James 3:9-12: "With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh." (NASB)
Just a thought: Forgiveness toward others will always follow as we begin to understand within our heart the awesome unsolicited sacrifice of God's only Son; just to provide to us the bridge of forgiveness in order to restore the intimate fellowship with mankind that He once enjoyed. Yes! Even if no one used that bridge, it was still provided. That selfless '" that loving act of my heavenly Father literally takes my breath away.
Prayer: My Father, my God, how can I hold back an unsolicited act of forgiveness toward another after what You did for me? May it never be! Amen and Amen!
Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (NASB)
Just a thought: When it comes to the Great Commission '" the salvation of souls, it transcends someone's so called territory and/or denomination. It must be a joint effort as a body with Jesus as the head.
Prayer: Father, it is written that we need each other in order to properly function as a body. Can the mouth say to the foot, I have no need of you? Of course not! It is also written that there is consummate unity within the God Head for the salvation of mankind. My Lord and my God, may we begin to see that same selfless unity reflected in Your ambassadors here on earth. Please, do not allow Satan '" the Devil even a small victory over the proclamation of Your glorious Gospel message through any form of division or territorialism within Your Church. Amen and Amen!
2 Thessalonians 2:3: "Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first." (NASB)
1 Timothy 4:1-2: "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron." (NASB)
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: "With all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." (NASB)
Just a thought: The most important end-time sign of God's coming judgment, and then the return of our Lord, can be found within the "Church" at-large. What makes this "Dark Age" different from the past, and absolutely bone-chilling to me, is the fact that this apostasy is happening in the face of the widespread knowledge of God's Word. Whereas, in the past, God's written Word was cut off from the general public. For the first time in human history, we are seeing the confluence '" the fusion of apostasy and blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit (calling evil good, and good evil) not in ignorance, but in the face of knowledge, i.e., the only unpardonable sin. (Note: We're seeing this same scenario take place outside the "Church" as the Gospel is now being preached throughout the world. Again, another very important end-time fulfillment.)
In reference to the apostasy, right now, the fruit that the Church at-large is manifesting is statistically identical to the world, ranging from divorce to pornography. This cannot - it must not stand. Can God's judgment be far off? After reading God's very clear and precise warnings, none of us can afford to be looking to our left or to our right, can we? We must start looking into our own spiritual mirror. Let's look at this logically: Looking at the dreadful statistics of the Church at-large, it cannot always be the other person, can it?
2 Corinthians 13:5: "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you '" unless indeed you fail the test?" (NASB)
The following quote is taken from the Preface of my book, The Portrait of a Christian: "If there was ever a time in the entirety of mankind's history to take the above verse of Scripture seriously '" it is today. In the above portion of Scripture, the Apostle Paul was not speaking to the unbeliever, but he was directly addressing his admonishment (warning) to those who identify themselves as Christians. This is very significant as Paul seemed to be very concerned about the very real possibility that everyone in Corinth who identified himself as a Christian may in fact not be a genuine born-again Christian at all."
1 Thessalonians 5:3-6: "While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." (NASB)
Prayer: My Lord, my Father, through the mirror of Your Word and the warnings of Your prophets, give me the eyes to see my true spiritual condition before it's too late and terminal darkness '" terminal blindness invades my heart. Oh Lord, I clearly see the labor pains of this world all around me, please open the eyes of my heart before destruction '" Your judgment suddenly falls upon me and this world. Wipe the sleep from the eyes of my heart so that I may be alert and sober. For it is written, that today is the day of salvation. In fact, there may be no tomorrow for me, or Your age of grace may suddenly come to an end. Today is the day! Amen and Amen!
Just a thought: This past Sunday night as I was listening to the sermon of a precious brother in my church, I found the Holy Spirit's presence to be so palpable that I just could not stop smiling. His sermon was inspired by his life: Feeling a bit depressed after being subjected to many severe trials within his family, which also made it necessary for him to be away from the pulpit for quite some time now, he recently came to the realization that he needed to regain his intimate walk with God, i.e., return to his first love.
I did not pay much attention to its significance until I received an Email the very next day from a long time friend of this ministry, and a dear brother and friend to me. He is a disabled veteran who told me he was going through a time of depression which he could not shake off; until our Lord spoke a couple of words to him in what seemed like an audible voice. I knew exactly what he meant about an "audible voice," because it happened to me when my Lord called me into His ministry. It has happened to me only once, but if it ever happens to you, you will never be able to forget it.
In essence, the message '" God's words to my dear brother in the Lord were the same as the sermon the night before: Restore your intimacy with Me '" return to your first love. He went on and told me that during the past several months he has been studying hard for an advanced degree in Theology, and yet, he found himself going deeper and deeper into depression. Yes, he was learning much about God, yet at the same time, he was losing his peace and joy.
He wrote specifically to me, because he began to read my book again, The Portrait of a Christian, and he also read a few of his favorite verses from his Bible; as he did, his peace and joy started to return to him. I guess my Lord knew that I also needed a bit of encouragement. I was so blessed to learn that the Holy Spirit was using my book to help restore his intimacy with God (to God be the glory), because I always felt the main purpose for the book that I believe God wrote through me was not to tell people "about" Him, but to bring people back to an intimate knowledge of Him '" to an intimate relationship with Him, i.e., return them to their first love. Again, to God be the glory!
I'm reminded of the Pharisees who knew a lot "about" God, but never really knew Him on an intimate level. Why? Well, perhaps it was because they treated the Word of God as an instrument of study '" an instrument of Theology. But the Word of God is really God's written conversation to/with mankind and it should be treated as such. When you have a conversation with someone, do you study and memorize their words, or do you use it as an opportunity to get to know them? Believe it or not, but God is a someone who wishes for you to get to know Him on an intimate level. God is not an "object" which you need to study and memorize each and every written word as a Theology. Indeed, with that approach the Pharisees could not recognize God's Word in flesh, Jesus. If we Christians want to truly be set free and possess His peace and joy despite our circumstances, we must, through His Holy Spirit who now dwells within, not only walk close to God, but also know and talk with God intimately on a daily basis.
Prayer: My Father, every time I lose my peace and joy may I realize that it is the first warning sign that I need to return to my first love. May Your Holy Spirit help me to know You more intimately every day for the rest of my life here on earth. May Your Holy Sprit also help me to truly understand how precious and intimate the words "my Father" are '" in fact, so precious and intimate it's hard for my heart and head to believe it. Father, thank you for adopting me into Your family through the precious sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Amen and Amen!
Would you like to help this ministry in our outreach effort at no cost to you?
I have few clear static-cling vinyl widow signs for your car's rear window, or for a store front window. The clear vinyl sign measures 2 inches by 14 inches with the following in white letters: SoppMinistries.org
The signs are designed to be placed on the inside of any window, and being made from static-cling clear vinyl they do not impede your view and the sign can be removed and replaced many times so you can easily clean your widows, or just move it to a new location.
If you would like to help in our outreach by placing a SoppMinistries.org sign on your car's rear window, or store front, please Email me with your first and last name, and your current mailing address. (Please specify one or two.) Remember, I only have few left so when I run out '" I run out.
I will not be confirming your request, so if you do not get one in the mail in about three weeks, well, I just want to say thank you for your willingness to help in our outreach.
Psalm 78:20-22: "Behold, He struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams were overflowing; 'Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?' Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath, and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also mounted against Israel; because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation." Psalm 78:41-42: "And again and again they tempted God, and pained the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember His power, the day when He redeemed them from the adversary." 1 Corinthians 10:5-6: "Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved." (NASB)
Just a thought:
After reading the above verses of Scripture, it reminded me of the great and awesome power that our heavenly Father displayed in order to deliver His children (those who accept His salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ) from our ultimate adversary, Satan.
No greater display of power has ever been seen on this earth than when Jesus was raised from the dead after being brutally crucified! No greater miracle has ever taken place on this earth than when we became born-again from within with God's Holy Spirit! No greater display of love has ever been seen on this earth than God offering us His only begotten Son for our salvation! No greater display of a selfless love has ever been seen on this earth than when Jesus willingly gave up His life for our salvation, even as we hurled insults at Him and spit upon Him!
God forbid that we would ever let our circumstances dictate '" cause us to question God's power to deliver us from our adversary; to question God's provision for us; to question God's comprehensive salvation for us; to question God's love for us!
1 Timothy 6:6: "But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment." (NASB)
The closer I get to God, the more profound 1 Timothy 6:6 becomes to me. Truly, truly, godliness is an awesome gain! Truly, truly, I find great contentment in godliness for man does not live by bread alone! Truly, truly, godliness from within is great gain as it confirms my deliverance from this world '" from this Egypt to God's Promised Land, i.e., His Kingdom, i.e., Heaven! Truly, truly, what else do I need? Whether or not I live or die, I thank my heavenly Father for His awesome salvation.
Prayer:
Father, despite my circumstances what can I do, but humbly fall at Your feet and say thank you. Father, despite my circumstances what can I do, but humbly fall at Your feet and give You all my praise. Father, despite my circumstances what can I do, but humbly fall at Your feet and give You all my heart. Father, despite my circumstances what can I do, but humbly fall at Your feet and thank you for Your great and awesome salvation. Father, despite my circumstances what can I do, but humbly fall at Your feet and thank you for Your great and awesome provisions for me.
May my heart '" my lips never bring accusation against Your love, against Your deliverance, or against Your provision through words of complaint. For truly, truly, godliness with contentment is indeed great gain. Amen and Amen!
This week as I was in my quiet time with my heavenly Father I read: 2 Peter 1:5-11: "Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless (uneffective) nor unfruitful (unproductive) in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you." (NASB)
Just a thought: My heart began to weep within me as I considered the state of God's Church at-large. It is undeniable that in every foundational way '" in every meaningful way, the professing Christian Church is statistically identical to this fallen world.
That being the case, and in view of the above Holy Scripture, the questions which came upon my heart were profoundly bone-chilling to me: 1) Is the majority within the professing Church at-large spiritually blind? 2) Is the majority within the professing Church at-large both uneffective and unproductive in the true and intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ? 3) Is the majority within the professing Church at-large even born-again with God's Holy Spirit unto salvation?
How can I answer such eternal '" such ponderous questions? Actually, I don't want to, because I fear '" no, I dread the evitable answer. Yet, I can fervently pray: God forbid!
Prayer: Father, every day help me to have '" to see Your divine qualities within me in ever increasing amounts in my daily life; for I wish to be both effective and productive in the true knowledge of You; for I wish not to stumble; for I wish my entry into Your eternal kingdom to be abundantly supplied unto me. Amen and Amen!
Matthew 10:38-39: "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it." Luke 14:27-30: "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'" (NASB)
Just a thought: The above verses of Holy Scripture make it very clear that we need to count the cost of becoming a Christian, but are we? Have we transformed Christianity into a feel good '" a self-seeking '" a seeker sensitive religion? If we have, then all we have is just another religion. Yet, true biblical Christianity is so much more than religion.
I know the above Scriptures are hard to understand, but if your eternity depends on understanding the above apparent paradox that's found within Matthew 10:38-39, as Jesus declares to all that it does, should you not invest a little of your time to seek understanding?
Indeed, be very diligent not to become one of the many who are ridiculed by this world, because they did not finish well!
Prayer: Lord, my God, may Your Holy Spirit allow my heart to hear '" to understand Your warning so I may fully count the cost of being a Christian. Holy Spirit, please help me to finish well! Amen and Amen!
2 Timothy 3:1-5: "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; and avoid such men as these." (NASB)
Just a thought: Late last night, seemingly out of nowhere, I began to weep over the concern I had for persecuted Christians worldwide, mainly overseas, but not only overseas. I felt a real dread within for what's coming upon this world.
Whether my weeping was for us just before God's rapture, or those converted after, I'm not sure. All I know is, this feeling of dread within me goes very deep '" indeed, the burden I feel within is very great. God, please forbid what I'm feeling within to be true. I so pray I'm wrong.
At first, I thought it was just me after spending so much time in both religious and Christian Internet forums the past four weeks. Truly, I witnessed 2 Timothy 3:1-5 come alive. Therefore, I decided not to mention my experience to anyone, but I changed my mind this morning when I opened my Email. Within was an Email prayer request for persecuted Christians. Believe me when I say this is not the normal prayer request that I receive through this particular channel. Coincidence? I think not!
Prayer: Father, Your Word warns us of a last days scenario which looks, even to the casual observer, like the world we live in today. Although, it's written that no one knows the day or hour, it's also written that day will not come upon Your children completely without warning, as it will to those who live in darkness. Father, grant us the humility to examine ourselves before that day so we are sure we are indeed born-again '" grant Your children the strength they will need in times of persecution '" grant Your children the strength they need so the flames of persecution will cause Your light to burn bright, i.e., bring glory to Your name despite our weaknesses. For as it is with You, we also wish for none to perish. Therefore, help us all to be Your light in these most troubling times. Amen and Amen!
Matthew 24:14: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come." (NASB)
Just a thought:Throughout Christianity's past we have had our dark days '" days of spiritual darkness and horrendous deeds, but an argument can easily be made that the deeds were done in ignorance. Before the printing press the people had to rely on their spiritual leaders for their knowledge of God. That being the case, if corruption was found in the spiritual leadership, then even the Word of God became corrupt through their faulty and corrupt interpretations, ergo, the people '" the Christians of that day became corrupt as well. Therefore, God in His mercy would not judge a world which was debased through ignorance.
However, today we have a much different situation. Having the Word of God available to all, that is in a practical sense, the individual nor this world has the right to call upon said mercy due to ignorance, i.e., "then the end shall come." God being a just God would not judge an entire world which laid for the most part in ignorance of Him and His Word. Accordingly, in His mercy, He proclaimed that the end should not come until His Word '" His unadulterated Word was made known throughout the world.
The above scenario concerns me greatly as I see holiness diminish within the Church at-large, even though the Holy Scriptures are widely known '" widely read. Rejection and wickedness in the face of truth is a very scary place for this world to be in. Could not that kind of rejection be called blaspheming the Holy Spirit on a worldwide scale? Yes it can! Sin cannot be forgiven if the Holy Spirit's conviction has been dismissed as evil, i.e., no personal repentance. That being the case, can global judgment be far off? You can find my concerns elaborated on by reading the preface to my book, The Portrait of a Christian. You can find the link to my Preface below.
It is written that the Word of God is alive and active so you can always count on a reaction to God's Word to take place within the heart of mankind, i.e., a softening of your heart or a hardening of your heart to God and His Word. Right now, as God's Word goes out around the world, I see a hardening of hearts taking place in this world on a scale which is unprecedented in mankind's history. Lines being drawn so hard '" hearts becoming so hard that repentance will soon become impossible as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit takes hold globally, which is the only sin which cannot be forgiven. Why? Because there is no genuine repentance. God forbid!
Some believe that everything is okay, because of good circumstances in their lives. However, could it be that God is indeed patient and merciful toward us wishing none to perish? Yes! We must never, never allow circumstances, good or bad, to become the sign in our lives of God's approval or disapproval. The only Scriptural way to tell a good tree from a bad tree is from its fruit. What fruit do you find in your life, that is, as it's measured against God's Word? Please, I beg you, examine yourself right now to see if Jesus Christ dwells within you before it's too late and you find yourself saying Lord, Lord, but at the same time God is saying, I never knew you. I cannot make that examination for you. I can only look at the fruit at-large within the "Church" and place a warning before you. The rest is totally up to you. Again, all I can do is warn you, which I've just done.
Prayer: God, please open the eyes of my heart to the truth '" Your truth, before the end comes and Your judgment falls upon an unrepentant world. Amen and Amen!
