All posts tagged: truth

The test of love is obedience, and the reward of obedience is a self-manifestation of Christ

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Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:21). How do we prove our love for Jesus? Is there a reward for loving obedience? In the passage above we learn that the only way to prove we love Christ is by our obedience. We can give ourselves up to be burned, but, it wouldn’t mean that we love him. We could give all our possessions to the poor, but it still wouldn’t prove that we love him at all. The only way to prove we love Christ is by our obedience. This is one of those commands that come with a promise. If we love him, he will love us and will show himself to us. That is an amazing promise. I hear about Christians who still doubt that they are saved. They have no assurance at all about their relationship with the Lord. They …

11 Signs that show you’ve fallen from Grace

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You are hoping that works will get you what only faith can secure for you. Galatians 3:2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? You deliberately tolerate and indulge the sinful nature. Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, You have forsaken your first love Revelation 2:4, 5/ You walked away from your first love—why? What’s going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? Turn back! Recover your dear early love. You do not trust God, the scripture nor the church You are completely isolated from everything. That includes God and His people You have an unhealthy pursuit of money and material things You are vengeful and unwilling to forgive  You have no desire for worship, prayer, obedience and church fellowship You no longer feel His presence, hear His voice, or fear Him You demand perfection of others Yet, you are longing, …

Releasing a culture of Victory in the face of Opposition

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One of the key truths about the kingdom of God, the church or a believer is that we always seem to triumph even in the mist of intense opposition. For example: The massive Goliath falls to a boy with five smooth stones Pharaoh’s pursuit and the parting of the Red Sea. A great multitude of Moabites and Ammonites came against Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat prayed. God spoke. The worship band sang. God moved. Israel won the battle. Jesus lived and died. His disciples begin to spread the good news. Opposition is as intense as it was with Jesus. Some get killed, yet the truth still lives, impacting countless millions. Time after time we win. No matter the opposition. No matter the issue, no matter the seeming setbacks, we win. Truth gets twisted but it never breaks. Kingdoms rise, kingdoms fall, He is immovable rock, so are we. Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it!” Here are a few things we need to do when faced with opposition 1. Remember God …

Beyond Information to Transformation

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Let me begin with a status update from my spiritual father’s Facebook page. He wrote: Reading through Jeremiah and Lamentations in the One Year Bible [really gasping for air].  GOD’s tolerance for dirty living was at “0.”  And my “take away?” 1.  Clean living is valuable. 2.  Clean living’s got to be “on our radar.” 3.  Clean living has to be a from the “inside–out” deal. GOD — please — take GT beyond information to transformation. In this Facebook status update I would like for you to notice just one phrase. Forrest says, “Take GT beyond information to transformation.” For those of you who do not know Pastor Beiser, he is my spiritual father. And he leads a thriving church in San Francisco. This phrase, “beyond information to transformation,” has been one of the driving forces of his life and ministry, at least since I’ve known him. Making disciples  is what he lives for. So, how do you lead people beyond information to transformation? Here are a few suggestions: 1. Pioneer a yearning lifestyle Let your people see your devotion. Don’t …

Relativism: What’s your take?

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While a lot of young people across America and around the world are helplessly struggling with what some are calling “the morass of relativism” Abraham Ebel writes, It all depends on where you are and it all depends on who you are. It all depends on what you feel, and it all depends on how you feel. It all depends on how you’re raised, and it all depends on what is praised. What’s right today is wrong tomorrow. Joy in France and England’s sorrow. It all depends on point of view, Australia or Timbuktu. In Rome do as the Romans do. If tastes just happen to agree, then you have morality. But where there are conflicting trends it all depends; it all depends. Please leave a note or a comment for why you voted the way you did. I would love to hear from you.

Who do you say I am?

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And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29 Over the past two thousand years people have shown much curiosity about Jesus. From the experience his disciples had with him, leaving them with this question – “who is this man” to the speculations of his enemies trying to paint him as an imposter, a homosexual and a weirdo. But the question Jesus himself asked in our title couldn’t be more pertinent or well placed. I don’t think anyone other than those who walked, talked, touched, and had their lives completely transformed by this Jesus could best answer the question. Here are a few things they’ve said about him that truly explains who He is: Advocate – 1 John 2:1 Apostle of our profession – Hebrews 3:1 Atoning sacrifice for our sins – 1 John 2:2 Author of Life – Acts 3:15 Author of salvation – Hebrews 2:10 Bread of life – John 6:35 Chief Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20 Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter …

Piercing the darkness

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In him was life, and the life was light of men John 1:4, 5 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not comprehend it. We saw in verses 1-3 that Jesus was not created but instead was creator. He is the source of all life. The ancient Greek word translated life is zoe, which means “the life principle,” not bios, which is mere biological life. This life which is the light of men – speaks of spiritual light. Without Jesus we are lost. We are the blind leading the blind. We may claim to have enlightenment or knowledge of spiritual things, but we are just fooling ourselves.  All that we are and have or can do – knowledge, integrity, intelligence, willingness to submit to God, love Him and love others, wisdom, purity, joy, all has its fountain in Jesus. Like the Psalmist says, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” And because he hath the life …

Edging God Out – Sidebar

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 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” (Jonah 1:9 ESV) This is one of the most awkward verses in the book of Jonah. a vivid example of how sometimes our talk really doesn’t match our walk. Jonah is claiming to be a God fearing person at the same time living in rebellion. I know the sailors were going awhhh, Mr., this is weird – why are you running from Him? Related articles EGO – Edging God Out (waltbrite.wordpress.com) Edging God Out – Episode Four (waltbrite.wordpress.com) Edging God Out – The main thing! (waltbrite.wordpress.com) Edging God out – Second Episode (waltbrite.wordpress.com)