Posted by: missionventureministries | September 21, 2022

THEY WENT OUT FROM US BUT THEY WERE NOT OF US – 1 John 2:19

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“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” (1 John 2:19) 

One of the most upsetting experiences in the life of a Bible-believing fellowship is when an allegedly Christian leader decides to abandon his faith and even to teach against it. Sadly, this sort of thing does happen all too often, and it obviously raises difficult questions. 

John is describing the traits of “antichrists” as those who “went out from us, but they were not of us.” These false teachers claimed to be believers, but were not. John explains why, since “if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” John uses the idea of “continuing” to refer to staying with us. Those who did not last in the faith, particularly those who claimed to be leaders in the church, but turned against God, were literally against Christ or as John refers are antichrists. 

John adds, “But their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” This abandonment of the faith offered evidence that these false teachers were not true believers (1 John 2:22–23). In contrast with those who had been anointed (1 John 2:20), these false teachers did not have God’s Spirit within them. They did not know the truth (1 John 2:21), denied that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22), and deceived others (1 John 2:26). 

Now the question is, can a true believer, a teacher of the Word, a soul-winner, actually lose their salvation? Can a born-again Christian go back to being unborn? Can one who has received everlasting life through faith in Christ not really have eternal life? 

If so, what about the many promises that have assured us that “you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13) and that a true born again believer “shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28)? 

The answer to this difficult question is apparently in our text verse above. When such people, who once seemed to be genuine Christians, become apostates, denouncing the truth they once taught, it is because “they were not of us,” no matter what they professed at one time. They were not truly saved since if they had been they would not have departed from the faith. 

This fact implies a serious warning. When professing Christians fall away, assuming they have truly understood the facts and evidences of the Christian faith, “it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.” (Hebrews 6:4-6). 

This is one of the Bible’s most difficult passages to interpret, and one view holds that this passage is written not about Christians but about unbelievers who are convinced of the basic truths of the gospel but who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. They are intellectually influenced but spiritually uncommitted.

According to this understanding, the phrase once enlightened (Hebrews 6:4) refers to some level of instruction in biblical truth. However, understanding the words of Scripture is not the same as being regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The people described in Hebrews 6:4–6 are unbelievers who have been exposed to God’s redemptive truth and perhaps have made a profession of faith, but who have not exercised genuine saving faith.

This brief experience can be related to the second and third soils in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:3–23, which describes people who receive the truth of the gospel but are not truly saved.


Finally, this interpretation sees that they “tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away” (Hebrews 6:5-6) as a reference to those who have tasted the truth but, not having come all the way to faith they depart from the revelation they have been given since the tasting of truth is not enough to keep them from leaving.   

To be truly born again they must come all the way to Christ in complete repentance and faith; otherwise, they in effect re-crucify Christ and treat Him contemptuously. Those who sin against Christ in such a way have no hope of restoration or forgiveness because they reject Him with full knowledge and conscious understanding. They have concluded that Jesus should have been crucified, and they stand with His enemies. It is impossible to renew them to repentance.

Therefore, it is important for all professing believers to “make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10). We must be “rooted and built up in Him” (Colossians 2:7), “and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). 

It is vital that we teach people the true cost of following Christ; Jesus stated that anyone who wants to be His disciple must take up their cross and follow Him; that means being willing to be physically killed for their faith in Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | September 14, 2022

SEEKING TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND GOD – Acts 17:26-28

Acts 17 vs 26-28

He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist… (Acts 17:26-28) 

Are you seeking to know and understand God? Even though God is beyond human comprehension in many ways, He has revealed much of Himself in His Word. And as we search for Him in Scripture, we’ll grow in our understanding of His nature. This isn’t merely an academic pursuit since pursuing to know God and His will should impact every area of life. 

As fallen humans we seek happiness, fulfillment, success, etc. from a fallen world. Most of humanity does not seek the things that come from God and are fulfilled in Him because most cannot imagine that God can offer us any kind of pleasure or joy. 

Adam and Eve were deceived into wanting to be like God, so they ate the forbidden fruit, and the human race fell into sin and darkness and deception. And from that time on, humans have looked to anything and everything but to God for satisfaction and joy. 

The Lord seeked us first and gives us a desire to turn to Him and to be in a relationship with Him, and to come into His presence for fulfillment, strength and help. But before we can ever begin to seek him, God must do something first in our lives, because if left to ourselves, we would never seek the Lord. Romans 3:10-12 tells us that, “There is no righteous person, not even one; there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks out God; they have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, there is not even one.” 

Here are some examples of God reaching out to us first: 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). 

Jesus said to Zaccheus, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:9-10). 

And God said in Ezekiel, “As a shepherd cares for his flock on a day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day” (Ezekiel 34.12). 

So what does it mean to seek the Lord? It means to seek His presence, to desire a relationship with Him and to come to Him for help. 

When we seek the Lord to save us, we call upon him to forgive us and wash away our sins not because of anything we do but because of all that Jesus did. But even after Jesus saves us, we still need to seek Him on a regular basis. Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). 

Here are some other thoughts of what we need to ask and seek Him for in prayer: 

  • Anxiousness: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
  • Guidance: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)
  • Joy: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
  • Peace: I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
  • Righteousness: But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in time of trouble. (Psalm 37:39)
  • Strength: Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! (Psalm 105:4)
  • Wisdom: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5) 

Therefore an intimate relationship with God and the way we view Him transforms every area of life and affects the way we think, behave, and relate to other people. 

Knowing Him intimately transforms our natural tendency toward doubting and sinning. And as we desire to walk obediently before Him, with a pure heart instead of loving the world, we seek to please Him by loving His people unselfishly.  

Paul knew that knowing the Lord was so important that he made it the primary pursuit of his life when he wrote to the church at Philippi. “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8-9). Could that be said of you? 

God’s humble, obedient children want Jesus to be the center of attention, and their deep desire is that others will see Jesus, high, Holy and lifted up, because Jesus said; “when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). 

Our self efforts soon fail, but knowledge of God renews us from the inside out, so reach out to the Lord with your whole heart, trusting and obeying Him, and He will manifest His presence, enabling you to be steadfast and fearless for His honor and glory. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | September 7, 2022

IS THE END TIMES ANTICHRIST ALREADY IN OUR MIDST? – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8

2 Thessalonians 2 vs 3-8

Before the Antichrist identity is revealed the apostle Paul said that two preceding events will occur.

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.  (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8).

When most Christians consider the Antichrist, they think of an individual, because of the beast from the sea depicted in Revelation 13 or the man of sin described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4. This figure uses satanic power and charisma to globally gain total political, governmental, societal, and economic power. He will even demand and force worship of himself.  

The Antichrist as he is discussed in Revelation 13 will arise in the end times. As prophecy reveals itself day by day, we are beginning to see how it will be possible for a person to subjugate the whole world. 

Governments today shut down entire nations on the declaration of global health agencies. Media of all sorts have stirred up fear and crushed disagreement; even intimidating usually independent people. Watching how quickly and thoroughly this event has conquered the world, it is easy to see now how a single leader possessed by Satan and a consortium of leaders with a shared satanic goal will gain power in the end times.     

The worldwide reaction to the planned crisis that has taken place in the last two year makes for a strong statement for a “global grooming” for the advent of the Antichrist. 

How many put a piece of cloth over their nose and mouth whenever mandated? How many submitted reluctantly to uncertain medical treatment to keep a job or to travel? How many locked themselves in their houses out of shear fear? Even worse, how many churches closed down by agreeing to governmental interference? 

The Antichrist is the final world ruler in this age. He will make war against God in oppressing Israel and the tribulation saints (Revelation 11:7; 12:17; 13:4, 7; 17:14; 19:11, 19; Daniel 7:21; 9:26). 

  • The beast, the kings of the earth…gathered to make war against Him… (Revelation 19:19).
  • These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them (Revelation 17:14). 

Scripture describes him in many ways, calling him the little horn (Daniel 7:8); a king (Daniel 8:23; 11:36); one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27) and the worthless shepherd (Zechariah 11:16-17). 

The Antichrist’s most prominent name in Scripture is the Beast. He will reason like a wild beast and will be the cruelest man in history and is called the Beast 36 times in Revelation (Revelation 11:7; 13:1; 14:9; 16:2; 17:3; 19:20; 20:10). 

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul used three titles for the Antichrist calling him the man of sin, the son of perdition and the lawless one. The most descriptive passages on the Antichrist in the New Testament are 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13 and Revelation 17. In the Old Testament, they are found in (Daniel 7:8, 18-27; 8:9-12, 23-26; 9:26-27).

The Antichrist will be fully human yet fully demonized. He will be a counterfeit to Jesus who was fully human and fully God. Satan will give him his authority (Revelation 13:2). He will supernaturally ascend from the bottomless pit (Revelation 11:7) as Jesus descended from heaven. 

The Antichrist will claim to be God and will demand that the whole earth worship him as he seeks to be the king of kings over all nations. He will have authority and worshippers in all nations, yet will not totally dominate all as some will be protected by God (Revelation 7:1-8). 

  • And all the world marveled and followed the beast (Revelation 13:3).
  • All who dwell on the earth will worship him whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
  • The counterfeit trinity consists of Satan, Antichrist and the False Prophet (Revelation 13:1-2, 11).
  • The Dragon (Satan) empowers the first beast (Antichrist) and the second beast (False Prophet).
  • The Antichrist’s reign will last for seven years (Daniel 9:27). 

He will first bring false world peace then in his final 3½ years, he will turn on Israel and all who refuse to worship him. The Antichrist’s worldwide empire will include 4 main components; political authority to make set policy and laws to kill his resistors (Revelation 13:1-2, 15; 17:16); military force (Revelation 13:4, 7); economic control in the nations to establish monopolies and oppress nations (Revelation 13:2, 15-17) and religious control to establish a worldwide satanic worship movement (Revelation 13:4, 8-14). 

The Antichrist’s primary activities will include making political covenants with Israel and Middle East nations, setting up the abomination of desolation (an image of himself in the reconstructed temple in Jerusalem) that helps him raise up a worldwide worship movement and to establish a worldwide economic network (based on 666). 

He will fiercely persecute Israel and the tribulation saints (Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:24; 11:33-35; 12:7, 10; Revelation 6:9-11; 9:21; 11:7; 13:7, 15; 16:5-7; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2). 

The Antichrist’s 10-nation confederation will provide him with the largest political, military and economic alliances giving him the greatest power base of any man or empire in history. He will have the largest army, the largest political and religious network and the most money of any in history and he will be the greatest criminal in history since it began. 

The 10-nation confederation (Daniel 2:40-44; 7:7; Revelation 17:12) will possibly be headquarter in the European Union (revived Roman Empire). 

The Antichrist will be helped by the loyal service of the False Prophet with his great miracles and the image of the Beast which will be a statue of the Antichrist that is empowered by demons so that it will talk, breathe, and make laws (Revelation 13:14-16). 

Here is a summary of the coming Antichrist as the most powerful evil political leader in history.

  1. Military Genius (tactics/strategy) – Revelation 6:2; 13:2, 16; Daniel 8:24, 25; 11:38-39.
  2. Oratorical Genius (moves and stirs masses of people) – Daniel 11:32, 36; 8:23.
  3. Political Genius (diplomacy) – Revelation 13:8, 12; 17:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Daniel 7:23-24.
  4. Commercial Genius (prosperity) – Daniel 11:36, 43; Revelation 13:16-17.
  5. Religious Genius (doctrines and history) – 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:4, 8, 12.
  6. Intellectual Genius (science, math, technology, languages, etc.) – Daniel 8:23; 7:25.
  7. Occult Genius (demonology, miracles, human sacrifice) – Daniel 8:24; 11:39; Revelation 13. 

Scripture makes it clear that God raises up the Antichrist. Yes, Satan fully participates but in the end it is only by God’s decree that the Antichrist has a reign of terror for 3½ years on the earth. The Antichrist will be given the same 3½ years as Jesus had to show himself to Israel as their Messiah. But we have to remember that Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and over the nations on earth. 

Jesus spoke saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). It is He (the Father)…seated Him (Jesus) at His right hand…far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. He put all things under His feet (Ephesians 1:20-22). 

There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God (Romans 13:1). God shall raise up the Antichrist and grant him authority for 3½ years over the nations. “For indeed I will raise up a shepherd (Antichrist) in the land who will not care for those who are cut off (killed)…but he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces. Woe to the worthless shepherd

…A sword will be on his arm and on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered, and his right eye will be blind” (Zechariah 11:16-17). 

And he (Antichrist) was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months….7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation…15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast… (Revelation 13:5, 7, 15). 

And he (the Antichrist) will speak against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time (three and a half years). But the court will convene for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the empires will serve and obey Him (Daniel 7:25-27). 

Satan also gives the Antichrist his power and authority. “The dragon (Satan) gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:2). Satan’s two main purposes in giving the Antichrist power is to lead a global worship movement (Revelation 13:4, and to exterminate the Jewish people (Zechariah 13:8-9; Revelation 12:12-17) so a believing Jewish remnant cannot exist for Jesus to rule Israel as their King during the Millennium in Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39). 

Pressure in the Great Tribulation will come from four sources.

  1. God’s wrath (Revelation 15:7), against the Antichrist’s kingdom,
  2. Satan’s rage against the saints (Revelation 12:12),
  3. man’s sin as seen in evil acts against one another (Revelation 9:21),
  4. and convulsions in nature (earthquakes, etc.). 

The main emphasis of the tribulation will be God’s judgment (tribulation) against the Antichrist’s empire as seen in the Book of Revelation (7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls). This is NOT against the saints, since “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9) 

Since God long ago foretold the rise of this beast with the detail that we now see taking shape in our world, we can absolutely trust His Word as to the coming destruction of this beast, both the government and the Antichrist who will personify the beast (Daniel 2:44-45; 7:26-27; Revelation 19:17-20:3) and who Jesus will destroy at His second coming. 

For those of us who belong to Christ, the good news of the Gospel is that Jesus will come for us before the start of the tribulation and the culmination of the Satanic plans of the globalists. 

We do not wait in fear; but we eagerly look forward to the appearance of our great Savior who will take us back to the place He has prepared for us (John 14:1-3). In other words, the believer awaits in anticipation their speedy departure from this world to heaven. 

Yes, the news about our world today is more than a little disconcerting, but our hope is more glorious than we can imagine. 

Jesus is coming to take us home; and we need not buy into the fear of what is happening at this time. 

The lawlessness and violence of our day tell us that the prophesied tribulation is getting nearer. But before that can happen, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). 

So let us be obedient and watchful for our Lord’s return because His coming is getting nearer every day!

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (Revelation 22:20-21). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 31, 2022

LIVING AND APPLYING OUR FAITH – Hebrews 10:38

Hebrews 10 vs 38

“But My righteous one will live by faith…” (Hebrews 10:38) 

The faith of the believer is essential to living a life that is pleasing to God and is what our lives should be based on. Paul like the writer of Hebrews and of Habakkuk (2:4) also mentions living by faith in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11, emphasizing that those who have been born again can live using the same faith that God granted us so that we could believe: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). 

Using our faith should be an everyday occurrence, since every part of who we are has the potential to be an extension of our faith. 

So how do you get divine faith? The Bible says, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ (Romans 10:17). Always remember that faith is a gift, and it flows to you through the Word of God. When you keep the Word in your heart in the same Spirit the Lord gave it, then it will be simple to receive the help He makes available to you. 

To use faith we need to draw on what we have and we should use the talent and equipment already in our possession. Moses had only a rod when God called him to deliver the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:2). Daniel used his unshakable faith in God (Daniel 6:10), and Esther used her bravery (Esther 4:13-17) to accomplish His will. 

However, this needs action taken on our part since nothing happens unless we become involved as we see in the following verses. 

  • The priests of Israel participated in the miracle at the Jordan River when they obeyed and stepped in the river carrying the arc (Joshua 3:5-17).
  • The man who was born blind had to wash his eyes as instructed before he could see (John 9:1-7).
  • And those at Lazarus’ tomb had to open it before they could see him resurrected (John 11:39). 

The Lord has blessed each of us with unique gifts that we can use to further His Kingdom. Sometimes, we don’t even realize we have those gifts, but they’ve been given to us for the purpose of living and sharing our faith. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us: Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

Think about the gifts God gave you and put them into practice to glorify God since living your faith can be as simple as just having a positive attitude as Proverbs 17:22 tells us: “A joyful heart is good medicine.” Try to simply smile at one or two strangers today, you will be blessed by how it makes you feel and you never know what kind of impact it can have on their day! So then, “whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23). 

When we consciously choose to do our best in everything we do, it becomes an outward expression that we are following what God asks of us in the Scripture. By obeying the Lord and doing things for His glory instead of our own, we are living in faith and showing a great example to others around us. 

God instructs, we obey in faith, and He performs bringing with it expectancy that what we asked for will happen as we see in the following examples: 

  • The centurion understood the Lord’s authority when he asked in faith for Jesus to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13).
  • The Canaanite woman had faith when she insisted on her daughter being healed (Matthew 15:21-26),
  • And the nobleman went home confident that his son had been healed (John 4:46-53).

Circumstances will vary, but God’s ways do not change. Therefore, “blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 24, 2022

WHY ARE SOME OF OUR PRAYERS NOT ANSWERED? – 1 Peter 3:12

1 Peter 3 vs 12

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12) 

Let’s look at some Scripture to understand why some of our prayers are unanswered. 

Jesus said, “You may ask me for anything in My name, and I will do it” (John 14:14). But in the same discourse He also said, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). In these verses we learn that there is a very significant condition, attached to what Jesus said. 

1 Peter 3:12 indicates that unconcealed sin in one’s life will certainly hinder God in answering our prayers just as selfish praying: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3); and unbelief: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

So why does God not answer certain prayers? There can be any number of reasons, as already stated in the verses above, why God doesn’t answer our prayer; sin being the biggest reason why our prayers are not answered. Can God answer a prayer when we have not confessed sin? Will He answer a prayer if there are sinful thoughts on our mind? 

God’s first condition is that our heart must be pure. In Isaiah 1:15 God says: “I will hide mine eyes … I will not hear.” Sin in our heart will close God’s ear and cut off all communication with Him. It is unsuccessful for us to pray when we are carrying a sin on our conscience which we have not yet acknowledged or confessed. Isaiah 59:1–2 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” 

To help us better understand here are some examples of hindrances to prayer: 

Un-confessed and un-repented sin – In the letter to the Romans, Paul tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Yes, we all sin, but do we have un-confessed and un-repented sin in our life?  If so, we need to confess our sin, and repent from it as we are commanded in Acts 17:30 “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,” if we do not, our prayers are not going to be heard because, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18). 

Selfishness – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).  We need to examine ourselves and make sure our prayers are not motivated by selfish desires.  If we find that selfishness is a factor then we need to confess it and repent. 

Doubt – “But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind,” (James 1:6).  We all doubt and when we do we should remember the man who said to Jesus, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Remember that God has given a measure of faith to every man (Romans 12:3), therefore we need to trust God. James 4:8 tells us to: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” God is merciful and He will help us is we trust Him. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Pride.  Jesus spoke of the Pharisee and the tax-gatherer who both were praying.  The Pharisee boasted about himself while the tax-gatherer asked for mercy from God.  Jesus said in Luke 18:14 regarding the tax-collector, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.”  Jesus shows us that pride is sin and that it hinders prayer. “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).  If you are prideful, confess it as sin, repent, and learn from Jesus how to be humble unto death. 

A poor relationship – If there are problems with your family, a friend or acquaintance because of selfishness, pride, arguments, anger, un-forgiveness, or any obstacles that cause strife, then your prayers will be hindered. In Matthew 5:23-24 Jesus said, “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”  

When the believer lives in rebellion against God, sin blocks his ability to communicate with our heavenly Father (Psalm 66:18) and places them in a position to be disciplined by the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:32) so that we will not be condemned along with the world. We are not to grieve the Holy Spirit by whom we were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30), because, “the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). 

The Bible teaches us as believers to “put off falsehood and speak truthfully to everyone, for we are all members of one body. We are not to be angry with each other for that is sin, and we are also not to not let the sun go down while we are still angry, so we do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:25-27).

Let us therefore keep in mind that God will not answer the prayers of believers if they are living in unrepentant sin or fail to forgive others. Jesus teaches His disciples in Matthew 6:12, “that God forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” And continues in verses 14-15 that “if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Therefore, a believer that is living in sin or fails to forgive others has their prayers blocked since they are out of fellowship with the Father. 

So how do we remedy this situation? 1 John 1:9 makes it clear: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Therefore, for our prayers to be answered we need to repent, confess our sins and be reconciled to God and to those we have offended. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 17, 2022

BEING HONEST INSTEAD OF COVERING UP – 2 Corinthians 8:21

2 Corinthians 8 vs 21

For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. (2 Corinthians 8:21) 

A guilty feeling is a tool God uses to reveal sin. Guilt is the result of having violated a specific rule or law, and when we cross a moral, ethical, or legal line, we are guilty. 

So how do we handle guilt? Mankind has been trying to avoid dealing with this painful emotion for as long as humanity has existed. It all began in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and we’ve been using their flawed methods in an attempt to silence guilt ever since that time. 

Adam and Eve’s first reaction was to cover up rather than admitting their disobedience (Genesis 3:7), but as we know nothing can conceal sin from God. 

Next, they attempted to hide from the Lord (Genesis 3:8). Have you ever found yourself distancing yourself from God, avoiding prayer time and reading Scriptures because you don’t want to feel convicted? 

After disobeying Adam and Eve went on to refused to take personal responsibility and tried shifting the blame to others (Genesis 3:12-13), when each one of should be responsible before God for our actions, regardless of the circumstances or who else is involved. 

The Lord came to them fully aware of their guilt and asked several questions designed to bring them face-to-face with their sin, which is still the only way to deal with our failures. We must come to the Lord in confession and repentance so we can receive the forgiveness and cleansing Christ purchased for us on the cross. 

This kind of cover up can be found in many passages in the Bible: Aaron let the blame for the golden calf fall on the people (Exodus 32:21–24) and Saul tried to excuse his unlawful sacrifice on the justification that Samuel was late (1 Samuel 13:11–12). Excuses have been wreaking havoc since the beginning of time and will continue unless we realize that honesty and telling the truth are highly valued by God and are considered an integral part of a life of integrity and faithfulness to Him. 

The Mosaic Law commands that God’s people do not lie or deceive each other (Leviticus 19:11) or give false testimony about another (Exodus 20:16). The Psalmist describes the person whose walk is blameless and righteous as speaking the truth from the heart (Psalm 15:2). The New Testament echoes this when it connects honesty and truthfulness with the believer’s new life in Christ (Colossians 3:9). One of the first manifestations of the believer leaving the old self and putting on the new self in Christ is a commitment to honesty (Ephesians 4:24-25). 

The virtue of honesty is grounded ultimately in the character of God, that is, we are to be truthful because God is truthful. God never lies the Bible informs us (Titus 1:2), and both Jesus and the Holy Spirit are referred to as the truth (John 14:6, 16:13; 1 John 5:6). Similarly, God’s word is called the truth (Psalm 119:142, John 17:17). Honesty is a virtue because, like all the virtues, it is rooted in God’s nature. Telling truth is a moral principle to be followed because God is truthful, and we are called to emulate His character. 

When we stand for honesty, we believe in ourselves and everything we represent. When we stand for honesty, everything we say carries the voice of credibility. But, when we are dishonest, our soiled reputation will do the speaking for us. 

There are several things we can do to demonstrate honesty: 

  • Think before you speak.
  • Convey the truth and stand for what you say.
  • Communicate in an open and honest fashion.
  • If you have a personal a conflict of interest, let people know.
  • Tell it like it is, rather than sugar coating it.
  • Don’t shoot the messenger when someone tells you the truth. Thank them for their honesty and treat the information provided as a gift.
  • Willingly accept responsibility by admitting a mistake.
  • Hold people accountable when their words do not match their actions.
  • Never compromise your integrity and reputation by associating yourself with people whose standards of integrity you mistrust. 

The truth shouldn’t be told only when it’s convenient. Honesty must be a way of life. Honesty means that we care deeply about being reliable, cherish our relationships, and value the importance of a solid reputation. Honesty means that we try to do our best and are willing to accept the consequences of our actions. Honesty means that we respect others enough to tell them the truth and to never live a lie. 

In summary, the biblical expectation is that we tell the truth. Above all, honesty is a virtue because; it is rooted in God’s nature. Truth telling is a moral principle to be followed because God is truth, and we want to be in a close relationship with God. 

The only way to approach the truth is to be a person who speaks the truth, remembering what the Lord commanded: “Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares the Lord” (Zachariah 8:16-17). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 10, 2022

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BEAR FRUIT? – John 15:16

John 15 vs 16

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” (John 15:16) 

Every true Christian desires to be a fruit-bearing Christian, not one who is “unfruitful” (2 Peter 1:8). 

The promise of Christ in our text is that our fruit will remain, if we pray in His name and seek sincerely to bear fruit for His name’s sake. It is significant that the Greek word translated “remain” is also commonly translated “abide.” 

In the natural world, fruit is the result of a healthy plant producing what it was designed to produce (Genesis 1:11–12). In the Bible, the word fruit is often used to describe a person’s outward actions that result from the condition of the heart. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a starting place: the fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The more we allow the Holy Spirit free rein in our lives, the more this fruit is evident (Galatians 5:16, 25). 

Jesus told us clearly what we must do to bear good fruit. He said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). 

As disciples of Christ, we must stay firmly connected to Him to remain spiritually productive. A branch draws strength, nourishment, energy and protection from the vine. If it is broken off, it quickly dies and becomes unfruitful. When we neglect our spiritual life, ignore the Word of God, cease to pray, and withhold areas of our lives from the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit, we are like a branch broken off the vine and our lives become fruitless. We need daily surrender, communication, and connection with the Holy Spirit in order to “walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” 

The counterfeit to bearing good fruit is pretense. People can become experts at “acting like Christian,” while experiencing no real power and bearing no eternal fruit. These hearts remain self-centered and joyless even while they go through the motions of serving God. People can easily slip into the sin of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day in judging themselves by how they think and appear to others by neglecting that secret place of the heart where all good fruit truly germinates. 

When we love, desire, pursue, and fear the same things that the rest of the world does, we are not abiding in Christ, even though our lives may be filled with church-related activity. And, often, we don’t realize that we are living fruitless lives (1 John 2:15-17). 

When we are connected and intentional about our relationship with God, we produce the fruit God cultivates within us. It is God who does the work in us; our fruit-bearing is simply a result of what the Holy Spirit does in us. 

So how do we build our relationship with God? We spend time in the Word of God (the Bible), pray and listen; we worship God alone and with others, we fast, and give our time and talents. Some of the things we don’t do, include avoiding the desires of the flesh described in  Galatians 5:19–21. In short, we actively pursue God and flee from that which is sinful. 

Bearing fruit in the Christian life is not about doing works or trying to be righteous in our own strength. Rather, it is about intentionally growing in our walk with Christ, inviting the Holy Spirit’s work of transformation in us, and actively obeying God in all He calls us to do. And as we seek Him and leave our own carnal desires to do what He wants, we will bear lasting fruit and serve as salt and light to a world in need of Jesus (Matthew 5:13-16). 

Producing fruit requires action, but it is not the action of frantic spiritual activity. Yes, God wants us to “bear fruit” (John. 15:2), “bear much fruit” (v. 8), and “bear fruit…that will last.” (v.16). However, He takes responsibility for providing all we need to be fruitful (John 15:2-3). 

So what actions am I responsible for? I’m responsible for abiding, and as we abide in Christ and He in us, we experience the life and love of Christ flowing into our lives, resulting naturally in fruitfulness. Therefore, being fruitful means moving toward spiritual maturity, becoming more and more like Christ. 

The good fruit that we bear is the mark that is so easily seen by others when we act according to God’s commandments. Good fruit is also referred to as being a light bearer, since we are the only light in this world that some people that we personally know will ever see. So we need to take responsibility in that, making sure that our light is pure and our fruit is good. God will do the rest in working in the hearts of people. By His Holy Spirit, He will work on their hearts and draw them unto Himself as Zechariah 4:6 tells us: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. 

Be encouraged and blessed today and be bearers of good fruit in all you do and don’t be afraid to let God prune you once in a while because He knows what is best for us and for His kingdom. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | August 3, 2022

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE TRUE CHURCH – Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2 vs 11 - 14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14) 

The true church is neither a denomination nor a building. It is an assembly of born-again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who have been called out of the world as a people for God’s own possession (Titus 2:11-14). Universally, it includes all who have repented and believed the glorious Gospel of grace and who have been purified by the blood of Jesus, sealed by the Holy Spirit and sanctified by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17). Ephesians 1:13 states that: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” 

As members of the true church we are called saints because “you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). 

The true church member’s names are inscribed in the Lamb’s Book of Life in heaven and their imperishable inheritance is protected by the power of almighty God (Hebrews 12:23; 1 Peter 1:4). In the same way, they let their light shine before others, that they may see their good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). 

We need to understand that even a sound church unfortunately includes both believers and unbelievers; reason being that there are many who “profess” Christ but do not “possess” Christ. They are religious, but have no relationship with Christ. Their names are on church rolls, but not in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Jesus calls them “tares” who have been sown by the devil among the “wheat” (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). These tares will one day hear the most terrifying words they could ever hear when Jesus declares, “I never knew you, depart from Me” (Matthew 7:23). 

It is easy to get ensnared by the idea that a particular denomination within Christianity is “the true church,” but this view is a misunderstanding of Scripture. When choosing a church to attend, it is important to remember that a gathering of believers should be a place where those who belong to the true church (the spiritual entity) feel at home. That is to say, a good local church will uphold the Word of God, honoring it and preaching faithfully, proclaim the gospel steadfastly, and feeds and tends the sheep. 

Members of the true church always enjoy agreement in and fellowship around Jesus Christ, as He is plainly revealed in His Word. This is what is referred to as Christian unity. Another common mistake is to believe that Christian unity is just a matter of agreeing with one another. Simple agreement for the sake of agreement does not speak the truth in love or spur one another on to unity in Christ; rather, it encourages believers to refrain from speaking difficult truths. It sacrifices true understanding of God in favor of a false unity based on disingenuous love that is nothing more than selfish tolerance of sin in oneself and others. 

Members of the true church enjoy every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). These blessings include – the complete forgiveness of sins (Colossians 2:13-14), the promise of never being condemned again (Romans 8:1), the gift of Christ’s righteousness (Romans 5:17), the assurance of eternal life (John 10:28) and an eternal relationship with God through the one mediator Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). 

The true church is the bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2, 9; 22:17) and the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 12:27). It cannot be contained, walled in, or defined by anything other than its love for Christ and its dedication to Him.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | July 27, 2022

DISTINCTION BETWEEN SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY – 1 Thessalonians 5:23

1 Thessalonians 5 vs 23

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) 

Adam was created from the dust of the earth and became a living soul as the Bible states: “Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” – literally a soul (Genesis 2:7). 

The “soul” came into being when God breathed into Adam’s nostrils. Thus, a new soul comes into being every time a person is born. 

The word soul is always a combination of two things, body plus breath. Therefore, one cannot exist without the other, unless body and breath are combined. Scriptures teach that, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). Meaning everyone is individually responsible for their actions. 

The bible designates the “soul” as the whole person, characterized by the body’s desires, wishes and needs. This emphasizes that humans are emotional beings. Jesus said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow,” that is to say, as an emotional being I am possessed by sorrow (Mark 14:34). Therefore, soul = nephesh / psuche refers to the totality of the person as a center of life, emotions, feelings, and longings. 

In its most basic sense, the word “soul” means “life,” either physical or eternal. Jesus asked “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). 

The soul is the realm of decision, it relates to your mind, will, emotions, and personality. The soul is the place where free will is exercised. The soul is eternal, and everyone has a soul; the redeemed and unredeemed alike. 

Both Old and New Testaments reiterate that we are to love God completely, with our whole “soul” which refers to everything that is in us. “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). And Mark 12:30 reiterates the same in the New Testament. Whenever the word “soul” is used, it can refer to the whole person, whether physically alive or in the afterlife. 

The soul is basically our mind, our emotions, and our will. It is who we are as human beings. But it is also used to express God. As written in Luke 1:46-47, “And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

In this verse, we can see that Mary uses her soul to glorify God and then uses her spirit to rejoice in what God has done to save her. Glorifying God is a human responsibility. We express our humanity to God through our soul, and we magnify His power and presence through our spirit as John 4:24 tells us, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 

Mary was a strong believer and as such was chosen by God to have His Son, our Savior and she rejoiced in her spirit, since the Spirit himself beard witness with her spirit when this amazing historical moment occurred. 

We need to be filled by the Holy Spirit to fully express God’s love. 

Unlike the soul, which is alive both physically and eternally after the person is born, the spirit can be either alive, as in the case of believers, or dead as in the unbelievers and when the person dies the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). 

The spiritual part of believers in Jesus Christ is that which responds to the things that come from the Spirit of God, and are understood and discerned spiritually. On the other hand, the spiritually dead perceive the things of the Spirit to be “foolishness” because, in his spiritually dead conditions, he does not have the ability to discern the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12-14). The spirit is that part of us that is enabled by God to know and worship Him, the part of humanity that “connects” with God, who is Spirit Himself (John 4:24).

While the soul and spirit are often used interchangeably, the primary distinction between them in man is that the soul is the animate life, or the seat of the senses, desires, affections, and appetites. The spirit is that part of us that connects, or refuses to connect, to God. Our spirits relate to His Spirit, either by accepting His promptings and conviction, thereby proving that we belong to Him (Romans 8:16) or resisting Him and proving that we do not have spiritual life (Acts 7:51). 

When it comes to the state of the dead, many people often become confused with the concept of the soul and spirit. Notice what Solomon says about death: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). At death everything returns to where it came from; the dust returns to the earth from which it was taken and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 

This concept is consistent with the account of how man was created, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). Body + Spirit (breath of God) = Soul (life). This is why it is so important to remember our Creator in this life; because when this life is over, one will answer to the eternal God and spend eternity where we will reap what we have sown. 

Concerning the spirit that goes back to God, we know from James 2:26 that the body without the spirit is dead.  A body without breath is dead as is a person without the Spirit of God. A clear example is found in Job 27:3-4, “As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.” Therefore, the spirit – breath that returns to God at death is the breath of life, the divine spark of life, be it of a believer or unbeliever. Just as Jesus stated: Then calling out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last” (Luke 23:46). 

While the soul is the source of our expression through our humanity, it has its limitations and the only way we can experience God is through our spirit. The soul is merely a channel that will either yield or not to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to eternal life. Our spirit is the only way to connect with God, and we can only be guided by the Holy Spirit if we believe in God and receive Him through our Lord Jesus Christ’s salvation. 

In Romans 8:3-4, we are reminded that, “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” 

The way of the spirit is the way of God. The spirit was given to us through Jesus Christ. He lived amongst us and became human and for this reason, He sends the Holy Spirit to the spirit of those who choose to believe and to accept His free gift of salvation. 

As we see, the body soul and spirit all have specific functions. The body feels our physical senses of sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch. The soul on the other hand is our humanity that directs our beliefs, emotions, feelings, memories and attitudes. And finally, the spirit is what produces our deeper connection with the Lord. We express our love to God and Jesus Christ through our spirit because this is one of the gifts that Christ gave us when He became human and died for our sins. 

One day when the born-again believer dies, their soul will go immediately into the presence of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). There, the soul of the faithful believers awaits the resurrection of the body. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). Amen!

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Posted by: missionventureministries | July 20, 2022

WARNING AGAINST SPIRITUAL DRIFTING FROM GOD – Hebrews 2:1-3

Hebrews 2 vs 1

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. (Hebrews 2:1-3) 

The day to day fellowship with other Christians is an essential component of Christian growth. If we, like the writer of Hebrews, live with the expectation that the day of Christ’s return is soon, we’ll grasp the importance of encouraging one another on in our walk of faith. But if we give up meeting together, how can we expect to give support and receive encouragement? 

Besides gathering in smaller home groups, the book of Acts confirms that the early believers came together for larger congregational meetings (Acts 2:44). Their commitment to one another was so profound that they pooled their resources and shared what they had with those in need (Acts 2:44–45). 

It is an obvious sign that a believer has begun to drift away from God when they cease coming to church in order to pursue other interests. As the writer of Hebrews warned, if we do not pay attention to what we have heard, we will drift away from it (2:1). 

Sunday morning is a great time to receive encouragement from the Bible if you go to a church that believes and teaches that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

We should however also be in its pages every day, reading and meditating for ourselves. When our interest in what God has to say decreases, we are already slipping into trouble. The only way to keep our way pure is by following His Word as stated in Psalm 119:9, “How can a person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your word.” 

If reading the Bible is neglected, the need for prayer usually fades as well. Prayer is the way believers communicate with God, so if we stop talking with Him, the God who once seemed so close soon starts feeling very distant. 

When this happens, the Holy Spirit starts to warn us, but if the person who is drifting continually excuses their wandering ways and deny their need for God, then their conscience gradually becomes numb. And as the person becomes more desensitized to wrongdoing they start paving the way for more sinful behavior and less and less guilt. 

This is a very dangerous situation to get into because the drifting person’s conscience becomes anesthetized, their spiritual ears are also deadened, and truth cannot gain entrance because they have invited wrong attitudes and philosophies into their thinking process. What’s more, their heart hardens to the things of God, shrinking away from testimonies about divine power, grace, and mercy, they avoid situations that might reawaken the conscience and stir their spirit into repentance. 

Therefore the writer of Hebrews writes in chapter 3:12-13 that “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” 

No matter how far away from God the person has drifted, they are always welcome back. That’s the lesson from Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son, the foolish young man who followed a pleasure-filled path that ended in ruin, before returning to his father and finding redemption (Luke 15:11-32).

Perhaps ruin has not yet come to you, but you know that your heart has grown cool to the things of God. Whatever drifting story you may have, make this the day that go back to the Lord and re-dedicate your life to Him. Romans 13:11 states that “now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed,” meaning that throughout our Christian life, our focus should always be on Christ, and spiritual vigilance is necessary because Jesus might come at any moment and “sleep” is a vivid picture of drifting and indifference. 

As with any sin, the first action toward getting back on course is to acknowledge that you have drifted away from the Lord. Then you should confess and repent, which means turning in the opposite direction and running toward God with all your strength and determination. 

Every day we choose whether to row or drift. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). 

Peter gives a warning to be on guard against attitudes and ideologies that would carry you away from truth (2 Peter 3:17). Instead, grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; because, to Him be all glory and honor, both now and forevermore (1 Peter 3:18). 

Life is full of un-expected events; therefore we cannot afford to drift away from God and His Word, since He is the only one that can bring us safely through anything that comes our way. 

So remember to: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

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Posted in WARNING AGAINST SPIRITUAL DRIFTING FROM GOD – Hebrews 2:1-3 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

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