Integrity- People of God

Are You Sure, You Know, You are Saved?

Do you have a religion that is just concerned with appearances or do you have a relationship with Christ? Jesus told us to beware of false prophets who look like they are harmless but their heart is greedy and predatory. He told us to look at what is being produced in their lives and then we could tell if they are true believers or not. He said He is not Lord over everyone who says Lord. Just because they said it, does not mean that they meant it. People may say a lot of things, but the actions that follow their words Jesus said, is a true reflection of their heart.

Matthew 7:15-16a Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits….

Matthew 7:17 -18 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. NKJV

Jesus said that some people will have a word of prophesy, which means to be able to give a correct word regarding the lives of others. Others will be able to cast out demons and do many wonders and they may say it was done in Jesus’ name. But Jesus also said, He never knew them because they practiced disorder, unruliness and lack of control and demanded them to leave His presence.

Most people think those who give a word of prophesy, cast out demons and heal the sick are the closest to God. Many travel for miles and stand in long lines to hear and see the miracles performed. But be careful false prophets because their true hearts are revealed by their lifestyle. Jesus said be careful if they practice lawlessness and are boisterous, being loud, disruptive, lacking self-control and are without restraint. They fail to put limits on themselves and allow their appetites and flesh to rule their lives which will eventually end in ruin.

Matthew 7: 21- 23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” NKJV

Jesus tells us how to discern, distinguish and differentiate between those who are speaking words but whose hearts are not right with God. Jesus said, when trouble, rain and the floods of this life come, a wise person will trust in Jesus as their salvation and stand strong. Their faith is in the completed work of Christ and it gives them the ability to stand when this fallen world’s system comes to destroy.

This shows everyone will experience hard times in life, because it is the consequence of the fall and sin in the world. It is how we manage these crises that will reflect our true beliefs and the true condition of our own hearts. In good times both the false prophets and believers can appear to act the same. But a true believer’s action will show the love of God in difficult times.

Matthew 7: 24-27 therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these saying of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall. NKJV

We all will stand before God and give an account of our lives and our time on this earth. Many people are going through this life thinking the world owes them something because of all they have been through. While others will allow life challenges to be an opportunity for the light of Jesus to shine in those dark places.

People with false religion may go to church every Sunday for appearances, but may not know God nor love those who are created in His image. False religion will put on a show that appears right but when problems come and their faith is tested by problems of life. There will be a great fall because they did not know the true and living God and Jesus His Son. The greatest opposition to a life in Christ is self-consciousness, self-pity and pride. It is because people are more concerned about themselves, their needs and self-importance that they choose to please themselves rather than save a life for Christ.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NKJV

We must ask ourselves; do we truly know Jesus Christ and God as our heavenly Father who loves us? Do we have a personal relationship with Him? Or are we so caught up in just knowing things about God, what He can do and in seeing people perform and still not know Jesus personally, intimately, warmly and confidently. A relationship with Christ is the test of a true believer.

Eternal life is to know God and Jesus Christ who He sent to set us free from this fallen world system. In our relationship with God we know confidently, in self-assurance and without doubt, that our faith is in God’s ability to handle all our problems.
Do you know you are saved? Does your life reflect love and respect for God and for others? Now is a good time to ask Jesus to come into your life and receive God’s forgiveness for your sins.

The life God requires us to live cannot be done in human strength. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells us and reveals the person of Jesus to us that we are we able to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Children Our Greatest Wealth – Forfeited on the Alter of Possessions

Some may wonder why the young children are having such a hard time in life and in society. It is because their enemy would rather slay them as children than to fight them as men who have been trained in the wisdom and knowledge of God. For this reason we should be vigilant, watchful and cautious of who and what we allow to influence our young children. Many people so freely give the training and care of their children to other people and organizations without any knowledge of the organization’s rooted beliefs, practices, attitudes or persuasions. Some establishments may adversely affect or even be hostile toward their children.

Every child that is born is born in the image of God, a reflection of the Most High King. This in and of itself brings an innate value to every human being. Their worth is rooted in their creator God, who has placed significance on all created in His image. Every child is born as a gift from God whether they are welcomed or not, children are a gift. They are born in innocence without bias and of a clean heart and mind. Their minds are so impressionable and like sponges they soak up all that is put into them, be it the good or evil of life’s occurrences.

Every baby is born to a person who is to be responsible for their nurture and wellbeing and yet so many children are left to themselves or left among people who would prey on their every existence. Every child is born with a pure heart but it can be twisted by life experiences and by the things they are taught. The most important responsibility of every parent and adult is to train and teach these young minds who they are as an Image bearer of God. Their purpose is to be the love of God in the earth and to show His love to a lost and deprived world.

Unfortunately we are living in a fallen world system with an enemy who hates the true and living God and all who are created in His image. The Bible says Satan is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Satan is the enemy. It is not our neighbor, coworker, boss or those of a different race or culture. It is Satan who plants seeds of hate, pride and tempts us to forsake the care of a person’s souls for money, he is our enemy. Satan comes and plants lies and deceptions to cause disunity and cultivate hate among the brethren. He wants to destroy the very thing we are created to be, an image bearer of God.

1 Peter 5:8-9a Be sober, be ]vigilant; ]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith… NKJV

We see a world system that is raising a generation of people to be used and debased through social and educational systems that before a child reach the third grade or 8 years old they are without hope. This system is devised to enslave some children for a life time while others are slated for a life of affluence and privilege. All at the cost of a child’s soul and thereby forfeit their created purpose and this is often for personal gain of others.

It is so much easier to destroy a life of royalty before it has begun or before it has matured into a crown prince who knows and is committed to his true destiny. For this purpose Satan has attacked the lives and minds of children and those responsible for their safety. To have people preoccupied with the things of this world rather than the training and protection of their children.

The societies are being transformed from esteeming Godly qualities such as integrity, truthfulness and honor to becoming obsessed with money, prestige and pride. We are appalled at the killing and the sacrifice of children on altars of pagan gods of old heathen nations and yet we see so many children’s lives destroyed on the altar of gain, possessions, riches, fame and pride.

Many have lost sight of the most important possession they have been entrusted with by God our Creator, the souls of children. Some have allowed these young children to be turned over to a world system that hates, despises and will destroy the very souls.

The enemy is seeking whom he may devour. He does not have the right, because Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law. He can only be given permission by the life choices we make. Everyone will make a choice to go after the riches, fame, pride and lust of this world system or they will choose to put the souls of mankind first.

When we put the primary thing first, the kingdom of God, which is concern for the souls of people, then the secondary things food, clothes and shelter, will be given. When we die to self, selfish pride and lust, and choose not go after this world’s systems that we truly win in this life naturally, spiritually and eternally.

We must guard the souls, minds and bodies of these young children and make decisions based on the word of God and not on the basis of some social, economic, racial or ethnic beliefs. When those things are put first our children are at risk. The enemy does not care which method of transportation is used in getting a soul to hell. It could be the luxury white limousine of entitlement, pride and prejudice or the black junkyard car of hate, anger and bitterness.
To Satan, who is the enemy of all mankind, either will do. They both will end in the same place, in hell for eternity. Both positions put self-first and refused the love and forgiveness of God through faith in Christ and neither chose to live a life seeking those things that concern the kingdom of God.

When we value the things that God values, then we will learn how to make wise decisions and better choices in this life. When we value the eternal souls and lives of people above temporary worldly possessions, then are we seeking God’s kingdom. By this we are putting first the most important things to God and He will supply the secondary things, food, clothes and shelter.

Authority – God is a God of Order

Everything God created has order and a line of accountability and responsibility. The Bible says that everything was created by God and nothing was made without Him. Everything was in line with God’s perfect plan but sin entered the world through pride and mankind’s disobedience to God. God’s perfect life for mankind was destroyed by them choosing to lift self above the word of God. They listened to the lie of the devil and refused the truth of God’s word.

We could say, if Adam and Eve had not listened to Satan and ate that fruit we would be ok today and yet we each have the same choice to make in our daily lives. We too have the same chance to choose to obey the word of God or listen to the lies of Satan in this fallen world system. Every day, every morning, evening, night we have a new opportunity to make a different choice to choose another way of doing things.

It is our lack of understanding of God’s word and the lies that we have been told and believe that keep us trapped in dark and hurtful places without hope. But God has sent His Son Jesus to give us another chance and another opportunity to choose life, eternal life, to be born again into the family of God. We have been taught by the world to define ourselves by what we do and what we have or have not. Many people believe and live in that lie that they are less than others or do not deserve another chance because of all that they have done their sins or the circumstances of their birth or because of their race.

This is the same tactic Satan used against Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He caused them to question God’s word and bring doubt into their minds. They saw themselves as less than what God had created them to be, in His image and likeness. Even today we must choose who we will allow to define us and allow to direct our lives, our actions and our decisions whether it will be God’s word or the things of this fallen world system. We make these choices every day and every moment when we choose to speak and act. With our words and actions we are displaying who and what we believe. God has called us every day to make a choice, to choose between life and death, blessings and cursing.

Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” NIV

If we have chosen God as our Father and Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then we are now a new creation in the earth. We are now born of another Father, a different bloodline, a new creation that is part mankind and part Spirit. A baby is born into this world innocent, unlearned and vulnerable, in need of wisdom, instruction and protection from the harm and troubles of this world. So are those who are born again into the kingdom of God. And yet many young born again believers are left without direction, training and the teaching they need to live this new life in the kingdom of God. Many people fall prey to the evils of this world’s system not knowing how to operate in the principles and ways of God’s word and His kingdom living.

God has sent His Son to purchase for us a new life and He has given us His written word, the Bible, to instruct us in our actions, thoughts and how to live this life. God has even empowered us to do and perform all that He asks through the power of the Holy Spirit. The only thing that is required of us is to make the decision to submit our will to His and to desire to obey His word. We are to ask Him to give us a clean heart, to let our thoughts and motives to be pure before Him. It is God who will give us the strength to do His good pleasure.

We cannot live this life in our own power, pride and strength. We must ask God to help us, to set our minds on the things above. God will give us the strength to put to death the things that belong to this world’s system of pride and hate. We should walk in love and compassion towards others regardless of who they are, their race, creed, social or economic status. In Christ there is no differentiation of people they are all Christ’s, created in the image of God and worthy of respect and honor because of their creator.

Colossians 3:1-4, 8-11
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Our duty as believers and followers of Christ is to represent the Kingdom of God on the earth. We have been trained in this fallen world’s system to sacrifice for family, culture and even community groups be it gangs or country clubs. God has given us a new way of living that is to give a sacrifice of praise to God and to let the words of our mouths be that of thanksgiving to God and Jesus our Saviour. We are to do good to others and share the love of God because this is pleasing to Him.

In representing God we are to be like Christ and submit to those who are in authority over us. In doing this we acknowledge God as the ultimate authority knowing He sees us and has made provision for us to make it through the obstacles of life.

Hebrews 13: 15-17 NKJV Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.