To the first, we have to point out several facts. About 95% of all the “professors” of Freemasonry have no clue as to what the actual agenda of their organization is. Freemasonry in all of its iterations (i.e. Prince Hall, Scottish Rite and York Rite) consistis of aobut 33 different levels of knowledge, refered to as “degrees”. Whereas Freemasonry boasts well over 6 million members worldwide, only a small percentage of these ever progress beyond the first three degrees that are known as the “Blue Lodge”. The reason for this is that most regular lodge business is conducted on this level, so moving further is possible but not always encouraged. The truth about the organization is only revealed to those that achieve 30 dergrees or higher, but even then only to about 5% of those that make it that far.

It is important to note here that most professing Freemasons see the exact same thing from within the organization as those that are on the outside looking in. Namely, a philanthropic organization that offers a fraternal bond and a way to serve ones community. They see an organization that boasts members within government, finance, military and even the clergy. Often the people they respect most are members and have been influential in their decision to join.

So, if this is what the organization is about, then what is so wrong with it, right? What could be wrong with an organization that can trace its history back to at least 9 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, over 12 sitting U.S. Presidents, some of the most well known and influential scientists, researchers, authors and pastors in the history of our country, not to mention the rest of the world, right? I mean, surely if there were something “evil” about it then there wouldn’t be so many Pastors, Elders and deacons partaking in it.  At least that is what we would assume, but again, keep in mind that most of these have not progressed far enough to see past what they are presented with in the Blue Lodge.

What is that, you ask? Well the first three degrees are inundated with biblical language and corruptions of biblical stories. So much so that on the surface it would appear that it were solidly founded upon the Holy bible. In it you will find references to Solomon and his temple, to Boaz, Ruth and others (both ficticious and real). You are told and taught that Freemasonry is designed to help a “good man, become better” and that it will aid you in your personal walk with Christ. So, yes it is designed to make one believe that it is Christian in nature.

Ironically, the discussion of religion and politics is prohibited within the lodge.

Now, to the information that should stand out even to those of the Blue lodges. If you proclaim to be a Christian and are even remotely versed in scripture, then you will be familiar with the folllowing passages, and I plead with you to be honest with yourself and whether or not we violate these commands by being a member of Freemasonry or not.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?”

I point out this verse for a specific reason. As stated above, the discussion of religion is actually prohibited within the lodge setting. That mandate was created to keep members from feeling alienated or seperated. You see, ANYONE can be a member of Freemasonry, regardless of their religious affiliation, or even of their belief in God. In fact, one of the tenants of Freemasonry is that God is known by multiple names and that Allah, Buddha, Krishna, Aum, Rah, etc., are one and the same god. So, sitting within a Masonic lodge and acknowledging the “Grand Architect of the Universe” together with those that would profess belief in a god other than the God of the Holy Bible, is a direct violation of this command. In fact, when one becomes a Shriner (which most 32nd degree Masons do) there are placed on the altar a copy of the Holy Bible and the Quran, side by side.

Galatians 1:6-9 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you recieved, let him be accursed.”

I mention this verse for an equally specific reason. But you may ask what that couild be since no one is preaching in a Masonic lodge, right? Well, that depens on what you are listening to. As stated above, Freemasonry claims to be designed to make a good man better. And it also claims to lead the initiated to more light or understanding about the “Grand Architect of the Universe” (which is nothing more than a universal name given to god, or the supreme being). I have to ask a question of those that are at this point still finding themselves defending Freemasonry and saying that it is a Christian organization. If it be true that it’s Christian in nature and at its core, and if be true that it leads one to be a better Christian, then why I ask is Christ NEVER mentioned in any of the rituals or initiations??? A Christianitiy without Christ is one that cannot save any souls or make any man better! So, you see how again, being seated in a Masonic lodge and fratenizing under the system that Freemasonry claims to be is allowing yourself to sit under another gospel!

I pray that I have adequately proven my point that Freemasonry is NOT a Christian organization and is not based upon the bible.

Now I will venture to point out to you that it is truly evil at its core and its agenda is one that is not only to be avoided, but actively fought against! As I stated before, the truth of this organization is only revealed to those that seek higher degrees or “more light”. But you don’t have to avhieve 30 degrees or higher to see the truth about who is actually worshipped in this pseudo-religion. In the book “Duncans Ritual of Freemasonry”, in the Royal Arch degrees there is a section that one must navigate past in which a secret name is given. This name must be repeated by a rule of 3 times 3 (note the similarity to the rule used in witchcraft), that being that it takes three members to pronounce the name. That name being “Jebulon” or “Jah-Baal-Aum”. This name is a self professed amalgamation of three different names, Jehovah, Baal, and Aum or On. So you have here Jewish, Syrian or Chaldean and Egyptian. A corruption of Gods name and His essence. Shocking, right? Well, we’re not done yet. There is a great contemporary of Freemasonry by the name of Albert G. Pike (yes a Ku Klux Klan member) that wrote a book called “Morals and Dogma”, which is widely accepted as an encyclopedia to Freemasonry, but was initially only intended to be read by those who have achieved 30 or more degrees. In this book he writes, “LUCIFER, the Light-Bearer .. Is it he who bears the Light?  Doubt it not!” Yes, it is taught and believed that Lucifer is the true “good god”. When studied for what it is one sees that the ancient Kabbalah is at the heart of Freemasonry and that the doctrines that are taught are truly Luciferian in nature.

So, not only is Freemasonry NOT  a Christian organization, but it teaches everything that would be considered to be contrary or “anti” to the Christian faith.

Now, if at this point you still aren’t convinced, then at least you have some of the information before you and can at begin to study it for yourselves. I trust and pray that if you are sincere in your quest for true knowledge and freedom from this organization that God will show you the way out, just as he has with me. Yes, with me. I don’t just speak on things here that I ‘heard” from someone else, but that I have experienced and learned myself. I was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner, but God saw fit to pull me out of this deception and I trust He will do the same for anyone else that finds themselves in the position I was in.

I’ve been asked if I believe Freemasonry to be a threat to the world. I am not a conspiracy theorist so I would answer that by stating, it depends on your socio-political bent. But I will say that it is by far one of the greatest if not the greatest threat to the church at this time. I say this because it is comprised of millions of members and undoubtedly a great majority of those are professing Christians. That means that not only are lay members within the church but also Pastors and other leaders being taught a gospel that is not of the bible, but their drive to share the true gospel is being dampened since they are of the mindset that all religions or belief systems are equally valid. If we are led to believe that it matters not what we call God or how we worship Him, then there is no reason to share the gospel with someone of a different belief! And what’s more, if we are contstantly taught that we can have a relationship with God apart from Christ then our own salvation is a stake.

This is a group that is in need of being evangelized and reached out to. Share the gospel with them and offer them not your judgement or criticism, but rather your love and fellowship. Realize that in most cases (as it was with me), their entire social structure and network consists of other Freemasons and Eastern Stars and letting it go will be something that is very difficult. They may feel betrayed, decieved and very angry. But assure them of the true light, that light and truth that is Jesus Christ!

Now, I realize that the common questions that will be asked are, “can someone continue to be a Mason or Eastern Star and just not believe what is revealed further in?” and “can we not make it into a Christian organization?”

To the first, no, because it would be tantamount to saying that “I don’t believe what al qaeda does, but I will continue to be a member because of the benefits to me.”

To the second, no, because ultimately it matters what is at the heart or core of any matter. If the desire is to maintain the fellowship and fraternal bond AND be obedient to Gods word, then I simply ask this, why not create a brand new organization that truly has the God, Christ and the Holy Bible as its foundation?

So, in closing, can a Christian be a Freemason? NO

We must first evaluate whether or not a person is a believer themselves, before we can seek guidance from them. And I propose to you that merely saying God’s name and mentioning Him every now and then doesn’t prove that the person is a Christian. Ask yourself some key questions; who, what and why. Who, is the person talking about when they say “god”? Anytime that God is presented in a manner which does not reflect the solid teachings of scripture you can rest assured that you can stop listening to the person doing the presenting. What, are they associating with their reason for following the god they are talking about? If it is merely for physical and material blessings that they are so thankful and wish to acknowledge him, then I would exhort you to dig a little deeper before you take their counsel. Why, are they telling you that you need to seek the god they are presenting to you? If, again, it is no more than to seek him, because he is in the “career changing business”, or because he can “make your life better” or “make you prosperous and healthy”, then it’s safe to say that they have no clue as to WHO the real God of the Bible is, WHAT He has truly done and continues to do for His children or WHY any of us should seek Him and follow His commands!

I submit to you that if anyone continuously talks of God, but never Jesus making it clear that we are to run to Him for salvation and redemption, or that He was and is the spotless and perfect sacrifice that allows us to stand before God with imputed righteousness and serve Him how we should, that person has yet to know God as Father and Jesus as Saviour and Lord for themselves!!!

To be clear, God did not send His son and the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ to this earth in the form of a man, to live amongst us vile and wretched people for 33+ years, then allow Him to be falsely accused, beaten, scourged, spit upon, cursed and humiliated, then finally brutally murdered by crucifixion, buried in a borrowed tomb, raised from the dead after three days to be seen by over 500 eye witnesses before ascending to the Father on High……just so you could have the career you wanted, the woman you desired, the lifestyle you craved, perfect health, prosperity or favor with people! He did it to save us from the consequences of our sins and redeem us back to the Father, for God’s glory alone….period!

Now, in closing, to get back to the subject of marriage. Let’s go with the analogy that it’s like a business and after 10 years in you can just walk away because you aren’t feeling like you got a return on your investment. Well, now let’s put it in proper context. Marriage was instituted by God (not man) and we are told in the fifth chapter of Ephesians that it is a shadow of Christ and the Church. Husbands represent Christ in a marriage and wives represent the Church. So, sticking with the analogy, let’s say that Christ can just choose to walk away from His bride (the church, remember?) because He doesn’t feel He’s received a return on His investment. I think I can safely speak for all of us that we’d all justly be on our way to Hell if that were the case, since there is no way that God can ever get a return on a priceless investment! We are all a liability to God. That’s why I thank Him that I had nothing to do with my salvation and don’t play a part in His keeping me! So, no, marriage isn’t a business partnership and should never be seen as such.

Be VERY careful who you get your advice from…

February 8, 2011 – Gospel Recording Artist CAM interview

Cam Interview

Let me first mention what exactly the question pertains to. How many of us have been in a position at some point in our lives where we adopted the attitude of “I don’t care what you think of me”, “I’m gonna do me, you just do you.”, “If you don’t like what I do, then you don’t have to be around me.”., etc.. Now I realize that it seems like it’s a God given right to do whatever you please in this world and your life. It seems obvious that if someone doesn’t like the things I do, they have the option of not being acquainted with me. In this modern culture where the progression and advancement of self is the chief goal in everyone’s life and privacy and the ability to ensure it are a multi-billion dollar industry, the notion of not being able to do what you want to do just because someone else may not approve seems like a ridiculous idea.

Yes, it’s true that you have your private life that no one can claim a right to be involved in. And it’s also true that you have your own private places where you can do as you will when you will. When you are at home you can do as you please in the privacy of your own home and expect no one to say anything to you. But that really isn’t the topic here and is another issue altogether. What we are talking about is whether or not you should care what people think of the things that they can see and witness with their own eyes. Should you care about what people think of your smoking, your drinking, your clubbing habits, or even the company you keep? Should it matter to you what others think of how you dress or how you talk? I say that if you call yourself a Christian and are a professing believer then the answer is a resounding YES!

Now, let’s be clear here; there are things that we do that are not sinful in and of themselves. Drinking isn’t condemned in the bible, being drunk is. So, yes, you may have the right and ability to do some things and you may even know from the word that you’re not sinning. But again, your rights aren’t the issue, your abilities aren’t the issue. We have more to be concerned about.

First of all we need to show concern for our fellow brothers and sisters. Let’s assume that you have been a Christian for 10 years and you are well versed in the scriptures, yet you drink every now and then and may even enjoy a cigarette here and there. Are you wrong or less of a believer for those things? Perhaps not. But now let’s say that you are doing these things out in public one day and a younger believer that knows you sees this. Now, this person is a babe in the word and isn’t that well versed in the scriptures, and he truly thinks that these are sinful. Should you care what this person thinks? According to 1st Corinthians 8, yes you should definitely care! Because you are not at liberty to do as you please if you know it could cause another brother or sister to stumble! In a situation your liberty is made void for the sake of another.

Secondly, we are called the salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-16). Let’s examine that. Salt was and is used to preserve meat among other things. So when we are told that we are the salt of this world, we are clearly being told that we are the reason for God preserving this creation (all for His glory, of course), and if we go out into this world and live as we did before we were saved or as the unbeliever, then we lose that saltiness and are no longer of use as a preservative. And if we are light then how can we not care how the world views us? Light dispels darkness, it doesn’t merge with it. So let your light shine so as to be visible to the darkened world, as a beacon to the lost. We don’t have the right to do as they do and thereby water down our profession!

Ultimately, upon our conversion and salvation, we become a slave to Christ. So, we are no longer our own and we no longer have the right to do as we please and go where we want. We are a reflection of our master and we need to be aware that the world is always watching and is always seeking to find some fault in those that profess to belong to God. We proclaim boldly that the God of the bible is the only true God and that salvation is only accomplished in Jesus Christ and none other. We teach with scripture that we become new creatures in Him and that all the old passes away. So let’s live our lives in accordance with the truths that we say we believe and yes, let’s start caring what others think.

YOUR LIFE IS NO LONGER YOUR OWN!!!!!

The Unspoken Word
hangs in the air like a cloud,
covering up the sun
or
bringing rain.
Not rain to irrigate but
rain to irritate-
pain to mirror hate,
affecting the hearer, wait..
No one heard-
The Unspoken Word.

The Unspoken Word-
Is it too hard to speak?
Or-unspoken, does it keep
those who would leap
from jumping?
Thought better kept to self, does the thought-if unshelved,
impact as though help had just came?

Or is it just rain?
Itself, disguised as a cloud,
in reality-so loud-in its absence.
Profound.
If we had sense, more now.
Since that word left unspoke,
Said so much – though no hope
Because faith was so broke.

The Unspoken Word.
What if life hung between
when you said what you mean
and that thing which it seemed?
If it teetered the line would you take any time?
Sacrifice any dime? Just to change any mind?

Speak the Unspoken Word.
Let your life be an unspoken verb-
taking action and heard by example preferred.
Let your speech be not slurred
remove UN from unspoken – tell truth to the broken.
The time is at hand.

Much of Christianity today has corrupted the Word of God, and what Christ set down as the only ‘term of peace’ that He accepts or the only condition of salvation He seeks has been mingled with the corrupt wisdom of men.  Salvation today has been brought down to a mere decision of men and not much to do with God, or a prayer you pray almost as an atonement in itself, or baptism in water and not much of you actually dying to sin, or simply some thing you can do at some point of your life to secure a seat in heaven, NOTHING of course is farther from the truth my friends.

Understand that I am not advocating some new standard for being a Christian, but only introducing the forgotten, irreducible standard of God.  Friends have you truly surrendered your ‘all’ or are you playing games with God?

What is salvation?  Why do you need this salvation?  What is the only condition to receiving Salvation?  What does it mean to surrender?  These are all questions we must grapple with, and by the grace of God I am going to lay down by Scripture the answers to these fundamental questions.  Listen you must know the answer, it’s your soul in balance, what is of more importance than this?

First, what is salvation?  Is it just God taking you to heaven because He just loves you so much?  Is it just some decision you make because you want the best for yourself?  What did truly Jesus come to save us from?  See friends salvation is not in a decision, it’s not in a plan, it’s not in a book, it’s not in a baptism of water, it’s not in a prayer…Christianity when pure and undefiled holds true that Salvation is God Himself.  Yes my friends, or do you think that David or Isaiah say in vain when they declare, “Behold, God is my salvation”?  (Isaiah 12:2, Psalm 18:2)  God is not just a means to salvation, friends God is the end of salvation, He is salvation, apart from Him there is none. This is important you see, because it removes the focus of being saved from you and you running from sin, or trying to establish better morals by your decisions, but rather to God and Him alone as the prime focus, and Him abiding in you to actually form Himself in you, or in other words, to put Salvation in you, and this is done as you surrender.

Why do you need to be saved and from what are you saved?  See there is something that blocks you from Salvation, yes from God Himself, and that is your SELF, and the sin you have loved so much.  The sin that you love, God hates infinitely, and as long as you continue to love it, you will surely be thrown in Hell, guaranteed friends.  What does this mean?  You must stop loving sin and actually hate it and in place of that LOVE HIM more than ANYTHING or you will be DAMNED.  Now this hating of sin is done at the bidding of the Spirit of God, but NOT without the SURRENDER of your will.  “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear, BUT your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear you.”  Isaiah 59:1,2.  Friends, Self or sin blocks you from all that God can do in you and for you, do you believe that He cannot hear you except you surrender or are you among the multitudes who don’t believe that surrender is important?  I assure you, Self or sin, which are one in the same, MUST be SURRENDERED, before He is able to actually abide in you and perfect His image in you, and this is the sole purpose of your existence, it’s about HIM not you.  Salvation doesn’t just take place when you make a decision, it takes place DAILY after He comes in your heart, and if that work is not evident in you continually by a consistent surrender resulting in the fruit of holiness, you are not saved to begin with.  Simply put, you need to be saved from Yourself, ironically because you are against being saved, you are against Salvation, almost as though you desire destruction, and this is the INSANITY of sin.

Understanding of the madness of his/her character, a sinner is then by the power of the Holy Spirit convinced of his need to surrender ALL.  In deed we have all sang or heard that song “I surrender all”, but I am convinced now more than ever that many Christians have not surrendered because they have been taught a different standard, and though they profess to be saved, they are actually abiding in God’s wrath and using His name in vain.  Now why would I say such a statement?  “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven;”- Matthew 7:21.  Why will they be denied the Heaven they thought to have had as a guaranteed destination for them?  Because they did not Surrender their ‘own’ will, hence they did not do the will of God, but rather continued in their ‘own’ will.  Jesus through Scripture calls for full surrender, or in other words, a full transfer of ownership of your life, from you to Him as the sole owner of your life and Lord of ALL that you do.  Jesus said “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not ‘ALL’ that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:33.  What a condition to following Christ!  The rich young ruler in Luke 118:18 could not be saved because he didn’t surrender ‘ALL’.  Look friends, Jesus has taken the wrath of God for us, and now His righteousness is extended to us, but we must give up our life to receive His, and NOTHING LESS of course can do.  Now to surrender ALL means your life is no longer yours, but the life you now live is unto Him, meaning your time is no longer yours, your body, your mind, your money, your house, your car, literary every possession you call your ‘own’ is absolutely His, and you have NO  right to it, except only to do that which He says to do or rather what He does in you, you can’t even eat when or what you want, that is the extent to which HE IS LORD over you.  You are to ‘sell’ all your possessions to actually inherit eternal life, your biggest treasure being your very life.

This is the cost of being a disciple, IT WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING.  Have you considered it before? It will cost you an easy life, you will have to deny yourself and this world, you will have to often stand alone, you will have to suffer daily for God’s sake, you will have to neglect every thing you do for yourself and you must now do all for Him.  His term of peace is still the same, He calls for a full surrender my friends, have you surrendered ALL for Jesus?  Because if you haven’t, you are probably yet to even be justified in His sight, and counted as a disciple or follower of Christ.  You are called to give all that you are in order to have all that He is, this is what saving faith is, and anything less doesn’t meet His standard, even if it may meet your church’s standard, or your pastor’s standard.

Conclusion is this my friends, “Whosoever shall seek  to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”- Luke 17:33  How much of your life have you lost to Him, some, most, almost or ALL?  He cannot accept anything less, because see, He doesn’t just want a sacrifice, He desires that you present a ‘HOLY’ sacrifice, and nothing less of ‘WHOLE’ is an holy sacrifice.  Surrender your will to Him, your mind to Him, your body to Him, your ALL to Him, and He will give you true life, and I tell you, it’s all worth it, nothing else can compare to it, doesn’t even come close.

May God, the search of our hearts, speak to our souls.

FreDdy.

See brothers and sisters, I am not grieved because I am pursuing what we all will label as ‘worldly’, but rather the things we all pursue as good things, like education, a career, success, a good wife, financial freedom, good morals, good friends, a good religious life, and so much more.  All of these things don’t sound like worldly things do they?

Yet these are the very things that I believe the Devil has used to deceive almost all people in this world today, more than he has used what is commonly known as worldly.  Brothers and sisters what these ‘good’ things I mentioned have the power to do is to make life more about them more than it is about God, and this is the vanity of life.  Run from it friends.

Many of us today labor, our days are filled up with stuff that the world has told us is important, but when it’s all set and done, how will you answer this simple question…WHY?  Why do you do what you do my friends?  This is I believe the most important question that anyone who seeks to do the will of God must ask themselves.  Why do you go to work?  Why do you go to school?  Why do you want a good wife or husband?  Why do you want money?  Why do you want good morals?  Why do you want a good religious life?

O friend answer yourself with all honesty, and then examine your answers to see if it fits with scripture…

Friends the Devil has enticed us and taught us that God is desirable and even useful, but He is not necessary in life and so we must seek other things in place of God, instead of God, or in addition to God, all of which are WRONG.  How many times my brothers and sisters do you wake up in the morning and you can’t do anything before you fall at the feet of Jesus, communing with Him in prayer and His Word?  Not because you want a good religious life, but because you can’t go on without Him…Because HE IS YOUR LIFE.  How many times do you acknowledge that you are lukewarm, but despite of that realization, you continue with your life before you address this with God.

I believe a man shouldn’t eat, or sleep, or go to school, or go to work, or DO ANYTHING ELSE, if his heart is not right with God.  Don’t you eat a meal my friends, don’t you wake up for school students, don’t you go to work business man if you know in your heart that you have neglected God as the ONLY important thing in life.  Except He becomes more important to you than the very food you eat, you have NO RIGHT to live.

O my friends, is the most important thing in life to you the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?  I mean really my friends…is it?  If you can continue your day without a thought of Jesus, without meditating on His Word every moment, without praying continually in your heart, without making Him the sole purpose of all that you do and every decision that you make, I tell you plainly my friends, Jesus is NOT everything to you and you must correct this NOW.

See it’s simple, life is not about you and your success, it’s not about the best life you can have now, it’s not about the best education or job, life at the core is all about HIM…it’s all for Jesus, and if you don’t do what you do for Him, then your whole life at best is VANITY.  In other words it’s pointless, purposeless, and in vain.

Except Jesus, His Kingdom, and His righteousness consume the very thing you call life, I mean every thought, purpose, decision, deed and word; except this is true in your life, you are yet to be saved and you are yet to loose your life for His sake.  O friends I’m not saying you have to work to be saved, I’m saying you have to surrender your life to be saved, and anyone who tells you any other standard is a liar and the truth is not in him.

The Gospel is after your life, the very core of your existence must be submitted to the Lord and Captain of your soul, Jesus Christ. “Therefore whosoever heareth these things of mine and DOETH them,  I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” – Matthew 7:24.  Let us build our lives upon a rock, upon Him, o let us run from the vanity of our life.  May we say with Paul, “For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain.”- Philippians 1:21.

Let His Word penetrate you deeply and DO IT, lest we die. May God give us the grace.

FreDdy.

O how we have forgotten what it means to be unspotted from the world.  “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?  Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the ENEMY OF GOD”- James 4:4.  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.   If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15.

Brothers and sisters, have we become enemies of God while professing faith in Him?  I think it’s best if we first of all describe what is the ‘world’ and what does it mean to be in friendship with it.

1 John 5:19 says ‘and the ‘WHOLE WORLD’ lieth in wickedness.”  In other words, those that are in the world are controlled by the Devil and cannot defend themselves against him.  Again it says that the Devil is the ‘god of this world’, the ‘prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the children of disobedience’ (2 Cor 4:4, Eph 2:2).

Question, how does the Devil control the world?

Paul when speaking of warfare, He mentions that through the weapons of God given unto us by His Spirit, we are to ‘cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every ‘THOUGHT’ to the obedience of Christ;’- 2 Cor 10:5.  Do you see where the war is my friends? It’s in the MIND.  Paul again says, “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your MIND.”- Romans 12:2.  It’s by the mind that men conform or transform from the world.  Either we have the mind of the world or the mind of Christ.

It’s all in the MIND my friends.  See this is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, because many believers today deceive themselves to be UNSPOTTED from the world because they go to church, because they believe in Jesus, because they do better than the world, and do Christian ‘things’, but all along, THEIR MINDS are consumed by the love of the world.

May I ask you a question?  What does your mind ‘LOVE’ to think about?  It’s with the MIND that you LOVE the world, or LOVE GOD.  What controls your daily decisions?  Is it Love for God or Love for yourself ( the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life)?  What leads you to watch the things you watch, or listen to what you listen to, or buy the things you buy, or say the things you say?  O this is deep my friends, worldliness is deeply rooted in us, do not deceive yourself by dealing with the surface of things, rather ‘be renewed in the spirit of your mind’- Eph 4:23.

Worldliness is everywhere today in professed Christians, friends we think as the world thinks (about ourselves), we invest our money as the world invests their money (spending money primarily on ourselves), we spend out TIME as the world spends their time (Always on facebook and myspace and twitter, watching television and music that God hates but we LOVE it), we teach our children as the world teaches theirs (with worldly methods, TV shows and so forth, INSTEAD OF HIS WORD), we entertain ourselves as the world entertains themselves (Entertainment is the Devil’s substitute for JOY), we love to hang out with our unbelieving friends more than the Children of God (What fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness?), our views on relationships and marriage are as carnal as the world’s views, BUT we think because we go to Church and do Christian ‘things’ that we can be right with God?  This is Deception brothers and sisters, REPENT and rend your heart before God that He may be merciful upon us.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk NOT as other Gentiles walk (sinners), in the vanity of THEIR MIND.”   “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord, WALK AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT:”  “And have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather REPROVE them.”  “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”  (Eph 4:17, Eph 5:8, 11, 14).

Brothers and sisters, this is the time to be filled with Spirit of God, not with the spirit of the world, and I can guarantee you that if you sit there with your MIND unguarded and you let it wander from Scripture, you are NOT going to be filled with His Spirit, and Christ will come and find you sleeping, drunken with the world.  O I warn you my Christian brothers and sisters, REPENT for the Kingdom of God is at hand, the end of all things is near, be ye therefore SOBER and watch unto prayer…Do not be spotted by the world, and let your testimony turn powerless, for HIS SAKE.

May God give us the grace to stand…

FreDdy.

Chapter 7 of Mark records one of the many encounters that Jesus had with the Pharisees and scribes, which were known to be the most ‘religious people’ and even the most righteous among the people.  In this specific encounter, they saw that some of the disciples of Jesus ate food without washing their hands as the tradition were, and this according to the religious people of those day, was a great sin.  In fact as you study through the 4 gospels, you will find out that the pharisees had invented many traditions on which they judged righteousness by, including what not to touch, what not to taste, what not to handle, how long not to walk on sabbath, and many more, which all had an outward appearance of godliness but lacked any substance.

Jesus responded to them by saying they ‘transgress the commandment of God by their tradition’ – Matthew 15:3.

And I was pondering on Jesus’ response, it was clear that many of us today have picked up many traditions on which we judge others by, while all along transgressing the commandment of God. Let’s first begin by laying out what the commandment of God is.  Jesus said the greatest commandment of God is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” and then He said the other is “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”- Matthew 22:37-39. By this and this alone are we to examine ourselves.

However, this is often not the case, because the commandment of God has been found difficult and rejected, we have formed traditions that we may follow so we can still ‘feel’ spiritual without actually ‘being’ spiritual.  For the Pharisees, it had become ceremonies, and all of these external laws.  What is it for us?  You will be surprised, it’s very similar.

Many Christians today call themselves Christians because of the ‘activities’ they do, they go to church, they pray before they eat, possibly before they sleep, they may attend Bible study or prayer meeting once in a while, they may even be involved in ministries, listen to Christian music, and have their favorite pastors, they keep all the ‘Christian’ holidays like Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and Christmas, others may think themselves to be more spiritual because of what day they worship on, between Saturday and Sunday, or what type of foods they eat, and they do all of these as an obligation that makes them right with God and feeling good about themselves and making others to do the same that they may  glory in their flesh.  In short, the man-made standards we have formed to ‘feel’ more spiritual without actually ‘being’ spiritual are endless, and these are what I believe Christ will label as traditions and doctrines of men.

By these external things, many Christians judge themselves to be Christian, and judge others to be unchristian, thus ‘making the commandment of God of none effect by tradition.”- Matthew 15:6.  Jesus will go on to say, “This people draw near unto me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their ‘HEART’ is far from me.”- Matthew 15:8.

You see friends, this is the type of godliness God is looking for, not external ways of looking Christian, but He is looking for those who are pure in heart.  God is calling us to truly surrender to Him our hearts, not our sacrifices.  O brothers and sisters, why do we look for things to make ourselves righteous when all God wants is us drawing to Him in all sincerity, in prayer and studying His Word.  We are to seek ‘inner beauty’, to be washed and sanctified from ‘WITHIN’ and not just outwardly.

You who call yourselves believers, my question is, what makes you think you are a Christian?  Is it these activities you do daily, or is it the relationship you have with Jesus that is evident by the fruit you are bearing from within?  My prayer is that we get away from tradition or as some call it, religion, and truly begin to know the Lord by drawing unto Him with our hearts.  This is the only sacrifice and service that God would receive from us, our broken hearts. Let us give Him our hearts friends.

FreDdy

It’s one of the most dangerous and threatening parables Jesus ever gave.  Along with the parable,  there was also given me another verse that had a similar impact and theme.

“Take heed therefore how you hear…”  Luke 8:18, Woah!!!   When is the last time you ever taken heed not to what you hear, but ‘HOW’ you hear it?  Brothers and sisters we are called to take heed to ‘HOW’ we hear God’s Word.

The Parable of the Sower presented four types of ‘hearers’ of God’s Word and I believe you would do well to God, as well as to yourself, if  you would GENUINELY examine what type of hearer ‘YOU’ are.  There are only four types my friends, which one are you?

The first type of hearer Jesus says hears God’s Word but because they are closed to understanding God’s Word, whatever they hear is stolen by the Devil immediately, “lest they should believe and be saved.” -Luke 8:12.  Next type of hearer receives God’s Word with ‘gladness and joy’, but wait, ‘IT NEVER TAKES ROOT’, though ‘they believe for a while’ yet when temptation comes they fall away (Luke 8:13).  The next type of hearer actually has the Word of God take root in them, YES IT TAKES ROOT, but wait, the Word they hear is later on choked with cares of this world, riches and pleasures which they lust after, and though they bring forth fruit, it’s only FOR A SEASON (Luke 8:14).  Lastly, the fourth type of hearer hears with a ‘pure heart’, and having heard the Word, they keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience, yes friends, the last type of hearers have a true SAVING FAITH, and so when they hear God’s Word, they believe it AND DO IT to the saving of their souls (Luke 8:15).

Which one are you?  It’s a good question friends.  Does your walk with God consist of a ‘daily’ growth and abundance of fruit?  Are you ‘consistent’ in your walk with God or is it just a bunch of ups and downs like most professed Christians?  My brothers and sisters, ‘take heed how you hear’, so that you may not only be a hearer of the Word, but be a ‘DOER’, otherwise you will ‘deceive yourself.’  You will be hearing but never understanding, professing but never possessing, talking but never walking (James 1:22).

So question, how do we ‘take heed how we hear’?  I believe the answer lies in praying and pleading with God to give you first a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you, a willing and obedient spirit (Psalm 51:10).  Once God gives us a new heart, which He does for all ‘true believers’ that are broken in spirit, with the new heart comes a desire to read God’s Word and to know Him.  Also a growing desire and instinct to pray is another evidence of a new birth.  Set your heart to pray and read God’s Word, but not just read only, we are also called to ‘meditate’ on His Word day and night (Psalm 1:2).  Let the truth abide in the innermost parts of your being, and allow it to change your thinking, and your attitudes toward life.  Change is the only evidence you are a good hearer of His Word.

My prayer everyday when I read my Bible is that His Word will find residence in my heart.  Without the Word taking root it’s pointless my friends to read it, it will only puff you up, thinking that you have it, when you have no fruit to show for it.  Many Christians today, of whom I will call ‘unbelieving believers’, have deceived themselves and they boast in gifts instead of focusing on the fruit of the Spirit.  I used to be one like that, but I refuse to walk in that way anymore.  Christian activities or even gifts of the Holy Spirit are not the evidence of true conversion, but rather the fruit of the Holy Spirit which abounds more and more as He abides in you (Galatians 5:22,23).

In closing,  Jesus is commanding us to be ‘good hearers’ of His Word, once who abide in Him, and His Word abiding in us (John 15:7).  “Every branch ‘in me’ (these are ‘believers’) that beareth ‘NOT’ fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” – John 15:2.  Did you see that friends, some ‘believers’ who only are hearers of His Word will be ‘CUT OFF’ and taken away, because they don’t let the Word ABIDE AND TAKE ROOT, that they may bear fruit.  My prayer is that we would examine ‘HOW’ we hear God’s Word from today, and that in hearing and APPLYING, we will see the fruit of righteousness, let us no longer deceive ourselves.

“Take Heed How You Hear”.

FreDdy.