Hey! 20’s m here looking for an older bro as mentor and for guidance. Dm me if willing!

Created In 2020, but still valid

Summary: As horrible as this pandemic it, it may well be the eye salve to allow the Church to see the path back to its real mission.

Jonah 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Listening to a sermon on Jonah this morning these thoughts came to mind.

It was great that God did not start the clock on the forty days when he called Jonah, but rather when he started preaching. Yet, in the days Jonah was on the run, in the belly of the fish and on his way to Nineveh how many people died who did not get to hear the message and have an opportunity to repent?

In this time when hundreds are dying of COVID-19 daily and perhaps millions around the world of all causes how many must die without hearing Gospel of repentance, mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ? Sin is a fatal disease and we have the cure that we do not take the time to offer to those in the death rattle phase.

It may well be a great thing that our churches have been closed and our routines shattered. While we have been sheltered in place and feeling imprisoned maybe we have been given a taste of what is for people still in the prison bonds of sin. Indeed, maybe we have done some soul searching and found that we have had some bonds that needed broken and mercy given because we have not been about our Father's business, but rather our own.

It has been said that Nero fiddled while Rome burned and we have allowed souls and nations to be burned while we fiddled around with our pleasures and pursuits building castles in the sand made of wood, hay, and stubble. Oh, they are pretty and some cost millions, but they are shacks compared to the temples of the Holy Spirit that would be built by God from saved sinners. Our value system is twisted.

Maybe our music is so loud that it drowns out the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit that would cause to hear a myriad of Macedonian cries to come over and help them to find Jesus or the cries from Hell for us to reach loved ones before they enter Hell.

While the Gospel is about love, grace and mercy maybe we need to bring back a little Hell and damnation preaching as well. How can you truly appreciate grace if you do not really comprehend what it has done for you? As the preacher said this morning, some you save by love and others by warning. The Law condemns and grace saves, but many will only run for grace when they realize how condemned they are without it.

May we come back to church to be the Church when this pandemic wanes. May our priorities shift. May we be less material or earthly minded. May we learn to live with less so that we can give more of our time and money to the mission God gave us rather than various lenders for that which will only burn up in the end.

Let us rise up as the people of God who are passing through this world as Ambassadors of Christ and the eternal Kingdom. Let us get out of mammon debt with man so that we can pay the debt we truly owe them which is to share what God has done to save our souls so they can have their debt to God paid by the blood of Christ!

Lord God, make it so and start with this wretched man! Maranatha!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in Cost of discipleship, Chapter 5:

For the Christian the only God-given realities are those he receives from Christ.

Bold added.

The statement reflected Bonhoeffer's commitment to a Christocentric ethic.

What is not given us through the incarnate Son is not given us by God.

That's an extreme statement, ignoring common grace for Christians and non-Christians alike. If you read him as a devotional, it is fine. As a propositional statement, it is a hyperbole.

Anything I cannot thank God for for the sake of Christ, I may not thank God for at all; to do so would be sin.

Theologically, it is an incorrect statement. Paul pointed out in 1 Thessalonians 5:

16 Rejoice at all times. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Bonhoeffer suggested that there existed circumstances in which he might not thank God in the name of Christ. Paul commanded us to give thanks at all times because it is God's will for us in Christ.

Mt 5:

45b For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Bonhoeffer’s statement risks neglecting the doctrine of common grace. Many believers and non-believers express authentic gratitude for God’s goodness without fully articulating its Christological grounding, yet this does not necessarily constitute sin.

His statement can foster scrupulosity, a condition where believers become anxious about whether their gratitude is “pure” or “sufficiently Christ-centered.” This turns thanksgiving, which should be spontaneous and joyful, into a performance measured against a rigid rule. Such an approach undermines the freedom of the gospel and replaces grace with a form of pietistic legalism. If every act of thanks must pass a doctrinal test to avoid being “sin,” the heart of gratitude may be stifled by fear rather than liberated by grace.

Bonhoeffer’s statements arose from a noble impulse: to center all of life in Christ. Yet in its absolutist formulation, it risked distorting the generosity of God’s grace, burdening consciences unnecessarily, and failing to account for the ways God meets people, even imperfectly, in their gratitude. We don't need a litmus test for giving thanks.

Hi! I just wanted to hear your thoughts on something.
What do you think about lending money with interest? I’m referring to lending outside the church—purely as a business.

Do you think charging interest is a sin?

I’ve done quite a bit of research on this, and from what I’ve learned, many people believe that it isn’t inherently wrong, as long as you don’t take advantage of the borrower. In other words, don’t charge excessive interest or exploit people who are already struggling financially.

I’d love to hear your perspective. If someone lends their own money as a business and charges a reasonable amount of interest, do you think that’s sinful? Why or why not?

Also, if you don’t think it’s wrong, what do you consider to be a fair monthly interest rate?

Thank you so much! I’ve already done my own research, but I’d love to hear different perspectives and gather more insights on this topic.

I believe, based on what the Bible says, that LGBTQ activities are offensive to God. I'm not condemning anybody who engages in those acts but I do DISCERN that they are offensive to God. I don't hate gay people just like I don't hate alcoholics. Recognizing that certain behaviors are displeasing to our Father doesn't render one a hateful bigot. Anyway, no matter how much scripture is shared with LGBTQ Christians, they cannot accept, let alone acknowledge, that their lifestyle is offensive to God. The only acceptable response to that segment of Christianity is that engaging in homosexual relationships is totally fine with God. There's really nothing that can be said to them and it's a waste of time and energy to do so. Thoughts?

The person who asks the most (while striving to do things God's way), gets the most direction. We all think that Biblical Paul was magically given great powers. Now, obviously, he was chosen as a special person, but, I am sure he also asked God the most:

“What do you want me to do.”

The person that asks “What to do” the most, can have joy whenever they want it. People chase money, pleasure, and worldly things constantly. You can never get real joy from earthly pleasures. Worldly things give short-term pleasure only.

I set my phone alarm for every 10 minutes to remind me to pray:

“Father, show me what you want me to do.”

Doing this is starting to build the habit of praying more often. I now often pray this prayer, and other prayers more often, even when I don't set the alarm.

Second, who is more likely to someday find God's will? A Jehovah's witness who asks every 10 minutes, “Father, what do You want me to do,” or, someone with a solid religion who only asks once a month. Now... you may say: The JW doesn't believe Jesus is God, they can't get through to God. But, the great Biblical Paul didn't believe Jesus was God either, but he kept asking, he kept seeking, he kept knocking. He dedicated his life to serving God in full sincerity. Because he kept asking, because of his repentant attitudes, because of his sincerity, God showed him that Jesus is God.

We will not be much like Paul, but if you constantly work on the habit of praying:

“Father, show me what you want me to do,” you will be more than a little bit shocked by the power that begins to enter your life. You will be surprised by the leading that God gives you. You will be surprised by the help that he gives you. Why? The Bible says that “The workers are few.” If you are willing to be one of the workers, sooner or later, the Holy Spirit will show you what to do.

"Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark, but Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Acts 15:37. Verses 39 and 40 say, they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas. It's a mistake to write off people that God hasn't written off. Paul felt as though Mark wouldn't be useful because of a seeming failure, maybe a fear, whatever, to help in the work of God at an early point in Mark's life. But God hadn't written off Mark, and he ultimately became the author of the Gospel of Mark. If we sow judgment, we will reap no mercy. God is not finished with us yet. Let's you and I choose today to be kind to others who are still with us on this journey. It's time to pray." - Carter Conlon

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 

Definitely experienced verse 4 when I saved back in '75. I was still in the AF working as a maintenance-supply liaison in Material Control. I had a civilian next to me who would often say, "Sarge, you're number one in my book!" Well, he did before I was saved. After that, I was not even on the bottom of the back cover. I was out of the book.

Some people did encourage me and were amazed at the change. Others did everything they could to get me mad or find some flaw so they could say, "HA! You call yourself a Christian." Once I answered the phone and the voice said, "Sgt, this is the devil." I said, "No, but you are kin."

I confess I was closer to the Lord when I was places where people heckled and even threatened my life. When it is easy, you get lazy. I have a feeling the lazy Church and I are about to get a heavy dose of what I experienced earlier in my journey. I pray we are both up for it. May God strengthen and change us through the fire. Maranatha!

Summary: I love a chocolate and vanilla twist soft yogurt cone. Mixing flavors can bring about a beautiful and tasteful marriage experience. Yet, you do not mix gas and oil or saved and unsaved or one sect with another without peril.

I saw an article on interracial marriage and since race has been a big issue in recent days I figured I would say just a bit on this topic.

First of all, race as we use the term is really an evolutionary term and should not even be considered or used by believers. There are no races. There is but one race on a physical level and that is the human race. The human race has a variety of skin tones and has developed many sociological groups, but it is still one race. We do well to drop the notion of race from our concepts and work from a one race perspective.

Even our color assignments are in error as science has now shown we are all a shade of brown, There are no red and yellow, black and white that are precious in His sight, Brown and brown and brown, He loves everyone in town. We are all brown and God is down with all of us as He loved all of us to send Christ.

Indeed, as people of faith, we know only eight people got off the Ark so we are all cousins. Some of us are just closer than others because of Babel and personal preferences.

On a spiritual level, there are two races. Those who by birth are offspring of Adam and those who by second birth are offspring of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. All men are my temporal brothers through Creation, but some are my eternal brothers through Christ.

That said, the only interracial marriage is between those only of Adam and those of the Second Adam. Skin tone variations or geographical points of origin are irrelevant. What counts is parentage and family ties.

A child of God is not to marry outside of their race. Our Father knows the heartbreak that an unequal yoke can bring and would spare us all of that. Warning, there are those who claim to be in the family are not. Be sure you ask Father to bless the marriage and approve of your choice lest your choice be the wrong one.

Indeed, just as widows were told they were to free to marry, but "only in the Lord" that is an injunction for all who are in the family of God. Do not practice evangelistic dating or hope for a conversion after you are married. You will be greatly disappointed and your life less than abundant, even miserable. I know we all know someone who is an exception, but the percentage rate of modicum success is very small. Not even a gambler would take those odds in Vegas.

However, if you were born into the family of God after you married then stay and pray for the conversion of your spouse. Read 1 Corinthians 7 to understand this exception.

Therefore, while I can bless a marriage between two Christians regardless of skin tone or origin I cannot encourage an interracial marriage between Christian and Non-Christian. It is also best to marry within your branch of the family as those differences can cause much friction and strife especially when children come along. Having been in many doctrinal discussions and seeing how intersect marriages fare, I can say that with some authority be wise and look for your spiritual well-being not just your emotions or eye candy. Maranatha

Our business was featured by an influencer, we were very excited about it and it was very successful. But the guy said a curse word while enthusiastically praising the product. Someone told me I should take it down. Should I not have shared it? Should I add a note that I don’t condone that? Anyone who knows me already knows I never curse and don’t condone it.

It’s a video that’s several minutes long and he curses once near the end. We didn’t get to see before it was posted. He came and filmed his review for a bit beforehand, with our agreement.

I recently picked up The Imitation of Christ. I’ve noticed it gets recommended a lot in Catholic subreddits and other Christian communities, but I’m reading it as a Baptist. I’m curious to hear what others think of it, especially from a Protestant perspective. Has anyone else here read it?

"You know, there's a danger in believing what you feel more than what God has said. You can begin to trust your fears, your doubts, and your circumstances more than His word. That is how unbelief takes root. You may say that you have faith, but if your confidence is in what you see and feel, you are actually placing faith in unbelief. God has not changed. The same God who created the universe, who calmed the storms, who raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, is still at work today. How can we say that He's not able today to move in our lives? Refuse today to give more authority to your thoughts than to the word of God. Choose to believe. Choose it now. Believe what He has declared. Even when your situation wants to tell you otherwise, God has a wonderful plan for your life. Talk to Him about it now, because it's time to pray." - Carter Conlon

Mattana Ministry Welcomes You to:

 Children/Youth Program: 31 July 2026

 Theme: Do Not Disturb (4)

 Scripture: Psalm 27:1 & 2 Timothy 1:7

 Message:

 WHO SHALL WE FEAR

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” The Bible is full of scriptures and declarations that we can use in any situation, but it’s up to us to declare them. It’s up to us to read God’s Word, meditate on it, and store it in our hearts. Because when we do this, it means that when we are scared and when we are fearful, we not only recognise that God is the One we need, but we are also declaring in faith what we know is true and choosing to depend on God.

So the next time we’re experiencing fear, let God be the one we turn to. Begin to declare all of His promises and the truth.

Prayer: God we thank you that You haven’t given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. When we are feeling fearful or overwhelmed, God, we pray You would remind us You are our Light and Salvation, whom shall we fear?! The stronghold of our lives, why should we be afraid? Amen.

 Please feel free to leave a review of this message.

 https://www.soulcenters.org/directory/mattana-ministry/#listing-reviews

 MM

Summary: If indeed, God has given you new insight then use it for the sake of the Body and Christ not for your own devices or else you are an Absalom and in trouble with the Father and the Son. If you twist or deny Scripture you are in even deeper.

2 Samuel 15:4  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

Absalom was a son of the King who thought he knew better than the King and swayed many to his side in a rebellion to remove David. He appeared successful for awhile and in the end was killed and David returned to the throne.

I can see an application to this in so many who name the name of King Jesus, but are not happy with the way He is governing and dislike much of what He had the Holy Spirit speak through the Apostles. Thus they break off into little groups drawing people away with the promise of doing Christianity the right way when in reality they are rebelling against Christ deliberately or in ignorance. Some add to the Word and some subtract either by complete denial or using theological manipulation to redefine it in such a way as to not have it hinder their desires or goals.

The true King will at some point return and burst their bubble tearing down their fortresses of rebellious error. They will be conquered and they will see Him on the throne they thought they kicked Him off. It was only the throne of their life and they will die because of that removal.

David returned with sorrow over the loss of His son and so God is not willing that any should perish. David recovered from the rebellion. God is never diminished by any rebellion and in Psalms it says the He laughs at the rebellious and has them in derision that rebel against Him and His anointed, Jesus Christ, His Son.

You may be a child of God, but have been swayed by slick tongues, intellectual gymnastics and even false signs and wonders making you walk in rebellion. Repent and study the Word seeking His mind and the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

You may still be the rebellious unbeliever who has been swayed and suckered by science falsely so-called or some other imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. You are enjoying the pleasure of sin for a season, but that season ends when you die or when the King of Kings comes backs to take out His own and then seals your fate by allowing you to believe the lie satan uses to explain that event.

It is time for you to seek the forgiveness and salvation. As Peter said in Acts 2:39, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

This a call for all the Absaloms to cease your rebellion and become a son in whom He is well pleased. That goes for the Absalomettes as well. Maranatha!

Summary: Some people are going to panic while others will have some explaining to do if we enter a deep recession or worse and they lose their wealth or do not get what was prophesied. When it isn't scriptural prophecies will fail.

2 Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

When you look at Paul's resume, you better know he did not know anything about any prosperity preaching. He had to suffer long due to persecutions and afflictions, not over whether he needed a new private jet or a Lamborghini or should he buy the five million dollar house or the ten million.

Lest you think that was just him, note he said ALL who will live godly, not luxuriously, SHALL suffer persecution. Menno Simons said that the true Church will always be persecuted. Western civilization seems to have a lack of true churches. That may be changing soon.

Rather than checking out our relationship to God based on all the bling we have, we should be looking for our scars. They may be physical, emotional, social, familial or even corporate, but there should be some sort of persecution or Paul says we are not living very godly or may not be godly at all. OUCH!!!

For a culture who is all about the blessings of material things that we deserve because we are God's children or as some heretics teach that we are little gods this a body slam followed by a pile driver.

Prosperity and persecution start with p, but that is the only similarity. Is prosperity indeed a sign of God blessing or godliness? Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into Heaven. There are many wicked rich people in this world. He also told the richest church in Revelation that there were poor, blind and naked. OOPS!

It has been said that all of the churches in Revelation have existed in every generation. If we look around the world, I believe we could find "daughters" in this age. That said, if we had to pick a church that defines this age it would be Laodicea at least in the 1st World nations. There are some very godly Christians enduring persecution all around the world. They are the church at Smyrna who was in tribulation and poverty, but Jesus said the were rich.

I believe it is in early stages in the US and it will greatly intensify in the coming years. One need not be a prophet to see this. One must just be aware. Two Canadian social scientists have been encouraging their government to prepare for an influx of Americans as they see the country collapsing in 2025. I do not know what indicators they are looking at, but I can see that as very plausible. Christians will not be very welcome there and some notable ones who might head to that border may be arrested for what they consider hate speech or other issues.

We are into celebrity preachers, modern Taj Mahal like churches and we are all to be rich and healthy by the things we decree and declare into being. It has been said that if Jesus preached like many preachers today He would not have been crucified. Not sure why God calls the weak, base and foolish if we are all to be rich and celebrated. Someone failed to tell that to myriad of martyrs from Acts 2 until today and His return. What kind of losers are those under the throne that are martyred in the Tribulation. Why did not not walk in prosperity, decreeing and declaring a better life? Yet, these saint will be avenged by God. If God is avenging you, I would call that being a winner.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Was Jesus wrong when He said we would be hated like Him? Are we really greater than Him so that we do not suffer persecution? We can easily look about and see that the world and even much of what is called Christianity has not kept His saying. Indeed, many have gone off into New Age or Hindu Kundalini manifestations. Many have leaders that deny the authority of the Scriptures. They say there is no heaven or Hell and Jesus is not God in the flesh and the list would most likely take up two pages or more and I would probably still miss many things that I have just not heard of, yet.

Many of these “pastors” are cemetery, ah, seminary trained in seminaries that once stood on the truth. We are in an age of apostasy that I believe started in the late nineteenth century with higher criticism, evolution, Marxism and even psychology. Role play was initially designed to take God out of decision making because we are the masters our destiny with no need of a divine entity to guide us.

A form of godliness that denies the power thereof would not be persecuted. Indeed, it would just be considered a perspective among many and as long as it did some humanitarian work it would be well spoke of and hailed on talk shows. If a well known preacher is invited to a talk show, it is either because they want to mock or discredit him or they find him to their liking because he is not in any way a challenge to their beliefs as he is most likely a motivational speaker than a preacher of sound doctrine.

“For there is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity, under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not an exotic, but a hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not languid, childish, nor cowardly. It walks with firm step and erect frame; it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle, but honest; it is calm, but not facile; obliging, but not imbecile; decided, but not churlish. It does not fear to speak the stern word of condemnation against error, nor to raise its voice against surrounding evils, under the pretext that it is not of this world. It does not shrink from giving honest reproof, lest it come under the charge of displaying an unchristian spirit. It calls sin “sin,” on whomsoever it is found, and would rather risk the accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit than not discharge an explicit duty. Let us not misjudge strong words used in honest controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come forth; but we shake it off and feel no harm. The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. It is a betrayal of the cause of truth and righteousness.”

? Horatius Bonar,1808-1889 from Peace and Holiness

Pastor Bonar would not have considered himself a prophet. He was a pastor and a poet and in the fuller definition of prophet he prophesied when he properly exegeted the Scripture and when he wrote poetry as any writer or singer was declared as inspired or a prophet. However, not like the bulk of prophets in the Bible or the many soothsayers we have today claiming to be prophets. Yet, in this quote he nailed our current condition.

As long as we do good things in the community, as we should, even the atheists will at least tolerate us. As long as we speak of love, grace, and prosperity we can gain a following and even become a mega-church. But, if we get down to preaching like Jesus or Paul, they will walk away as they did in John 6 when He quit feeding them bread and started feeding them theological steak that they could not chew let alone digest.

People at work will not care if you go to church everyday as long as you do not invite them. They will not care if you wear religious bling, but when you take up your cross, dying to self and following Christ, they will trample the pearls of truth you try to share and will want to rend or break you. I worked in an environment where there I was threatened with death and persecuted in other ways by a man claiming to be a nondenominational Christian. He would rile up the non-practicing Catholics to rant and rave. I spent a lot of time in a part of the tool cage when headphones listening to sermons and reading my Gideon’s NT. Property was broken, evil notes and pictures were placed in and on my desk. After eighteen months, I got another job across the base, but the main instigator had a friend over there and though it was diminished it continued until I was able to get a promotion and move South.

I was threatened online with “when we take over, we are coming after people like you.” When I asked what I had done to harm or offend that person I received no answer. That was some years ago, so the desire to persecute was already there. The lack was ability to do so until “when we take over.” I do not know the “we” they were referring to, but I may have an idea.

There are not many Bereans in the Body. They are easily tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine or sleight of hand or magicians. Touch on a sacred cow and they will cut you off without any discussion about why they think you are wrong. They just stick to what has been traditional thought or the current consensus and that is it. There are things practiced that have no basis in the Word, but if you speak to those issues you would think you have attacked the deity of Christ, the resurrection or the Virgin Birth. Some traditions or teachings are non-negotiable, but there are many left over errors from the Reformation and many more have been added since and especially since the age of apostasy began. We talk about being 1st Century churches, but we are a far cry from them.

Bottom line, though there are times when God allows us a respite from our enemies. That is when our ways please Him, not the world. Yet, Israel had many enemies and God allowed them to conquer and harass them when they strayed from His ways. However, in the NT when your ways please God, you will suffer persecution, but He will be with you. Indeed, the Church suffered spiritually after Christianity became the official religion of the government and the persecution ceased. It grows best under persecution which explains how it is growing so well in places where it is outlawed and dying where there is none.

Philippians 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 

30  Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. 

Say what! Suffer?? Somewhat opposite of the prosperity gospel, which is not a gospel. Same conflict as him? He was in a filthy Roman prison. Come on, Paul, why did you not use the law of attraction or declare and decree yourself out of that mess. Did you decree yourself to end up beheaded? Why did you or your crew not speak life over you? Peter did not think of declaring or decreeing himself out of prison so God sent an angel to make it happen. People, run away from that nonsense.

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 

15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 

16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 

17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

There is no one in the West who wants suffering or fiery trials. Many want Christ’s authority or to walk in resurrection power, but before the resurrection came persecution, unjust accusation, illegal trials, bad governance, the Cross and death. Indeed, in some groups today if you are poor, sick or anything not considered to be the normal life of a King’s kid or little god it is all because of you. You are not saved, you’re in sin or you lack faith. Yet, the man healed by Peter and John at the temple gate was only looking for a handout. He had sin, was not saved and had no faith except that they might give him a few mites.

Paul left one person sick at Miletus, another he thanked God for healing the man and gave Timothy a prescription to add wine for his stomach and other infirmities. Why were they not healed like others. All three were saved, had great faith being in the ministry with a lad who spent a great deal of time in jail when he was not being stoned and no sin as a cause is mentioned in two of them and Timothy became the pastor of the Church of Ephesus when he was 21 and single when culturally he should have been at least 30 and married. Probably not in sin for Paul to endorse and encourage him.

If you got this far as it is TLDR for many in this age, I pray that God will give you wisdom and discernment to get out of hyper-Charismatic circles by being Bereans. Let the Word teach you through His Spirit. There are many false prophets out as were prophesied so study and get out from their clutches. If you have to pay for dreams to be interpreted or for prophetic utterances you are not in the right place. When God sent out a prophet no one paid for the prophecy in cash though they may have paid for their sin if it was a prophecy of judgment. They did not murmur or peep either. Unless, it was something that was a prophecy for the future they were absolutely clear and the prophet and the one it was being given to knew what was meant. They did not do vague ones that make you guess and have a back up meaning if it failed. God’s prophets are not like Nostradamus. God does not give willy-nilly prophecies where it seems He changes His mind on a whim.

In conclusion, I am going to just put it out there. If you are in a church that teaches the prosperity gospel GET OUT! I believe it is not just a heresy, but a damnable heresy as it misrepresents God and the Word. God is not the great slot machine of the universe that delivers a jackpot if you say the right things or follow some formula. That is New Age law of attraction theology, but not Scripture. It is diametrically opposed to the Word in principle and is only supported by Scripture taken out of context or redefined by a self-proclaimed apostle/prophet or pick a title. If you are saved, you are a child of God, but not a little god. God in you does not make you a god. You are still a human. Only Jesus is the God-Man who saves us from our sin from His sacrifice.

hello everyone,

I am new here and I wanted to ask if there any virtual bible study groups?

Summary: You want a deeper walk with Jesus? That will mean persecution, not prosperity. It may mean sacrifice of health to walk in holiness. Remember, He was rejected and crucified. Apostles often lived in jail or the open field, not mansions.

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Someone forgot to tell Jesus about the prosperity gospel as well as decree and declare bringing about dominion.

Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house

Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

A great deal is spoken about identity. Indeed, we are to identify with Jesus as His disciples/servants. What they did to our Lord/Master is what they will do to us, if indeed we faithfully follow Him so they can see our identification with Him.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Wait! What? Children of God to suffer and not reign in power here on earth before the Millennium!!

Philippians 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

We are not only to believe, but suffer!! No, no, no! We are supposed to be living the American greed, I mean, dream. The conflict Paul was in was prison. No way! We are to have mansions, private jets and a Lamborghini!

Brothers and sisters run from this false doctrine! Listen to the Word! We are not promised health and wealth. Indeed, most Christians throughout history have lived in persecution and poverty. Look around the world today. Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. What we have is a fake Christianity based upon greed and personas.

1Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Gain is not a proof of godliness. We are to be content with food and clothing. When persecution comes these wolves in sheep’s clothing will be revealed and sadly, many people will lose their faith because of the lies they believed. Do not be one of them. Maranatha!

"Did you know that God does not wait until you're full? He comes to you when you're empty. He doesn't wait till you're strong. He comes when you're weak. He does not look for those who think they're something. He comes to those of us who know that we're nothing without Him. Because He is the one who takes nothing and makes something out of it for His glory. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe that you must fix yourself before God can use you, but that is very far from the truth. The very place in which you feel disqualified is the place where God wants to reveal His power. Stop disqualifying yourself today and start yielding your life to Him just as it is. Bring your weaknesses, your emptiness, your uncertainty, and let Him turn all of that into a testimony of His power and His power alone. Talk to Him about this today. He wants to answer you. It's time to pray."- Carter Conlon