LOVINGLY OBEDIENT OR NOT “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into…

PATIENCE! Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of…

THE ROOT OF VILE PRACTICES For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. —James 3:16             Follow a vile practice back to the one practicing it and you will find jealousy and selfish ambition existing in that person.   Follow disorder back to the one causing it and you will find jealousy and selfish ambition.             Selfish ambition is the root of all vile practice. Just look at our world and the evil in it. It is there because of selfish ambitions. People might not verbalize it this way, but it’s about me, it’s about what I think, it’s about what I want, it’s…

EVIDENCE OF FAITH—FAITH WORKS! In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless… As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. —James 2:17-20, 26 I say I am a carpenter, but you never see me do carpentry. I say I am a nurse, but you…

ROD OF DISCIPLINE OR JUDGMENT… The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from its…

LOOK TO OUR HEAVENLY HOME!  For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. —Hebrews 13:14              It is all temporary that we see on this planet except for people. All people will exist either in heaven or hell forever. All else is only temporary. Brother and sisters let us keep this in mind and not get rooted down in this life, distracted from that which we have been commanded by Jesus to do (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8). This is not our home. Our home is in heaven and let us keep running the race until we reach that…

OUR AWESOME GOD! Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” —Hebrews 12:28-29             Are we thankful to God and worshipping Him “acceptably with reverence and awe?” Consider who He is— “God is a consuming fire.” Let us consider what is said in 2 Peter 3:10-13. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed…

TREASURE! He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt. —Hebrews 11:26 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. —Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:24 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. —Luke 12:33             Where is your heart’s focus? If you were told today to tie up life’s ends because tomorrow you would be in heaven, would you be happy or sad? The answer to that question will give indication as to where your treasure is.…

A DEAD FAITH HAS NO OUTWARD EVIDENCE! As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. —James 2:26             I have spent some time recently in this passage (James 2:14-26). It is a powerful, challenging passage. Most of us have probably seen someone who has died.   We may have even been with someone who was dying and saw the moment their spirit departed and all that was left was a lifeless, still body. It takes both the spirit of a person and the body of a person to accomplish anything, any type of work.             So it is with faith and works. Someone who…

GOD GETTING YOUR ATTENTION! The word of the LORD came to me: “And you, O son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. Now the end is upon you, and I will send my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the LORD. “Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster…