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Submitting To God

THE REALLY BIG LIE

8/12/2018

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     Most everyone hates a liar.  What is a lie anyhow?  The word lie is defined by Merriam Webster as an intransitive verb meaning...
1 : to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive,
2 : to create a false or misleading impression.     
     Although nearly everyone hates a liar, it's really strange that so many are falling for the last days lie we call "GRACE".  Satan is not dumb...he's been at this deception business a lot longer than we've been alive.  He's no different than he was in the Garden of Eden.  The Bible tells us...
1 Timothy 4:1 (KJV)1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Look what this Scripture says.."in the latter times" {last days} some shall depart from the faith
[Paul is referring to the faith once given to the Saints Jude 1:3], giving heed [listening to] seducing spirits [demonic spirits that draw you away from God through lies] and doctrines of devils [man-made doctrines inspired by demons who have no intent but to deceive.]

Definition of doctrine
1 archaic : teaching, instruction
2 a : something that is taught
  b : a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief Notice the very first definition by Webster is teaching...the Bible records...

2 Timothy 4:3 King James Version (KJV)
   3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

     Bring on the Deceivers...there's a group of folks out there who no longer want to be associated with "sound doctrine", hence the demonic invention known as "the Grace Doctrine".
     God's grace is just that...grace, plain and simple.  But to think one can have grace that will cover whatever sins we commit as we stand before the Judge on Judgement Day is a lie fabricated by a devil who has used a carnal preacher to deceive you,  Paul said it this way...
Romans 6:1-2 King James Version (KJV)1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?


Those same deceivers are the ones who say "works are really not necessary for salvation...all you need is faith and grace."
     As a Minister of the Gospel, I wish that were true.  But that's a big lie [an untrue statement with intent to deceive].  The clowns teaching this type of stuff as the Gospel are purposely teaching it to draw a crowd and to fill their own coffers.  It would be so easy if that was the truth...to prove the point, let's look to the Bible story of Noah.  Many look at this story and point out the reason Noah and his family was saved was because he found grace.  That is right, but that's only partially right...let's read the Scripture...
Genesis 6:5-8 King James Version (KJV)
5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Notice, the Scripture lets us know that God was pretty much fed up with the sinfulness of the people that inhabited the earth at that time.  God has decided to destroy the earth and start over...but then it is recorded that one man...Noah by name...has found "Grace" in the eyes of the Lord.  So if grace alone can save us, then Noah should be just swooped up by the Lord just like He did Enoch and not have to do anything to save himself from sudden destruction.  Noah, [according to the awesome grace teachers]
has found grace and no works are necessary for he and his family to be saved...WRONG...A REALLY BIG LIE.  Let's look at the rest of the Scripture text about Noah...

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

God gave Noah the plans for an ark [a safe place]...but look what God told him..."make thee an ark of gopher wood"..."this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of"...in other words God was letting Noah know he was going to have to build the ark himself if he was going to save himself and his family from the destruction God was about to bring to the earth.  God never offered to build the ark, but He provided the plans for it.  If Noah had believed as some of these preachers teach today, he would have just leaned on God's grace and would have been saved.  But that's never been God's plan.  The reason God was about to destroy the planet in the first place was due to man's sinfulness.  The Bible records that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  The grace of God provided an escape for Noah and his family, but it was only through Noah's works that they were saved.  God in His infinite wisdom has provided a plan of Salvation for the last days church.  He lets us know in Acts chapter 2 that His plan is for us to repent, be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We are to live holy lives, separated from the world and it's sinful nature...just as Noah lived obviously free from sin, separated from the sinful world around him and was able to save his household through his works.  The only way you will be saved from this sinful world is to come out from among them, do the works God has provided to separate you from sin and no longer serve sin, but rather, serve God in the midst of this sinful world.  Don't be deceived by the really big lies of satan and his workers.
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PERFECTING HOLINESS

7/14/2018

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2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV)
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

What promises?  What is Paul referring to when he says "Having therefore these promises"...?

He is referring to what he said in the previous chapter when addressing the Corinthian church.  Notice, Paul is talking to a church.  The church at Corinth...look what he told them in chapter 6...


2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV)                                                                           
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?                                                                                                                                         15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
                                                                                                                                                         16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

     Wow...look at these promises God is giving to the Corinthian church.  Isn't God awesome.  He promised "to dwell in them and walk in them and to be their God, and they would be His people"...He goes on to say He would be a Father to them and they would be His sons and daughters.  It doesn't get any better than that, does it? 
     No, but it does come with a price...Paul said we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers...mainly because people who are walking in righteousness and holiness have nothing in common with unbelievers.  You just can't mix light and darkness.  If you try, as soon as the light shines in it, darkness is no longer darkness.  He goes on to add "what agreement hath the temple of God with idols" and then states "ye are the temple of the living God."  He finishes by adding "come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
     We, as God's church, cannot even begin to blend in with the rest of the world.  Paul was addressing a church that had been established for several years, letting them know God required more of them than He did of those that were in the world.  He asks them specifically what agreement has God's temple (our bodies) with idols (those who worship their flesh are considered in the same category as idol worshipers by God)...

Romans 1:18-25 (KJV)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;                                                                                                                                                                                        19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.                                                                                                                                                           20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:                                                                                                                                     21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.                                                                                                                                                22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,                                                                  
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
                                                                                                                                                             24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:                                                                          
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

    
     Paul is addressing people who still know truth or claim to be walking in truth, but yet they want to live their own lifestyle without righteousness (right living).  Paul says that God's wrath is revealed against them.  He goes on to say the invisible things of God are clearly seen in the Spirit, so they have no excuse to walk in darkness while professing the light.  Paul says that the problem is that when they knew God, rather than being thankful towards God for truth, they allowed their imaginations to prevail, and their heart was darkened to the point where they actually began to make other things their Gods.  God in His wrath gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, and they ended up turning the truth of 
God into a lie in order to worship and serve themselves (the creature) rather than the God of glory who created them.
     People turn aside from holiness because they have not rebelled against some preacher or church doctrine, but against the very God from whom those doctrines exist. To be self-serving is to be selfish to the point of actually putting God on the back burner, so to speak.  A person who walks in true righteousness and holiness has made up their mind that God is first in their lives, not themselves.  they have realized the importance of having a relationship with God, and are willing to "come out from among them" (the people who walk in unrighteousness) and be separated from the world.  They have a resolve to not touch the unclean things of the world, but rather to "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.  They have cleansed themselves from "all filthiness of the flesh and spirit".  In other words, their attitude is as holy as their dress.  These are they who are at work "perfecting holiness in the fear of God".


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THE SCOURGE OF THE LAST DAYS CHURCH

6/9/2018

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Matthew 24 King James Version (KJV)
24 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

     
     In these Scriptures, Jesus is talking to His Apostles about the last days...He talks to them about the wars, pestilences, famines,and the earthquakes, but then He talks to them about His servants, the Church.  He refers to the fact we'll be hated of all people for His namesake, but then He makes a statement about the last days church folk...many shall be offended, and shall betray one another and shall hate one another.  He goes on to say there will be false prophets that will deceive, and then says because of all the sin that will abound, the love of many will wax cold.
    
     Nothing more points towards the fact that we are in the last days than the offense of people.  People get offended at the most minor things.  The streets fill with protestors over some of the smallest offenses.  Jesus pointed out to His Apostles that this would be a sign of the church in the last days.  Notice, He said "many would be offended". 
     In Matthew 13, Jesus told the parable of the sower.  He said that as the sower sowed, some of the seed fell on stony ground.  He went on to explain this parable to the disciples that were there with Him:

Matthew 13:20-21 King James Version (KJV)
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.


     Notice Jesus says in verse 21 that this seed grows right up, but really has no root & then He goes on to say that when tribulation or persecution arises due to the fact they follow the Word of God, that person is easily offended.  One of the things we have been made aware of over the last several years is the fact that so many people are so easily offended, not in the world, but in the church.  This has become a scourge to God's church.  Notice the key ingredient Jesus says when referring to the facts associated with offended people..."he hath not root in himself."  It's obvious (according to Jesus' interpretation of this parable) these people never got a grip on the truth of God's Word.  It's so important to have and know the Word of God.  David said this...

Psalm 119:11
King James Version (KJV)
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

     Notice, David says he hid God's word in his heart "that I might not sin against thee"...the Bible refers to itself as being...

Hebrews 4:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

     The reason we need the Word hid in our heart is it gets down into the inner most parts of a man.  The
Bible refers to it piercing into the joints and marrow.

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UNDERSTANDING THE CLAY

5/22/2018

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As a teenager growing up in East Texas, I well remember my Dad as he worked around the home place singing one of his favorite songs ...

“Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way, thou art the potter, I am the clay... Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”

The prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah the 18th chapter, Verse 2 was instructed by the Lord to:

“2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.”
     God instructed Jeremiah to put himself in a position where he could hear God's voice...when Jeremiah got to the potter's house, he stated the potter was working a work on the wheels...and in the midst of making the vessel, it was marred.

     I remember many years ago, my wife and I took a trip to another state. One of the most interesting things we did was to go to a pottery shop. It was a big commercial production type shop, and as we watched the potter make a vessel, (as I recall, a beautiful vase) he suddenly stopped the work, took a tool, cutting out a part of the clay, tossing it into a pile of clay on the floor in a bin. I guess I must have been standing with my mouth open, as the potter looked at me and then at my wife as he explained “There was a grain of sand in the clay. If I had left it in there, when the heat was applied, the grain of sand would have caused the vase to break, making it of no use to anyone.” What he had really done was to remove the very thing which the average person would not have even considered as being a significant problem. I remember thinking to myself “What difference would that grain of sand really have made?” It was obvious that I knew nothing about making pottery, but in the hands of a real potter, the seemingly insignificant flaw had to be removed.
    
     So it is in our Spiritual world. In the hands of the Master Potter, we can become a useful vessel. Seemingly insignificant things in our world some times are things the true Master Potter determines will make us crack when the heat is applied. You see, the Master Potter understands the clay. We don't have a clue! If I had took the clay in my hands on that day many years ago, I would have never seen or felt that grain of sand. The potter couldn't even see that grain of sand, but in his hands, he knew the feel of the clay and knew there was something there that didn't really belong, something that really wasn't a part of the clay. So it is with the Master Potter. He can feel the things in our life that don't really belong there. It is so awesome to have a Master Potter that cares enough to cut out the parts of our lives that don't really belong. You probably don't even have a clue what God is doing with you, but be assured, He knows the clay, and only He knows what to look for in us ...It's never been His will to just throw the clay away, but rather to cut out the bad parts, crush the clay and remold us into a useful vessel. I think I'm going to adopt that song as my own...
“Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way, thou art the potter, I am the clay...Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”
I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THIS VIDEO...ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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    Pastor Joseph Driscoll
    Pastor Driscoll has been in the Ministry for 40+ Years. He has Pastored two churches and has much wisdom to share with those around him.

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