8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB) 

We are commanded to have unity among the brethren, but that unity must be based on our union with Christ. Jesus prayed that His church would have unity through Him in John 17, but how does the Bible describe it? Here are a few passages. The first two describe union with Him as Christ being in us. Continue reading →

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NASB) 

Suffering is part of life. It is part of the curse that fell upon all creation after Adam’s sin. (Genesis 3) There are some preachers who have taken sections of the Bible out of context to make it say that suffering happens only to those who “have sin in their life.” Well, I suppose part of that is true….

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1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:1-3 (NASB) 

In the English translations of the Old Testament when we encounter the word “Lord” we are actually reading the Hebrew word “Adhōnāy.” On the other hand, when we read the word “LORD,” it is is completely different Hebrew word, “Yehōwāh.” “Adhōnāy” is actually a title for God meaning “sovereign one.” “Yehōwāh” is the sacred name of God…. Continue reading →

1 “I love You, O LORD, my strength.” 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalms 18:1-2 (NASB) 

This walk before the face of God is according to the ways of God not according to the ways of men. God’s good work in our hearts to grow us unto Christlikeness resembles the work of a good diamond cutter who shapes an uncut, rough gemstone from something that is not worth much in its raw state into a polished, faceted, and extremely valuable diamond that appears to have a brilliant fire within with innumerable facets reflecting that light in every direction…. Continue reading →

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30 (ESV) 

There are so many who want to attack the teachings I post with their extra-biblical arguments, which are mostly based in tradition. There are many topics where the numbers of those doing this drop drastically, but when it comes to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and how it relates to what is hot in the visible church “right now” my spam bucket seems to fill up fast. Continue reading →

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB 2020) 

I have learned to never be surprised when I teach a group of believers about our Justification that no matter how mature most of them are, there is still various misunderstandings about it….

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3 I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God. 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 1 Corinthians 2:3-7 (NASB 2020) 

When we observe those “Christian Leaders” espousing the social justice of Wokeism, which is rooted in Marxism, it should make us wonder at what motivates them…. Continue reading →

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NASB) 

As the scandals within the SBC have gotten worse and worse along with the continual pressures from those who are demanding that we all become “Woke” I have come under conviction that I should point out those corruptions as warnings, but focus primarily to true believers that our real battle as we remain in this hostile environment is against discouragement and to remain focused on personal holiness as we walk by faith. Continue reading →

26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NASB) 

Undoubtedly, there is much confusion about the subject of walking in the Spirit. To some it speaks of the Charismatic movement…. Continue reading →

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5 (NASB) 

Those who have a problem with the Doctrine of Original Sin and the Wrath of God against all sin attempt to paint the God of Reformation Theology as some sort of ogre full of anger with very little love manifest except in the case of a chosen few…. Continue reading →

3 Beloved, being extremely eager to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you encouraging you to contend for the faith delivered once for all to the saints. Jude 1:3 (translated from the NA28 Greek text) 

Currently there is a very large scandal concerning the new SBC President. It appears that he has plagiarized many sermons from J.D. Greear whom he replaced as President. However, as investigators dug into this the “muck” became even uglier…. Continue reading →

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (NASB) 

My dear brethren in Christ, I have been doing so much research and posting lately about the absolute wickedness that is overtaking the visible church in our time that I came to believe that it was time for a bit of encouragement…. Continue reading →

I have been attempting for last several years to get a handle on the slippery fish of Woke-ism, CRT, Intersectionality, and Social Justice and how those in Christian circles who have “adhered” to those things seemed to be “outside” of Orthodox Christianity. Oh, for a long time they looked and acted like they were Orthodox, but then as CRT became a force in our secular culture these people “changed.”… Continue reading →

1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord… Romans 1:1-7 (NASB) Read verses 5-7 on the site.

As I have mentioned many times on this blog, I grew up going to church. The churches our family attended as I grew up were all SBC churches. None of them would qualify as “liberal.” Some people might say that they leaned somewhat toward “fundamentalism.”…. Continue reading →

13 But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. John 17:13-19 (NASB)

I have read and heard countless arguments about our sanctification. Some say that we are sanctified by our religion. Some say that we are sanctified by God and we have nothing to do with it…. Continue reading →

1 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. 2 And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass. 3 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke.  Genesis 41:1-7 (NASB) Read verses 5-7 on the site.

My walk with the Lord since He had mercy on my back in January, 1986 has not been a continual upward climb along the straight path to the celestial hills that are close unto the celestial city…. Continue reading →

In Psalm 112 the prophet praiseth the felicities of those that fear God and condemeth the cursed state of those who contend with God.

Psalm 112 1 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man, that (a) feareth the Lord, and delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the righteous shall be blessed. 3 (b) Riches and treasures shall be in his house, and his righteousness endureth forever. Continue reading →

In Psalm 111, the prophet giveth thanks to the Lord for His merciful works toward His Church. He also declareth wherein true wisdom and right knowledge consistith.

Psalm 111 1 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart in the assembly and Congregation of the just. 2 The works of the Lord are great, and ought to be sought out of all them that love them. 3 His work is beautiful and glorious, and his righteousness endureth forever…. Continue reading →

1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:1-4 (NASB) 

The Church in the early part of the 21st Century is very sick. This sickness has not happened all at once. Instead, it is the result of centuries of compromise after compromise on the part of Christian leaders and their followers to adapt the Gospel and the Church doctrines to conform to what men want. That process is called “Pragmatism.” As a result, the Church has lost its savor…. Continue reading →

This is Monday, June 28, 2021. It sure is a Monday. As I got up this morning to take Sunrise photos before doing my morning devotions I found that the dreary rain and dark clouds were still with us. I took a few shots then went back inside. I sat down with my Spurgeon’s Morning by Morning, my Tabletalk Magazine, and Greek Word for Today word study devotionals before praying. However, I was in a dark mood that seemed to match the weather. I have issues both with the Department of Safety of Oklahoma and the Social Security Administration…. Continue reading →

1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:1-4 (NASB)

One of the first books I placed in my personal Christian library was a gift from a good friend years ago when we were both in the same church where I was a Deacon, Bible Study leader on Sunday mornings and Precept leader on Sunday evenings…. Continue reading →

10 “They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have been made weak as we, You have become like us. Isaiah 14:10 (NASB) 

Part of my morning devotions is to read the morning devotion for the day from Spurgeon’s Morning by Morning. Today’s devotion really got me to thinking about the large numbers of Christian leaders who are going hard after Social Justice in all its forms….

I have read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress several times and I must admit that part about the “back way” or “back-door” into Hell has always disturbed me and it should you too.

“Art thou become like unto us?”—Isaiah 14:10. Continue reading →

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. 11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:8-12 (NASB) 

The title of this article may surprise many. The current attack by those whose theology has been corrupted by Woke-ism seem to be all about placing their liberal, Marxist, CRT philosophy up there on par with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ or at least they insist that it is an essential part of it…. Continue reading →

28 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? Luke 14:28 (NASB) 

I really struggled with the title for this post. In fact as I began typing here I have changed it twice more. I wrote my first post about pragmatism in the visible church back in 2008 while doing battle almost daily against the Purpose Driven paradigm and the Emergent Church. That post was titled Pragmatism. However, two years earlier I wrote a 6 part series titled The Compromised Church. I reposted it in 2008. Continue reading →

39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39 (NASB) 

A few months ago, on Good Friday, Dr. Josh Buice posted the following on Twitter:

As we behold the slain Christ on the cruel cross on this Good Friday, we must never forget the truth! Continue reading →