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    Heavenly Father, let all men turn from evil, seek God's righteousness, and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

    Recently, I had a discussion with someone on X.com (Twitter), who said that God must "regenerate" us, or give us a new heart, before we can believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. He used 1 Corinthians 2:14 below to support his claim:

    "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

    His supposition was that all men are "natural" men, born into sin, which is true: we are all sinners. Therefore, he said that we cannot see past our darkened hearts, to believe in and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, unless God first regenerates our heart, or gives us a "new heart."

    When asked to quote scripture that says God first regenerates our heart before we can accept Jesus, he could not, but kept quoting the same scripture, 1 Corinthians 2:14, and debating his understanding of it. 

    First, is his understanding of 1 Corinthians 2:14 flawed?

    We should read 1 Corinthians 2, in its entirety, to understand the context of what Apostle Paul is talking about. Here, Paul is preaching to the sinners at Corinth, of which many confessed belief in Christ, but practiced all manner of immorality. They blindly followed the misguided men of Corinth, and believed that their behavior was normal and acceptable to the Lord.

    In verse 5, Paul tells them that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. So, he is telling these sinners at Corinth that until they put their faith in God, instead of the world, they will remain "natural" men, unable to discern God's Word.

    The Bible further tells us that God wants ALL men to be saved, not just the ones He picks and chooses to give a "new heart": 

    "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

    "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

    All men. Whosoever believes.

    Now, the "knowledge of the truth" mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:4 above was promised by Jesus, after His death and resurrection, just before He ascended to the right hand of the Father in heaven. Jesus told His disciples that He would pray the Father to send the Comforter to guide believers  John 14:16-17. "The knowledge of the truth" comes from the Spirit of God (the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, all one in the same Spirit of God):

    "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." John 16:13

    Although the twitter poster's understanding of 1 Corinthians 2:14 may be flawed, is it entirely inaccurate? The short answer is, Yes, it is entirely inaccurate. We can only receive the "knowledge of the truth," or God's Spirit, spoken of in 1 Timothy 2:4 above after accepting and believing in Jesus Christ, not before.

    Let's look at the specific scripture that tells us about man's new heart, Ezekiel 36:25-26:

    25 "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

    26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

    We can see, when taking verses 25 and 26, in context, that God will indeed "regenerate," or give us a new heart, but not before sprinkling us with clean water. Jesus is the water of life referred to in Ezekiel 36:25:

    John 4

    13 "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

    14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

    The key, however, to understanding 1 Corinthians 2:14 is knowing that we must first seek God's righteousness: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

    ​Seek God's righteousness. Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind:

    Romans 12

    2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

    3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

    Draw close to God (seek God's goodness), and He will draw close to you:

    "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:7

    Some men will never repent of the sin in their lives. Their hearts are dark and evil, and full of every abomination. The Light of Jesus, and the Word of God, hurts their eyes and ears. It offends them. It is foolishness to them. 1 Corinthians 2:14. These "natural" men are drawn to evil because they have submitted themselves to it:

    Romans 6 

    16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

    17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."

    "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

    The children of God. And, children of the devil: 

    1 John 3

    10 "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

    11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."

    God sent Jesus to save all men who believe, and all men have a choice to seek God's goodness, and be called the "children of God," or live in darkness, and be called the "children of the devil."

    God searches the heart and tries the reins (He allows us to be tested [by Satan]), and gives us the faith of which we are worthy (Romans 12:3 above):

    Jeremiah 17

    9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

    10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

    11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool."

    Again, God wants All Men, Whosoever Believe, to be saved. To prove this, His Word tells us that, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14

    Some men may never repent of the sin in their lives, but we will all have a chance to be saved. We can all hear the gospel preached, if we seek the goodness of God.

    Let's look at the example of Cain and Abel, the intrinsically evil man versus the intrinsically good man (read more about Cain and Abel here):

    "The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart." Luke 6:45 AMP

    Cain was an intrinsically evil man, a child of the devil: "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous." 1 John 3:12 

    Even though Cain was wicked, he also had God's Word stored in his heart, or at least knew right from wrong, as shown in Genesis 4:7, when God says to Cain, "If you do well, shall you not be accepted? and if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. . ." So, he knew to do well, and what the consequences were. He was, however, of that "wicked one," or a child of the devil. 

    God wants all men to be saved, even Cain. And, what does God tell him to do to be accepted? Do well (or seek goodness)!

    Now, the day after this conversation on twitter about 1 Corinthians 2:14, God was not yet finished with this lesson, and I saw a "random" post on twitter that said basically the same thing as the previous poster, that no one can come to Jesus except God draw him near, and he posted John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."

    Now, when I first read John 6:44, I thought to myself, Was I wrong? Was I listening to myself and not God? 

    Then, I read John 6, the entire chapter, especially verses 44 and 45:

    John 6

    44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 

    45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

    "Every man therefore that has heard and has learned of the Father, comes unto me." Therefore, any regeneration of man's heart before believing in Jesus comes from seeking God's goodness, hearing God's Word preached, or reading it, which things "prepare" man to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ,  and to receive God's Spirit.

    Following, see Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers on John 6:44:

    Quote: (44) No man can come to me.—The subject is still the mystery of the varying effects of His revelation on the minds of men. These depend upon their present mental state, which is itself the result of acceptance of, or rejection of, divine influence. The Father which sent Him had, by law, and prophets, and worship, been preparing them. The history of each individual life had been a succession, in every conscious hour, of influences for good or for evil. The mind stood between these, and willed for one or other. He who day by day, with all his light and strength, however little that all might have been, had sought the pure, and true, and good—had sought really to know God—was drawn of God, and he only it was who could now come to Him whom God sent. Others were drawn of evil, because they had submitted themselves to its power. They had chosen darkness, and could not now see the light; they had bound themselves in the silken cords of sin, which had hardened into fetters of iron; they had lost themselves in the labyrinths of what they thought wisdom, and did not recognise the true and living way which was opened for them." End Quote.

    https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/6-44.htm

    As explained in Ellicott's commentary, "The Father which sent Him [Jesus] had, by law, and prophets, and worship, been preparing them" [to believe in His Son]. John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

    Seeking the righteousness of God, and hearing His Word, "prepares" us to believe in Jesus Christ, who was sent by God, the Father, to save us from our sins, even with eternal life. This is why Jesus' last instruction to His followers after His death and resurrection, before ascending into heaven, was: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

    The hardened heart of the "natural" man referred to in 1 Corinthians 2:14 cannot be softened unto salvation, which is Jesus Christ, unless he first seeks the goodness of God and the gospel.

    In one of my first testimonies about "My Walk With God (part 1)," I tell the story of my daughter, and how all odds were against her becoming a Christian, and, yet, she came to Christ before I ever returned to Him. We were chatting the other day, my daughter and I, and I mentioned how she found God without any guidance, at least from me or her dad, and she told me something I never knew. She said she was introduced to the love of Jesus when she went to a youth group with one of her friends from school. Plant the seed, and God will do the rest.

    Finally, let's look at the Bible story of an Ethiopian man (Egyptian), who sought God, and sought to understand His Word, and found salvation, through the preaching of the Word by a stranger, an Evangelist. Acts 8:1-40

    Philip, the Evangelist, and the Ethiopian Stranger (biblehub.com) Acts 8

    Quote: "In obedience to a Divine summons, Philip had betaken himself to the way that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza. And if at first he may have wondered why he should have been called upon to leave his rapidly progressing work in Samaria for a desert road, he was not for long left in doubt as to what was required of him. For as he walked along he was overtaken by an Ethiopian stranger returning in his chariot from Jerusalem. This man, who was the chamberlain or treasurer of Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians, had heard somehow in his distant home, of the Jewish religion, and had undertaken this long journey to make further inquiries regarding it. We are not told how he had been impressed; very possibly the actual fruits that he witnessed were very different from what he had expected. But one treasure at least he had found, a Greek copy of the prophecies of Isaiah, and this he was eagerly searching on his return journey, to see if he could find further light there. One passage specially arrested his attention, the touching passage in which the prophet draws out his great portraiture of the Man of Sorrows. But, then, how reconcile the thought of this Messiah, suffering, wounded, dying, with the great King and Conqueror whom the Jews at Jerusalem had been expecting! Could it be that he had anything to do with our Jesus of Nazareth, of whom he had also heard, and whom, because of the Messianic claims He had put forward, the Jewish leaders had crucified on a cross? Oh, for some one to help him! Help was nearer than he thought. Prompted by the Spirit, Philip ran forward to the chariot; and no sooner had he learned the royal chamberlain's difficulties than he "opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus" (Acts viii.35).

    We are not told on what particulars Philip dwelt; but, doubtless, starting from the prophetic description of the Man of Sorrows, "despised and rejected of men," he would show how that description held true of the earthly life of Jesus. And then he would go on to show the meaning and bearing of these sufferings. They arose from no fault on the part of Jesus; but, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities." And yet that was not the end. The life which had thus ended in shame had begun again in glory: the cross had led on to the crown. And as thus he unfolded the first great principles of the Christian faith, Philip would press home on the eunuch's awakened conscience that they had a vital meaning for him. "Repent," can we not imagine him pleading as Peter had pleaded before, "and be baptised . . . in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts ii.38). The eunuch's heart was touched, and he asked that he might be baptized. Satisfied that he was in earnest, Philip agreed to his request. And when they came to a certain water, "they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Thus "the Ethiopian changed his skin," and "went on his way rejoicing" to his distant home, to declare in his turn to his countrymen the tidings of great joy." End Quote.

    Seek God's Goodness: The Eunuch sought God: ". . .     had heard somehow in his distant home, of the Jewish religion, and had undertaken this long journey to make further inquiries regarding it."

    Hear the Gospel Preached:     "...and no sooner had he learned the royal chamberlain's difficulties than he "opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached unto him Jesus."

    Then, "The eunuch's heart was touched, and he asked that he might be baptized."

    ​"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

    ​Seek God and you will find Him. Seek God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

    ​Praise God. Amen.
    ​
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    "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

    Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Son, Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Let Your Words flow through me, and let Your Children hear. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

    "The Lord is not slack," or slow, regarding His return. He is waiting for His children to come to repentance.

    There is a lot of debate or argument on social media concerning the meaning of "repentance." Discernment [understanding God's Word] comes from Holy Spirit. Debate, arguing, conflict, strife and doubt come from Satan.

    To avoid misunderstanding, let's look at the definition of "repent" from the King James Bible Dictionary:

    Repent

    REPENT', verb intransitive [Latin re and paeniteo, from paena, pain. Gr. See Pain.]

    1. To feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken; as, to repent that we have lost much time in idleness or sensual pleasure; to repent that we have injured or wounded the feelings of a friend. A person repents only of what he himself has done or said.

    2. To express sorrow for something past.

    Enobarbus did before thy face repent

    3. To change the mind in consequence of the inconvenience or injury done by past conduct.

    Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return. Exodus 13:17.

    4. Applied to the Supreme Being, to change the course of providential dealings. Genesis 6:7. Psalms 106:45.

    5. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence.

    Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3. Acts 3:19. 
    End of Excerpt of Definition.

    So, "repent" means to feel sorrow and/or pain for our sins, and to "change our minds" about those sins in our lives.     If we continue to willfully sin, we repeatedly commit "the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence" [infinite goodness]. 

    ​    Repentance: A change of mind that leads to a change of heart that leads to a change in actions. This change involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.

    "The Lord is not slack." He is not slow. He has not changed His mind. He didn't lie. He has not forgotten about us. He has not forsaken us. He is waiting for us to repent before He executes His righteous judgment, and sends His promise: Jesus Christ. 

    Jesus said, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12

    How do we make sure now that we will receive our good "reward" when Jesus returns? By doing God's Will, seeking His Will and purpose for our lives. God's Promise: "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Hebrews 10:36

    What is the Will of God? There are several scriptures that tell us God's Will, but let's look again at  2 Peter 3:9: God is "not willing [the Will of God] that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 

    Do you not know that "God's kindness leads us to repentance," and to seek His purpose for our lives?

    Romans 2 AMP

    4 "Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?

    5 But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

    6 He will pay back to each person according to his deeds [justly, as his deeds deserve]:

    7 to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.

    8 But for those who are selfishly ambitious and self-seeking and disobedient to the truth but responsive to wickedness, [there will be] wrath and indignation.

    9 There will be tribulation and anguish [torturing confinement] for every human soul who does [or permits] evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,

    10 but glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

    11 For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another]."

    So, God is waiting for us to repent, turn away from sin, and awaken to the Power of His Son, Jesus Christ. When we remember who we are in Christ, then we will receive God's promise:

    Hebrews 10 ERV

    35 "    So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly.

    36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you.

    37 He says,

    'Very soon now, the one who is coming will come and will not be late.

    38 The person who is right with me will live by trusting in me. But I will not be pleased with the one who turns back in fear.'

    39 But we are not those who turn back and are lost. No, we are the people who have faith and are saved."

    In 2 Corinthians 10:6, Apostle Paul gives us a direct comparison regarding how God is waiting for us to turn to obedience [repentance] before He revenges His honour and glory only upon such as will not turn to obedience [repentance] ("the Lord is not slack"):

    "And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." 2 Corinthians 10:6

    See Matthew Poole's commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:6 following:

    Matthew Poole's Commentary (biblehub.com):

    Quote: "The apostle certainly means by this, excommunication; which was the rod which he had before mentioned, asking them if they would he should come unto them with a rod. This rod he here threateneth them with; telling them, that he had another weapon of his warfare, of a spiritual nature too, to be used against such as preferred themselves to be believers, but walked disorderly; only he at present spared them, because though a great part of them were obedient, yet there were some amongst them of whose obedience he could not yet glory; but yet he hoped well, and therefore should wait until, by the use of all fair means, (such as exhortations and arguments), he had reduced as many of them as he could unto obedience. But that being done, God had intrusted him with another weapon, with which he would, in the name and by the authority of God, revenge his glory upon the disobedience of others. Herein the apostle hath set a rule and a pattern to all churches, where are multitudes that walk disorderly; not to be too hasty in excommunicating them, but to proceed gradually; first using all fair means, and waiting with all patience, for the reducing them to their duty, who will by any gentle and fair means be reduced; and then revenging the honour and glory of God only upon such as will not be reclaimed." End Quote.

    Let's look at Hebrews 10:36 above again: "You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you."

    What does God want us to do in order to receive His promise? Believe in His Son, have faith in God, repent (regret the sin in our lives, turn away from it, and turn to God):

    Believe: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31

    Have Faith: "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22

    Repent: Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

    Again, scripture even tells us that God's goodness leads us to repentance: 

    "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Romans 2:4

    Believe. Have Faith. Repent.

    This is also why some of Jesus' final words after His death and resurrection, right before He ascended into heaven, were, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. Because God's children must awaken and repent, awaken from our sleep of Spiritual complacency, before God will give mankind what He promised: 

    Romans 13 AMP
    ​
    11 "Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].

    12 The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

    13 Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy.

    14 But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires."

    Of course, Satan does not want us to awaken. Satan can only control us when we are asleep, or in the dark about God's Power.

    “And he [Jesus] cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” Matthew 26:40

    God did not leave us stranded in the darkness with Satan. He gave us His Son, His Word, and His Holy Spirit, so we can overcome this world, as Jesus overcame it, and walk in His Light. “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14

    "The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." Matthew 4:16

    God also gave us a way to escape the temptations Satan puts in our path. God wants us to overcome and endure until the end, like Jesus did:

    1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

    God makes a way for us to escape temptation.

    "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36

    Let God's goodness change your heart. "The Lord is not slack." He is waiting for us!
    ​
    May God watch over and protect you. May He shine His Light upon you. May His Holy Spirit guide you. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

    ​God bless you. Jesus loves you.
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    God's Letters Through Jesus Christ to the Angels of the Seven Churches of Asia

    God has been putting this on my heart for a few days now, but just this morning, I realized what He was showing me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your sacrifice. Amen.

    Revelation 2 and 3 are letters from God, as given to Jesus Christ, and shown to John by Jesus' angel in a revelation. Rev. 1:1. These seven letters from God through Jesus are directed to the angels of the seven churches of Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea (see map above). 

    We know from scripture that the "church" is the spirit over the people (Eph. 5:23,25,27,29; Heb. 12:23, or how the people are being ministered unto by the seven Spirits of God [seven angels]. Isa. 11:1-2.

    “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14

    The Holy Bible, as a whole, is written specifically for man, as an example and admonition (warning), upon whom the ends of the world have come. 1 Cor. 10:11. It is our instruction manual for life. Also, with prayer, it is our direct line of communication to and from God. It is written because God wants us all to come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3:9. He promised man eternal life before the world began Titus 1:2.

    So, although the letters are directed to the angels of the seven churches, they clearly describe what God expects from His people. When reading the letters, it is likely we will, and we should at some point, see our relationship with God, and His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, in one of these letters.

    The Good News is that the letters tell us exactly how to overcome and endure our trials, so that we may receive of the tree of life Rev. 22:14, which is eternal life Gen. 3:22.

    In these letters, only two of the angels of the seven churches were seen worthy, or rich in spirit, and were not instructed to repent: the angel of the church of Smyrna Rev. 2:8-11, and the angel of the church of Philadelphia Rev. 3:7-13.

    The other five angels of the churches were praised for their right-doings, and rebuked and told to repent for various disobediences. I will cover in this blog only the first two angels told to repent, the angel of the church of Ephesus Rev. 2:1-7, and the angel of the church of Pergamos Rev. 2:12:17:

    God praised the angel of the church of Ephesus for the following good deeds:

    • Good works and labor Rev. 2:2
    • Patience
    • Could not bear those who are evil
    • Tried, and found false apostles, as liars
    • Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which God also hates (Sexual immorality, idolatry. See description below.)
    • Labored for God's Name, and did not faint Rev. 2:3

    Nevertheless, God had somewhat against them, because they left their "first love," Jesus Christ Rev. 2:4, and the letter tells them to:

    • Remember from where they fell (remember their creator) Rev. 2:5
    • Do the first works of Jesus Christ (love God and love your neighbor as yourself Matt. 22:36-40, which means doing and being like Christ, serving)
    • Repent (confess sorrow for their actions, turn from sin to God)

    If not, He will come quickly and remove the candlestick from their church, except they repent. Rev. 2:5.

    Now, scripture tells us that the seven [candlesticks] are the seven churches. Rev. 1:20 

    If God removed the candlestick, or the church (the spirit of the people), because of disobedience and lack of repentance, that would separate the people from God, and would lead to blotting out their names from the book of life:

    Rev. 3

    5 "He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

    6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

    It should be noted that the church of Ephesus did not practice sexual immorality and idolatry, and God still found them imperfect before Him, because they turned from Jesus.

    Let's look at the letter to the angel of the church of Pergamos. God praised them for the following:

    • Holding fast His name
    • Not denying His faith (Jesus Christ)

    But, He also had the following against them:

    • Idolatry
    • Fornication, sexual immorality, immorality

    And, He told them to repent.

    These are just two examples:
    ​
    • The church of Ephesus, which had good deeds, but had turned from Christ; and,
    • The church of Pergamos, which had not turned from Christ, but had bad deeds: sexual immorality, immorality, fornication, idolatry

    Both are found imperfect before God. We must consider our lives and how we live them. Are we living for God and His Son, Jesus Christ? If not, "Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. Matt. 3:8 AMP

    Just a few of the things we learn from these letters:

    • Do the first works of Jesus Christ (love God and love your neighbor as yourself Matt. 22:36-40, which means doing and being like Christ, serving)
    • Remember our creator, who we are, and from where we fell. In other words, turn from sin to God.
    • Turn from evil, idolatry, fornication, adultery, sexual immorality, immorality (lying, cheating, stealing, murder), etc., for all are against God 
    • Repent (confess sorrow for our actions, turn from sin to God)

    God hates the acts of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2:6. What are those acts?

    Excerpt from biblegateway.com Encyclopedia: Nicolaitans: "Followers of Nicolaus of Antioch, a proselyte who was among the seven men chosen to serve the Jerusalem congregation (Acts 6:5), who had forsaken true Christian doctrine; he said they lived in unrestrained indulgence. Hippolytus confirmed this by noting that Nicolaus left correct doctrine and had the habit of indifference as to what a man ate and as to how he lived. The Apostolic Constitutions (6:8) described them as “shameless in uncleanness.” Although Clement of Alexandria defended Nicolaus by insisting that his followers had misunderstood him, he observed that the Nicolaitans abandoned themselves to pleasures like goats in a life of shameless self-indulgence." End excerpt.

    And, the acts of Balaam, which are also called out in the letters to the angels of the churches, are similar to the acts of the Nicolaitans, eating meat sacrificed to idols (idolatry) and fornication (sexual immorality).

    Conclusion: God says, Neither believing in Christ without living like Christ, nor living like Christ without believing in Christ, will save us. We must believe in, and live like, Christ (God's Letters, Rev. 2,3)

    We must remember our Creator, who we are, and from where we fell:

    Ecc. 12 AMP

    6 "Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

    7 then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. 

    8 'Vanity of vanities,' says the Preacher. 'All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity (futility).'"

    The book of Revelation, the final chapter of the Bible, describes the final chapter of man in his sinful body, and the heavens and the earth to come. Please spend some time studying the book of Revelation, especially God's letters to the angels of the seven churches, detailing what he expects from His church (His people).

    God will not overlook evil in man's heart. He's looking for a church that is spotless and blameless. "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2 Peter 3:14

    "Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17

    Pray that all of God's children earnestly remember Him, their Creator, before the silver cord of life is cut. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen and God Bless.

    For an in-depth look at the heart of Jesus, watch the "Jesus" movie from 1979 below.

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    Revelation 22

    ​    12 "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

    13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

    14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

    15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

    ​16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."

    Something God has been putting on my heart now for some time is 21st Century Idolatry. If you are like I was, when you read about idolatry in the Bible, or hear about it, it sounds like something literally from Biblical times, worshipping statues and images, et cetera, not something that is happening in the 21st Century, not something relevant to my life. Certainly, not something that I do! The fact is that Biblical idolatry is not that different from 21st Century idolatry.

    Roman 6:16 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

    After all, Jesus warns us not to love this world or the things in it. And, further, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." 1 John 2:15-16 

    What are we worshipping or idolizing in our daily lives? What are we watching on television, or listening to on the radio? Witchcraft, sorcery, magic, enchanting, fornication, sexual immorality, spiritual wickedness.

    Galatians 5

    19 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

    20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

    21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

    Isaiah 47

    12 "Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

    13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

    14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."

    Revelation 9

    20 "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

    21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."

    I know many of you are saying to yourselves, It's just a movie, or just a TV show, just a poster, just a t-shirt, just a book. I too said those things, but to the demons they were created to represent, they will always be a sound of victory against God and His children.

    Much the same as the popular saying, You are what you eat, it is also true that, You are what you watch. You are what you read. You are what you listen to. You are that with which you fill your soul.

    With what do you fill your soul? Fill it with God's Love.

    "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

    We are what we let into our souls! Do we let in darkness, or do we let in light? And, if the light in us is darkness, how great is that darkness?

    Matthew 6

    22 "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

    23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

    If your eye be single, focused on God, your whole body shall be full of light. Turn off the television! Read the Bible. Listen to Christian music. Bring into captivity even your very thoughts to the obedience of Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:5

    Fill your soul with God.

    Just after His resurrection, before He ascended to the Father's right hand, Jesus prayed for God to send us the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, all one and the same Spirit. So, after accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we receive the Spirit of Truth, which guides our path towards righteousness. Man still has free will, but through believing in Jesus, we receive Faith, which leads to obedience to God.

    Galatians 5

    ​    22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

    23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

    24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

    25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

    26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."

    There is only One God man should be worshipping.     "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matthew 4:10 

    Only One God who can provide miracles, and "wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:" Acts 2:19

    Only One God who will judge the earth. He comes quickly and His reward is with Him. Revelation 22:12. Many will say to me in that day, Lord Lord. . . "    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:22-23

    Will Jesus know you in that day? Does He know you to-day? Accept Jesus today, believe in Him, and obey God. ​

    God wants all men to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 

    Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
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    "SAMSON AND DELILAH" AUDIO BLOG

    Above Image: 1st Century mosaic showing a firebrand tied between two fox's tails.

    "    And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails." Judges 15:4-5
    The Birth of Samson

    ​Judges 13

    1     "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

    2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

    3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

    4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

    5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

    What is a "Nazarite unto God"? From biblestudy.org

    ​Quote: "Those desiring to take the vow of a Nazarite had to be willing to sacrifice certain aspects of their life for the duration of their pledge. They had to abstain entirely from wine or drinking anything with alcohol in it (Numbers 6:3, see also Amos 2:12). In fact, those who decided to dedicate themselves to God as a Nazarite had to abstain from eating any grapes or any product made from them like juice, raisins and so on.

    "Those who were under the vow could not shave any hair on their head (e.g. beard, mustache, eyebrows - Numbers 6:5, Judges 13:5, 16:17). This meant that those who promised to serve God in such a way were easily recognizable to other people, as they had long hair, bushy eyebrows, a long unkempt beard, etc.

    A Nazarite was not permitted to come near a corpse, even if it was from a close family member, so that they would not be rendered unclean (Numbers 6:6 - 7)." End quote.

    Samson Kills a Lion

    When Samson was older, he killed a lion with his bare hands; he used no weapon.

    "And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him [the lion] as he would have rent a kid [goat], and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." Judges 14:6

    It is significant that the scripture tells us he had nothing in his hand to kill the lion, so he killed it with his bare hands, meaning he touched a carcass, an unclean thing, an abomination.

    It is also significant that it tells us specifically that he withheld the information from his parents, who would surely have made him perform the customary rituals for cleansing after touching a dead animal.

    Later, Samson saw the same lion he had killed previously, and there was a beehive in the carcass. Samson scooped up the honey and ate it, and gave it to his mother and father to eat, and they ate it, being unaware that it came from a dead animal's body.

    "Or, if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase . . . and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty."

    Did Samson break his vow, and also cause his mother and father to sin as well? Clearly, they never repented of this sin, or performed the customary rituals to cleanse themselves, as is borne out by the subsequent life and death of Samson. 

    BLESSINGS AND CURSES

    Samson's first wife, a Philistine, was given away by his father-in-law to his friend. This enraged Samson, who burned down the Philistine corn (see image of 1st Century mosaic above). The Philistines retaliated by burning down Samson's wife and her family.

    Samson then judged the Israelites for some 20 years, before marrying Delilah, who tricked him for eleven hundred shekels of silver from each of the kings, who wanted to know the secret of Samson's strength so they could defeat him. Samson finally told Delilah his secret, that a razor had never touched his head; she told the kings, and then she let them shave Samson's head, while he was asleep on her lap.

    Samson became weak, and the Philistines captured him, put out both of his eyes, and put him in prison as a grinder, one who pushes the grinding or mill stones. Eventually, Samson brought down the building on the Philistine's heads. Quote: "    He perished in the last terrible destruction he brought upon his enemies. So the dead which he slew at his death were more [in social and political importance-the elite of the people] than they which he slew in his life. Straining all his nerves, he bowed: As with the force of winds and waters pent, When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars, with horrible convulsion to and fro he tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew the whole roof after them, with burst of thunder upon the heads of all who sat beneath, Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests, their choice nobility and flower." End Quote. From kingjamesbibleonline.org.

    Can you see how Samson was cursed as soon as he disobeyed the angel of the LORD, who represents God's Will?

    God's Word is alive and active and powerful, and it is for us, to receive His blessings! Read it, meditate on it day and night, get it down on the inside of you, into your heart, so that the wiles of the devil cannot not take away your blessings. The devil can test us all day, every day, and if he sees a weakness in us, he will, a weakness in our armor, where God's Word is not protecting us.

    Psalm 119:11 says it best: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

    I mean, it cannot be any clearer than that. Hide God's Word in your heart so that you do not sin against Him. Make sure that when the devil tests you, your first response is from God, righteous, morally upright, with love, mercy and compassion for all mankind, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

    Remember, Jesus said Love your neighbor as yourself Matthew 22:39, and Love not the world neither the things in it at 1 John 2:

    15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

    16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

    17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

    He that does the will of God, obeys God, and is blessed.

    There is redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. Do not be like Samson, Cain, and so many others in the Bible. Many received blessings, great blessings, and also received curses for their disobedience.

    Samson was blessed with strength, but he did not obey God, and he was greatly cursed as well.

    Repent. Jesus said, "Change your hearts, and show by the way you live that you have changed." Matthew 3:8

    Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

    ​
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    "THE MAN AND THE STICKS" AUDIO BLOG

    1 Corinthians 10:11 ​"Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."
    This morning, the meaning of Numbers 15:32-36 below became clear to me. I have to admit that this Scripture has always bugged me. Why would a God of love and light do such a thing?

    I even told our Pastor at one point, "Not. My. God." God bless Pastor David. He has the patience of a saint (as we all should). Of course, I was missing the bigger picture, God's picture.

    Numbers 15

    ​32 "And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

    33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

    34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

    35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

    36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses."

    ​We feel bad for one man (I know I did), because it seems that all he wanted to do was build a fire to cook food, but that is what our eyes see, the man's outward appearance. God looks at our hearts.

    "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

    Or as Jesus said at John 7:24, "    Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." In other words, judge on integrity and godliness.

    This blog is not easy to write, but does that mean we should not write it, or speak the truth? The fact is, no matter what some church leaders are teaching their congregations, God never promises a good time for bad people: For o    ur God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29. 

    Remember Noah and the Ark (click for scripture), when only eight people remained to repopulate the earth? 

    Or, Sodom and Gomorrah (click for scripture), when God destroyed the cities and everyone in them, because He could not find 10 righteous men, women or children among all of the inhabitants?

    "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to day and for ever." ​Hebrews 13:8. And, although we are special, a chosen generation, we are not THAT special that God will overlook our flagrant, in-His-face sin. He will not.

    1 Corinthians 10

    ​1     "    Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

    2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

    3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

    4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

    5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

    6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

    7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

    8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

    9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

    10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

    11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."
    But, they didn't have a book that warned them like we have. There is a darkness coming, a dark silence. Will you be on God's boat?

    Repent, turn away from sin, and turn back to God. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.