SERMON ON THE MOUNT

SERMON ON THE MOUNT
(JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS MINISTRY)

Not very long ago I read the very familiar Bible passage commonly referred to as the "SERMON ON THE MOUNT". It was as if I were reading it for the first time. Always before when I read it I was of the opinion that its substance was mainly the beatitudes. I have discovered it contains so much more than the lovely "Blessed are" verses. The Sermon on the Mount is several chapters long in Matthew.
Having been reared in church sometimes I have to read something many times before I can get around the "Yeah, Yeah I've heard this before" attitude. I do not say this disrespectfully its just sometimes this is what I have to overcome in order to fully see what God is saying in a passage of scripture. Maybe, you have had this problem yourself and know it or maybe you have never realized it. I think it would do us all good to make an attempt to take our preconceived thoughts on the Bible and throw them away from time to time and approach God's Word as a little child. Our attitudes, opinions, and beliefs might just undergo radical overhauls if we could accomplish this throw away- reset from time to time. I was in such a mind frame when I read Jesus' message on the mountain.
In Matthew chapter 4 we find Jesus beginning His ministry with a fast in the wilderness where He was tempted of the Devil. When He victoriously defeats the devil by quoting the Word of God He leaves the wilderness and begins calling out the twelve disciples. The Twelve respond to His call by leaving all and following Jesus. When Jesus finishes with this task I am not sure how much time elapses but His next order of business is to teach His newly called out disciples what it means to be called His disciples. In Matthew chapter 5 verse 1 it says,

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them

In determining the application of Scripture it is important to know who Jesus is talking to as He begins His mountain top sermon. Jesus had developed quite a following by this time having healed some sick folks. He was followed everywhere He went. Many times when Jesus talked to the disciples there were others who could hear Him.
I have seven kids. There is seldom a time when I am all alone with any of them in a room by reason there is so many in the house at any given time. A lot of times I call one of my kids to me in order to give them special instruction concerning some household rule. I have no problem with all the other children listening to what I am saying because the same stuff applies to them too, however the one I am concerned with addressing is the one I called to me. So I believe it is safe to say that Jesus was talking to his disciples in this mountain message. I also believe the Bible in numerous passages supports the belief that when Jesus was talking to His disciples it was the same as if He were talking to the New Testament Church. To put it another way... A disciple is for all intents and purposes a Christian.
To establish Jesus is talking to His disciples even further we look to Luke another book of the Bible with this sermon on the mount account. Luke chapter 6 verse 20 says

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Jesus begins to tell them that they shall (not maybe) suffer persecution. Matthew chapter 5 verse 10 says

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Jesus is laying it all out on the table. He is letting them know what they are in for. He also tells them what they will receive for going through these hardships and choosing to forsake all and follow Him. He tells them even though they may be poor in spirit here, lose most of their friends (maybe even all that they currently counted as friends), though they would have evil things said about them, though they be persecuted for Jesus' sake; He tells them to rejoice and be exceedingly glad for their reward is in heaven.
Jesus in all of these promises also issues some pretty hefty warnings. He tells His disciples their following of Him must be more than just an outward show. Matthew 5 verse 20 says

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus warns here with the strong words "in no case" can a man (remember Jesus was talking to His disciples here) or a "Christian" enter into heaven unless their righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees. Exceed means
1 : to extend outside of
2 : to be greater than or superior to
In order to understand this all important statement by Jesus Himself we must remember what a Pharisees' "righteousness" consisted of. Pharisees prided themselves on outwardly making a show of their "obedience" to the law. You couldn't make a superficial look at a Pharisee and find anything wrong with their life. They remembered the Sabbath, they fasted, they dressed in a way that set them apart from the less pious, they prayed faithfully, they had a working knowledge of the Scripture even if they were blinded to its truth, all in all outwardly they were unmistakably religious. Jesus tells us that we must exceed this "righteousness" if we want to make heaven our home. He says we have to extend outside of this, or be greater than they, or behave in a way superior to their "righteousness". How can we go beyond this? It is very important we know. Jesus thought if was so important He taught the disciples what His expectations were. Where the Pharisees stopped is where we must begin. Pharisees didn't murder; to do so would have broken the law. Jesus says in Matthew 5:21

Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

If we let Jesus rule our hearts filling us with His love and we realize the seriousness of unrepentant anger towards others and get it out of the way through surrendering our desire to punish those who have harmed us to God we won't ever be even close to killing our fellow man for it won't be in our hearts. A person without Christ might succeed in not killing anyone but he can't succeed in not carrying bitter grudges, envy, and hatred towards someone.
Jesus lets us know that we can't try the classic human ploy to cover guilt of sin in one area of our lives with more pious religious behavior in another area such as trying to read your Bible more....witnessing more, singing in church more, giving more in the offering plate, or "praying" more in God's general direction will not replace repentance and openly making amends with those we have wronged. Jesus says

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

The Pharisees didn't commit adultery that would be breaking the law. Jesus tells us

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

If we would realize the seriousness of Christ's warning that we must go beyond the outward motions of "obedience" and drill down to where sin gets its start and if we would let God have control of these areas we would never fall into the traps of sin like fornication, adultery, drunkenness, murder, and covetousness. If we realize Jesus said we must go beyond the outward obedience of not cheating on our spouses we will be quick to repent of the thoughts that will lead us down the path of mental adultery. If we do this in all the areas where sin might tempt in our lives; we certainly won't ever be guilty of the outward show of these great evils.

Be honest now...have you ever heard a message in some "church" or on the radio where the "preacher" is saying "Sometime you can't tell a lost person and a Christian apart because some "Christians" are so wicked?" Does this sound like Jesus' teaching that our righteousness has to exceed or go beyond the righteousness of the Pharisees? How can we ever be deceived to believe one can get by with not even having the outside of the cup cleaned up? Remember Jesus said

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

NO CASE seems pretty clear to me if I clear my mind of preconceived notions and read it like a child would do. NO CASE means there is no exceptions to the rule.
Jesus also warns His disciples that in order to follow Him and make heaven their home they would have to be willing to give up anything that would stand in their way of repenting and turning from sin. He lets them know sin carries the punishment of hell and it is such a serious danger we should be willing to part with our own body parts if they would cause us to sin and lead us to hell.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

I can't help but think of all the "eternal security" or better named unconditional security sermons I have heard where I've been told that once you are a Christian you can never be in danger of going to hell. When reading these verses I had to ask myself if this is so why did Jesus give the warning to His disciples. They would not have thought to themselves..."Listen to Him...I'm sure He's talking about somebody else" because Jesus was talking to them...He was looking purposely at them. Remember in Luke it says

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples

Now I know and you know our hands,eyes and feet are not what truly make us sin...it is our hearts clinging to desires, passion, loyalties and emotions other than God. This warning however lets us know there will be no excuses accepted in judgement. Something as connected to us as the body parts we were born with won't get us any sympathy from a righteous God who sent His righteous Son (part of His own body) to die for a people whose righteousness is as filthy rags. God forbid that anyone would think they could earn their salvation because Jesus' precious blood has to cover the best we can do because its filthy to God. When we as sinners bring Jesus our worst and Christ forgives us there are some things He asks in return. He requires we give Him our lives but not our lives as we lived them before we came and repented; when we lived to our own pleasure and evil desires. We must present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God and He says this is just what is reasonable. The best we can give God will take the covering of Christ's blood to make acceptable...but because of this do not be deceived to think we can present God with less than at least filthy rags (our righteousness) and He will have no choice but to accept whatever we give Him. Thank the Lord for the Holy Spirit which enables us to go beyond the righteousness of the Pharisees. When we yield to the Holy Spirit in repentance and let Christ live through us we are somehow enabled to keep not just the letter but the intent of the law.
When studying Christ's teaching to his disciples as He was teaching them what to live and teach I was struck by the thought that I was reading some of the most important verses in the Bible. I realized every other Bible author would never contradict what Jesus Himself was setting up. I also realized that every preacher or teacher should in no way contradict Jesus' foundational Christian teachings as recorded here. I realized my beliefs would have to be in line with these foundational truths if my beliefs were true at all.
Thinking these thoughts I began to read the following verses...

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Wait a minute I thought to myself...I have heard "preachers" and teachers say "Sometimes you can't tell true Christians and non-Christians apart. Jesus says I can tell false prophets by their fruits. I think sometimes we think false prophets will look like wolves and be unmistakable to spot to anyone looking for wolves. Jesus says they will be in sheep's clothing. If they are in sheep's attire then how am I going to know them when sometimes according to certain "preachers" and teachers Christians will be in wolves clothing? According to Jesus I don't have to worry with this confusion because Christians will not be in wolves clothing and the wolves in sheep's clothing will give themselves away by their fruits. What fruits is He talking about here when they are dressed like sheep and in verse 22 they can say

Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Sounds like they have all the outward show of the Pharisees and if we can't see their heart how will we know them in order to not follow them? Jesus says by their fruits we shall know them. If it isn't how they look or act in this case what else could it be but by their words. Our words are fruits and the Bible says in Matthew 12:33-37

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

The false prophets words will betray him or her. Their words will not line up with Christ's teachings.

With this in mind pay special attention to these verses.

Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

All of those messages in "Churches" and from radio preachers and sunday school teachers who told me there were wicked "Christians"...who told me you couldn't tell a saved person sometimes from the lost person and used their former unfaithful selves as examples were lying to me. Jesus said

A good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit

He let me know through this simple universally accepted fact who I should listen to and who I should turn away from.... an apple tree will always bear apples...ect..ect. His example is so straight forward and easily understood. (that is until a false prophet gets a hold of it.) False prophets try to convince me sheep sometimes wear wolves clothing...they tell me I shouldn't judge those "sheep" to be lost or found only God can do that. Jesus knew I would need to know who the false prophets and professors were or I could easily be deceived by one of them that is why He gave the disciples and me and you His teachings and let us know not about judging but what He would call fruit inspecting. We don't need to judge these false "Christians" and false prophets, preachers, teachers, professors...ect..God's Word already does that.
My responsibility is to base my life on Christ teachings. He is my foundation. I will reject the teachings of all who teach other than what He revealed in the sermon on the mountain. If I accept and follow those who would have me believe contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ my tree will be hewn down and cast into the fire with theirs. Jesus also likened these false teachings to building a house on shifting sand. He lets me know it will fall.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Once again these verses are recorded in Luke chapter 6 verse 43

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

In this account it says if we do not live Christ's teachings we are building without a foundation. The Bible says Christ is the only foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:11 - For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

This means Christ laid down His foundation of teaching here. To build on something other than what He teaches here is to build without HIM.

Until I read this sermon afresh I had always hesitated to call the teachers and "preachers" false prophets who taught the doctrine of wicked "christians" living unconditionally secure or teaching what is otherwise called the doctrine of "eternal security". I no longer hesitate. In my ignorance of the Scriptures I almost missed the important directions on how to spot a false prophet and almost failed to witness in boldness of the truth of Jesus Christ. How sad we are so easily blinded and silenced by our own ignorance of what should be common knowledge in the churched world. (Jesus Christ's foundational teaching) I find it interesting to note that those who would preach salvation is not by works when justifying ungodlyness in their lives will be the same bunch who make big shows of their good works such as door to door "soulwinning"...sunday school increases and turn out...church membership drives...keeping track of sermons preached, souls "won", revivals attended, persons baptized...how many missionarys they support personally or through encouragement to others support..etc, ect..(Many "wonderful works") I am not saying any of these things are "bad" in and of themselves but it is interesting to note there is no evidence of Paul keeping track and recording how many were saved when he preached some message. He doesn't report how many messages he preached, how many he baptized, how many churches he single handedly started, how many mission trips he went on, how much money he gave in support of others ministry. If fact I can't think of a time any of the apostles in Acts reported such totals. Jesus didn't even list how many healed.
All these things are really just bragging about something that doesn't really matter. What does matter is not the works you can list you have done but have you been doing the will of the Father.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

If you believe we are living in the last days it is interesting to note that Noah, a preacher of righteousness, preached a long time and only took eight souls with him into the ark. Jesus said,

Luke 17:26 - And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. ²⁷ They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

I'm not saying men can not be saved but in times of great wickedness comes great oppression and blindness to the gospel of righteousness because men love their "easy" lives of rebellion and living for pleasure. If the hundreds to nearly thousands these churches claim to rescue from the pits of hell, in some small towns where these churches are , we would be seeing revivals break out। Year after year, with these numbers the nightclubs, bowling alleys, movie theaters, and bars would be going out of business। However even with these boasting claims their communities stay and grow more and more Godless. Could it be we are living in the last days? Could it be their gospel appeals to the wicked hearts of men who want their name on some roll but still want to reserve their hearts for the evil imaginations and wicked workings they have always persued?


The sad fact is those who teach good trees can bear evil fruit and go about trying to win others to this false persuasion are like the Pharisees in yet another way.

Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

The ones they witness to and "win" most times never darken the door of a church or never change anything in their lives. They just go on living to their own selves only now they have been assured that their bad tree producing bad fruit is really a not so great good tree producing bad fruit. If they come to church they get a shame on you for not doing better type message with a don't worry be happy even if you don't change at the end. They hear this instead of Christ's Words

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

If you have been following false prophets you are building your life on shifting sand without a foundation and those teachings will fail you in judgement and with those false teachings your life will fail and all the souls you bore false witness to while doing your "wonderful works" will be destroyed if they fail to get in the Word of God and see what Jesus Christ taught and be converted from the false doctrine of unconditional security.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Don't let Christ's foundational doctrine astonish you into rejecting it on the grounds that it is just too foreign from what you have been taught, what you have believed, and what you may have taught or are teaching others now.

Matthew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine

You must follow Christ and His astonishing doctrine or be lost with the Pharisees. Will you leave all and follow Christ?

More Quotes Worth Repeating

"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference." The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months at the White House by Francis B. Carpenter (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1995), pp. 258-259.

"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day." Lincoln Observed: The Civil War Dispatches of Noah Brooks edited by Michael Burlingame (Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998), p. 210.

"...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side." The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months at the White House by Francis B. Carpenter (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1995), p. 282. Also, Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by Ward Hill Lamon (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1994), p. 91.

"In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book." The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume VII, "Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible" (September 7, 1864), p. 542.

"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" Lincoln's Cooper Institute Address, February 27, 1860.

We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name - liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names - liberty and tyranny." The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume VII, "Address at Sanitary Fair, Baltimore, Maryland" (April 18, 1864), p. 301-302.

A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have.
Abraham Lincoln

A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Abraham Lincoln
(Hey, he was quoting Bible here)

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Abraham Lincoln

And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln

Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable - a most sacred right - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world.
Abraham Lincoln

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Abraham Lincoln

Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.
Abraham Lincoln

Every one desires to live long, but no one would be old.
Abraham Lincoln

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham Lincoln

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.
Abraham Lincoln

I care not much for a man's religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.
Abraham Lincoln

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?
Abraham Lincoln

Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.
Abraham Lincoln

Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another, but let him work diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built.
Abraham Lincoln

My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
Abraham Lincoln

Republicans are for both the man and the dollar, but in case of conflict the man before the dollar.
Abraham Lincoln

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.
Abraham Lincoln

Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality.
Abraham Lincoln

That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.
Abraham Lincoln


The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.
Abraham Lincoln

The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.
Abraham Lincoln

The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as his liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty. Plainly, the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of liberty.
Abraham Lincoln

We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
Abraham Lincoln

What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
Abraham Lincoln

When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run.
Abraham Lincoln

With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.
Abraham Lincoln

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Abraham Lincoln

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
Abraham Lincoln

You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
Abraham Lincoln

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.
Abraham Lincoln

Quotes Worth Repeating

Last night I couldn't sleep and I amused myself with looking up quotes by different well-known men of yesteryear. The profound wisdom in some of their statements spoke to my heart and made me analyze the prevailing "wisdom" of today. How have we become so far removed from what was once considered commonplace thinking? I want to share with you some of William Penn's quotes, founder of Pennsylvania.

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.
William Penn

Force may make hypocrites, but it can never make converts.
William Penn

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.
William Penn
Obama must have read this one. lol.

Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.
William Penn

Nothing does reason more right, than the coolness of those that offer it: For Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.
William Penn

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.
William Penn

The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.
William Penn

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.
William Penn

To be like Christ is to be a Christian.
William Penn

True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.
William Penn


I think we could all stand some true silence in our life. If we could achieve more of it maybe we could come up with some quotable quotes of our own.... Instead of having to quote others. Here's to quieter days.

The Mystery of Time

Why is it when my house lies in a wreck I have no time for anything I need to do? When this happens I can't seem to find the time to clean, to write, or for devotional time with God. But when I get to the place that I can't stand it anymore and I MAKE time to clean it up an amazing thing happens. I find I have time for devotions, time to write, time to spend with my kids, time to bake, time for me, and time to breathe.
I have been staying up on my chores for the past two weeks. My house is spotless.... if you come over, however, still call first because this state could change any minute. lol I have so much extra time on my hands. Whoever came up with the saying that cleanliness is next to Godliness was definitely on to something.

I encourage all you women out there to try this multi-step experiment. You might get the same results I have gotten and the benefits of a clutter-free more stress-free environment.

Step One:
Whenever I get to this less chaotic place in my life without fail I have devotions the morning I start the "Big Clean." The Bible says in:

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Here in my life, once again, God's Word has proven true. The "all these things" to me are time to clean, to write, time for kids, time for baking, time for me, and time to breathe. Thank you, Jesus, for when we try You, You always are proven faithful.

Step Two:
Decide on which room to start in ( I find the cleanest room is where I begin... This way you have results in no time and this seems to inspire me to press on) do not stop until it is done. When you are finished take a break and just sit down to appreciate a job well done.

Step Three:
Don't get overwhelmed. You do not have to have your house cleaned from top to bottom in one day. You just need to make the commitment to get your life in order. If you are not done the next day just get up with the same mission.

Step Four:
If you have faithfully followed step one, two and three, you no doubt are feeling the benefits by now. Let the change sink in and Thank God for helping you discover the mystery of having time and not having time.

I believe that when we have "NO time" to do what we need to do it is because we have told ourselves this so many times we begin to believe it. We started saying this phrase to make ourselves feel better about our lack of desire to do any better. We will always have time for God. He gave us the gift of 24 hours and He expects us to put Him first in our day. If we do this He will give us the desire to be better at whatever we do. He doesn't intend for us to live in the self created chaos we women sometimes find ourselves in. God delights in things done decently and in order and He has put this heart in us. Let us quit saying we haven't the time for our responsibilities .... and rather let us start praying for God to help us master whatever task we find in our area of responsibility. When we lapse and fail remember God knows we are human and He stands waiting to help us bare our load.

Chin up. Start cleaning!!! LOL

Lesson of the Creaking Chair

Making time for devotions is probably one of the biggest struggles a Christian faces. What is the best time in the day to study God’s Word and pray? I suppose this varies for every Christian. With seven kids, one of which being two and one being 10 months old the mornings are filled with little feet getting me out of bed wanting breakfast as soon as their feet hit the floor. Sometimes this “great awakening” comes between 6:45 and 7:00 am so mornings have always been a challenge for me. Mid-afternoon is no good consistently for me either. Something always is needing attention around this time. If it gets real quiet in the house (This seldom happens) after lunch you may find me napping. Finally, I generally get to the end of my day and in utter exhaustion fall into bed between
10:30 and 11:30 pm.

For a very long time I have tried to fit time in for devotions whenever I felt I had a free moment. This method has failed me miserably. The Lord really began to deal with me concerning the excuses I would give to explain my ultimate lack of time spent with Him. One day I decided, if I had a public job ( I am a WORK at home Mom) I would most likely have to get up at
6:00 am every morning whether I felt like it or not. Why could I not show as much devotion to the Saviour of my soul?

I began my plan of action, one morning, by rolling over in bed at 6:00 and picking up my Bible. I began to read while my husband snored. The temptation to fall back to sleep was too great. My sleep filled eyes would get heavier and heavier until finally I was startled awake by the sound of my closing Bible when the hand holding it would fall over because it was attached to a sleeping body. I realized if I was going to be successful at consistency I would have to leave the bed behind to have my time with God.

The next morning the house was in a hushed silence ( which happens rarely in a house containing so many bodies) I creeped to the living room to avoid waking sleeping lions. When I sat down in my recliner it made a creaking noise as if to protest being used so early. The sound it made brought back unexpected memories from my childhood. How many times had I heard that sound wake me in the mornings? My parents took their place in their chairs early in the morning to have their time with God throughout my memories of childhood. My parents, however, were not the only ones who came to my mind this morning. I remembered spending the night at my Grandparent’s house and sleeping on the couch only to be awakened early in the morning as my Grandfather, Riley Hensley, took his place in his oversized chair. I remembered opening up sleepy eyes to see him reaching for his Bible, placed on a table, by that chair side. I closed my young eyes and contentedly went back to sleep in the soft glow of his lamp light and the gentle sound of turning pages. All these memories came flooding back to me the moment I heard the creaking chair of mine. I was no longer alone in my living room. I was surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses. They had set the example and unknowingly had witnessed to me of the importance of this sacred hour I now spent with God. I wept as I wondered if my children were listening. I wondered if I would be that witness to them. Would I continue the legacy of the creaking chair?

Each morning now when I wake up and I think about just rolling over and falling back to sleep I remember the sound of the creak in the chair and I think to myself, “What if that chair doesn’t creak today?” Any morning could be the morning my children would hear and learn the importance of such a time spent with God. A memory could be created that would get them out of bed in the later years of their life to nurture the treasure of a relationship with the Most High God. My faithfulness now could result in a lesson taught that would one day lead them to discover the love they can experience while spending time alone with God.

Maybe you have a chair like mine that should creak tomorrow morning. God Bless.

Positive Outlook

Positive thinking is something we hear quite a bit about nowadays. The theory is that I can change my circumstances just by thinking positively. How true is this?
The Bible doesn't say positive thinking changes things what it teaches is prayer changes things. The Bible says in:

James 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The Bible also says in:

Matthew 17:20 - And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Wow that is incredible....all this comes through prayer. Prayer if done sincerely and consistently creates and feeds faith and faith creates a positive outlook. If I am praying in faith about a circumstance in my life I will not be talking negatively about it. I will be conducting myself in a way as to be expectant of the answer to my prayer. I will be changing my surroundings by changing my attitude towards them.
Negative thinking comes from a lack of praying and an abundance of complaining. This approach to life will keep you in a cycle of depression and apart from the heart of God. If you are caught here the first step is to repent. The second step is to count your blessings. You have much to be thankful for; food, clothing, a roof over your head, air to breath, family that loves you, a Heavenly Father who died for you .... etc. If you are homeless and sleeping in your car then thank God for your car. If your family hates you then thank God that He loves you and is willing to forgive you no matter what you have done. The importance of this exercise is that you think and meditate on how much you take for granted. There is something somewhere you can thank God for no matter how low you are now. The third step is to start a consistent devotional time with God. This time should include Bible reading and fervent prayer to God. Quit asking God to give you what YOU want and start asking God to make you what He wants. If you do these three things it will impact how you feel, how you think, and how you are perceived, and most importantly how you stand before God.

Please note that I currently have two blog spot addresses. inclined2analyze.blogspot.com and devotionsandopinions.blogspot.com They are copies of each other

Dawn

God came to me in shades of night
Dark so thick I could not see
And there within the blackness
Spoke light and love to me.

In my fears I trembled
So weak I couldn't stand
But then I felt Him reaching
Found Hope within my hand

I discovered there a strength
I hadn't known before
The things I thought were lost to me
He spoke and did restore

I've faith enough to follow
Where He leads me now
And though I do not know just where
It matters not somehow.

Grey streaks of light now fill my sky
And so I follow on.
His love my light and dawning
Soon the darkness will be gone.

Written by: Laura L. Grapes
Copyright 2008

I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Legacy of Anger

Proverbs 22:24 -25 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Are you easily angered?

Many times I have heard the laughing comments of people referring to someone's fiery temper as if it were something to be admired. Being a red head I have heard the endless comments regarding the supposed terrible tempers of all red heads. Comments made with a silly grin as if they would like to see a demonstration of the supposed temper in the next few minutes. The truth however is, according to the Bible, an inability to control one's anger is not something to be admired. The truth is it is a snare to our souls and the souls of whomever finds themselves in our company. Sadly the ones we are laying this dangereous snare for are the ones we love and care about the most; they are our own children and close family members.
The Bible says we are not become friends or go anywhere with a furious and angry man. Our children and spouses have no choice however but to be subjected to our fits of temper and thus they learn our ways and this cycle of ensnarement lasts generations.
Anger and the inability to control the emotions can grow into so many full blown manifestations with consequences that are far reaching. Many things can be traced back to uncontrolled emotions....anger, quarreling, bitterness, hate, murder...do we really want to lead our loved ones into this treacheous territory? My mother has always quoted what she heard somewhere,"What parents do in moderation, children do in excess." Do we really want our children fine tuning the abilities to fly off the handle...or storm out of a room...or throwing objects...or yelling...or screaming...or pouting and sulking?
If these are your vices your pet sins...REPENT. Ask those around you who have seen the anger rule you to forgive you and share with them this verse in Proverbs.
Anger and uncontrolled emotions do not just cost you. Our children are watching and learning from us. Let us not leave to them this legacy of anger. Let us put it off like an old garment and ask God to cloth us in His meekness, quietness, and righteousness.

Though I wouldn't repeat some of the other stuff these men below have said here is some
Food For Thought:

How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.
Marcus Aurelius

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.
Ambrose Bierce

No man can think clearly when his fists are clenched.
George Jean Nathan

Sacrifice of Others

Have you ever pondered how the sacrifice of others has made or makes your life possible?

For instance when we were kids we never dwelt on how much Mom or Dad sacrificed to put food on the table every meal. We just sat down and dug in. Just think about the hours working earning the money to buy the food, the labor in meal planning, cooking, and the cleaning up afterwards. Now that some of us are grown up with families of our own we are just beginning to truly see and appreciate the countless sacrifices our existence has required.

Almost everything we enjoy in life has come through the hard work of others. The items we purchase in the store, the cars we drive, the businesses we work at, our education, the beds we sleep in, the homes we live in, the wood we used to construct our homes, and even the air we breathe and for those who are blessed by it....the salvation of our very souls... can be attributed to the hard work, ingenuity, careful thought, and grudging or loving sacrifice of either mortal man or God Himself. None of us are self sufficient...with any meditation on our dependency we can see how any such thought is mere ignorant pride. Even if we lived in the days when men grew their own food and felled their own trees to build their houses we would still need God to supply the rain and fertile soil in which to grow our food. No two ways around it we certainly need God for survival here on earth and in the afterlife....and I have already made the case for needing others here on earth in this post-modern world we now live in.

Take a moment to humbly reflect on the sacrifices others make to bless your family. Think about God's Supreme Sacrifice given for your soul's salvation. Then think about what you are sacrificing for the well being of others. Do you give it cheerfully or grudgingly? Then search your soul deeply; are you sacrificing anything for God? If so do you sacrifice it cheerfully and humbly or grudgingly and hatefully?

Remember God says He loves a cheerful giver! Are you busy giving cheerfully? Think and pray about it.

Wise Words from Wise Men

With the election just days away, I think it would be helpful if we reflected on our founding fathers and what direction they intended this country to follow. Constantly, we are bombarded with what our founding fathers "really meant" by what they said long, long ago. Our polititians will make speeches concerning these intentions and never truly quote what they really did say.
Let us not presume what these wise men intended without first hearing what they actually said.

William Penn a founder of Pennsylvania said," Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants."

Horace Greeley founder of the New York Tribune in the pre civil war times said, " It is impossible to enslave, mentally or socially, a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom.

Patrick Henry most know for his statement "Give me liberty or give me death" said, " Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is impossible that a nation of infidels or idolaters should be a nation of free men. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.

It is clear, from these men, they did not have any intention of God being kicked out of government...because they intended it be run by men ruled by God.

Men and women in this generation look to the government to be their god. Polititians make speeches that spew forth socialist ideas and people in this once greater republic cheer. We seem to want free health care, welfare, food stamps, tax breaks, and our houses guarenteed to us even if we don't have the money to pay the bank who lended us the money for our house in the first place.....YES!!! government should take care of that ....after all it is their fault we lost our job anyway. Right?
Some polititians declare we need to spread the wealth around.... which by the way was a slogan pitched by communist leaders seeking power to people ripe with higher class hatred.

Communist Karl Marx said, " The first thing necessary to control the people, is to separate them from their heritage."

We are constantly being told...didn't Barack Obama say it at the democratic convention?...that the Bible has no place in government ...attack #1.

Our founding fathers sought to end class wars. The democrats seek to start them. Attack #2 Statements they make are riddled with the attempted persuasion of making us hate the rich. When pinned down and asked, "Who are the rich" they pull some figure out of thin air of what a "rich man" currently makes....only problem is is that figure keeps changing...generally going down. Before you know it they will end up talking about you and you never even knew you were rich. By the way, most of them make more than they are talking about the rich making and they want you to vote for them and help them make more by tapping into the vast supply of your tax dollars which they love to increase regularly in order to pay for all the promises made to you in order to get elected.


Abraham Lincoln has been credited with saying...

*you cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

*You cannont strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

*You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

*You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.

*You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

*you cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independance

*You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could, and should, do for themselves.

Some say these words were actually written in 1942 by William J. H. Boetcker, a Presbyterian minister. He released a pamphlet titled Lincoln On Limitations, which did include a Lincoln quote, but also added 10 statements thought to be written by Boetcker himself. Whoever wrote this sounds like they could have been running against a man like Barack Hussein Obama.
What simple common sense .... what profound wisdom....too bad there aren't more Abraham Lincoln's or William J. H. Boetcker living today to recognize the foolishness behind the democrate's tactics, plans, and stratigies. Abraham Lincoln did make this moving statement, "...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side."
The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months at the White House by Francis B. Carpenter (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1995), p. 282. Also, Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by Ward Hill Lamon (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1994), p. 91.

When was the last time you heard a politician say that?

A statement most attributed to Lord Woodhouselee is as follows:

Alexander Fraser Tytler Lord Woodhouselee
An Observation on Democracy
The most interesting observation is how closely the US has followed this scenario.

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves money from the Public Treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the Public Treasury with a result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy always to be followed by dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through the following sequence:

* From Bondage to Spiritual Faith
* From Spiritual Faith to Great Courage
* From Courage to Liberty
* From Liberty to Abundance
* From Abundance to Selfishness
* From Selfishness to Complacency
* From Complacency to Apathy
* From Apathy to Dependency
* From Dependency back into Bondage"

--- most commonly attributed to
"The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic"
by Alexander Fraser Tytler Lord Woodhouselee (1748-1813)
(Scottish judge and historian at Edinburgh University)

On election day, I pray you will keep in mind what these wise men have said. The Democrats entire agenda goes recklessly headlong down paths these wise men warned us about. We as a nation cannot thumb our noses at God and go against the council of wise men who could foresee so clearly the danger which is to follow for a nation who forgets God.

If you are a Christian fast and pray for this election!!!

Repair man's Surprise Visit

Our shower has been leaking from the shower head for some time now. I called a man we bought the house from (home warranty) to come and fix it Tuesday. He told me he would be there that evening to take a look at it. I spent the day cleaning my house making sure everything was in its place in every room...even the ones he wouldn't be in. The place just sparkled and then I told the kids not to breath till after he left...lol. We waited and waited and he never came. At that moment I figured my luck would be that he would just show up when I least expected him and my house would be turned upside down at that moment. You know....my bed unmade (you have to go through my bedroom to get to the bathroom in question), underwear in the bathroom floor, or the kitchen a mess with the contents of my two year old son's breakfast bowl plastered to the wall, which sometimes occurs when he decides he is finished...NOW.
Two days passed and no phone call...was he coming? Then tonight the phone rang....it was the dinner hour....Mr. Fix-it said, "I'll be right over." He lives five minutes away!! I raced around to clean the evening meal debris away. The children were still eating...Then in a flash he was pullling into the driveway....ahhhhhh! I went to the door and he had the needed part to fix the shower in his hand. He said my husband could probably put the part in himself if I preferred he didn't intrude. I assured him he would not be intruding....as my mind raced to think...right before supper I had given my littlest son a shower in our bathroom....what kind of mess had I left it in....if he fixed the shower I would have to lead him casually into rooms I had not had the time to check on...what was their current condition? I decided to protect my pride and said..."You know I would hate to inconvience you...My husband can probably fix the shower and if he needs help he can call you back." While making small talk and feeling as though I had narrowly escaped this potentially pride hurting experience...I looked down at my youngest son who had come to the door some time before and had, like a good boy, been quietly standing behind me. To my profound horror I discovered he was completely naked from the waist down. Gone were his pants and pull-ups. "Jason!!!" I exclaimed loudly, "What are you doing!" Horrified I looked at the man at my door....I wondered how long Jason had been standing there in all his glory with me trying to make small talk. This was probably the reason why the guy didn't "Want to intrude"...lol. I quickly assured the man that Jason didn't normally run around this way.
When the man was gone I had to laugh through embarrassed and mortified tears. With all my efforts to look like I had it together ....my fragile pride was fractured anyway.
Tonight...I am thanking God for kids. For if nothing else they keep us humble and remind us life isn't perfect....and if it were it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining.

Repair man's Surprise Visit

Our shower has been leaking from the shower head for some time now. I called a man we bought the house from (home warranty) to come and fix it Tuesday. He told me he would be there that evening to take a look at it. I spent the day cleaning my house making sure everything was in its place in every room...even the ones he wouldn't be in. The place just sparkled and then I told the kids not to breath till after he left...lol. We waited and waited and he never came. At that moment I figured my luck would be that he would just show up when I least expected him and my house would be turned upside down at that moment. You know....my bed unmade (you have to go through my bedroom to get to the bathroom in question), underwear in the bathroom floor, or the kitchen a mess with the contents of my two year old son's breakfast bowl plastered to the wall, which sometimes occurs when he decides he is finished...NOW.
Two days passed and no phone call...was he coming? Then tonight the phone rang....it was the dinner hour....Mr. Fix-it said, "I'll be right over." He lives five minutes away!! I raced around to clean the evening meal debris away. The children were still eating...Then in a flash he was pullling into the driveway....ahhhhhh! I went to the door and he had the needed part to fix the shower in his hand. He said my husband could probably put the part in himself if I preferred he didn't intrude. I assured him he would not be intruding....as my mind raced to think...right before supper I had given my littlest son a shower in our bathroom....what kind of mess had I left it in....if he fixed the shower I would have to lead him casually into rooms I had not had the time to check on...what was their current condition? I decided to protect my pride and said..."You know I would hate to inconvience you...My husband can probably fix the shower and if he needs help he can call you back." While making small talk and feeling as though I had narrowly escaped this potentially pride hurting experience...I looked down at my youngest son who had come to the door some time before and had, like a good boy, been quietly standing behind me. To my profound horror I discovered he was completely naked from the waist down. Gone were his pants and pull-ups. "Jason!!!" I exclaimed loudly, "What are you doing!" Horrified I looked at the man at my door....I wondered how long Jason had been standing there in all his glory with me trying to make small talk. This was probably the reason why the guy didn't "Want to intrude"...lol. I quickly assured the man that Jason didn't normally run around this way.
When the man was gone I had to laugh through embarrassed and mortified tears. With all my efforts to look like I had it together ....my fragile pride was fractured anyway.
Tonight...I am thanking God for kids. For if nothing else they keep us humble and remind us life isn't perfect....and if it were it wouldn't be nearly as entertaining.

Family Portraits

Today I took my six children to have their pictures taken. My oldest daughter is in college in Kentucky and couldn't be present for the exciting occasion or there would have been seven kids in the photo. I can't believe how exhausting picture taking can be. Trying to get everyone to smile and hold their heads just right is quite a task....and that isn't even mentioning all the preparation before the photograph ..... making sure all the clothes being wore are clean and not of any color that would clash with the sibling sitting beside them in the picture.
While I was applying some last minute spit to strands of hair that didn't want to lay in their proper position...I was reminded how miraculous God's gift of family is. Those of us with children know just how intense the daily grind can sometimes become....family can begin to mean to us one more load of laundry to do....or an evening meal to prepare just when we think we can't take one more thing on our "plate"....but may we never forget that all those little messers, all those mouths to feed, the husband hogging our side of the bed at night is God's special gift to us, souls that will never die made in God's own image to remind us of Him. Be mindful of this when you fill that sippy cup up one more time....or when you slide to your edge of the bed with a husband snoring loudly in you ear. Thank God for the dirt and grime on little hands requiring your attention; providing you with the opportunity to look deep into your loved one's eyes a moment made to take a mental photograph.... one you'll treasure for years to come when children won't be around to ask for small favors.
Photos taken in studios will be filed away in albums confined to bookshelves or displayed in dusty picture frames...but the family portraits I think most treasured are the ones imprinted on our hearts.....the ones mentallly taken while spending time in the shelter of our homes....without the backlights, drop cloths, and adjustable stools.

Religion vs Christianity

Religion vs Christianity

What is the difference between Religion and Christianity? The line between the two seems to
become more and more blurred everyday.

Romans 2:13 - (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law
shall be justified.
James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

The Religious are schooled in the right things to say and do....lots of times they can quote
large passages of Scripture defining what they "believe"...however the Christian knows
true belief is in the doing not the saying. This is where the religious fall short...they say
they know what is right....but they perform very little to none of what they say.
The religious are swept along on the tide of their whims and flesh.
They are comfortable with their sin nature....they secretly are even happy to dwell with it.

Christianity is knowing what the Bible says to do....and doing it...through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.
Sure, a Christian might fall every now and again...but when they do they get up and repent
and start over again....doing what the Scripture says....living it day in and day out.

Proverbs 24:16 - For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

The Christian will fight a battle with sin every day....They will not be content to dwell with it.

Are you a Christian?....or just Religious?.....Pray about it..

Is Your Name Written in the Book of Life?

The Book of Life...The most important book there is....the only list you'll ever be on that really
matters whether or not your name is found therein. Shouldn't we know how to be placed on
this list....and if there are any ways to be removed from this all important book?
This journal entry is a result of a study on the Book of Life...and what I learned may shock you.
So, reader, read on.

One of the first things I discovered in my study about the Book of Life is the fact that only the
names of those who have had a personal salvational experience can even get their names in
this Holy Book.

Phillipians 4:3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with
me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in
the book of life.

Here Paul is speaking to fellow laborers...as he calls them...true yokefellows....we all know
Paul's criteria of faithful service...not just anybody could or would get labeled a fellow laborer
with him.

We also find a passage in Luke which must refer to the book of life by reason of it is the only
book in heaven recorded in scripture as having names written in it.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather
rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

In light of the passages we have just read a question naturally comes to mind.....If only the
saved are written in the book of life...can the saved names be blotted (or taken out) of the
book of life through sin?

Exodus 32: 31-33 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned
a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now; if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not
blot me, I pray thee out of thy book which thou hast written. And the Lord said unto Moses,
Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

By this passage, we see that the righteous because of personal sin can have their names blotted
(or taken) out of the book in heaven.

Psalm 69:27-28 Add iniquity unto their iniquity, and let them not come into thy righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

So, we see here, only the righteous have their names written in the book of life and through
iniquity it can be taked out.
It is interesting to note: the Hebrew word for blot in these passages is Machah....which means
to erase, abolish, blot out, destroy, put out, utterly wipe away or wipe out.

With all this in mind, and the fact Revelation was written to the seven churches....a book
we can surmise was written to Christians....this warning found in Revelation about having one's
part taken away out of the book of life and the holy city is particularly interesting...

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of prophecy of
this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that
are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city and from
the things which are written in this book.

Even a child would understand this passage to mean one must have first had a part in the
book of life and the holy city to have it taken away. Also, if this person being warned were
never saved God could not take away something that a lost man or woman never
had a right to in the first place.

You may be asking....What happens to those whose names are not in the book of life?
The Bible says they are thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.

Seeing the names of formerly saved persons can be blotted out of the book of life it must
therefore be impossible for the doctrine of Once Saved Always Saved to be true!!!!
It is interesting to note that the Greek for the words fearful and unbelieving in the next cited
passage can mean the faithless and disobedient. Also it is interesting to note that the list of
people who are in hell does not just end with unbelievers!

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful and unbelieving and the abominable, and the murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

Obviously, these people's names are not written in the book of life because they are thrown
into the lake of fire. We can gather from this the ones whose names ARE in the book of life
ARE NOT the fearful, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters,
or liars.
To not go to the holy city because your part is taken away (as stated in Rev 22:18-19) is to
be left outside that holy city.

Revelation 22:14-15 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. For WITHOUT are dogs and
sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and
maketh a lie.

The Book of Life truly is the most important book there is. Why do you think what is required
to be included in this book isn't more taught and talked about? If it were, I am sure, all those
passages on faith and faithfulness going hand in hand would mean more. All those passages,
on enduring to the end and finishing the race set before us, would ring a little truer. We would
walk daily with Christ...just a little closer...and we would deny ourselves more and take up
our cross and follow Christ. I know we would repent a lot more and strive to be more obedient.

This truth concerning the book of life and the saved being blotted out has been there all along.
Isn't it sad when what has been right in front of our eyes....startles and surprises us?

I ask the question again...in light of what you have read....Is your name written in the book of
life? Pray about it!!!!!

What's Important

What's Most Important

What's most important in life?

Things which cause heartache and strife?

Daily pains that cut like a knife?

Is this what's important in life?



Is it money, possesions, and fame?

Your heritage or good family name?

Is it recognition or worldly acclaim?

What's important's not one and the same.



For what's most important indeed

Is what too often we pay little heed

Like the touch of a friend when in need

Kindness in action, in word, or in deed



What's important begins with this seed

A growing flower 'midst a garden of weeds

Bringing cheer to your heart when it bleeds

Now this seed we call charity



But this seed that is too little known

In truth can only be sown

By those who kneel before the throne

Of the Lord Jehovah: Who is charity

Written by: L.L.H.

Copyrighted 2001

1 Corinthians 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

CHARITY....1 : benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity 2a : generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also : aid given to those in need b : an institution engaged in relief of the poor c : public provision for the relief of the needy

Truth

Truth. Everyone is searching for it...but very few want to see it, hear it, or experience it. We live in a world trying to escape the truth...with creams that promise less wrinkles....clothes which promise to conceal pounds, and a multi-million dollar plastic surgery industry.

What is truth? Our culture today says truth is relative. Those newly “enlightened” claim "Truth is whatever you decide for yourself." This theory proves its own self to be false....for instance...if I weigh 999 pounds and I decide that my version of the truth will be that I am not fat... even though I may deceive myself into thinking I am thin… the real truth will smack me in the face whenever I sit down and break a chair not properly constructed for my massive size, or anytime I go clothes shopping only to realize I cannot even fit my little toe into a size six dress. My “thin” version of the truth will only survive as long as I choose to blind myself to reality.

Truth exists. There is a truth apart from what we decided for ourselves …it is called God’s Word. The Bible, in its uncut version, is extremely unpopular. It has the audacity to label everyone sinners! For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12

It says we are incapable of doing any good on our own. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

The Bible also lets us know; no sin will enter into heaven and then goes on to tell us where unrepentant sinners go….HELL. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 The Bible states the only way to avoid this condemnation is to hear God’s Word, which is true, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, who sent Christ, as our Savior. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24

Now many sinners will immediately proclaim “THIS CAN’T BE TRUTH…IT IS TOO HARSH….AND IT DOESN’T LEAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS…THEREFORE IT MUST BE WRONG.” These same people will go on pretending they’ll never die and ignoring the lash from their conscience. These are the same people who are devastated by their 99 year old Grandmother dying…because it doesn’t fit into their version of the truth….that they will live forever. Whenever they briefly face the fact of their own mortality and their conscience begins to bother them; they see a shrink or take a pill….anything to avoid reality…but sad to say…for some …DEATH…will be the only thing that wakes them up to the Truth. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Luke 16:24



Truth separates friends and families. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:32-37 When a Christian lives and speaks the truth they should not be surprised to find themselves at odds with the world around them. The Christian is motivated by a completely different reasoning such as: …shortness of time…certainty of death…keeping a clear conscience before God…etc. The Bible refers to a Christian as a stranger and a pilgrim. When a Christian accepts the Bible as the final authority in his life; he is certain to appear as a stranger, living in a foreign land, whenever he finds himself amongst the world. The Bible does not say he MAY be reviled and persecuted…it says he SHALL be.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matthew 5:11

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

2 Timothy 3:12-13

Truth sets us free. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:32 God cannot tell a lie …God, that cannot lie…Titus 1:2

…therefore He is truth. Whenever we embrace this truth…that the Bible is the truth… we will be set free from the world’s philosophy that says “Truth is whatever you decide for yourself…whatever makes you happy…whatever makes you feel good.” We will understand the fact that a Christian marches to the beat of a different drum. We are not on this earth to win a popularity contest. We are here to shine our lights in a dark world. 14 Ye are the light of the world. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14&16 Even though the truth, we embrace as Christians, may cause us to receive persecution on earth that same truth if we hold fast our faith will protect us in the world to come.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4

Faith

Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

PASSIVE faith accepts the Word as true - But never moves….ACTIVE faith begins the work to do - and thereby proves.

PASSIVE faith says, “ I believe it! Every word of God is true. Well, I know He hath not spoken what He cannot, will not, do. He hath bidden me, “ Go forward!” but a closed up way I see, When the waters are divided soon in Canaan’s land I’ll be. Lo! I hear His voice commanding “Rise and walk: take up thy bed and stretch forth thy withered member! Which for so long hath been dead.” When I am a little stronger, then, I know I’ll surely stand. When there comes a thrill of healing, I will use with ease my other hand. Yes, I know that God is able! And full willing all to do: I believe that every promise, sometime, will to me come true.”

ACTIVE faith says “I believe it! And the promise now I take. Knowing well, as I receive it, God, each promise real will make. So I step into the waters, finding there an open way; Onward press, the land possessing; nothing can my progress stay. Yea, I rise at His commanding, walk straightway and joyfully. This, my hand, so sadly shriveled, as I reach, restored shall be. What beyond His faithful promise, would I wish or do I need? Looking not for “signs or wonders” I’ll no contradiction heed. Well, I know that “God is able,” and full willing all to do: I believe that every promise, at this moment can come true.”

PASSIVE faith but praises in the light, When sun doth shine….ACTIVE faith will praise in darkest night - Which faith is thine?

- Selected -

This is a selection which inspired me many years ago. I do not know who the author is or I would give him or her due credit.

1.And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. Mark 6:1-6

I believe a passive faith is what many Christian’s possess. I have struggled with this malady in my own life and I am sure you have as well. It is something we should STRUGGLE to be free from. We should constantly pray that the Lord would give us active faith.

There are “Christians,” however, who do not struggle to be free from this form of disbelief, they fully surrender to it. Their faith is one which believes God is capable of doing boundless miracles….just not in their lives. They spread their infectious disease of doubt…endlessly stating all the factors which make their situation hopeless and render them virtual victims of their circumstances. They may even go so far as to claim those having an active faith suffer from false hope. They pride themselves in being realists, justifying their doubt, and making it into a thing of virtue. The Bible says we can prevent God from doing a mighty work in our life because of our disbelief....Doubt is never a virtue even when cloaked in the vesture of realism. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6 Not only is unbelief not a virtue it is a sin! But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

May every Christian pray to be counted amongst the few who have enough faith and confidence in Christ Jesus to witness and experience His saving power and healing touch. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. Mark 6:5

Knowing how doubt displeases God, how it is labeled as sin, and how it ties (for lack of a better word...though God's hands are never bound if He chooses to work) God's hands in our lives, let us anytime we feel doubt in our hearts; pray this prayer, with the father, who received healing for his demonic boy, at the feet of Christ. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark 9:24

Let us remember, God's people are the FAITHFUL few....not the FAITHLESS many.