'Earnestly contending for the faith,' (Jude 3 ) as well as sharing encouragement and hope through Scripture (Romans 15:4), and through the poems and posts that I write. One of many voices on the Internet warning Christians of the importance of testing the teachings of men (and women) against the unchanging truth of God's Word. (Acts 17:11) I 'warn you with tears' through much of what I write, to 'be on guard against the savage wolves that will come in among us who will distort the Word of God' as God's Word warns us about in Acts 20:26-31
Hey there! Thanks for dropping by Living4HisGlory! Take a look around and grab the RSS feed to stay updated. See you around!
Thank you very much for stopping by. I hope that you will take the time to play the above videos so that you can hear God’s Words of truth, encouragement, and warnings as you prepare for your day, as you make dinner for yourself or your family, as you clean your home, or as you are getting ready to turn in for the night.
UPDATE Since tomorrow is promised to no one (including me), I need to share this important message with all of you based on God’s Word, for tomorrow may never come for some of you:
Too many of us take for granted the religions freedoms that we still have in this country, and many still do not know the true Biblical gospel that proclaims that Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, willingly came to this earth to live the perfect, sinless life that we could never live, to become the Lamb of God; He bore all of our sins upon Himself and died on the cross in our place and became the perfect sacrifice to pay the debt for all of our sins in full — no matter how horrendous they may be. By believing that Jesus Christ died in your place on the cross for your sins with all of your heart, that He was buried, and that He arose bodily from the grave on the third day, and by placing your full trust in all that He did for you and no longer trusting in your own self-righteousness and good works which are like filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6), you then have a change of mind by letting go of faulty thinking and embracing the truth presented in the gospel message.
“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
You cannot become a child of God by trying to earn His favor or by obeying the commandments; you become a child of God born by the Spirit of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and called to live holy lives, as He is holy. (1 Peter 1:23, 1 Peter 1:14-21 )
“Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law, rather through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21)
The Bible says:
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that –and shudder!” (James 2:19)
The Bible also says that the demons know who Jesus Christ is (Matthew 8:28,29, Mark 1:23, 24, Mark 5:7, Luke 5:6,7, Luke 8:28), and they will be cast into the lake of fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels — not mankind — according to Scripture. (Matthew 25:41) Our choice concerning what we decide to believe about Jesus Christ determines our eternal destination.
Consider this sobering passage of Scripture concerning the end times and the strong delusion that will soon be coming upon the earth:
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
According to what we now see as we observe so many in the world living in open rebellion against God, and how we grieve as we watch many professing Christians embracing pagan and occultic practices, truly we must be living in the last days! Are you ready?
Belief according to the Bible, is to place one’s full trust in someone or something; to commit to; to rely fully upon. I hope you will think carefully about where you stand concerning Jesus Christ. Have you placed your trust in Him alone? Or are you trusting in the traditions of men and your particular church to save you? Are you someone who is hoping that your good works will outweigh all the bad that you have done in life when you stand before Him?
God has provided only one way to be reconciled to Himself (John 14:6), and there is only one name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12), and only one mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5,6) and that only way, name, and mediator is Jesus Christ –no matter what you may have been taught! Your eternal destiny depends upon placing your trust only in all that Jesus Christ has already accomplished for you. If you have not done so already, I pray that you will. Read God’s Word, the Bible, and pray for God to open up your understanding of His Word, since it is spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
God Bless You
~Mary/Living4HisGlory
RELATED SCRIPTURES
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depend on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
UPDATE:
Lord willing, another post in the series, FALSE TEACHER FRIDAY – LEARN TO DISCERN coming this Friday. More posts in this series coming later this year. Hoping also for enough time this week to work on finishing the next post in the series, APPARITIONS OF THE VIRGIN MARY, OR DEMONS IN DISGUISE – EXAMINING THE EVIDENCE IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4)
Welcome to another post in a new category of posts entitled, ‘SERMON SUNDAY.’ Lord willing, at least a few times a month I will share a timely sermon with you by a well respected teacher or preacher who focuses on an important truth in Scripture in order to awaken the slumbering church, and also to alert Christians to the importance of reading and studying God’s Word. It may be a short sermon in written form, or I may present something to you in video form. I pray that when time allows, you will take the time to read or to listen to what I will be sharing with you.
I will also be sharing some expository preaching with you, but sadly, that is a very rare thing to find these days. I’m sure that many of you can attest to that undeniable fact. Sadly, many pastors today who seek to grow their churches oftentimes resort to distorting God’s Word either by taking a verse out of context, or by interjecting their own ideas into the text to make it say what they want a verse of Scripture to say (eisegesis).
Sometimes a pastor will even go as far as to manipulate Scriptures in such a way so that they can preach about themselves (narcissistic eisegesis).
Then there are some pastors who just present watered down messages with very little Biblical content, and others who ‘preach’ controversial messages that will appeal to today’s culture in order to attract more people. Then they will continue ‘preaching’ these types of messages in order to entertain the crowd to keep them coming, rather than preaching God’s Word as they are instructed to do in order to feed and equip the sheep/saints and to expose the sin in men’s hearts so that God will grant them repentance and lead them to a knowledge of the truth.
My main goal in presenting these sermons to you is to point you to Jesus Christ and to make you realize the extreme importance of studying God’s Word and testing the teachings of everyone you listen to in light of Scripture.
Maybe you are one of those people who faithfully stand for Biblical truth and you recently had to leave your church because of what has been taking place as you have witnessed your pastor slowly drift from Biblical truth. Or maybe you left your church many years ago and you still haven’t found a church where the pastor preaches from God’s Word. If so, I have all of you in mind when posting these teachings and videos, as well.
I hope that everyone who somehow finds there way here will be blessed and encouraged by the many Biblical teachings that I will be sharing with you in the weeks and months ahead –Lord willing.
Now for today’s SERMON SUNDAY:Pastor Chris Quintana preaches from 2 Timothy 4 concerning false teachers, which is so very relevant for us in these days:
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.9 Do your best to come to me quickly,10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.
15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.” (SOURCE)
Thank you for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to read some of my posts and poems.
God Bless You
~Mary Dalke/Living4HisGlory
UPDATE
Sunday 9/20/15 Lord willing, new post coming tomorrow morning. However, it won’t be a Mysticism Monday post.
UPDATE 9/21/15 1:05 p.m. – This new post is taking much longer than expected. I am continuing to do research at this very moment. Lord willing, I hope to have it completed by 3:00 p.m. today, possibly sooner.
UPDATE 9/21/15 Already completed and posted “Pope Francis’ Visit To The United States 2015 – Focusing In On A Few Scheduled Stops, And Sharing Some Information And Biblical Truth With You”
One day last year as I was reading in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3, I paused at verse 4, which I will put in context for you:
“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly–mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says,“I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe–as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-11)
What came to mind, was the thought of how many people today proclaim they are followers of Steven Furtick, Perry Noble, Mark Driscoll, James MacDonald, etc. Many today have placed their focus on man instead of on Christ where it belongs, and on these men’s messages instead of on the ‘gospel message.’ It has become a ‘cult of personality.’ And when any of us who ‘earnestly contend for the faith‘ (Jude 3) attempts to warn them of how some preachers distort God’s Word and how they rip a verse completely out of context in a sermon, or to warn a pastor of our valid concerns, we are branded as being ‘divisive‘ or as being a ‘consumer Christian.’ They fail to see that God has given us discernment and that we are being ‘Bereans’ and ‘examining the Scriptures daily to see if what they are saying is true,‘ (Acts 17:11) as God’s Word clearly tells us we are to do.
I am going to try and keep this introduction short, and just share verses with you, which is more important that sharing what I have to say with you, but will be adding a few more thoughts in the future. I think my poem expresses what I’d like to share with you clear enough, as you will see.
Here are some videos for you to listen to so you can see how pastors — such as Perry Nobleand Steven Furtick — twist Scriptures and give praises to one another, instead of preaching from the Bible, as well as clear examples of narcissistic eisegesis; making the Scriptures about themselves by reading themselves into the text, or how Steven Furtickignores a clear opportunity to use a passage of Scripture to share the Biblical gospel, and chooses instead to preach about…himself . Beginning at the 14:27 mark in the following video, you will hear Steven Furticksay in part (after just reading a portion from Genesis 22), “…so many things I’d love to say about it…and…we don’t have time today, just know that…as much as this disturbs you, it disturbsme even more I’ve been studying it..I do think it’s a type and shadow of the gospel…”“So with that in mind, I…I want to talk with you for just a few moments today on the subject of audacious faith and the God who provides, about…different places in mylifewhere God has provided for me.” (Emphasis is mine).
In this video from the Code Orange ‘Revival’ that took place in January of 2012, you will hear Perry Noble use Matthew 13:16,17 — that clearly speaks of Jesus — to tell those at ‘Elevation Church‘ how “blessed” they are because of some of the things that God is doing at ‘Elevation Church,’ making that text about ‘Elevation Church‘ and Steven Furtick.
Starting at the 40:39 min. mark in the following video, you will hear T. D Jakes say, “Oh are there any radical people in here tonight?”“…”You’ll never get anythingfrom God being passive and sitting back and folding your arms and saying,“Well, if it’s the Lord’s will.” True, we are to have an active faith and do what we can concerning our situation, but many ‘word of faith’ preachers mock those of us who express our deep concerns and desires to God and pray for His will to be done, all because we know that His ways are always higher and better than our own. (Isaiah 55:8,9)
On a different subject, in Romans 12:2 God’s Word tell us:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
I share all of that with you to say the following… Please place your focus on Jesus Christ and let His Word be the main source of truth that you seek. Do not seek after a man and his ministry no matter how many years he may have been in ministry, and no matter how Biblically solid he may have been in the past. Test the words of every person whom you listen to in order to receive spiritual nourishment and Biblical truth.
**UPDATE 11/12/12** LORD WILLING, COMING AT THE END OF THIS WEEK OR NEXT, SOME INFORMATION THAT WILL SHED LIGHT ON THE DISTURBING THINGS THAT MANY OF US ARE SEEING TAKE PLACE WITHIN OUR CHURCHES, AND WILL POSSIBLY EXPLAIN THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE IN LEADERSHIP AT THESE CHURCHES, AS WELL. WILL DELAY WRITING MY POST ON ‘MYSTICISM IN THE CHURCH’ IN ORDER TO WRITE AND SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU. LORD WILLING, I HOPE TO HAVE MY POST ON ‘MYSTICISM IN THE CHURCH’ DONE IN DECEMBER. Here’s something to start you out with: Brannon Howse, with guest speaker, Jonathan Cousar, who spent twenty years attending Pastor Tim Keller’s church, shares his concerns with the theological and philosophical direction of Tim Keller:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14,15)
“Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:1-4)
“He must become greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13,14)
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do as I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My Words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment that torrent struck that house , it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:46-49)
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry “”Abba,” Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are God’s children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:5-17)
“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s Word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also theworld at that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a theif. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him.” (2 Peter 3:1-14)
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed–in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)
WHOM DO YOU FOLLOW
Whom do you follow, is it Jesus Christ the Lord
Or those who teach prosperity, promising you things you can’t afford
Manipulating Scriptures, they say things that are not there
Teaching you to boldly ‘ask and you will receive’ things from God in prayer
Some preachers ignore the fact that God answers ‘according to His will’
And crush the faith of many when their heart’s desire God does not fulfill
Or do you follow those who speak things that satisfy your itching ears
Those who motivate and flatter, and ignore talk of sin that leads to repentance
and remorseful tears
Or do you follow preachers who have become so well known by their name
A ‘cult of personality’ which cloaks the gospel and attempts to cover it with
shame
Some seem to think these men could never speak a word untrue
And refuse to test their messages as God’s Word tells us we are to do
Instead of becoming less and raising Christ with all our praise
These pastors give praise to one another, a ‘life of humility’ an act like this
betrays
They tell us we can become ‘greater’ and how to ‘unleash’ a life beyond the
simple and mundane
Some may begin to sing ‘how great we art’ instead of singing praises to
His name
Some forget the fact we are to follow Christ and Him alone
So we won’t stray off the narrow path by those who have seemed to place
themselves upon the throne
Building their own empires upon what’s made of sinking sand
They slowly drift to compromise, no longer on the Rock do they stand
Some preachers have lost their focus; it’s no longer on the gospel that sets
men free
They encourage us to live out our dreams; to become as ‘great as God desires us
to be’
We need to go beyond just ‘vertical,’ we need to fall upon our face
Falling prostrate in complete surrender, to seek His mercy and His grace
We all need to go back to the gospel message, so simple yet so profound
A call for men to repent of sin, to receive His grace by faith; this is the Gospel
that is Biblical and sound
To carry our cross, to die to self, to contend for the faith so true
To share the Gospel with those who are bound to a lie, this brings joy and
a greater life of purpose to me and you
The church at large has fallen, its message mimics that of the world
Sermons focus on ‘sex’ and ‘how to satisfy self,’ messages to ‘repent’ and to
‘die to self,’ these things are hurled
‘Worship’ bands sing the devil’s songs, this promotes a divided heart
God’s Word tells us we are to be holy, to be sanctified; from this world we are
to be set apart
Will you hear His Spirit warning you to return to your first love
To follow Christ and Him alone, and to set your mind on things above
His return may be very soon, much sooner than we think
Turn back to Him with all your heart, He may return before you even blink
Scriptures taken from The Holy Bible New International Version® 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
The picture added to this post was taken by my daughter.
Desiring for God to use all that I have been through in life, I decided to start my first blog, living4hisglory.wordpress.com, in order to write poems about some of those experiences to bring glory to God, as well as to share them with others with the hope of encouraging those of you who have been broken and shattered by life's circumstances and hurt by those who were supposed to have loved you rather than abuse you in some way.
Also, because of some pastors and teachers today who seem to be abandoning Biblical Christianity and instead seem to be either seeking to build their own empires and promoting their own agendas, and at times even leading the people in their churches into unbiblical, 'mystical practices' without some people even realizing it, I saw the importance and necessity to begin writing poems and posts in order to inform Christians, as well as to make Christians realize the extreme importance of testing what people say (who claim to speak for God) against the truth of God's Word, (Acts 17:11) so that they will not be deceived. It has never been -- nor shall it ever be -- my intention to bash any particular pastor or teacher; my sole purpose in bringing attention to false teachings is to make Christians realize that we are to be followers of Jesus Christ, and not to be followers of any man (or woman) and his (or her) ministry. I hope that you will be blessed -- as well as challenged -- by the things that I write.
Thank you for stopping by and taking time to read some of my posts and poems.
God Bless You
~Mary/Living4HisGlory
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