Sheep Food

  There’s a reason why you hear me say often: “Fruit Matters!”; and even more importantly... it better be ‘good fruit’ (Matt. 7:17-18). If you took the time to look that passage up (and I hope you did), you’ll see what Jesus went on to explain why this good fruit matters...because “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”(19). This theme seems to be constant throughout scripture. A short parable found in Luke 13:6-9 relays another insightful story where a landowner who planted a fig tree came three years in a row looking for good fruit, but found none. He ordered for the tree to be cut down. It seems that fruit really does matter in that story as well. Do you recall one of the bold utterances made by John the Baptist found in Matthew 3 that was directed to...of all people...the ‘religious experts’ of the day? He began by calling them ‘snakes’ or ‘vipers’ (Matt. 3:7). Then...he asked them: “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” His ve...

  One reason governments invest the amount of money they do in stealth technology is because they know they can be that much more effective against their enemies if they can enter their space and go undetected. The Bible is clear in its teachings that we have an ‘enemy’ ...and he is not ‘flesh and blood’, but spiritual in nature (Eph. 6:12). We are admonished to ‘give him no place’ (Eph 4:27), that we are ‘not ignorant of his devices’ (2 Cor. 2:11), and that he ‘goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Pet. 5:8). Jesus informed us as to what this enemy’s motive or purpose was- to ‘steal, kill, and destroy’ (John 10:10), likening him as a ‘thief’. Jesus also admonished us to ‘watch therefore’...reminding us that if the ‘master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his ‘house’ to be broken into...”(Matt. 24:42-43). In Matt. 12:43-45, Jesus shares what happens when an ‘unclean spirit goes out of a man’ and b...

  There’s a scene that plays out in Luke’s gospel where 70 followers of Jesus were sent out on a mission by Him (Luke 10:1-10). And when they returned, the very first thing they reported back to Jesus, with great excitement was...”Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” (17). Now this would be a good time to notice how Jesus responded to this new discovery or ‘revelation’ that enthralled these disciples. He immediately acknowledges being an eyewitness to the fall of Lucifer, whom we know as ‘Satan’ (Isa 14; Ezek. 28). The passage in Revelation 12 gives us the best picture as to how ‘war broke out in heaven’ when Michael and his angels fought with the dragon and his angels...who did not prevail’ (7-8). Then, vs. 9-12 reveal how he was cast down to the earth and what he has stayed busy doing ever since then. Satan knows his days are limited and a time is coming when he and his minions will be...no more (Rev. 20:10). But in our passage back in Luke 10, we see how Jesu...

  “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19). Remember when Jesus told Peter: “Put your sword away!”(Matt. 26:52)?... or when He rebuked James and John who wanted to call fire down from heaven: “You know not what manner of spirit you are!” (Luke 9:55). God does not need our help, especially when it comes to administering ‘wrath’. And please note- I am not talking about the way in which ‘those in authority’ operate and maintains order in this ‘natural’ world we live in today. (Rom. 12:1-7). I am speaking directly to those whose lives are centered around and are actively pursuing things that pertain to the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33). I have serious concerns that many today seem to have forgotten, or maybe never learned that this kingdom Jesus came to proclaim...is ‘not of this world’; and that can be a hard adjustment to make for many today (John 18:36; Rom. 14:17). We’ve be...

  I asked the question yesterday: “How did we get here...?” How did we get here to a place where the majority of those who claim to be in the body of Christ (church) today...are adamant in their belief that a ‘born-again child of God whom the Son has set free’...cannot live out their lives in Christ on this side of heaven...without sinning? (John 8:32-36) I believe a quick answer to that rhetorical question is found in Heb. 3:13, where we are instructed to “exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” That’s one of the dangers of sin – it is so terribly ‘deceitful’. Which is why Jesus came to set us free from ALL sin; as opposed to just the ones we tend to deem as the ‘big, bad ones’. And if you read the preceding verse there (12), you’ll see the danger that is at stake here, and please note who this warning is issued to- ‘brethren’. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief......

  “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature (carnal/flesh) we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” (Eph. 2:1-3 NLT) It's all there in those three verses- The Law, The Flesh, and The Enemy. If... I’m starting to sound repetitive to you, as if I’m stuck on the same old tune, I’m concerned that you might not be ‘getting it’ yet. Yes, I did preface a number of days ago that I was circling back to do an extended ‘review’ or recap of what I believe are key missing components in our foundational teaching, which consists of the law, the flesh, and the enemy. And I am convinced it has been our ignorance in these areas that has le...

  I’m guessing many of you have heard that old quote or proverb that goes something like this: “Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small”; or maybe you heard it referred to as the ‘though the wheel of God’s justice grinds slowly...yet it still grinds...’. It’s not an actual Bible verse, but it is an interesting observation that is made my many who over time have come to recognize a certain truth that is indeed ‘biblical’, which is found in Numbers 32:23 and states: “...take note...you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure... your sin will find you out.” You might also jot down Ecc. 8:10-13. Listen to what God had to say about His people through the writings of the prophet Jeremiah: “My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children and have no understanding...” (4:22)...”...My people do not know the judgment of the Lord...” (8:7). Jeremiah goes on: “O Lord...You have stricken them but they have not grieved; You have consumed t...

  If you are a sincere believer in Jesus who is also convinced that a ‘born again child of God’ will always remain a ‘sinner’ on this side of heaven, meaning you will always continue to sin, I have to ask what passages in your Bible do you have to support this premise? (not looking to  be argumentative here either) What are we to do with what John writes: ”we know whoever is born of God no longer sins” (1 John 5:18; 3:9). You might also read what Jesus had to say when He describes the difference between a ‘slave’ and a ‘son’ in John 8:34-35. So let’s pause for a moment here and take on a very sincere and legitimate question that any of you who have kept up with these studies of late...might be wondering and wanting to ask right now. Especially this part pertaining to ‘wrath and punishment’ for sin. You hear me quote John 5:14 often, where Jesus told that man whom He healed to ‘go and sin no more or something worse will happen to you’. There are plenty of other sobering warni...

  Today, I hope to wrap up our study-review of how and why God’s law is still relevant today, whether you are in the ‘church’ or not. The ‘law’ is the first of three parts of a study that I have continued to 'preach' has been missing, or grossly misunderstood and/or mis-taught in many of our modern day churches today. And as you have heard me say here often...as arrogant or pompous as that might sound for me to infer...all I can do is point you to the many scriptures laying there in your own Bible...for you to study and pray over...and then allow God to confirm to you if what I am sharing here has any merit...in spite of what you may have been misled to believe or taught in previous years (Acts 17:11; Rom. 10:2-4). God’s law which was handed down to Moses 430 years after He established covenant with Abraham (Gal. 3:17,19)...was never done away with, abolished, or set aside, as Jesus testified to in Matt. 5:17. Let me also make clear that while it says there in Galatians 3 that...

  Who told you that you were immune from any form of ‘punishment’ if/when you ‘sinned’ ... after you became a ‘believer’ in Jesus? Could it possibly have been that same voice that deceived Eve in the garden when the ‘serpent’ whispered to her that she could indeed ‘eat off that one tree and she would surely not die’...after God had told them plainly – “you surely shall die?” (Gen. 2:17; 3:4) And what concerns did Paul express when he wrote: “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness...so your minds may be corrupted...(by what?)” (2 Cor. 11:3-4) So when Paul warned the believers at Ephesus: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things (various sins)..the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience”(Eph. 5:6)...do you think it was possible we believers today could easily be... deceived? I sure hope you are caught up here in this series on ‘law and order’ so you will better understand what we are looking at today. We’ve been st...

  If you read yesterday’s message, I would not be surprised to learn that after looking over that closing passage I pointed you to in Hebrews 10:36-31...that it may have produced a bit of ‘concern’ within you, maybe even anxiety; or dare I use the word ...‘fear’? Believe it or not, this might not be a bad thing in the long run for you; and here’s why: There seems to be lacking in our society today...a genuine ‘fear of God’. But then, this is not anything new if you are a student of scripture (Rom. 3:10-18). And the reason for this is pretty simple: God’s law has been ‘lost’, even as it was in previous generations, which we know happened often back in the OT (2 Kings 22-23). Hence, the reason I continue to bring this to our attention here in these daily messages of mine. When we are not taught the law of God, we don’t truly understand what ‘sin’ is, which is ‘lawlessness’, or ‘breaking the commandments of God (1 John 3:4). Our failure to fully grasp what ‘sin’ is... then in turn h...

  In case there might be any lingering confusion in your mind regarding the question as to whether God’s ‘law’ still stands today, maybe this will help shed more light for you - Has ‘sin’ been done away with, or does ‘sin’ seem to be thriving today? I mean, let’s be honest here- don’t most 'believers' today openly admit they continue to ‘sin’, even on a daily basis? I only bring this up because if ‘sin’ is still prevalent today in our world, guess what? God’s law is still in effect today as well, and was NOT abolished or done away with as Jesus made clear in Matt. 5:17. I only point this out because guess what ‘sin’ is? Sin is the breaking or transgressing of God’s laws (1 John 3:4). I know we have grown fond of that other definition that says sin is ‘missing the mark’, which is extracted from the root meaning of that Greek word itself (hamartane). But I would suggest that widely used definition ...‘misses the mark’ when it comes to helping our understanding of the word ...