Are you a Christian if…………………

 You walk in the Flesh? In Sexual Immorality, lust, and perversion? Fornication? Uncleanness? Lasciviousness? Idolatry? Sorcery? Enmities? Strife? Jealousy? Wrath? Factions? If you cause division in the Body of Christ?  If you party? If you get drunk? If you take part in revelry?

 What does the scripture say?

 ”For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.  But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,  envyings, drunkenness, revelings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  Galatians 5:14But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.”  Galatians 5:14-26

Old Testament View of Backsliding:

 ^”They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed. Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest. The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me. Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD. A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God. Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God. Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.” Jerimiah 3

If we repent (Turn away) from our sin, yes God is gracious and Merciful to forgive us of our Sin, but if we are not then he will give us a writing of divorcement.

  Lazarus and the Rich Man (A True Story)

 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:20-31 (This is not a parable)

 First of all the very first thing to note is that Lazarus and the Rich man were both Jewish. That means that in their day they were both Christians. Before Jesus came everyone was Jewish. That means that they were under the covenant of the Old Testament and expected to do certain things according to the law of Moses. Basically the Rich Man didn’t do what he was supposed to and he went to Hell. Lazarus however went to heaven. Did you get the Rich man’s question to Father Abraham? Why do you think that he wanted someone from the dead to come back and warn his family? You see, he thought that he was justified because he was a descendant of Abraham, that he was o.k. and on his way to heaven. How does that apply to us today? Well, people still say that we are justified through someone, only now it is Jesus and because of that we are o.k. and on our way to heaven. What do you think?  

 The Sheep and the Goats

 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:31-46

 Jesus is talking in future tense and he says that we will be judged based upon what we did and didn’t do.

So my question to you is can we just live a nice, cozy, comfortable life, not do what God wants us to and expect to go to heaven?    

Maybe the Answer is in here: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:13-23 

I think that these scriptures are pretty blunt and to the point. How about you?

There are many scriptures that show that it is very possible to lose one’s salvation. I believe that the only way to know that you are always saved is if you are always Holy and Pure before God.

Matthew 7:21-29 He will say to many, depart from me you who work iniquity. Matthew 10:28 God has power to throw us into hell.

Matthew 16:24-26 Can gain the whole world and lose your soul.

 Matthew 18:3 Except we become as little children we cannot enter heaven. Matthew 18:11-14 Possible for sheep to go astray.

Matthew 21:43 Kingdom of God taken from us and given to those who have fruit. Matthew 22:14 Many called but few chosen.

Matthew 23 Jesus preaching to hypocrites.

Matthew 25:31-46 Sheep and the goats 46. Righteous shall inherit everlasting life.

Luke 14:16-35 Parable of the supper, unless you forsake everything you cannot be my disciple.

Luke 16:20-31 Lazarus and the Rich man (literal hell, not a parable)

 Luke 18:14 He that exalteth himself will be abased

Luke 21:34-36 Be holy pray that you will escape the things to come.

John 3:3-6 Except a man be born again, and of water and of spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 11:9-10 Possible to stumble?

 John 12:26 Whoever abide in Jesus does not abide in darkness.

John 15:1-14 Jesus is the true vine, those that abide in him produce much good fruit.

Romans 2:1-16 Not hearers but doers will be justified before God. God will judge the secrets of men.

Romans 3 We are able to obtain righteousness through Jesus.

Romans 6 Newness of life & Freedom from sin.

Romans 8:5-8 Those that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 12:1 Present your bodies a living sacrifice Holy and acceptable to God.

I corinthians 1:8 Be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 3:17 If you destroy God’s temple he will destroy you.

I Corinthians 6:9-10 Unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

18-20 Glorify God in your body.

 II Corinthians 4 We are to be light and not darkness, so that Jesus can be manifested in and through us.

II Corinthians 5:17 We are to be a new creature old things are passed away behold all things become new.

I think that I just had an epiphany. Most of the time Pastors preach “Tithe, tithe tithe!” because they are afraid that they will not be able to pay the bills if the congregation doesn’t. All the while they are living off of it, and using it for that purpose and they are lucky if they have enough left over to give themselves. I hope you are following me. This is a result of what I was talking about before. Trusting or having Faith in Mammon, or Wealth instead of trusting God to supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory.  God says give and it will be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, running over. Did you know that 80% of the General Fund aka Tithes and offerings in the American Church go to buildings and grounds, and what is left over usually goes to the Pastor for his bills and for him to live on? Because of this, churches lots of times have people in the congregation in need of food, clothing or shelter and the Pastors hands are tied to help them without asking the congregation for more money. I feel that the system that we have is broken, and has been for a long time.

Anyone have any ideas on how to fix it? 

How does the Pastor have money to tithe (assuming he ministers full time and doesn’t have a trade)?

This is just something that popped in my head, but what if we just met in our houses, and had church like in the book of Acts? 

What if we used our money to actually do what Jesus said and feed, clothe, and shelter the widow, and the orphan, and the homeless ext? 

It seems to me, that one of the biggest messages in the New Testament that Jesus preeched, was basically not to love money and material things because the love of money is the root of all evil, and if you love anything more than you love God then you cannot please him. You cannot serve God and Mammon aka Wealth. Jesus said that it is harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The point here doesnt even matter if it is a literal needle or something else, the point is that it is hard.  

 How much money or stuff is too much?

 At what point are you serving Mammon and not God?

 Is America rich? 

 What could we be doing on the personal level and the National level that we are not in reguards to money and wealth?

 Sanctification - The goal of this life. The process in which someone becomes righteous or holy.

 The Bible says that “there are none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10, but it does say that we are to strive to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect Matt 5:48 and ”be ye therefore Holy even as I am Holy”.Leviticus 11:45

 Who shall ascend the Hill of God? Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall obtain the blessing of the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Psalm 24:2-5

 Why would God say we could obtain it if we can’t? 

 In my experience as a Christian it is a process that I have not yet obtained. I am in a better place now, than I was when I first got saved, but I am aiming for the mark, of the high calling of God. I don’t know of anyone who has obtained it, but that is my goal, and I will not be satisfied until I reach it.  

 Is it possible to become Holy? What are your thoughts on it?

 What is the Fear of the Lord?

 It is mentioned many times in the Bible and it is a holy reverence, respect, or revelation of Hell, and eternal judgement/punishment for sin. It also leads to obedience, righteousness, and holiness also referred to as sanctification and is or should be an elementary, fundamental teaching in the body of Christ.

Hebrews 6:1-3 – Eternal Judgement foundational teaching.

 The manifestations of the Fear of the Lord at work in someones life is:

- They obey him instantly.

- They do what he tells them even if it doesn’t make sense to them.

- They do God’s will even if it hurts.

- They do it even if it doesn’t benefit them.

- They Obey Completely

- Them that Fear the Lord keep his commandments all the time, always. Deut 5:29

- Those that live righteous in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 People that call Jesus Lord and do contrary to his word and his will are deceived. James 1:26

More Scriptures about the Fear of the Lord:

Jer 32:40, Psalm 19:9, Hebrews 4:1, Philippians 2:12, Romans 11:19-22, Hebrews 11:13-16

*  Love keeps us from Legalism———————-Fear of the Lord keeps us from lawlessness *

“Yes, God Loves us and he accepts us the way we are, but he also loves us enough to not let us stay that way.”

-Max Lucado-

The Fear of the Lord is a key point to Revival, and that is what the church of America lacks today. 

More from Brownbacks site @ http://www.brownbacker.com/

1. Mitt Romney, 4,516 votes

2. Mike Huckabee, 2,587 votes

3. Sam Brownback, 2,192 votes

4. Tom Tancredo, 1,961 votes

5. Ron Paul, 1,305 votes

6. Tommy Thompson, 1,039 votes

7. Fred Thompson, 203 votes

8. Rudy Giuliani, 183 votes

9. Duncan Hunter, 174 votes

10. John McCain, 101 votes

11. John Cox, 41 votes

 I just added a YouTube video about Sam Brownback to my site. He is running for president and if you haven’t heard of him check it out. Please pray that Sam Brownback will win the Iowa Straw Poll today. He is running against Mitt Romney, and if he wins he will go on to the primaries hopefully. Thanks. -Derek-

 What is a true friend?

 Someone who knows you,

 all of your faults, shortcomings, and differences,

 and loves you anyway.

  A true friend will never leave you, or forsake you,

 and they will always be there for you when you need them,

 no matter what time it is, no matter what happens.

 Through every trial and situation, especially when times get hard.

 A true friend is like Jesus,

 someone you can trust, have faith in, and you can always find them when you need them.