Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Where In the World Are We Headed?

Good Morning here from the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries. I recently noticed Minister Guy LaMar posting a reminder, “I am NOT setting dates --- BUT do CONSIDER the POSSIBILITY of Christ JESUS returning around the years of 2027 to 2033.” I commented myself - I too, dearest Brother, would NEVER set dates (cf. Matt. 24:36). However, back on November 6th, 2016, while I lay in my bed at night I had a dream, and behold, I was looking up at the clearest night sky I had ever seen before, filled with crystal clear bright shining stars. I watched the glistening of the stars until I heard a booming voice. It appeared to be the end of a conversation, and the voice spoke - "They only have 10 years left." That was the end of the account. But, as for me, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and I keep the matter in my thoughts and mind, not knowing the meaning. 

Well, there truly is only ONE source that can give you a genuine understanding of this world’s events – and that is God’s living word!

I was afraid that it was going to happen. That PBS’ Masterpiece Victoria would include this LGBT movement in regards to homosexuality. It did! And because of that, I will not watch another episode. I refuse to accept it and I refuse to be an audience to it! – cf. Romans 1:26-32.

TERRIBLE and IMMORAL changes have been happening in our societies and will grow even worse in the next FOUR YEARS!

The majority of our peoples around the world DO NOT even see most of these terrible and immoral changes.

But, you need to know. And you need to take action – while there is still time!

I am currently typing up another article entitled “Is This the Beginning of the End?” which will certainly address much of this too.


Certainly, many younger people will continue to assume that everything will just continue along the way that it always has. “Sure,” they say quietly and personally, “we made a huge mistake with Joe Biden, but we’ll get over it, a new president will be elected, and we’ll carry right on.” But we need to realize, my young friends, that landmark changes have occurred in our societies and that events will NEVER be the same as they were again. What we have at this moment is the beginning of a major storm! What our Lord Jesus Christ has called, ’ the beginning of sorrows.’ A storm that will eventually envelop the whole national and international scene.

Even now, as we are very aware, Russia and Ukraine is a powder keg ready to explode; the Iran nuclear “agreement” and where that fiasco is heading towards; China’s growing boldness; Germany increasing her military budget, and Europe’s unease.

And even on the domestic scene, the groundwork was being laid even during the Clinton Administration not only for the current Russian and Ukrainian war but the very foundation for the soon-coming complete destruction of the United States of America!

And, getting back to homosexuality – and be sure to watch Minister Michael C. Garrett’s lovingly and enlightening sermon “He Will Heal Them” – this homosexuality is now taken for granted as an alternative lifestyle that has no physical or spiritual penalties. In the United States of America – what once was an “In God We Trust” God-fearing nation – on June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down all state bans on homosexual “marriage,” legalized it in all fifty states, and required states to honor out-of-state homosexual “marriage” licenses. And homosexual “marriage” is legal in all parts of the United Kingdom. And, as we are aware, the Roman Catholic Church ordained Robert Carter – an openly gay priest. And a great number of this world’s churches have also ordained admitted and openly gay ministers into their churches!

IT IS A WORLD TRAGEDY!

And it certainly is if you examine what God’s living word directly and clearly states! But how many theologians do that anymore!?

Why, if this world’s ministers would do that people might get the idea that stealing, lying, fornication, adultery, and homosexuality were actual SINS that should be abhorred and deeply repented of! That certainly would lose too many of their people, wouldn’t it!

And in the very realm of natural forces gravely afflicting large areas of Africa, and even the Anglo-Saxon nations, it is prophesied that they will experience far greater devastation like famine, earthquakes, drought, and disease epidemics such as have not struck nations before!

And certainly, a great many of our peoples can see – including many secular experts – that the U.S. dollar will eventually be replaced with the Chinese Yuan as the key reserve currency for international trade and commerce. And a rising foundation that is already being laid by the European Community, will unite ten nations (or rather kingdoms; as God sees kingdoms) in EUROPE which will quickly begin to exert not only a major economic, but a political, religious, and military power upon the Western world. And the very power and strength of this final resurrection of this “Holy” Roman Empire will not only startle the Western hemisphere but will certainly be a catalyst for the Islam nations to unite into an Islamic confederation of nations – known in Scripture as ‘the king of the South’ – cf. Daniel 11:40.

How Do We Know!?

In last November’s Personal, I answered this question. My wife even asks me this question often when I tell her just what God says within His living prophecies, “How do you know!?” Well, human opinion is not worth anything in matters pertaining to God’s ultimate Plan for the future of all mankind – such as dire important questions like why we are here and what is the purpose of life.

There is, however, as I stated earlier, THE SOURCE of proper knowledge and understanding of such matters that is absolutely infallible! And that Source is JESUS CHRIST! When honestly and properly understood, God’s living word reveals with immovable accuracy the meaning behind all human events – past and present – and of our ultimate outcome.

As Sir Winston Churchill stated, “I will say that he must indeed have a blind soul who cannot see that some great purpose and design is being worked out here below of which we have the honor to be the faithful servants.” Our great CREATOR intervenes, when He chooses, in the affairs of men and nations. Thousands of our readers have proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that God’s living word – the Holy Bible – is our great Creator’s inspired “Instruction Manual” of essential knowledge for all mankind.

It is also of grave importance to understand that nearly 1/3 of the Holy Bible is prophecy! Yet, it is for the largest part, neglected by mankind. The apostle Peter wrote, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” – 2 Peter 1:19-21.

And, our Lord Jesus Christ says, “ …’ it is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD of God’ – Luke 4:4.

In setting forth this very ‘beginning of sorrows,’ our Lord Jesus Christ states: ’ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place’ – Matthew 24:34.

So when God’s true servants write these articles of the very prophesied events which will unfold, it is with a deep sense of awe and respect for Almighty God that we honestly, faithfully, and boldly proclaim His inspired messages.



In what is often called the Olivet Prophecy, our Lord Jesus Christ privately was asked by His disciples for details of when specific events would occur and what would be the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age – Matthew 24:3.

He specifically stated that there would be, over the centuries, false ministers saying that He is the Messiah, yet deceiving many. That throughout the centuries we would hear of wars and rumors of wars, that there would be world wars – ’ nation will rise against nation.’ And that towards the close of this world’s evil present age there would be ‘kingdom against kingdom,’ famines, pestilences, and major earthquakes in different places – verses 4-7.

And then He WARNS that, even before all this gets too bad, the “End-Time Prophets” will arrive on the scene and will eventually be delivered up to tribulation and will be killed and hated by all nations for His name’s sake – versus 9-11. Yet, before they are killed, these end-time prophets will preach the gospel of the kingdom in all the world as a witness to all nations! – verses 14.

In apostle Luke’s account of this same prophecy, our Lord Jesus Christ WARNS, ’ But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you [speaking primarily concerning the end-time prophets] and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings [presidents and prime ministers] and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony’ – Luke 21:12-13; see also Revelation 11:7-13.



Now, the prophet Jeremiah wrote more than a hundred and fifty years after the ancient northern kingdom of Israel – the house of Israel – were taken into captivity in roughly 734-732 BC and the ten tribes eventually being “sifted” into other nations. Yet, he prophesied of a future punishment that would strike their descendants as well as modern-day Judah – Jeremiah 30:4.

Even today a great many of our people do not realize that patriarch Jacob’s name had been changed to Israel. Yet, the term Jacob is often used for his descendants. It is also vitally important to properly understand that when the LORD God prophesies against Israel and Judah, it is actually two separate peoples He is speaking about. It is NOT only the Jewish people He is speaking about. If you do not understand this important revelation, be sure to read Minister Michael C. Garrett’s “God’s Promises To Abraham – a seven-part series.” Read this masterful set of articles online, or download them, at no cost.

Continuing in the Book of Jeremiah chapter 30 in verse 7 – the LORD our God describes a time of absolute TERROR which will fall upon our peoples – “’ Alas! For that day [speaking of the Day of the LORD!] is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, …’”

He is clearly delineated the exact same time period of which the Lord our God Jesus Christ speaks of in His prophecy. For there CAN NOT be two such times of trouble “worst ever.” Our Lord specifically WARNS, ’ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be’ – Matthew 24:21.

So then, this “‘great tribulation’” falls upon Jacob’s descendants – and not only the Jews who are descendants of Jacob’s son Judah – but also upon the United States of America and the United Kingdom and her Commonwealth Nations who have shared the promises of national greatness and great blessings bestowed upon Jacob’s birthright son Joseph – yet who have FAILED to “TRUST IN GOD’ and honor Him!

Verse 8 – “’ For it shall come to pass in that day,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘That I will break his yoke from your neck, And I will burst your bonds; Foreigners shall no more enslave them.’”

A terrible “yoke” of national servitude – of subjugation – to a foreign mighty power is prophesied for our nations UNLESS WE TRULY REPENT of our national and personal sins and turn to God!

And AFTER being released from this national servitude by the returning Lord Jesus Christ and His saints, our peoples “shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up [in other words, resurrect] for them” – verse 9.

Friends, it is the time of the resurrection! King David will once again rule over the reunited people of the house of Judah and the house of Israel – see also Ezekiel 37:16-24.

In chapter 3 of the Book of Jeremiah, the LORD our God describes the time AFTER the returning of our Lord Jesus Christ and His saints, “’ 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 as an inheritance to your fathers [speaking of the land of Palestine]’” – verse 18.

Almost every prophecy describing Israel and Judah at our Lord Jesus Christ’s return show them both in a condition of subjugation to a powerful foreign power which He will deliver them from, and reunite them and begin teaching them His Way that they know not – see Hosea 1:11; Zechariah 8:13; 10:6-9.

An IMPORTANT Prophecy

But what of – in regards to the title of this article – where in the world are we heading in the next four years leading up to the major crisis at the close of this world’s present evil age!?

Well, such a foundational prophecy concerning this very thing is set forth in Leviticus chapter 26 as well as Deuteronomy 28. These prophecies are speaking of the descendants of all THIRTEEN tribes of the house of Israel.

And they detail just what the LORD our God will do IF His people do not turn back unto Him and forsake their own way.

Be sure to read Leviticus 26:3-13 – in which the LORD our God sets forth great blessings which we could have IF our peoples sincerely turned back unto Him, keeping His statutes and keeping His commandments and serving Him with their whole heart. “’ But IF you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, … I also will do this to you: I will even appoint TERROR over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it’” – verse 16.

Surely this prophesied time of national crisis began for the United States of America in greater force on September 11, 2001. The world as a whole changed dramatically after 9/11!

“’ I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies’” – verse 17. It has been said that America has won its last war – and certainly the Vietnam War is surely an obvious example to back up this point. The Korean War – which my father served – ended the career of a great general - Douglas MacArthur. And it also marked the beginning of a new era in America’s war strategy: limited warfare.

IT GETS FAR WORSE!

Let us all in this time of crisis carefully read this foundational prophecy in Leviticus chapter 26, noticing that AFTER each series of events it’s as if the LORD our God pauses to see if we will repent. If not, then He continues adding far worse punishments.

“’ Then, if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to obey Me, I will bring on you SEVEN TIMES more plagues, according to your sins’” – verse 21.

Finally, the LORD our God says that if we will still not repent, “’ then I will also walk contrary to you in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you SEVEN TIMES for your sins’” – verse 28.

“’ I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries [church buildings] to desolation, …’” – verse 31.

And our people will be taken into subjugation by a conquering powerful foreign invader.

Friends, referring to all these end-time events, our Lord Jesus Christ admonishes us, ’ But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man’ – Luke 21:34-36.

Friends, this utter destruction will come IN OUR GENERATION in the form of either a direct nuclear attack – or perhaps an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapon – IF the nations which have descended from the house of Israel do not repent and turn unto the LORD our God!

The LORD our God will remember His people Judah and Israel under their subjugation: “’ I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph. I WILL BRING THEM BACK, Because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; For I AM the LORD their God, And I will hear them’” – Zechariah 10:6.

When these terrible events take place – as surely as the Lord lives – then the nations will remember that God’s true servants WARNED them ahead of time and they “shall come with weeping, and with supplications” and the LORD our God shall lead them – cf. Jeremiah 31:7-9.

What GREAT AND GLORIOUS NEWS! □


Additional items:

Proving the Truth! - free no-obligation online pdf booklet.
¡Demostrando la verdad! - folleto pdf en línea gratuito y sin compromiso.
KUTHIBITISHA UKWELI! - bure hakuna-obligation online pdf kijitabu.
Is God Listening? - Does God need our prayers!? And what is the purpose of prayer – anyway!? Should true Christians be praying – and what should they be praying for!?
Je, Mungu Anasikiliza? - Je, Mungu anahitaji maombi yetu!? Na nini madhumuni ya maombi - hata hivyo!? Wakristo wa kweli wanapaswa kuwa wanaomba - na wanapaswa kuomba nini!?

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Commentary: The Covenant Day


by Guy C. LaMar

IN accordance with the promises that God gave to Abraham, as recorded in Genesis 15:3-6 and Genesis 22:15-18, our Lord Jesus Christ began the New Covenant on Passover day. Therefore the 14th of the 1st month - Passover day - can rightly be called the Covenant Day.

Our Lord Jesus Himself is the One who established this day as the Covenant Day by His commands for this day and by His actions on this day!

Our Lord Jesus Himself made the Covenant Day - Passover - the primary day, and the only day, for the renewal of the NEW COVENANT relationship between each individual true Christian, God the Father, and Himself.

This New Covenant relationship can only be entered into by the operation of the loving grace of God. And, God's loving grace begins with the calling by God the Father - cf. John 6:44.

Each individual person must respond to God the Father's calling by repentance, proper baptism, and loving obedience to the living Word of God, Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God. And when these conditions are fulfilled, Jesus Christ will "'pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper'" (John 14:15-17) - the glorious Holy Spirit to each individual person He calls out of this world.

The Holy Spirit enables each person to worship God in spirit and in truth! Recall: "'But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him'" - John 4:23.

"'God is Spirit, and those who worship Him, must [In Greek dei, meaning "it is a must, it is necessary, ought" - Strong's #1163] worship in spirit [or, through the Spirit of God; aided by the very mind of Jesus Christ] and truth'" - vs. 24.

What our Lord Jesus is revealing by these words is not just a suggestion - IT IS A COMMAND! The Greek text is emphatic - it is an imperative command! Our Lord Jesus is revealing the ONLY WAY to enter into the New Covenant relationship with God the Father.

This New Covenant relationship is offered only to those who love God the Father and Jesus Christ and keep Their commandments and live "'by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" - Matthew 4:4.

This is the FOUNDATION of the true Christian faith by the loving grace of God under the New Covenant!

The only Way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ! He Himself established the New Covenant with His own blood, and He Himself reveals the ONE TRUE WAY to enter into that special relationship with God the Father.

Our Lord Jesus emphatically states, "'I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" - John 14:6.

God the Father's very Plan for the redemption of all mankind is revealed in the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ - Our Passover! Notice: "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone" - Hebrews 2:9.

No human work can possibly replace or be substituted for this awesome sacrifice of Jesus Christ! His precious blood alone can reconcile us to God the Father. And once we have been reconciled, it is through the risen Jesus Christ, as our High Priest, at the right hand of God the Father, that we are saved by the loving grace of God.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5) even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6) and raised us up together [through the operation of proper baptism], and made us sit together in the heavenly places [through the begettal of God's Holy Spirit] in Christ Jesus, 7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves [In Greek ou, meaning "no, not, not at all, in no way, absolutely not" - Strong's #3756]; it is a gift of God, 9) not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" - Ephesians 2:4-10.

True Christians are to continually worship God the Father and Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth. They are in actual true covenant with God the Father and Jesus Christ!

And because they worship God as He commanded, they are faithfully and lovingly keeping the Christian Passover as commanded by Jesus Christ in the New Testament. They are observing it on the correct Covenant Day for the annual renewing of the New Covenant.

This means that they are faithfully observing the Christian Passover on the 14th day of Nisan (the 1st month according to the calculated Hebrew calendar) which is April 14th at sunset until April 15th at sunset according to the Gregorian calendar, 2022. The same time of day that our Lord Jesus instituted the new symbols, and the proper manner He Himself commanded at His last Passover. Each year, they fulfill all THREE PARTS of the Passover exactly as our Lord Jesus commanded:
  1. Participating in the foot washing.
  2. Eating the unleavened bread and,
  3. Partaking of the wine.
So, by partaking of the Christian Passover, as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded, they are rededicating their lives to walk in His Way and live their lives by Him. Recall: "'He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57) As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me'" - John 6:56-57.

Our Christian relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father is renewed each year by participating in the Christian Passover.

The true meaning of the Christian Passover goes far beyond understanding the correct day and the correct manner for its observance.

In reality, the Christian Passover is the FOUNDATION of God's ultimate Plan for the redemption of all mankind - now and for all eternity!

God the Father gives us His glorious and magnificent love and grace THROUGH Jesus Christ Our Passover!

Let us properly partake of the symbols of the New Covenant as our Lord Jesus Christ commanded.

Let us renew our covenant relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Let us rededicate our lives in the love and grace of God as we partake of the New Covenant Passover - the Christian Passover.

It is like when we were baptized, we took on a NEW self. □


Additional Commentaries:

Women in the ChurchAs we go along in this journey towards the end of this age we are seeing more and more a great weakness within the Church of God. [...]
Some Food For ThoughtHERE is just some food for thought. [...]
Does Your Appearance Count?I was once asked, “Why do you dress up in a suit and tie all the time?” [...]
Conspiracy TheoriesIn this commentary, I’d like to address conspiracy theories – and the largest findings in this area are the politically-based forms of conspiracies. [...]

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Should Christians Celebrate St. Patrick's Day?


Does it make any difference if true Christians observe St. Patrick's Day? Does God's living word - the Holy Bible - establish whether we, as Christians, are to keep certain God-ordained holy days? Were these holy days ONLY given to the Jews!? Does Leviticus 23:1 say, "'The feasts of the children of Israel'"!? Hence, the feasts of the Jews!? Are these God-ordained holy days binding TODAY on true Christians? WHICH DAYS SHOULD TRUE CHRISTIANS KEEP!?


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WELL, HERE we are again, approaching March 17th, which is observed by a large majority of this world as St. Patrick's Day! But why!? Do you know just why you celebrate this day - if indeed you do!? And, should true Christians celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Every year multiple millions of our people observe St. Patrick's Day, yet, those of us of the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches DO NOT!

Why!?

Well, truly because of where it came from, what it truly is, as well as what it is supposed to represent.

If you've never researched this subject before, let's delve into some research - such as The Catholic Encyclopedia - in which we will certainly find some interesting, as well as disturbing claims involving St. Patrick's Day:
"Saint, Apostle of Ireland, b.  at  Kil- Patrick,  near  Dumbarton,  in  Scotland,  in the year  387; d.  at  Saul,  Downpatrick,  Ireland,  17  March,  493. ... Pope  St.  Celestine  I  (q.  v.),  who rendered immortal service to able wreath  of  honour  decreed  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  the General  Council  of  Ephesus,  crowned  his  pontificate by  an  act  of  the  most  far-reaching  consequences for  the  spread  of  Christianity  and  civilization,  when he  entrusted  St.  Patrick  with  the  mission  of  gathering the  Irish  race  into  the  one  fold  of  Christ.

...  The  beautiful  prayer  of  St.  Patrick,  popularly known  as  "St.  Patrick's  Breast-Plate",  is  supposed  to have  been  composed  by  him  in  preparation  for  this victory  over  Paganism.     The  following  is  a  literal translation  from  the  old  Irish  text : —

... I  bind  to  myself  to-day
The  strong  virtue  of  the  Invocation  of  the  Trin- ity: I  believe  the  Trinity  in  the  Unity ...

St.  Patrick  proceeded  through  Gowran  into Ossory ;  here  he  erected  a  church  under  the  invocation of  St.  Martin,  near  the  present  city  of  Kilkenny,  and enriched  it  with  many  of  the  precious  relics  which  he had  brought  from  Rome. ...

Many  times  in  the  day  he  armed  himself with  the  sign  of  the  Cross. ... 

Far  more  ample,  however,  were  the  aspirations of  the  saint,  and  he  resolved  to  persevere  in  fasting and  prayer  until  the  fullest  measure  of  his  petition was  granted.  Again  and  again  the  angel  came  to comfort  him,  announcing  new  concessions;  but  all these  would  not  suffice.  He  would  not  relinquish  his post  on  the  mountain,  or  relax  his  penance,  until  all were  granted.  At  length  the  message  came  that  his prayers  were  heard:  (1)  many  souls  would  be  freed from  the  pains  of  purgatory  through  his  intercession; (2)  whoever  in  a  spirit  of  penance  would  recite  his hymn  before  death  would  attain  the  heavenly  reward; (.3)  barbarian  hordes  would  never  obtain  sway  in  his Church;  (4)  seven  years  before  the  Judgment  Day, the  sea  would  spread  over  Ireland  to  save  its  people from  the  temptations  and  terrors  of  Antichrist;  and (5)  greatest  blessing  of  all,  Patrick  himself  would  be deputed  to  judge  the  whole  Irish  race  on  the  last  day. Such  were  the  extraordinary  favours  which  St.  Patrick, with his unremitting penitential deeds, obtained for the people whem he evangelized."

(Original-Catholic-Encyclopedia-Volume-11 online. Retrieved 14 March 2022).
Now, we in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries, and our affiliated churches DO NOT consider that Patrick was a saint or an apostle. We also DO NOT believe that people should wear crosses. And, we DO NOT consider that he was chosen to judge the Irish people on Judgement Day!

We also understand that the very concept of purgatory was not adopted until the Roman Catholic Church rejected the teachings on apokatastasis - which is God's biblical teaching that in the age to come all who did not have a real opportunity for eternal salvation will be given an opportunity then.

So, one of the main reasons why NOT to celebrate "St. Patrick's Day" is that it promotes non-biblical teachings and obscures the TRUTH OF GOD!

Wikipedia writes:
"Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick ... lit. 'the Day of the Festival of Patrick' is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. 385- c. 461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. ... Saint Patrick's feast day was finally placed on the universal liturgical calendar in the Catholic Church due to the influence of Waterford-born Franciscan scholar Luke Wadding. ...

Saint Patrick is said to have used a shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity ... In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number and the Irish had many triple deities, ...

Saint Patrick's Day, while not a legal holiday in the United States, ... has been celebrated in what is now the U.S. since 1601."

(Wikipedia, St. Patrick's Day; the latest accepted version was reviewed 14 March 2022).
Certainly, the above should give every true Christian pause in celebrating this pagan holiday!

Not only do we NOT celebrate what this world's "Mother Church" observes, but we also DO NOT accept that God is a Trinity as defined by the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381! Here in the United States of America, what they call a shamrock, we call a three-leafed clover. Our Lord and Savior's Church NEVER considered such nonsense as a Trinity. So, the observation of a holiday intended to celebrate a man who used a green clover to mislead others concerning the true nature of God would not be appropriate. (Two sermons of related interest may be "God's Master Plan - From the Beginning," along with "The Truth Concerning the Trinity Explained").

So, this St. Patrick's Day, essentially, is a worldly holiday promoting the wrong understanding of the Godhead.

The very "fruits" of this holiday are not good, and is dangerous!

Again, Wikipedia -
"Saint Patrick's Day celebrations have been criticized, particularly for their association with pubic drunkenness and disorderly conduct."
The very type of revelry and drunkenness that DOES occur in its celebration is condemned by Almighty God through the apostle Peter -

"Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2) that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3) For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles - when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4) In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you" - 1 Peter 4:1-4.

As well as the apostle Paul -

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS will not inherit the kingdom of God" - Galatians 5:19-21.

Now, it should also be noted that Patrick had concluded within his own self that God will use him on Judgment Day to judge all the Irish people! Apparently, Patrick was told by an angel named Victor. Yet, God's own very living words say, "There is only ONE Lawgiver [Judge], who is able to save and to destroy. ..." - James 4:12. And His name is NOT Patrick!

The large majority of myths, stories, legends, and outright fabrications concerning this St. Patrick truly lead to grave misunderstandings of what true Christianity is and the very nature of the Godhead. It truly is a deception by our mortal and spiritual enemy, Satan the Devil, for our peoples all around the world, as well as our brethren from the tribe of Dan. Recall, "Dan shall judge his people As one of the tribes of Israel." This indicates that the Irish people would gain self-government in the following manner - "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, A viper by the path, That bites the horse's heels So that its rider shall fall backward." And, indeed, Ireland's Irish Republican Army (IRA) along with the earlier Irish Citizen Army (ICA) did just that to the United Kingdom.

We, as other brethren, try to "'not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God'" - Matthew 4:4. We instead keep the feasts of the LORD, ordained by God that were kept by our Lord Jesus Christ, the original apostles, and the other early followers of Christ Jesus!

Shouldn't you!?

Turn with me, if you will, to Leviticus chapter 23 - for the LORD our God (the very One we now know of as Jesus Christ) has, under Moses and under the inspiration of God's Spirit, listed His feasts -

"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2) 'Speak to the children of Israel [or also the New Covenant Church of God], and say to them: 'The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, THESE ARE MY FEASTS.'" - Leviticus 23:1-2.

Friends, St. Patrick's Day - or the Feast of St. Patrick - IS NOT LISTED! It is not a commanded feast of the LORD - it is a tradition of paganized man. And there is no hint whatsoever of it in the Bible.

GOD WARNS:

"Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, 16) lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, 17) the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, 18) the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. 19) And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven [outer space], and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage. 20) But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be His people, an inheritance, as you are this day. ... 23) Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image IN THE FORM OF ANYTHING which the LORD your God has forbidden you. 24) For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" - Deuteronomy 4:15-24.

We must not, friends, worship Almighty God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ the way the pagans did - Leviticus 18:3Deuteronomy 12:31Jeremiah 10:2-3.

Now, a great many might argue - 'we're not worshiping God with the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, we're celebrating the death of a saint!'

To this I say - God's living eternal Word is crystal clear that we are to WORSHIP GOD ALONE! All true Christians refuse any worship or veneration by others. The apostle Peter as well as all the other apostles absolutely refused to be worshiped or venerated - cf. Acts 10:25-26; 14:13-14. God's holy and righteous angels refuse to be worshiped - cf. Revelation 19:10; 22:9. And our response should be the same as our Lord Jesus Christ as well as His holy angels - "'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve'" - Matthew 4:10.

Sadly, Roman Catholics, as well as a great number of Protestants, bypass God's clear instruction by claiming that they do not "worship" Mary or their "saints," but rather they only venerate Mary and their saints. Well, placing a hat on a pig doesn't magically turn it into a horse! The definition of "venerate" in the Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary - the 1996 10th Edition - is "to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference. To honor (as an icon or a relic) with a ritual act of devotion." NOWHERE in God's living word are we told to revere ANYONE but Almighty God alone! Now, there is nothing wrong with respecting those faithful true Christians who have died before us (cf. Hebrews chapter 11). We are to follow their example as they followed our Lord Jesus Christ's - yes, but worship or revere, or venerate, NO!

Also, as noted earlier: God's living WORD repeatedly warns against the practices of drunkenness, debauchery, revelries, and the like! 



Be sure to watch Minister Michael C. Garrett's enlightening sermon - In Hope of Eternal Life (What Is A Saint?)



Saturday, March 12, 2022

Commentary: Let NOTHING Get In The Way of Jesus!



by Guy C. LaMar

THE point is: that it is a struggle to NOT allow the snares of this world - things that are material - to get in the way of JESUS!

When someone has everything that they would want they don't have God on their mind.

When someone is in dire straits that's the time when they generally "get religion" enough to pray for God's help.

This is why the poor are closer to God than the rich. The rich, or the well-to-do, have their material things to distract them from God. Yet, the poor are broken down to where they seek hope in God for help.

Now, there are other types of poor folks that judge the well-to-do WORSE than the well-to-do judge the poor! These types of people of poverty revel in their poverty.

They have become blind to decency for the sake of living in filth and squalor. They have no self-respect. They have become PRIDEFUL. And with pride comes destruction.

Now, for those of great wealth, their pride becomes destructive with God because they cast God out of their lives for other things they find MORE IMPORTANT!

Those that are poor, their pride becomes destructive to their very lifestyle - for lack of having due to their pride.

Take a poor person and give them a little windfall, and they act like they own the world! They often become very judgmental and cocky.

Take a wealthy person, they look down on those who do not have things like they do because they honestly believe that they are better in society because of their financial security and material belongings!

Then - you may have a person who is poor, but yet God-fearing, decent, good, and respectable towards others. In which their poverty is a case of bad decisions, lack of education, lack of understanding of what society as a whole expects of them. Often is the case - most faithful true Christians live in poverty because they DO NOT conform to this world's manner of things. They live according to Scripture and won't compromise their faith for anyone or anything.

The apostle Paul said of true Christians - to NOT conform to the ways of the world. The worldly system.

So, for a wealthy person to be a part of the kingdom of God it is truly a struggle.

The snares are in the way like it is for the camel to get through the gate - which is called the needle of the community. They have to have their gear removed, and they have to be wrestled down to crawl through the gate (needle). It's a struggle and it takes HARD WORK!

The Bible tells us that it is our WORKS that we will be rewarded in the glorious kingdom of God. And those "works" are based upon the Law of God the Father and Jesus Christ - and Jesus showed us how to live according to the Law of God by His EXAMPLE!

His biggest mission was to show us how to live perfectly by His example! What made our Lord Jesus perfect was that He lived by the Law of God - perfectly. This is why we are to follow His example.

The very word "Christian" means - a follower of Christ.

The KEY to the kingdom of God is JESUS CHRIST!

The ONLY way for salvation is through JESUS CHRIST!

Without JESUS there is NO HOPE!

JESUS is the ONLY Way!

FOLLOW JESUS!

Now, if ANYONE loves anyone more than God the Father and Jesus Christ then that person is NOT a true Christian, and that person is NOT worthy to be in the kingdom of God!

Only when a person truly follows Jesus Christ will they ever know just what true love is.

This world's love is based upon lust and gain.

There are some people who can only have so-called love for others based on what they can get out of another.

Sadly, the majority of the people of this world are BLIND to the REAL GOD of the Holy Bible! Instead, they have made up a god that they worship. And, people just tag onto what men say. And they reject TRUTH for the sake of their church teachings. Not realizing that most so-called Christian churches are actually based out of the Church of Satan the Devil!

The Devil is the one that has deceived the whole world!

Personally, in over 30 years of the study of churches, I have spoken to nearly every type of church leader that there is. And in so doing I have DEBUNKED every single church I have come across! Including the very church that my grandparents and parents were a part of. They all have great errors.

Now that is not to say that I wasn't in error before - because I have been. But for the most part I have found a steady and solid foundation to be on in the Way of TRUTH!

How was I able to find this!?

Through 6 things:
  1. The HOLY SPIRIT guiding me.
  2. The HOLY BIBLE has the answers.
  3. Historical facts direct the truth.
  4. Studying what the original words of the HOLY BIBLE truly means.
  5. ALWAYS look at the context of what is being said.
  6. PRAY for understanding.
And the trick is - you MUST be willing to truly place God as the TRUE LEADER of your life!

You MUST give up all this world's junk that you have learned and follow the living HOLY WORD of God and let it lead you! Certainly none of which will work WITHOUT prayer, true repentance, and absolute dedication to God.

Now we all stumble and we all fall from time to time, but we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and get back in the saddle again. NEVER allowing ourselves to glorify our weaknesses and our faults. Just put them behind us and go forward.

If God says that He blots out our sins upon true repentance, then we owe it to our Lord Jesus to NOT dwell on our past sins. He didn't go through all that He endured for us for NOTHING!

We MUST NOT shame Jesus by bringing up our past sins to cripple us from moving forward.

Sadly, the greater majority of the people of this world actually serve Satan the Devil! Most will sin against those who they claim to be sinners.

There are some worldly churches which LUST in gossipping.

Gossiping is a type of MURDER!

Character assassination is the most popular act within a worldly church their is. It's in connection with judging others. And, it is all part of the ways of the good churches of the world.

Yet in reality, all of such are of Satan the Devil!

With the Holy Spirit God allows His called-out of this world to recognize those people who are EVIL with ease. It's called the spirit of discernment.

Now, if you think you are without sin then you will NEVER get to know God. Self absorbed people have no clue of who God is.

Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly said that it is the humble (the meek) that shall inherit THE EARTH (the coming kingdom of God that will be established - ACCORDING TO THE HOLY BIBLE - upon this newly established earth! AKA: Heaven on Earth; the kingdom of God!

This can easily be proven by the living Word of the Eternal!

So, a person MUST be humble.

Now, pay close attention to what and how others speak in conversations.

Notice how often they use the words, "me," "mine," "I," "myself."

The greater they speak of self the more you know how far away they are from God.

Truly, those that think of others and care about others are clearly on the right path with God.

In life, people will make idols, and will cast God out or replace God with their idols, thinking they are focusing on God while they are surely not! They will even allow their idols to dictate how much of God is allowed with them.

An idol can be someone's spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, political leader, church leader, entertainer, parent, grandparent and such and so on and so on.

It is part of mankind's very nature to try to adjust things to make peace with people which we have chosen to be in our lives. There are some who will compromise their faith for their spouse, which disqualifies them from God at that very point.

Again, ANYONE who places ANYONE, or ANYTHING, above God is NOT a true Christian!

MOST people in this world who claims the title "Christian," is truly only a self-professing Christian. True dedication is rare in this department. Too many worldly snares step in the way.

One has to deny their own self and fully give themselves over to JESUS CHRIST! Yet, people will worry about how others look at them.

Truly - if you dedicate yourself to God, others will begin to look upon you as if you have leprosy.

True Christians do not fit in a WORLDLY SOCIETY well.

True Christians do not embrace PAGAN customs or traditions, and cover it up with fluffy lies and call it Christian.

Those who mock such dedicated people in this life had better know that on Judgment Day they will surely REAP WHAT THEY SOW!

Our Lord Jesus said MANY are called, but only a few are chosen. Because it is only the very few that will truly stand up against the ways of the worldly system to SERVE THE REAL GOD OF THE HOLY BIBLE!

EVERYONE NEEDS TO REPENT and continue working every day to draw closer to the REAL JESUS of the HOLY BIBLE!

There is no other way than that of looking to JESUS!

We MUST seek JESUS!

Think hard on this - are you truly committed to God or just an idea!? Are you truly willing to give all you have and follow JESUS!? Or do you place before JESUS something or someone!?

How important is God to you!?

Personally, of my family, the only person that I can think of that I can relate to in the way of AWE OF GOD, that I know of, is my granddaddy.

The reason that I say this is: long before I knew anything of the AWE OF GOD of which he had, I found myself having that same AWE OF GOD! I used to go camping a lot and often times I was alone. I generally camped alone to draw closer to God. My youth was by no means an easy one. I begged God to keep me safe and to help me with what was going on in my life. I greatly trusted - and still greatly trust - GOD! It's like just yesterday: I recalled so easily how I would pick up a leaf and would be IN AWE of God's handiwork! The veins in the leaves, the miracle of how a small seed could become a gigantic tree! Well, years later I spoke to one of my granddaddy's hunting buddies and he said that my granddaddy would do the exact same thing! He said that my Granddaddy would obsess over the handiwork of God! He too was in awe of a leaf with its veins made by the handiwork of the Great Designer - God! My grandaddy's own brother told me once that my granddaddy was AMAZED at how God made dirt differently. Now, some folks might call that simple, I call that a master mind! To be so thoughful of God's handiwork. My granddaddy certainly knew the differences in dirt, but he was utterly amazed at how God put it all together for mankind. He knew that it was for mankind that God was focused upon. He knew that God loved him!

My grandma told me once of how my granddaddy was so upset with himself over the abuse he had done to his body from smoking. He said, it was God that MADE him stop smoking. He quit smoking because he wanted to serve God's will, not his own. Now, lucky for my granddaddy that he had a supportive wife that believed as he did. In fact, their faith was their closest connection.

The way I see it, that is the greatest connection any man could ever hope for.

My dad would teach me of all the different trees - the Longleaf pines, the Water Oaks, the Red Maples, and all the rest - as we'd walk together. He told me of how his daddy taught him. The Sunday morning before my dad died he walked with me and told me of the various trees. Point is - there was a connection there between my granddaddy, my dad and me! It was being IN AWE of the great handiwork of God!

So, it takes effort to get into the glorious kingdom of God!

It begins with accepting JESUS CHRIST as your Savior and the MASTER of your life!

Remember - JESUS is the One who SAVES US FROM OURSELVES!

For Him to be the MASTER of our life means that we will have to work on ourselves so as to do His will. Thus we MUST STUDY HIM to better know Him! We MUST PRAY DAILY TO HIM!

There is NO work that we can do to get us into the kingdom of God. But, it is our works that will issue our position in the kingdom of God. Think of it like a job. We get hired - that means we are employed by the company. That is like accepting JESUS. Now, just like how one performs on a job, that grants us a promotion. It is like the way with how we will be in the kingdom of God. Our performance will get us the promotion. Or in the case of position - in the kingdom of God - the BOSS is JESUS CHRIST! True Christians always place their LEADER first and foremost! It's JESUS ALL THE  WAY!

But again, if we allow snares to win us over in our lives, then it is going to be a hard struggle to get past those snares. It's all based upon our focus. Focus on self, the worldly things in life, and the result will be disappointing in the end.

But if we focus on JESUS then we are on the route to glory! □


Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Smoking is a DOUBLE SIN!


by Guy C. LaMar

THE FACTS are this, it's been very much proven that smoking causes cancer! Smoking IS injurious to your health! Read, in this article what your CREATOR says about smoking!


Smoking is sinful both physically and spiritually!

Yes, SMOKING IS A DOUBLE SIN!

Smoking is giving one's self over to a habit. A SINFUL habit!

No TRUE CHRISTIAN smokes.

Why!?

Because they respect God enough to NOT damage what God has given us - human life - a physical body to dwell in so that we are able to live in accordance to the will of God.

Sinners are always eager to justify their sins.

The Holy Bible does not contain a direct command - "THOU SHALT NOT SMOKE!"

Yet, for that matter, would mankind stop smoking if it did!?

The Bible DOES say, "THOU SHALT NOT MURDER!"

Has mankind stopped murdering!?

God is just as concerned about the motive behind the act as He is about the act itself! 

God DID NOT create mankind to abuse the temple of the Holy Spirit.

When a person smokes, they harm the temple of the Spirit. They harm the physical body and second-hand smoke harms others.

A smoker could be committing murder when around others while smoking, and they could be committing slow self-murder!

When our Lord Jesus Christ magnified the inexorable LAW of God (summed up in the Ten Commandments), He says, "'You have heard that it was said to those of old [those in the Old Testament], 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28) But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart'" - Matthew 5:27-28, NKJV throughout.

Our Lord Jesus Christ says what occurs in the heart of man constitutes sin - AS MUCH AS the literal act itself!

The LAW of the Eternal God says, "THOU SHALT NOT COVET" meaning "THOU SHALT NOT LUST!"

This clearly demands of us that we DO NOT DO certain things!

By doing, or committing the act - you become guilty of sin!

To LUST after something - to lust after ANYTHING - constitutes sin!

And what is sin!?

Answer: BREAKING GOD'S LAW!

"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" - 1 John 3:4.

The apostle James, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said: "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all" - James 2:10.

And in James 4:17 it says " ... to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin."

It is Almighty God who tells us - in His own living word - WHAT sin is!

God DOES NOT allow mankind to decide what is sin.

He merely allows each individual to choose for themselves whether he or she will obey God's LAW - or commit sin.

The HOLY BIBLE is a book of law!

There are laws of health, laws of farming, laws of diet, laws of marriage - laws covering every facet of human life REVEALED IN THE HOLY BIBLE!

Our Lord Jesus Christ says we are to live by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God!

He says anyone who breaks even the least of God's Commandments will be called least in the kingdom from heaven.

Smoking is a lust. A cigarette is A DRUG!

Listen, I used to smoke. It was a hand-me-down sin from my family. One that I, like most of my family members, embraced. If I could fix one mistake in my life, it would have been to have NEVER smoked. Personally, I have the strongest hatred for smoking that a person could have.

Smoking is very physically harmful and very deadly dangerous.

The desire to smoke is nothing more than following into lust.

Our Lord Jesus says, "'you shall know them by their fruit'" meaning their ways.

When you see someone who is smoking you are witnessing someone who has GIVEN themselves over to lust.

Trying to convince someone of the sin of smoking is often met with a defense of smoking - which only equals the defense of sinning.

Often I have heard all the many arguments in defense of smoking. Each is met with very spiritually weak people.

NONE have the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD that defends SIN!

God's living word says that we should become "as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance" - 1 Peter 1:14.

Smoking is a physical sin!

Our Lord Jesus shows us that it was sin that had crippled the man at the pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem. And in healing the man, Jesus said, "'See, you have been made well. SIN NO MORE, lest a worse thing come upon you'" - John 5:14.

Healing, revealed our Savior and High Priest, is the forgiveness of sin! Cf. Matthew 9:2-7.

What kind of sin!? Physical sin!

There are certain physical laws that God has set in motion. These laws regulate your physical body, your physical health, your physical life.

As a great preacher of old used to say: take gravity. It's real - although you can not see it, you know that you will get injured IF you violate this law of gravity by a sudden fall! A penalty is a physical pain and possible physical injury. And so it is with our physical health! 

Now, if we place wrong foods within our physical body - or even too much of the right foods - we sin against our body - and there is a penalty exacted! (Be sure to read "Is God's Biblical Food Laws Still In Effect" to help understand what wrong foods God commands us not to partake of).

Now, in some cases, the penalty may only be temporary, but in others, it may be a permanent injury or even death!

Smoking is definitely HARMFUL to the physical body!

Sadly, both of my Mother's parents were heavy smokers, and they both died from cancer. My maternal grandmother was 60 years old when she died. My maternal grandfather was 69 years old when he died. His smoking habit aged him terribly.

My Dad was a heavy smoker and it aged him terribly. He died at the age of 48 - only two months shy of his 49th birthday) from cardiac arrest. Smoking had caused his heart to develop serious atrial fibrillation - causing sudden death!

I recall how I used to beg both of my parents to quit smoking. They had given themselves over completely to their lust. They embraced their sin.

I PRAISE GOD for mercifully allowing me to understand, and not just knowing things, but ACTING on my understandings!

Notice this from the apostle Paul -

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [which] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own? 20) For YOU were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

Does it glorify God to smoke!?

Does it honor God our Creator - the very One who blesses us with every clean breath of air we breathe - to smoke!?

Are we showing ourselves to be obedient to Him, serving Him, glorifying Him when we lust for nicotine!? The main ingredient in cigarettes.

TAKE SPECIAL HEED THAT GOD'S LIVING WORD SAYS -

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" - 1 Corinthians 10:31.

There is NO glorifying God with smoking or using tobacco or marijuana - EVEN FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES - it harms the physical body! It will age people more rapidly and it destroys the lungs.

And, it can be very offensive to people who DO NOT smoke - which is the greater majority of the world's population.

According to statistics - nearly one-in-four (23%) of adults throughout the world smoke tobacco. This 23% of the world's population of people are age 15 and older that smoke tobacco. There are a number of countries in which at least 40% of their population smoke tobacco, if not even a higher percentage!

God's living word clearly shows us that SMOKING IS AN ACT OF SIN! So, 23% of this world's population embraces this lustful sin!

God demands that every true Christian walk away from self-satisfying lusts!

The apostle John wrote in the Book of Revelation -

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 'COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues" - Revelation 18:4.

And, the apostle Paul wrote -

"And DO NOT be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may PROVE what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" - Romans 12:2.

IF a person WILL NOT deny themselves then they will NEVER know Christ Jesus!

God's living word describes such sinners as "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3) unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4) traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God, 5) having a form of godliness but denying its power [the power of true godliness]. And FROM SUCH PEOPLE turn away!" - 2 Timothy 3:2-5.

Have you ever known a person who claims to be a Christian, yet smoked!? Being a true Christian and smoking DO NOT MIX!

Now, they may be a good person - worldly speaking - but they are NOT a true Christian. Because by them smoking - or using tobacco or marijuana for ANY MEDICINAL PURPOSE -  are NOT following Christ Jesus our Lord!

Our Lord Jesus clearly shows us that it is the attitude of the heart that is important - as well as the physical act itself! Having a rebellious attitude, and having a desire to give over to one's lust is an OUTRIGHT SIN! And the result of such an act may bring terrible circumstances.

The apostle Paul WARNED Christians at Ephesus, in the Book of Ephesians -

"For this you know, that no fornicator [Greek, porneia, meaning marital unfaithfulness, also a generic term for sexual sin of any kind], unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God" - Ephesians 5:5.

Covetousness is also considered idolatry. Placing an object (or a person) in place of God!

Remember, the apostle James said that if we break even ONE point, we're guilty of all!

Lusting after tobacco or marijuana - IN ANY FORM - is an act of SIN!

And, it becomes a spiritual sin!

It is a sin against one's own character, as well as bringing physical harm to the physical body.

Again, notice what the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Hebrews, how he showed that Moses chose to suffer the affliction with God's people rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season -

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26) esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward" - Hebrews 11:24-25.

Prophet Moses knew that by choosing to forsake the passing pleasures that seemed so desirable he could obtain a long-lasting, MORE HAPPIER REWARD that lies beyond. Those who seek the temporary sensual pleasures are to howl for the miseries they shall reap!

Our Lord Jesus Christ says that He came "'that they may have life, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY'" - John 10:10.

Following Jesus Christ in the true Christian lifestyle equals TOTAL JOY!

A converted child of God has absolutely FORSAKEN his own way.

Isaiah chapter 55 says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon" - verse 7.

Wise King Solomon wrote, "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" - Proverbs 16:25.

So, after conforming with the conditions, the repentant sinner is PROMISED the Holy Spirit - which is the very nature of God! - cf. Acts 2:38; 2 Peter 1:4.

If we call ourselves a true Christian, we are to GROW DAILY more like God! - cf. Matthew 5:48.

So, instead of seeking to please ourselves by the passing pleasures of sin which dissipates and can injure, we are to forsake the degenerating habits, and completely give our lives over to God! - cf. Romans 12:1.

We are bought with a price (1st Corinthians 6:20), and we are commanded to glorify God in our physical bodies!

Do we glorify God by smoking cigarettes or dipping tobacco!?

NOT AT ALL!

True Christians are to live in HARMONY with the laws of God which He set in motion - not by going contrary to those laws.

Physical as well as spiritual laws are included

In the Book of Luke, our Lord Jesus says, "'IF you then, being evil [meaning, far less than godly], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'" - Luke 11:13.

He tells us that WE ARE HIS HOLY TEMPLE!

True Christians have His Holy Spirit abiding within them - and are bought with a price, and we literally BELONG TO GOD!

ANYONE who has God as the Center of their life CAN QUIT TOBACCO!!

My paternal grandfather smoked three packs of non-filter Old Gold cigarettes every day from his childhood until he was 58 years old! Then, one day after he learned at church services that smoking was a DOUBLE SIN, he put them down on a table and never picked up another cigarette again! He told my grandmother that it was God that helped him do away with that sin in his life!

You see, my grandfather wanted to please God more than himself! He wanted to live his life by the will of God. But sadly, the damage had already been done. His lungs and heart were compromised from years of smoking. He only lives 8 more years. But in those 8 years of his life, he lived more abundantly than at any other point in his life because of his service to God.

DO NOT allow Satan the Devil to rule you by his influence upon you!

Very clearly, God labels SMOKING AS A SIN, and tells us in the Book of Romans -

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts" - Romans 6:12.

God has decreed that "SIN SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU, ..." - Romans 6:14.

So, by decreeing that no sin - regardless of what it may be - can "have dominion over you," God extends a definite and specific PROMISE to anyone who truly wants to quit smoking!

"If we confess our sins [to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" - 1 John 1:9.

GOD HAS OBLIGATED HIMSELF TO CLEANSE US FROM SIN if we trust and believe in Him!

God says that He will HELP US win against sin!

Smoking is a sin! Anyone can quit that does not want to sin!

Recall Lot's wife!

Once we quit a sin - DO NOT TURN BACK TO IT! 

Don't make excuses!

After the glorious truth has been given to someone and they brush that truth away, then that person has told God that they are willfully going to continue in the sin that they have been WARNED against! (Be sure to read our FREE pdf booklet "What is 'the Unpardonable Sin'?"). The results are on them at that point. When they come before Jesus Christ, this will be held against them.

Once God has intervened, as He has promised He would, and that person has SUCCEEDED in rooting out the sin, then they MUST not ever turn to it again!

"For IF, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome the latter end is worse for them than the beginning" - 2 Peter 2:20.

No matter what the sin is - once it is noticed by the true Christian seeking to serve God it is their duty to reject that sin and to focus on pleasing the will of God!

Living for the fleshly desires only equals rebellion against God.

It is either self-s way (sin), or God's Way (righteousness). □