The not so glamours life of those who truly serve GOD

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ummhummmmm The not so glamours life of those who truly serve GOD:

 2 Cor 6:4 But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities,
2 Cor 6:5 In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger;
2 Cor 6:6 By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;
2 Cor 6:7 By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend];
2 Cor 6:8 Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest.
2 Cor 6:9 [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed;
2 Cor 6:10 As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.

Really does not represent enjoying prosperity and kicking back drinking lemonaide by the pool.

Bible lessons -Off the cuff From my FB Posts

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Matt 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
Matt 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. I was instructed by a minister when I accepted Jesus to go tell someone I was saved. I was obedient, I did not understand why at the time but I did later when I read the above scripture.30 minutes ago · Privacy: · Like ·

Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
11 Rom 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
27 minutes ago · Like

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I find it laughable when I see someone calls themselves Doctor this and Doctor that..lolol... and all they do is preach with a loud voice and provide a measure of entertainment. where is the power? After you calm down from all the excitement are you back where you started again????. The title "Doctor" encourages the flesh, GOD could care less.2 hours ago · Privacy: · Like ·

 ‎1 Thess 1:5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;
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How do you know if you are in a good church? Is it because everyone knows the latest worship songs and will begin to dance around the church when the preaching reaches a crescendo?? John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

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Why are there few miracles manifesting in the Church today especially in America? Because the Church has largely subsituted degrees in theology for the gifting of the Holy Spirit, that's why!! Another example of the traditions of men making the Word of God of none effect!4 hours ago · Privacy: · Like ·

In most churches today Jesus would not be qualified to teach eventhough He was sent by GOD Himself. John 7:14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.John 7:15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?"

‎1 Cor 12:11All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He Chooses - Where is the degree requirement,? Guess GOD forgot

GOD remembers the poor.

Luke 4:18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

Have you ever thought about why the Lord specifically says I am anointed to preach the Gospel to the poor? I did think about this and then I remembered this scripture:

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

There was my answer, God chose the poor as the object of the salvation message.

Luke 7:22 And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.
Poor people are the most rejected people in this world. And being rejected by the world puts you in a great position to be accepted by GOD.

1 Cor 1:27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
1 Cor 1:28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
1 Cor 1:29 so that no man may boast before God.

Being poor does not provide you material resources that will cause you or I to boast.
Being poor causes you to depend on GOD for your daily needs.
Being poor keeps you with an attitude of humility before GOD.

It is through the circumstances we encounter in this life that mode and shape us into the people GOD desires us to become.  The LORD uses poverty as an instrument to accomplish His divine purpose in His people. When we seek the LORD by necessity for our daily needs we learn to trust GOD and thereby become rich in faith.

If you are rich this instruction given to a rich young ruler may be appropriate for you as well:

Mark 10:21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

The test for the unsaved: If you fail the test then you are swine.

The test for the unsaved:

1 Cor 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals.

If you are convicted by the above scripture then you can be saved and you have passed the test. Enter into the salvation experience.

Acts 2:38 And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you are offended by this scripture then you can not be saved you have failed the test and you are going to Hell. Yes capital "H" because it is a real place. How did your test results turn out???

If you failed, you are swine!!!!

Matt 7:6 Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces.

Are you converted??? Until you are you will never know what you ougth to be

"Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you."


Just like me and you there was a time Simon Peter, the Apostle was yet to know what He ought to be.... Oh Yes, brother Peter can relate very well...

Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

What?? turned again???? did Peter backside??? YES HE DID!!! otherwise Peter would not had to turn again . .. you can not turn again unless you've first turned...Now before anyone even slightly considers to be judgmental in this case, consider your own struggles with sin. My brothers and sisters more often than not our conversion, the salvation of our souls (will, thought and emotions) is a purging process, purified by the fire of life's circumstances: These circumstances are fueled by the antics of Satan himself. We are being corrected and put into the place to participate in the very holiness of GOD HIMSELF. Otherwise without the shifting and the purging you will never ever know what you ought to be!!! We can never prove the will of GOD for our life..

Heb 12:10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.

The last few verses I reference sums it all up.

1 Pet 5:8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
1 Pet 5:9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
1 Pet 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.

A new way of thinking -The renewed mind

Renewal: to begin again; recommence

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

It is clear , as this verse states, that we can not continue with our old way of thinking once we are Born Again.  Everything around us must be viewed through a renewed way of thinking.  You are no longer the person of your past and you have been moved or translated to the realm of the Kingdom of GOD. Our minds must be taught how to think in accordance with Heaven.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

One of the very significant events that occurred in the ministry of Jesus is when Jesus gives Peter this instruction:


Matt 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.


Keys ,of course represent access, if we have keys then whatever door those keys fit we have gained access through that door. The Apostle Peter was given access to the Kingdom of GOD. Peter could now learn and observe how things are done in Heaven and then apply Heavenly laws to the activities happening in the earth. Did Peter go into heaven physically and learn these things?  Perhaps?  It was the Holy Spirit who was the sole facilitator in accomplishing this work in Peter. By learning Kingdom principles the Apostle Peter's mind was renewed.

Just like the Apostle Peter , followers of Christ must have their mind renewed and we are given this instruction in the headline scripture Romans 12:2.  We can not live successfully as a Christian without a renewed mind.

A renewed mind understands what the will of GOD is in the earth. Let me present an example of how the renewed mind thinks.



Matt 16:21 From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death.
Matt 16:22 Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!

Matt 16:23 But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.

Satan in this verse is being rebuked yet it is Peter who is speaking. Clearly this confrontation happen prior to Peter being fully converted to the ways and purposes of GOD. Jesus is saying you are reacting from the viewpoint of unregenerate man and therefore unable to see the will of GOD for me as your savior. Unless your mind is renewed you can not comprehend the will and purposes of GOD.

1 Cor 2:7 But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God--[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].
1 Cor 2:8 None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. 


What the world views as failure, Heaven may view the very same event as success. There is no greater example than the crucifixion of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.


Obtaining a renewed mind involves being taught the Heavenly view through the Bible and by then behaving in accordance with the Heavenly view. Just like most things we gain book knowledge and then by practice we learn.


1 Cor 1:18 For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.
1 Cor 1:19 For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. [

Luke 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.

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Matt 6:19  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and 
rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matt 6:20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

Matt 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.



In a time where materialism rules the minds of people in and out of the Church the above verse seems to be a forgotten scripture.  The concept introduced by Jesus in Matt 6:19 -6:21 is the proper view of wealth to be held by followers of  Jesus Christ. 

Luke 12:15 And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man's life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs. 

What causes covetousness??? It comes from the root sin of "The pride of life". 

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].

There is a principle in these scriptures that we need to comprehend and once we understand we must then embrace. We must understand in our hearts and in our mind what Jesus is explaining here to us concerning riches. The principle here is one that changes our thinking from a worldly perspective, to a GODLY view. There are two kinds of wealth, the wealth that is of the earth and temporal and the wealth from heaven which is eternal. Learning this view from heaven contributes to one of many elements necessary to obtain a renewed mind.  Only with a renewed mind can we prove the will of GOD.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Before our salvation experience our mind saw riches in terms of the accumulation of money and possessions.  Lavish living in large spacial mansions, having multiple cars and fat overflowing bank accounts is how we measure wealth and success in life. Of course this is indeed a measure of wealth but it is the temporal kind that can be enjoyed as long as you remain on the earth. But now we see true wealth as defined by Jesus.  True wealth is obtained through laying up treasures in heaven and not on the earth. 

In regards to the necessary things  needed for living  Jesus will take care all our needs according to His riches in Glory.  By seeking first the Kingdom of GOD all these things will be added to us as well.  Jesus says if I gave you a body of course I will clothe you and if I have given you life of course I will feed you.  By seeking first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness all these things will be given to you as well.

Our efforts in life must be directed in a way that demonstrates we are seeking the Kingdom of GOD. We can not seek the Kingdom of GOD and riches as well, the two are in conflict with each other.

Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

Knowing that the LORD says we need not concern ourselves with the abundance of material things frees us from the pursuit of material things and allows us to seek real treasures and not temporary treasures that pass away in time.

Do you want to know how to pursue treasure in heave? 

Matt 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

In order to obtain treasure in heaven sell your material treasure you own in the earth and then you've earned eternal treasure in heaven. This is a hard concept for the rich, many can not begin to even fathom selling their possessions and giving it to the poor. Yet Jesus says that is how we gain treasure in heaven when we give away our riches to the poor. No wonder the Bible says it is very difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of GOD. The mere thought that of such an act of charity to the vast majority of the rich is utterly ridiculous. 

Luke 18:25 "For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 

Even so there are some RICH who get it !!! Not many as the Bible tells us but there are some.

 Acts 4:34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales
Acts 4:35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.

Everyone who participated in this generosity by giving the proceeds from the sell of their possessions earned treasure in heaven.

The truth is, in regards to gaining treasure in heaven, many of the rich fall woefully short. The Lord says since you've enjoyed all the creature comforts of the rich in this life there will be NO comfort for you in the next life. The reward for the many rich ends when their life ends.


Luke 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.

Luke 16:22 "Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.
Luke 16:23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and *saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke 16:24 "And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'
Luke 16:25 "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.

Your eye is the lamp of your body

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What do you do when you read a scripture that tells you your behavior is sinful? Do you find a way to rationalize away the truth in the scripture so you can continue doing what you are doing??? You have simply learned how to override not only the truth in the Bible but your conscience as well, Congratulations.


Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness.

Yes when you are listening to the inner voice of your conscience, your conscience functions as GOD designed, otherwise you are on a path of immorality.  Your moral nature was therefore become insensitive, you are developing a callous heart.
A callous heart will also  make it difficult for you to comprehend moral issues.

Eph 4:18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]


After reading the following verse, does it expose any wrong doings in your life??? How are you going to deal with it??? Will you just find away around this verse not  recognizing the truth in the Bible???

1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality

If you do not submit to this verse you will still have friends, the world will be your friend for as long as it last.