ordered restraint by law and law enforcement...it's been allowed.   

There's no end of security footage showing flash mob groups raiding stores. I saw one the other day where this woman with a cart full of merchandise she was trying to steal was threatening to call the police because the store locked the doors and wouldn't let her steal the stuff. 

It's increasing. Just as Jesus said. 

Paul talks to Timothy about these times yet future to them but is out present day. 

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

We watch videos in people's homes where children destroy with reckless abandon because they didn't get what they wanted for Christmas.  

In some states in the United States, companies have been telling employees not to go after shoplifters. In other states police won't arrest someone unless the dollar amount of the theft is over a certain obscene amount. Literally lawlessness is legally allowed up to $900!

People aren't being lawless in only thefts. They are in even their protesting. Blocking common roads and highways.  

In the workplace people's feelings are more important than productive work.  

Parents attempt to train up their children in the right ways and the school system has the authority to remove the child from the home. The schools have the right to alter a child's sexual orientation in some places without being required to tell the parents. 

Lawlessness is increasing. 

The Bible says to beware of those who call good, evil and evil, good.

We certainly have earthquakes and famines in various places. Because of the huge lean on logistics in production for supply and demand there's food shortages. There's no surplus. Wiping out whole farms in the process.  

We certainly have wars and rumors of wars. Others start before current ones end.

It's a common understanding among many Godly Preachers that there's nothing left to need to happen before Jesus is going to return. 

Nothing. 

At any day, hour, minute or second we could be ushered into the presence of Jesus Christ. In the mere seconds that pass for the rest of mankind after that chaos will be rampant everywhere and the world will cry out for someone to lead them out of that darkness. The antichrist will be revealed.  

We shake our heads at the "stupid" thefts of "porch pirates". We see dash cam video's of thefts even with moving vehicles like something out of Hollywood. We see brazen robberies in broad daylight. Sex trafficking is among the highest crimes committed. Either those perpetrating these things are that good or law enforcement is either involved or ordered to not get involved. 

Fears from not so long ago are still with people today. Stories are circulating of the intentionality of legally killing off people to reduce the global population.  

Lawlessness.

The hope of the world yet still rests in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. 

The chaotic world around us is of no surprise to Jesus. Regardless of your point of view...Jesus is calling His shot in this passage. He's telling all how it is going to be and when you read the underlying statement...He is orchestrating events to bring about that result. 

Every single person will be without excuse before Jesus. Every single type of reason will be exhausted for rejecting Jesus to be someone's Savior and Lord. 

Even our so-called trusted news sources are legally required to lie to the American people at the request of the Government. In the United States this was made legal under the Obama Administration. 

My Dear Reader today...even now...be sure of your salvation in Christ Jesus. While the one who restrains in still doing so, that is the Spirit of Truth, we must strive to live Godly lives in Christ Jesus to show people the way to salvation. 

We know not the day nor the hour of His return. We know that Jesus keeps every single promise He's ever made. He promised to come back on that day and hour set by His Father. 

All that the world holds dear and wars to own is nothing compared to knowing Jesus. All this lawlessness is doing is certainly hastening the coming of the Son of God. While potentially terrifying its part of the stage being set for the Church of God in Christ Jesus to go home while those who rejected Him face the judgment of God. 

Lawlessness will not win the day. 

It will increase but will not win.

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

By God's Design

By God's Design

by David Brenneman 

"After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone." Matthew 14:23.

"Social media sites, texting, email, the Internet, 24 hour news cycles on radio and television--it's almost impossible to find a place to be alone with your own thoughts. And if you do find yourself in a silent place, it's only because you turned off or left behind those devices that are designed to keep you occupied with "critical" information around the clock. 

The information you receive from God and His Word is more important than anything else you might hear. As your Creator Heavenly Father, God wants to meet you in a quiet place.

Turn off the distractions and meet alone with the Father who waits for you." David Jeremiah 'Walking with God".

How often do you really stop to be alone with Jesus? How often is it really of importance to you? Beyond asking Him to bless the food you're about to eat. Beyond those moments when the unexpected happens and in a flash your life passes before your eyes and you cry out to Him. 

Why oh why is hours on devices more important to most people these days? I admit I scroll through Facebook to keep up mostly with family and friends. Mainly because that's where whatever is to be known is found. My use outside of this is learning even more than what's in the news.  

There's no end to drama skits where a so-called young adult is cut off from their phones and they literally break down because of the withdrawal. Some of those are actually real life examples.  

In homes smart TV's are taking over. Might as well say these are the super mega smart phones.  

I have been intentionally adding more time in my life for God and its starting to bear fruit. A peace that I can't explain is happening.  

In many homes, whether believed or not, technology in its various forms, it now the new altar of the house. 

People willingly take the joy and happiness they won't share with Jesus and offer it to a television. Hours spent there and it crushes them to give mere minutes to pray before Jesus. 

We have a couple of televisions but I really couldn't tell you when they were last turned on. They aren't central in any room they are in.  

How do you view time alone with your Savior and Lord?

If your devices were cut off from your life what would you be doing instead? When you really consider that when it will be, not if it might be, tested by the fires of God's truth...will your life turn to ashes? 

"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there." Mark 1:35.

Here's where the rubber meets the road. Are you as intentional with your quiet time with Jesus as you are with other things outside of work and taking care of your family?

I have delved into many instructionals online. Many many books on various subjects to learn things because I have a desire to know how things work or if I might use them to create something new. In my younger years I was heavily into science fiction. Today I wonder if there's more that I could be doing with my Savior and Lord than I am currently doing.  

The worst thoughts we entertain are those that feed our selfish sin nature. You don't think that cravings and indulgent thoughts aren't being crafted just for you? Satan's schemes are all about you being separated from God in Christ Jesus. Either by way of his attempts to prevent you from salvation in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sins or by way of preoccupation to keep you from growing in Christ. His battle plan isn't complicated its just so blatantly obvious that people don't want to believe it. They foolishly believe they're making their own decisions. They disregard peer pressure. Disregard the subliminal messages in advertising. Disregard those moments when they let their guard down and will pay for those choices for the rest of their lives. 

No it has nothing to do with fate. Our choices to obey God's Word or not to are laid at our own feet.  

Our choices to be with the things of this world or with Jesus are laid at our own feet. 

Our choices display for ourselves and the world around us as to who is more important...our wants, wishes and desires or those of whom we call Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

When you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life...

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10.

...what will your life show?  

What's good, honest and true that was sown into your life by way of your relationship with Jesus will survive the fires of truth. Every single thing that wasn't will turn to ashes. Shame and regret will be what comes next. 

"For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light." Colossians 1:9-12.

It's by God's design and His desire to have a personal relationship with you. Adam and Eve, before the fall, walked and talked with Jesus in the Garden of Eden. Jesus often got away to be with His Father in Heaven. Jesus commanded His Disciples to go and make more disciples...teaching them all that He commanded them. Among those things is intentional time with Jesus and God the Father.

It's not too late. Start today!

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

Evidences of the Rejection

Evidences of the Rejection 

by David Brenneman 

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of 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 over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." Romans 1:18-32.

Many have lived and died raising a fist at the God of all Creation claiming to want or having wanted proof to satisfy them concerning the reality of God.  

Yet within their own selves, their way of living, their behaviors, the very same God of all things said there's your proof. Your prideful, self-centered, egotistical, arrogant, self-serving lives give credence to where you stand before the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus said that we would know people by their fruits. What does that mean? You go up to an apple tree and know it's an apple tree because apples are growing on it. You go into a forest and look at the leaves of a tree and know what is an oak tree and what is a maple tree. You stop by a pond and gaze in the waters and see things swimming about and know they are fish. You know people by their fruits. You know a kind person by how they are towards others and maybe yourself. You know a person's in a foul mood by their fruits...how their face is, the words or lack of words spoken. The set of their shoulders...be it defiant or slouching in defeat. You know by their fruits.  

Way too many people want to claim that you shouldn't make such assertions. I do what my Savior says instead...investigate to know people by their fruits. Jesus said to not cast your pearls before swine. That is to know people by their fruits in order to not waste what's valuable to God upon people who are going to turn around and attack you for it.  

Many people, because of their sin nature...that is the evidences of their embraced sins, choose to reject the facts about God in Christ Jesus. It's a choice of theirs.  

People listen to the calling of Jesus Christ to be saved or they listen to the devil and stay away.  

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23.

It's not fruits plural fruit singular. An apple has very distinctive flavors, colors, aromas, physical attributes yet all together in that combination it is an apple. 

Another fruit of rejection: "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” Matthew 15:11.

What's in your heart comes out of your mouth. If your words are constantly laced with profanity all the time then your heart is a trash heap, a barren wasteland...that's a fruit of a heart set against God.  

While everyone is susceptible to the occasional swear word, a life where that's completely acceptable and never feels remorse over it is a life that's rejecting God. 

Look at the other fruits...being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

This world is not improving with regards to morality. The only moral standard belongs to God. We may increase in knowledge...yet another significant sign of God with regards to His return...we aren't improving as the human race is concerned. 

Jesus said His return would be like the days of Noah. Everyone completely self-centered, prideful, egotistical, brutal, haters of good...you just read that list. Paul wrote something similar to Timothy.  

We are living in those days right now. Regardless of worldly idealism the world isn't getting better. There's no atmospheric changes except this world preparing for Jesus to come back. 

There will be a 7 year Great Tribulation upon this planet that is unparalleled in all human history. 

Billions will die in a matter of days...several times in that 7 years. Those going through it rejecting His pleas to be saved...because yes people will still be saved during that time...shake a fist at God will suffer the wrath of God.  

My Dear Reader...you cannot understand or know the real truth about God in Christ Jesus until you stop rejecting His free gift of salvation. Until you stop rejecting Him you're never going to know the truth that will set you free from sin and death. A choice not to accept that free gift of salvation is a full rejection of it. Those who reject it will never see Heaven. Only the gates of Hell await such people. 

Salvation is but a prayer away. To have Jesus be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life is a simple thing to do. 

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

What do your fruits say about you? Do they bear witness that Jesus is your personal Lord and Savior or do they say you're living for yourself?

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

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.

Thro' death into life everlasting,

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion--

For more than conqu’rors we are!

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.

His Word shall not fail you--He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

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.

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" 1922 Helen Howarth Lemmel.

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

The Things that are God's

The Things that are God's 

by David Brenneman 

"Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away." Matthew 22:15-22.

How often do you really stop to think about why you do what you do? What's the 'why' behind the things of this world that have your mind and in many ways your heart?

Does the God of Heaven come into the picture of your life outside of remembering to ask Him to bless the food you're about to eat and heal those you know at dinner time?

Are you in a relationship with Jesus to which your prayers are heartfelt or are you updating Jesus on what He already knows like a business meeting?

Is spending time with Jesus something you look forward to or is it a chore that you're afraid to call a chore because of who it is?

Are you more than happy spending time elsewhere rather than in your Bible? Can give yourself hours of television, movie or game time, but the idea of a half hour with Jesus seems like a drag?

Jesus whom took on the sins of all mankind in our place and paid the penalty for our sins so that we might become the righteousness of God to spend eternity with Him...yes that Jesus. 

What do your days look like? How much of it is really you trying to fill in the day to keep from thinking?

How does Jesus really fit into your life?

Do you really live for Jesus and are seeking to grow in Christ or are you treating Him like a book on a shelf you sometimes remember is there?

What you render unto God will be shown when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life before Him. Jesus eluded to the truth that great shame will envelop many many people on that day. Will you be one of those people?

I started into this year wanting more. As the hymn says so became my thoughts. "More About Jesus" E. E. Hewitt 1887.

More about Jesus would I know,

More of His grace to others show;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

More, more about Jesus,

More, more about Jesus;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,

More of His holy will discern;

Spirit of God, my teacher be,

Showing the things of Christ to me.

More, more about Jesus,

More, more about Jesus;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

More about Jesus in His Word,

Holding communion with my Lord;

Hearing His voice in ev'ry line,

Making each faithful saying mine. 

More, more about Jesus,

More, more about Jesus;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

More about Jesus on His throne,

Riches in glory all His own;

More of His kingdom's sure increase;

More of His coming, Prince of peace. 

More, more about Jesus,

More, more about Jesus;

More of His saving fullness see,

More of His love who died for me.

Will the account given of your life be filled with emptiness? Fluff that is consumed by the fires of truth?

People these days are consumed with bigger better. Bigger better televisions. Bigger better game systems. Bigger better sports teams. Anything to keep the dollars that go with the interest of people. 

When will God, in Christ Jesus, get your bigger better? When will you find yourself adding more time with Jesus rather than less?

My challenge to myself on January 1st was to read 2 different Study Bibles. From reputable Godly Men of course. In this last few weeks that more than doubled. I am now reading 4 Bibles and all their study notes. It's been an amazing thing! 

The MacArthur Study Bible, the David Jeremiah Study Bible, the Life Principles Study Bible of Dr. Charles Stanley, and the Spurgeon Study Bible with notes from Alistair Begg.   

I'm not saying this to brag but rather to merely say that more indeed is better. I read the same chapters in all 4 which helps me think about them more as well as all the notes.  

Praying on my way to work is an always thing for me too. Thanking God for getting me through my day at the end of work as well.  

No this isn't bragging it's merely showing what my priorities are.  

Do you like hearing someone telling you "Well done!"? That's what I am hoping to hear from Jesus when it's my turn to give an account of my life before Him.   

I don't always get life right but His promises say to me that He's still there to help me work on it...to try to get it right. 

There's no mediator between a Believer and Jesus. Our hearts can be poured out right there in His Throne Room. Right at His feet. 

Are the things of your life about you or about Jesus? Is He getting the best of you or less than the leftovers?  

What's that? What about all the stuff you accumulated that goes with what you've been really doing? Get rid of it. The Biblical response was and is to cast it away from you. 

So what hundreds or thousands of dollars were spent on those things. Do you not think the blessings of God can't take care of that? Many Kings of the Old Testament took those things that would draw people from the Lord and ground them into a powder. Whatever you need to do just do it. Selling it isn't necessarily the right thing when the Spirit says to get rid of it. 

Render unto God the things that are God’s. Get rid of whatever has really been keeping you from the true blessings of God in Christ. 

In reality all of you belongs to God. All your heart, all your soul and all your mind...and everything you own. 

What is your account of your life going to reveal? Ashes or a crown of righteousness? Your choices decide which it will be. 

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

From Israel to the Churches

From Israel to the Churches 

by David Brenneman 

“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet." Matthew 21:33-46.

The arrogance of these Jewish leaders is incredible. Beginning back in even Zechariah's days and all throughout the quiet years between the Old and New Testaments the Pharisees and Sadducees were misleading the people to their own benefit. 

A very good take away of this is tied to what Paul wrote about it.

"But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” Romans 11:17-27.

Pride is a slow creeping disease. 

Pride doesn't move in ways easily discernable in the moment. There are times when it strikes like a serpent, other times it takes generations.  

To read of the Kings in the books of Chronicles you see a lot of pride.  

In this day in Israel, Jesus spoke the parable, however it was the Father who revealed the true meaning to them. Understanding came from the Father towards the Disciples so it is consistent to think this is what happened here.  

As Paul was writing...consider this ourselves. Not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Nobody in the Church has arrived either. Several on the mega-church front have given the world this impression.  

Jesus on at least one occasion told the Jewish leaders to do the deeds of Abraham. They indeed proved they loved the darkness rather than the Light.  

This world wants your mind set on your work of your hands. Wants your mind to dwell anywhere but in the Word of God. Wants your limited storage space in your mind to be packed with useless facts and information rather that what will grow you in Christ.  

The Church is to be "a people, producing the fruit of it".

The Church should be producing fruit of the vine we were grafted into. He is the vine we are the branches. Jesus said in reference to this that apart from Jesus we can do nothing. 

The very deeds done in our bodies for Christ Jesus are the only things that eternally matter. Another temptation of Satan is to get Believer's to devalue their contributions to the Kingdom of God. To devalue their time so as to cause disinterest among the body of Christ in growing in Christ. 

To even do as the Pharisees and Sadducees did with creating things to do and believe that having absolutely nothing to do with growing in Christ. Causing stumbling blocks to those who do believe as well as keeping others from the saving knowledge of God in Christ. Just as these Jewish leaders did. 

Believer's are under the careful watch of the enemy of God. The Scriptures say that he accuses the Brethren night and day. He brings accusations against YOU before Jesus. Yes Y O U.

Every single Believer has an important part of the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. We really do. 

We were taught to pray "thy kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven". Well the kingdom of God was given to the Churches. As part of the body of Christ...we all have a part to fulfill.  

We pray for the return of Jesus Christ. Satan's absolutely not wanting this and is doing everything in his power to delay it.  

Those of the Church are either helping him or obeying God.   

Looking at the lives of Nicodemus and others that same statement applied to the Jewish leaders.  

Have you asked Jesus what He wants of you today? If indeed you are saved there is something for you to be doing. Might be great or something small. But inactivity isn't a part of the true Christ-follower. 

Take time today to look at the motivation of your heart. Serving Jesus or serving you. Growing in the branches for which you are a part of or looking to be pruned for lack of engagement. 

The Church needs to be the Church that the Father intended it to be.

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

Ask to Receive Your Own Sight, Your Ears to Hear

Ask to Receive Your Own Sight, Your Ears to Hear 

by David Brenneman 

"And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” Mark 4:9-12.

"And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” Matthew 21:14-16.

Assuming that you know and truly knowing aren't the same thing.

Many will claim in the day of judgment to have been good people who knew Jesus. His response was to depart from Me for I never knew you.  

They only thought they had illumination towards understanding and only heard what they wanted to hear and thought that was enough. 

A life in Christ comes from our coming to Jesus for salvation and then He breathes new life into us. Only then do spiritual things happen. Only then do spiritual eyes open and spiritual ears hear.

Assuming has its own modern explanation of what it is. However, the dictionary defines assuming or to assume as: suppose to be the case, without proof. Assuming, the adjective, is connected to arrogance and being presumptuous. 

Those who think they see well enough or believe that being near Christian people will enrich their own lives by some form of osmosis are going to wake up in Hell if they do not truly come to Christ for salvation. This way of living is an attempt at entering Heaven by some other means than that of through the cross of Jesus Christ. 

Pride says that such a person is good enough without Jesus. Satan's saying the same thing about himself. Not exactly the kind of company you want to be associated with. 

When someone comes to Christ a new life begins, a future of hope eternal starts. Eyes are opened for the first time, ears hear for the first time. Quite often this can be painful at first because literally a new Believer has never used them before. With the darkness lifted seeing oneself in a completely different light is a very potent experience. In Christ we are a new creation old things are passed away, behold new things have come. 

We are easily deceived when it comes to understanding our world. 

Right now our world is stuck in a high gear when it comes to temptations and sinful opportunities. As odd as this may seem, I do believe that the days of Noah were possibly more technologically advanced than our present life. The thoughts of mankind were evil continually the Bible says. A people who's minds weren't corrupted by solar decay. Who had full use of all their brain power. Yet had turned from the truth of God because they thought they could see and could hear. 

The floods came and Hell began really filling up. Not that Hell can run out of room. Billions of people flooding into a painful torment they've never known. Only then realizing they didn't have eyes to see or ears to hear. 

Jesus said of His return:

"And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”" Luke 17:22-36.

And in Matthew:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." Matthew 24:36-42.

Understand this...Jesus kept His promises of old as written in the Old Testament and came the first time. 

Jesus is going to keep His promise and come once more. 

"Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:11-13.

How presumptuous are you being about how you will be before the Holy Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Are your ears open, do your eyes see? If you can't point to a time in your life where you know that you know that you know Jesus came into your life to save you...please consider making today that day! You just read that no man knows the day nor the hour...straight from Jesus. 

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”" Romans 10:8-13.

In many recorded instances the blind who crossed paths with Jesus cried out for Him to have mercy and to heal them. Don't think for a moment that they only received a physical healing. In their moment they felt and knew a touch of the power of God in Christ Jesus. 

Jesus promised that all who call on Him in faith will not be disappointed.  

Be sure of your salvation. Don't fall for the lies of Satan that you have time. That you can go live it up first. Billions in Hell would testify that they fell for that lie. 

Be sure that Jesus is the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. You can never be so far away that Jesus can't reach you nor low that Jesus can't reach you. No one is above the need for Jesus. 

Jesus is waiting...for you. 

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

Not What You Want But What You Need

Not What You Want But What You Need 

by David Brenneman 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48.

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28.

"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." Romans 12:14.

Kermit the frog sings "it's not easy being green". For those on the receiving end of people mistreating us in any way, verbally or physically, it's not easy to pray for them. 

As far back as Jacob praying for his situation with his brother Esau, we see what can happen when we do pray for those who persecute people. 

Jacob was overwhelmed because his situation was way more than it was when he last saw his brother. Possibly a thousand or so people were going to be impacted by what happens next. He had wives and children and servants to consider.  

His path wasn't going as he'd hoped. Based on his past experience with his brother he expected to have heavy loses if not lose everything should his brother still bear a healthy grudge against him. 

Then...Jacob prayed. He prayed and the Lord Jesus did respond...by changing the prayer, Jacob and the object of his prayer, Esau.  

Praying for others should change us too. We really shouldn't be the same when we realize what we just did. We weren't just speaking or thinking words to communicate our desires to Jesus in Heaven. We come into the very presence of Jesus. We enter His Throne Room. 

Do you realize that? Isaiah entered the Throne Room of Jesus and his life was irrevocably changed. He was fully aware of his sin. Was convinced he would die because he knew the penalty for sin. His sins were taken away, remembered no more. His attitude gained altitude. He wanted to volunteer to be something more that mattered to the Lord. 

You're praying should be changing your views on people and on how to live your life. It's not you reciting a list of wants and desires with a moderate expectation that Jesus will obey you. Right there is why many many people stop praying. Jesus isn't there in prayer to obey you. Sure we're to pray expectantly when we do...but in accordance with the will of God for us in Christ Jesus.  

Laying down our burdens with Jesus. Praying first for what He prayed for which is people. Praying for hearts to change. Praying for people who cross our paths to find Jesus and receive the free gift of salvation. Praying for direction. Jesus prayed for that. 

Praying when discouraged. Right now this is a big one for me. Praying for those we know aren't saved. Every single Believer knows someone who isn't saved. So every single Believer had something to pray for in accordance with God's will for them.  

For me I'm really trying to digest Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principle "Disappointments are inevitable, discouragement is a choice". 

To try to learn more about God's word I'm actually reading the same passages in 4 study Bibles. Trying to learn while I don't understand other things. It really is interesting to see the various points of view that the Spirit had Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. David Jeremiah, Pastor Alistair Begg, Dr. John MacArthur and Charles Spurgeon say on the same thing.  

I pray when discouraged. Several years ago I had a close friend who "got me" with whom I used to talk to a lot. The Lord’s since called him home. It's a struggle not to be discouraged about that. Am still waiting and searching for someone like him to be in my life again.  

I pray about my job. Seems that weekly a new discouraging thing happens with it. What started out with such promise just hasn't been living up to it. So I pray for it for now and a new job.  

I pray for my Wife. While this might seem to be a priority list...she does get prayed for before what you've read so far. The Bible says to pray for our spouse. My Wife prays for me.  

Praying for those who persecute us. This can be challenging. Those who cut us off on the highway. Those cutting in line getting a parking spot. Those who grabbed the last of something at the store. Those who, for their own reasons, yell at us, curse at us, for what we may have done or failed to do or even had nothing to do with. 

The treasure in Heaven are people. 

People in our world are either heading for Hell or Heaven. Only in this world is there any confusion or conflicts on that front. Everyone in Heaven or Hell knows exactly why they are where they are. 

Praying for these actually speeds up the return of Jesus Christ for His Church. I firmly believe that the return will happen after the last person who will say yes to salvation in Christ is saved and joins His Church. Likely they will be like the thief on the cross. No chance to be in a Bible Study nor ever attend Church again if they ever did. The time set by the Father’s own authority I believe is a person.  

It's hard to pray for people who are being less than good in our lives. But we are to. We don't know how far the Spirit is working in their lives. It's a key reason to be on guard for our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. We aren't to let the sun go down on our anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity. Praying does these things to bring a peace that passes all understanding. 

Don't look at what people have done as a reason to not pray for them. Look at the plethora of people who made up Jesus's family tree. Murders, adulterers etc. Jesus prayed for Paul while he was still Saul.  

We show the character of Christ when we are in prayer, praying for what He did. 

Consider your ways as it is written. 

Pray.

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

Words...Yours...have Eternal Weight

Words...Yours...have Eternal Weight 

by David Brenneman 

“Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28-30.

Definition of blaspheme: to speak in a way that shows irreverence for God. To swear, to curse. Take God's name in vain. 

"The word vain (as it's rendered in the ESV) can mean “empty,” “nothing,” “worthless,” or “to no good purpose.” We are forbidden, therefore, from taking the name of God (or taking up the name or bearing the name, as the phrase could be translated) in a manner that is wicked, worthless, or for wrong purposes." - www.crossway.org.

Also: the 3rd Commandment: Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vain.  

There will be no "I didn't mean it that way!" as an excuse before Jesus.  

More so in days gone by, whenever a person's family name was slandered, it was cause for offense and usually meant someone was going to pay.  

Satan's schemes include dilution of the importance of anything to do with everything that God holds as truth.  

There's zero excuse for taking the Lord’s name in vain. None. No act of nature, no act of animal or beast, no act or words of human beings is grounds for such a thing. 

Scripture says that we'll give an account of every careless word that we have spoken. Go further, it's going to cover everything we thought and didn't say out loud. 

The last and final thing would be rejecting the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Treating as worthless the all important work of the Spirit of God in every single person who's ever lived.  

You have the Spirit working in your life. Everyone does because as Jesus said that He came to seek and save the lost. Which is everyone. All who would live between His resurrection until at the last breath of humanity at the final battle mentioned in Revelation. Even people like Stalin, Alexander the Great and Hitler.  

Jesus came to save people. The worst possible offense is to treat His desire to save as worthless. 

To use what's Holy, as in His Name, as a curse word...this is blaspheme.  

Jesus spoke of His Story before it became History. The opening drive, the kickoff, the first shot to the net in declaring to His Disciples what was coming that He would obey His Father and do.

"As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” Matthew 20:17-19. He called it and pulled it off as our Pastor often says. 

Do you have any respect for what's Holy unto God?

Do you off-handedly use His Name in less than appropriate times and in inappropriate ways?

Every single time this is sin.

There's no excuse.

There's no exceptions permitted. 

Centuries ago a single utterance of taking the Lord’s Name in vain was grounds for being stoned to death. 

Sadly as the centuries have passed fewer and fewer people have placed the Word of God as important to truly living a life acceptable to God.

What's important to Jesus isn't important to most of the world. 

Believers often give Christianity a bad name because of their lack of integrity in living a life striving for holiness. It's not just found in the Old Testament of being Holy. It's there in the New Testament as well. Be Holy as He is Holy. 

Another way to view this is to realize that your careless words are never gone from the account you will give before Jesus. Forgiven yes, but they will be a part of what you present to Jesus. They are part of who you are. Just as all the good things are about you. 

Choose your words. An old way of saying this is to measure your words. To measure in carpentry you are advised to measure twice cut once. Be sure before you execute the use of the cutting tool. 

How do you measure your words?

How important is the holiness of God to you?

How are you treating the Name of Jesus? The Name of God the Father? The Name of God the Spirit?

Movies of the decades have heavily relied on swearing to make money. It's just how Satan's being desensitizing people to the power of the Word of God. Television censors have relented in decades past to permit most swearing on prime time viewing. Again to desensitize. To make it so natural that people just accept it as normal. There's nothing natural about trashing the Name of Jesus. 

If you have...it's time to come clean and confess. It's time to put an end to it from your vocabulary.  

An unbeliever makes it worse on themselves and a Believer does themselves no favors by allowing it to be a part of their lives.

How can a Believer treat God's Name in such a way and yet rely on that same Name to save them?

Incredulous but it's happening. 

How much of your life do you treat as Holy? How much of it is done as unto the Lord? How often have you stopped to think that you are to grow into a representation of Jesus to a lost world? You who are saved in Christ Jesus are to have a personal relationship with Jesus. 

Words, once spoken, thoughts once pondered, cannot be taken back. 

As written many times in the Bible...consider your ways!

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

Beware!

Beware!

by David Brenneman 

"Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: 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 many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:15-34.

Are you rich towards yourself or towards God?

Are you concerned about relationships or everything else?

Heavy questions. Having it all can still mean having an emptiness that you cannot fill nor possibly describe. 

Right now, in this very hour, many popular people have lost and are losing all that they possessed in their homes in California. Late last year Hurricane Helene ripped through with such devastation that years will be spent rebuilding. 

These things we treasure on Earth are destined for destruction. Should the Rapture of the Church happen today, 1007 years later...it's guaranteed to be destroyed. 

Many many people try to cheat the aging process and spend thousands daily to achieve some grasp on their youth. 

Vanity of vanities all is vanity says the Preacher in Ecclesiates. 

Many people strive for wealth and possessions...teaching others to do the same...and for what?  

Truthfully...I do not want the burden of excessive wealth. My prayers include getting out of debt...which is right according to the Scriptures. 

Worry chases and worry troubles many a soul.

Worry translates to stressful times. Some of the most expensive trips to the doctor are about treatment of the effects of stress in the lives of people. 

What are we uselessly spending on that isn't Kingdom oriented? 

A man once said that time is money. In circuit board inspection, even a label is considered a part of the board. The time to place it is money spent.  

Your time you have given to you only has so many times around the sun attributed to it.

What are you doing, saying, contributing to, that's considered value-added to the Kingdom of God?

Have you really put your all on the altar or only what you're comfortable with parting with?

Does Jesus deserve your leftovers or your everything?

All the words you read at the beginning of this post were the direct words of Jesus...to you...to me...to everyone. These are among the words that Jesus commanded His Disciples "teaching them all that I commanded you...and lo I am with you always even to the end of the age.".

What's your worry?

More importantly why are you keeping it rather than trusting Jesus with it?

You don't think that He knows what it is? You don't think He already knows why you haven't given it to Him? Isn't it He who searches the hearts?  

The Amish people get mocked a lot. 

However elements of their way of life are extremely beneficial to our everyday life. 

We find a need to fill out time with someone or something. Why is it Jesus isn't the first person that we think of? Why isn't time with Jesus the first thing we want to do?

I have hobbies. But I wonder about keeping them in light of the gospel. Let me explain...did the Disciples have any? From their own mouth it's written that they gave up everything to follow Jesus. Part of the answer Jesus gave is that there's nobody who's given up things in this world who won't receive much more in the Kingdom to come. 

We spend great amounts of time and money honestly trying to avoid time with Jesus. Call it like it is. Say it for what it is. We say we have to do this or that...but in many cases...it's a cover-up. We love to tell ourselves what we deserve. We deserve this time spent on ourselves. We get angry when we do and someone needs something right in the middle of it.

It's food for thought. 

Think about these hours, minutes and seconds that are ticking away in your day today. Am not thinking about tomorrow. Just think about today. How much did Jesus dying for you, and you living for Jesus, is going to cross your mind today when you're planning out your day?

Do you set aside anything for Jesus? If it meant everything to you to get saved...why doesn't it now?

Why are possessions on the top of your list? Why is your hobby more important than the work of God in Christ in your life? Why do you spend your money and time on you rather than taking some of your wealth to bring freedom to others less fortunate than yourself?  

What would a Disciple of Jesus Christ be doing...and teaching others to be doing?

Beware that you're not wrapped up in the priorities of the world. For everyone...health, wealth and prosperity have failed everyone. Drive by a cemetery.

Lives are cut short for obviously seen reasons. Many are because of things unseen by the world at large. They are because in His Sovereignty and His knowledge of all things past present and future Jesus knows when someone isn't going to come to Him for salvation and they're not going to contribute to anything in His plan and purpose for others to come to Christ for salvation. Their rejection of Jesus is so firm that nothing will get through to them. Many people die because their death will be what causes someone to come to Christ for salvation.  

You see your personal relationship with Jesus is everything that's important to Jesus. Those who adamantly reject the free gift of salvation are on borrowed time.  

Everyone in Hell knows exactly why they are there. They are there only because they rejected God's plan for a real relationship with Jesus for them. 

A real relationship with Jesus is more important than everything else in your life. You cannot have real relationships with people if you don't start with a real relationship with Jesus.  

Satan knows all this which is why so many temptations are about distractions to keep the minds of people off of anything to do with a right relationship with Jesus.

A Church that isn't focused on their relationship with Jesus is weak and ineffective to the work of God in the world.

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world wasn't merely a suggestion or just a good idea. 

Beware of the soft traps. 

Beware of made up priorities that sound important but really aren't. 

Beware of taking what belongs to God and giving it to things that are not going to be God honoring. 

Beware of being busy bodies. Running around doing things that have no eternal value. 

Think before you step. 

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

Consequences of Unforgiveness

Consequences of Unforgiveness

by David Brenneman 

"Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35.

There's a personal price to pay for not forgiving those whom God's telling you whom needs to be forgiven. 

You may try to go on with your life but deep down its going to have an impact on you. Denial of this truth isn't going to change anything. Remember God's truth triumphs over all man-made truths.

It's going to chip and nag at you a little bit at a time until a space opens up for a seed of bitterness to gain purchase in.

Denial will sprout from the bitterness as well.  

You're never going to be who you are meant to be in Christ if forgiveness isn't in your vocabulary. 

It's heartbreaking to watch people deny the bitterness and their lack of forgiving others.  

Some say that they can forgive but they can't forget. In this you must choose to. Jesus chooses to forgive your sins and remembers them no more. By not allowing the healing of the Spirit of God in you from true forgiveness you're choosing to keep a hand-hold on bitterness. In reality it means you didn't really forgive after all. 

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32.

You want Jesus to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness don't you?

You want a restored relationship with Jesus don't you?

You want to experience the love of God in Christ Jesus openly and unhindered don't you?

Guess what? Your choices impact that. Among them is forgiving others. Guess what else? Just as this parable says so shall it be with you. If you're not willing to truly forgive and move on as you're asking Jesus to do for you when it comes to others...then there's consequences for you. 

Pride gets in the way of forgiving others. We say things that we think we are justified in saying and then don't know how to handle the embarrassing situation that resulted when God says...forgive them. 

We think we have rights. 

My Dear Reader...we gave up those rights when we came to Christ for salvation. We decided to follow Jesus. Jesus said to His Disciples to go and make more disciples. Teaching them to obey all that He commanded them. Just what do you think you read this morning?

You read some of what He commanded them...which is part of what being a disciple is about.

Jesus said if anyone wishes to follow Him they must take up their own cross and follow Him.  

You can't carry anything while carrying a cross. 

So really consider your ways. The Spirit says to you to consider your ways.  

Jesus said to them in learning how to pray. For give us as we forgive those who trespass against us. 

It's in your hands. 

You must decide to follow Jesus every moment of every day.  

There's consequences to our not forgiving others. The greatest is our relationship with Jesus. 

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

Not so fast...Breaking the Chain

Not so fast...Break the Chain 

by David Brenneman 

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!" Matthew 18:1-7.

Oh the temptations of this world. 

These temptations are indeed stumbling blocks to a rich life in Christ Jesus.  

Our own moral compass with regards to the severity of these is what causes many millions of people to be chained to things that they would have been better off never getting involved with. 

If you can be supremely confident in something being good or bad without at all confirming by the Word of God...you're in trouble. 

The first links of the chain get forged by indifference to how a situation really is. 

"Oh its not that bad!"

"It's not like that! You just don't understand it like I do!"

"What harm is there? I think..."

"It's really harmless..."

Oh you forgot one...

"Did God really say..."

Temptation began with Adam and Eve. Doubt was introduced. A supposed elevated moral compass was used. A single act of disobedience later and mankind would be paying a price until the end of all things.  

"Did God really say..." is the real root cause of all temptations in our world. You don't think that Satan chose his words carefully? Look at the results. He surely did. 

You'll be tempted to call what is blatant idolatry...just a passing fad. Just a hobby of some interest. Just something you're finding enjoyment in. Your valuation of it, that you never compared with the Word of God, nor asked God about, is where you stopped. 

You stopped, in truth, because if you had then it's very likely you wouldn't have participated in.

Satan's schemes are rich in all forms of idolatry. His aim is to get you to replace time with Jesus with anything or anyone else...on terms that you find acceptable. In fact when he gets a hint of you enjoying something you should be wary of he will expend extra resources on it to build more links in the chains to bind you. 

A very very famous movie quote says "You can't handle the truth!".

Truth is people expend great amounts of time and money to avoid the truth. If they throw enough at a pang of regret and shame maybe the feelings will go away.

If they work at their enjoyment of the temptation enough they won't think about the ramifications of it because of course ignorance is bliss.  

Yet, my Dear Reader...all will give an account of their lives before Jesus. 

Nobody escapes that.

Nobody will be offered a chance to present any form of excuse because He already knows your heart. 

If the world is running after someone or something...put the brakes on. 

If Jesus isn't going to be honored by it or through it...seriously reconsider it.

If it's going to at all try to get you to decide on your own without praying about it...avoid it.  

As the saying goes you don't need to attend every argument you're invited to...same goes with temptations in your life. 

"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32.

The Word of God was never meant for us to taylor to our desires and whims. The Word of God is to change us into the character of Christ. Was watching a video clip that I think was from the drama "The West Wing". The President was blatantly misquoting and misusing Scriptures to make his point and try to embarrass and shut down a reporter who did properly quote a passage. 

Satan's going to misquote Scripture. Go reread the passages in the Gospels of when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. 

You do not have to run after every temptation you're being enticed by.

You can, and in most cases, should flee. Which...

"But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.

If indeed you are seeking to live a life in Christ that honors all He did for you...to really 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 your paths straight...means check with Him before proceeding. Do not assume. 

Nor presume.  

If it's consuming your time, energy, effort and money and there's no Godly benefits...question it.

Regardless of worldly opinion.

Remember the world also thinks it's right and God is wrong. 

The world wants you to be all you want to be.  

Remember our opening passage. Woe to those who introduce stumbling blocks. These people will be held to a higher level of accountability before Jesus. They will incur a higher form of judgment. 

Pray on, pray over, pray through before you just step into something or say yes to anything that the world says will make you fit in or make your life more enjoyable. 

How will it look to Jesus?

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