Praise the LORD!!!
Yes, it is!?! Yes, our churches are full of hypocrites. Backbiters, gossips, thieves, liars, the sexually immoral, adulterers and the list can go on and on. For where else should you find those whom are sick and seeking healing???
Surely it is the truth, that many of these, think they're already healed. Not realizing that they truly are only in remission, waiting around, only to take their dying breathes. But yes, they're there, in the only place where true healing can begin.
Not a building with four walls, but amongst a BODY of believers that realize there is but one source of healing for their sicknesses.
Sin, that reached sickness. That makes one think they're healthy. Not in need of anything. Rich, yet poor by all means. Slowly passing away from starvation, though their tables are set with the finest of foods. Having all sorts of the finest pleasures to keep them occupied, yet wasting away with loneliness.
Where else will you find all those that are having their hearts stirred, their bodies torn, their minds running rampant with thoughts and desires of all that they truly need??? In the presence of the only ONE that can, and will, heal them of all their worries. The "GREAT PHYSICIAN," lingers in the midst of all these. HE seeks to heal all, yet holds HIS hands back from healing them, until they've been fully convicted of their great needs. Prepared fully to receive that which is free, yet comes with a great price.
The cost. It is nothing, yet it is everything. For one to receive these needed gifts, they must be willing, willing to forsake all. Forsake all that they hold dear. Forsake all that they've learned to believe is of need to survive. To forsake all that their futures may hold.
Oh, to but touch the fringe of HIS garment and I shall be made whole. One glance from HIS loving eyes. One touch of HIS gracious hands.
Can you??? Or will you??? Forsake all and follow HIM !!!!!!!
Seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!! Talley the cost and listen to HS voice, calling out to you. The choice is yours alone!!!
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Showing posts with label change in the church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change in the church. Show all posts
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Stand up, speak out
Who Praise the LORD!!!
A little while ago, I read a posting, talking about how we need to live in peace and love. This kind of reminded me of the old 'hippie' junk, that many of us used to live our lives by. That very same attitude that is responsible for the 'watered down gospel' that is being preached, and worst yet, accepted in churches these days!!!
I see ministers, supposedly people of GOD, re-posting or repeating the words, wisdom they call it, of self proclaimed gurus or life experts. When all it is in reality is a bunch of worthless junk, of the same type that held Christians(true) in bondage during their lives!!!
We, my dear brothers and sisters, are in the end of days. That period in Biblical prophecy, where the likes of that above has been foretold!!! The BODY of CHRIST has become a weak kneed mass of flesh, only seeking to fulfill it's own lust or constantly striving to 'be like unto the world.'
Who am I to say such things??? No one, a worthless piece of flesh, that truly isn't worth to breath the air that JESUS created, let alone preach the WORDS HE has spoken or given me. But because of HIS calling me to ministry and my belief in total obedience unto HIM, I am a man that will speak out, come hell or high water!!!
It is time for each and every Christian to grab their Bibles, pray and open them and read the truths that have been laid down since before time began. Not just to read them, but to absorb them, to bury them deeply within their very being, as if they are the very blood that flows thru your veins!!! I'm not talking about memorizing scripture, that is but your own knowledge, I'm talking about having the very WORDS of GOD coursing thru your veins, your very existence dependent upon them. An the next time you hear a 'preacher', or anyone, speak about the WORD of GOD teaching us this or that, you'll know for sure if it is so!!!
You will have two choices, well actually three. 1. listen to it and do nothing. 2. stand up for the truth, speak it and let the erring one see their error. 3. Get up and walk out/away, leaving them, and others, to their errors.(trick question, only one true answer, that is if you are what you proclaim to be)
This time that we're in, is truly not a time for peace. It is a time when the souls of men are going to hell daily, because no one was willing to stand up for the truth that JESUS preached. No one was willing to go that extra mile and lead them on the straight and narrow path. No one willing to give a thirsty one a drink from the well of salvation and truth. Will you be a 'no one'??? Or will you be a someone, willing to standup, speak out and give a helping hand to a lost and dieing world??? Personally, I'M A SOMEONE, one whom JESUS died for, one whom has forsaken the world to follow HIM and a someone that isn't afraid to go to his death, before rebuking my SAVIOR!!!!!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
(If you'd like to know more about this 'no one', that is a 'someone', let me suggest you read my personal testimonial book, "Out of the LIGHT")
A little while ago, I read a posting, talking about how we need to live in peace and love. This kind of reminded me of the old 'hippie' junk, that many of us used to live our lives by. That very same attitude that is responsible for the 'watered down gospel' that is being preached, and worst yet, accepted in churches these days!!!
I see ministers, supposedly people of GOD, re-posting or repeating the words, wisdom they call it, of self proclaimed gurus or life experts. When all it is in reality is a bunch of worthless junk, of the same type that held Christians(true) in bondage during their lives!!!
We, my dear brothers and sisters, are in the end of days. That period in Biblical prophecy, where the likes of that above has been foretold!!! The BODY of CHRIST has become a weak kneed mass of flesh, only seeking to fulfill it's own lust or constantly striving to 'be like unto the world.'
Who am I to say such things??? No one, a worthless piece of flesh, that truly isn't worth to breath the air that JESUS created, let alone preach the WORDS HE has spoken or given me. But because of HIS calling me to ministry and my belief in total obedience unto HIM, I am a man that will speak out, come hell or high water!!!
It is time for each and every Christian to grab their Bibles, pray and open them and read the truths that have been laid down since before time began. Not just to read them, but to absorb them, to bury them deeply within their very being, as if they are the very blood that flows thru your veins!!! I'm not talking about memorizing scripture, that is but your own knowledge, I'm talking about having the very WORDS of GOD coursing thru your veins, your very existence dependent upon them. An the next time you hear a 'preacher', or anyone, speak about the WORD of GOD teaching us this or that, you'll know for sure if it is so!!!
You will have two choices, well actually three. 1. listen to it and do nothing. 2. stand up for the truth, speak it and let the erring one see their error. 3. Get up and walk out/away, leaving them, and others, to their errors.(trick question, only one true answer, that is if you are what you proclaim to be)
This time that we're in, is truly not a time for peace. It is a time when the souls of men are going to hell daily, because no one was willing to stand up for the truth that JESUS preached. No one was willing to go that extra mile and lead them on the straight and narrow path. No one willing to give a thirsty one a drink from the well of salvation and truth. Will you be a 'no one'??? Or will you be a someone, willing to standup, speak out and give a helping hand to a lost and dieing world??? Personally, I'M A SOMEONE, one whom JESUS died for, one whom has forsaken the world to follow HIM and a someone that isn't afraid to go to his death, before rebuking my SAVIOR!!!!!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
(If you'd like to know more about this 'no one', that is a 'someone', let me suggest you read my personal testimonial book, "Out of the LIGHT")
Thursday, April 22, 2010
04-23-10_1 Cor. 9: 16-18_The cost of preaching...(a re post)
Praise the LORD!!!
***Due to the events of the day, there hasn't been a new posting for today supplied, so I'll re post one from an earlier date***
In the day and age of mega churches and ministries that sell just about everything imaginable, I've been led to these verses and am to expound upon them this day!
1 Cor. 9: 16-18
"Yet when I preach the GOSPEL, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the GOSPEL! If I preach voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the GOSPEL I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."
Now, I've not yet been called to preach, though I have given my testimony on several occasions. Maybe I should restate this though, I've not been asked by men to preach, though GOD has shown me that I will someday be filling these shoes also! There are many methods off preparation for preaching and most rely solely upon the knowledge of the man himself and allowing GOD to administer HIS guidance for the presentation. In so doing the man himself becomes the source of the message and not GOD where the message originally was given birth. In this way the man has become the source, the means and the broadcaster of the message and can assume a position of boasting. Paul here is showing that it wasn't his personal wisdom or knowledge that was being brought forth, but he was 'compelled' by GOD to present it in the manor in which he did! Not the man, but the MASTER was the source of the message.
If you're like me, you've been to services that were so dry and boring that they could barely hold your attention. This is greatly due to the fact that the message wasn't supplied by GOD in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, but was developed and presented by a man (speaking generically, for it could be a woman also.) To often today in the preparations of sermons the writer depends solely upon their own knowledge and abilities to produce the outcome. Where as it should be started with prayer, asking GOD to provide the WORDS and the power to bring it forth. Without the doing of this, we've ended up with a church that is weak and in disrepair and rightly needs to be rebuilt by the LORD from the ground up.
Another condition that has sprung from these loins, in combination with the churches joining up with the world, is the charging for all things presented before the church and other people. Books, CD's and DVD's, tapes and lessons, all at a cost. I know what the result would be if JESUS walked into one of these churches and saw all the vendors tables offering wares for sale. It would be a repeat of the scene in the temple where HE over turned the money changers tables. Righteous indignation it was called. HE had all rights to be mad, for they'd turned the temple/church into a store. In our verses today, Paul eluded to the fact that he preached the gospel freely, in all rights he felt it an honor to be able to and didn't want to be paid or a burden to anyone because of it.
Oh how different our churches would be if this were the case. Now I know there will be those that say that, 'the ox deserves his reward,' eluding to the fact that those who labor are deserving of their pay. This is true and very scriptural. Yet may I ask this though, are we supposed to charge for that which was given unto us freely? When the oxen were allowed to feed as they tread the grain, they weren't allowed to stay there until they completely ate their fill, but only so as to provide for their sustenance while working. We see these days preachers living in million dollar homes, being driven around the country in limos, or flying around in their private jets. Wouldn't this money be better spent helping those in need through outreach? I know what a number of them will say, 'well it helps speed up our delivery of the GOSPEL, allowing us to reach more souls for GOD.' What I've seen it doing for the most part is putting more money in their bank accounts and not out into the harvest fields.
Years back, when I was first start VCM, I sent out request to a majority of these large ministries, asking for assistance in getting it going. Out of over twenty letters sent out, not counting all the emails request sent, I received back only two with any help. One sent back over $300 worth of teaching tapes and books, while the other only sent a packet of example literature which I could purchase through their ministry. The rest sent back letters stating they couldn't assist at the time, but would keep me within their prayers. You know the really funny part about this, I wasn't asking for their monetary assistance at all, though it would of been welcome, I was asking for their guidance in setting up the ministry and organizational assistance! But received very little of any at all, in either form. Now here are these multi-million dollar organizations preaching the WORD of GOD daily in all forms of media, yet they followed not scripture when it came to helping a brother in the faith when in need! Praise the LORD!!! The things HE has shown me about that and the very distaste it leaves upon these ministries.
Our preaching is to be set upon a solid foundation provided by the LORD and given freely as it has been given to us. Not in the manor in which it has become so popular to do today. The church, as it sits today in a saddened state, is the results of these practices being carried out for so long. Many will state that their church isn't in this condition and that they do many great things to further the spread of the GOSPEL. May I ask that they truly take a good hard look at their church of today and it's practices and policies, and then look at the church as it was in the first couple of century. I truly believe that what they will see will be eye opening and I pray that it will stir their hearts to seek changes within their churches. There have been many great movements in church history throughout the centuries and if you were to look around today, you may just see another one about to begin!!!
More verse of interest: Matt. 10: 8; 1 Cor. 9: 7-12; 1Tim 5: 18; Dt. 25: 4; John 6: 27
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
***Due to the events of the day, there hasn't been a new posting for today supplied, so I'll re post one from an earlier date***
In the day and age of mega churches and ministries that sell just about everything imaginable, I've been led to these verses and am to expound upon them this day!
1 Cor. 9: 16-18
"Yet when I preach the GOSPEL, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the GOSPEL! If I preach voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the GOSPEL I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it."
Now, I've not yet been called to preach, though I have given my testimony on several occasions. Maybe I should restate this though, I've not been asked by men to preach, though GOD has shown me that I will someday be filling these shoes also! There are many methods off preparation for preaching and most rely solely upon the knowledge of the man himself and allowing GOD to administer HIS guidance for the presentation. In so doing the man himself becomes the source of the message and not GOD where the message originally was given birth. In this way the man has become the source, the means and the broadcaster of the message and can assume a position of boasting. Paul here is showing that it wasn't his personal wisdom or knowledge that was being brought forth, but he was 'compelled' by GOD to present it in the manor in which he did! Not the man, but the MASTER was the source of the message.
If you're like me, you've been to services that were so dry and boring that they could barely hold your attention. This is greatly due to the fact that the message wasn't supplied by GOD in the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, but was developed and presented by a man (speaking generically, for it could be a woman also.) To often today in the preparations of sermons the writer depends solely upon their own knowledge and abilities to produce the outcome. Where as it should be started with prayer, asking GOD to provide the WORDS and the power to bring it forth. Without the doing of this, we've ended up with a church that is weak and in disrepair and rightly needs to be rebuilt by the LORD from the ground up.
Another condition that has sprung from these loins, in combination with the churches joining up with the world, is the charging for all things presented before the church and other people. Books, CD's and DVD's, tapes and lessons, all at a cost. I know what the result would be if JESUS walked into one of these churches and saw all the vendors tables offering wares for sale. It would be a repeat of the scene in the temple where HE over turned the money changers tables. Righteous indignation it was called. HE had all rights to be mad, for they'd turned the temple/church into a store. In our verses today, Paul eluded to the fact that he preached the gospel freely, in all rights he felt it an honor to be able to and didn't want to be paid or a burden to anyone because of it.
Oh how different our churches would be if this were the case. Now I know there will be those that say that, 'the ox deserves his reward,' eluding to the fact that those who labor are deserving of their pay. This is true and very scriptural. Yet may I ask this though, are we supposed to charge for that which was given unto us freely? When the oxen were allowed to feed as they tread the grain, they weren't allowed to stay there until they completely ate their fill, but only so as to provide for their sustenance while working. We see these days preachers living in million dollar homes, being driven around the country in limos, or flying around in their private jets. Wouldn't this money be better spent helping those in need through outreach? I know what a number of them will say, 'well it helps speed up our delivery of the GOSPEL, allowing us to reach more souls for GOD.' What I've seen it doing for the most part is putting more money in their bank accounts and not out into the harvest fields.
Years back, when I was first start VCM, I sent out request to a majority of these large ministries, asking for assistance in getting it going. Out of over twenty letters sent out, not counting all the emails request sent, I received back only two with any help. One sent back over $300 worth of teaching tapes and books, while the other only sent a packet of example literature which I could purchase through their ministry. The rest sent back letters stating they couldn't assist at the time, but would keep me within their prayers. You know the really funny part about this, I wasn't asking for their monetary assistance at all, though it would of been welcome, I was asking for their guidance in setting up the ministry and organizational assistance! But received very little of any at all, in either form. Now here are these multi-million dollar organizations preaching the WORD of GOD daily in all forms of media, yet they followed not scripture when it came to helping a brother in the faith when in need! Praise the LORD!!! The things HE has shown me about that and the very distaste it leaves upon these ministries.
Our preaching is to be set upon a solid foundation provided by the LORD and given freely as it has been given to us. Not in the manor in which it has become so popular to do today. The church, as it sits today in a saddened state, is the results of these practices being carried out for so long. Many will state that their church isn't in this condition and that they do many great things to further the spread of the GOSPEL. May I ask that they truly take a good hard look at their church of today and it's practices and policies, and then look at the church as it was in the first couple of century. I truly believe that what they will see will be eye opening and I pray that it will stir their hearts to seek changes within their churches. There have been many great movements in church history throughout the centuries and if you were to look around today, you may just see another one about to begin!!!
More verse of interest: Matt. 10: 8; 1 Cor. 9: 7-12; 1Tim 5: 18; Dt. 25: 4; John 6: 27
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Thursday, February 18, 2010
2.19.10_Lesson from a Dove
Praise the LORD!!!
Today there is something totally different in store for you. Hey, this took me by storm too, so don't think you're alone in this.I've had a whole lot on my mind lately. I'm single. I've been working this ministry by myself for over ten years and until the yesterday, I hadn't ever had one person want to join. My health hasn't been the greatest. I'm living with a host family and have been here going on five months, with no income. So you see, I've a lot on my mind!
Today I went outside to smoke a cigarette, yes I still smoke, the matter is totally in the LORD's hands and I have been smoking less everyday. Let's not get sidetracked here though. When I went outside, since my host family doesn't smoke, I heard the cooing of a dove. I looked over and one was walking through the grass. I began to notice how it's head moved each time it took a step. I must of thought this is a questioning mode, because the next thing I know I'm having the LORD impress it upon my heart as to the similarity between this dove and our Christian walk.
I was a baffled, as you are about now, so relax and enjoy, for I did. We all know that the dove is representative of the HOLY SPIRIT in our faith. This is the form that HE took, when HE ascended onto JESUS at HIS baptism in the Jordan (John 1:32). You should also know, that JESUS is the HEAD of the Church(Eph. 1:22,23), not the one with four walls that you attend, but the CHURCH that is the total gathering of the Christian faith. In all rights every single person that has ever called upon HIS name for salvation. We as Christians are known as the members of the body of the CHURCH(Col. 1:24). But what the LORD impressed upon me was not the whole of the body, well at first, but it's feet alone and how they represent us. For we are known as being the hands and the feet of the LORD here on earth. We are the actual workers of most of that which is accomplished in the physical world, by the use of our bodies.
WE have the HEAD, being CHRIST. We have the feet, being us. Well what about the body? The body is the HOLY SPIRIT, which ties us together with JESUS!!! This making a complete unit, that in totality functions as one. Not independent of each other, but working together as a whole to accomplish it's daily task. Not one of the dove's parts could be missing, for anything to be accomplished.
As I stated, this all came about because of my wondering about how the dove's head moved every time it's feet did. The LORD showed me, that as we are moving through life, doing the works that HE has set aside for us, HE too is moving along with us, but not just HE but the HOLY SPIRIT also. Each step we take in our walks for the LORD is accomplished through our being moved by the HOLY SPIRIT and thus the LORD's goal here on earth is moved forward also. In all rights the CHURCH is here revealed as a trinity also. Just as GOD is one in three separate entities, FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT, we have the CHURCH. The head, JESUS, in control of all that takes place. The body, the HOLY SPIRIT, which supplies all the animation and power for everything to take place. An we the feet, the part that accomplishes these works here on earth. Three separate entities, all working together to accomplish one goal.
Now you may call me crazy, if I am, it is totally for the LORD. For I listen for HIS leading in everything I do in life and I mean right down to the dirtiest of details. The LORD is always with us, the HOLY SPIRIT dwells within us constantly, so HE is there all the time no matter what you're doing. You might want to think about that the next time you start to do something that isn't very Christian like! The point of this is, that as we walk through our lives, JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT are right there with us. Making every move we do, hearing every word that we speak and every thought that we think. Does this make one really think hard about every detail of their life or not? It has made me! What about you?
There will be no verses today, but I'd like you to take the several within the context of the devotional and cross reference them from your Bibles or some other means.
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Today there is something totally different in store for you. Hey, this took me by storm too, so don't think you're alone in this.I've had a whole lot on my mind lately. I'm single. I've been working this ministry by myself for over ten years and until the yesterday, I hadn't ever had one person want to join. My health hasn't been the greatest. I'm living with a host family and have been here going on five months, with no income. So you see, I've a lot on my mind!
Today I went outside to smoke a cigarette, yes I still smoke, the matter is totally in the LORD's hands and I have been smoking less everyday. Let's not get sidetracked here though. When I went outside, since my host family doesn't smoke, I heard the cooing of a dove. I looked over and one was walking through the grass. I began to notice how it's head moved each time it took a step. I must of thought this is a questioning mode, because the next thing I know I'm having the LORD impress it upon my heart as to the similarity between this dove and our Christian walk.
I was a baffled, as you are about now, so relax and enjoy, for I did. We all know that the dove is representative of the HOLY SPIRIT in our faith. This is the form that HE took, when HE ascended onto JESUS at HIS baptism in the Jordan (John 1:32). You should also know, that JESUS is the HEAD of the Church(Eph. 1:22,23), not the one with four walls that you attend, but the CHURCH that is the total gathering of the Christian faith. In all rights every single person that has ever called upon HIS name for salvation. We as Christians are known as the members of the body of the CHURCH(Col. 1:24). But what the LORD impressed upon me was not the whole of the body, well at first, but it's feet alone and how they represent us. For we are known as being the hands and the feet of the LORD here on earth. We are the actual workers of most of that which is accomplished in the physical world, by the use of our bodies.
WE have the HEAD, being CHRIST. We have the feet, being us. Well what about the body? The body is the HOLY SPIRIT, which ties us together with JESUS!!! This making a complete unit, that in totality functions as one. Not independent of each other, but working together as a whole to accomplish it's daily task. Not one of the dove's parts could be missing, for anything to be accomplished.
As I stated, this all came about because of my wondering about how the dove's head moved every time it's feet did. The LORD showed me, that as we are moving through life, doing the works that HE has set aside for us, HE too is moving along with us, but not just HE but the HOLY SPIRIT also. Each step we take in our walks for the LORD is accomplished through our being moved by the HOLY SPIRIT and thus the LORD's goal here on earth is moved forward also. In all rights the CHURCH is here revealed as a trinity also. Just as GOD is one in three separate entities, FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT, we have the CHURCH. The head, JESUS, in control of all that takes place. The body, the HOLY SPIRIT, which supplies all the animation and power for everything to take place. An we the feet, the part that accomplishes these works here on earth. Three separate entities, all working together to accomplish one goal.
Now you may call me crazy, if I am, it is totally for the LORD. For I listen for HIS leading in everything I do in life and I mean right down to the dirtiest of details. The LORD is always with us, the HOLY SPIRIT dwells within us constantly, so HE is there all the time no matter what you're doing. You might want to think about that the next time you start to do something that isn't very Christian like! The point of this is, that as we walk through our lives, JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT are right there with us. Making every move we do, hearing every word that we speak and every thought that we think. Does this make one really think hard about every detail of their life or not? It has made me! What about you?
There will be no verses today, but I'd like you to take the several within the context of the devotional and cross reference them from your Bibles or some other means.
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
Vine Ministerial Network International
Friday, February 5, 2010
04-25-10_1 John 3:11, Gen. 4:8,9_Love one another (a re post)
*** Due to working long hours, I've not had the time to put out a posting for today and this one for tomorrow will have to be a re post. If I had the time to write them and do honor to the LORD in doing so, I would, but praise the LORD I've got to have money to operate the ministry so work takes precedence.***
Praise the LORD!!!
Oh, it feels good to be back about the LORD's work for me. I've done a lot to "try" and make the computer function better! It's all in the LORD's hands, as usual, and we'll just have to wait and see!!! Today we have two sections of scripture to work with:
1 John 3: 11
"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another."
Gen. 4: 8, 9 (please read verses 1-9 also)
"Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Now in the first verse, we're told that we are to love our brothers(and sisters), this doesn't mean just our blood relatives, but the whole body of the Church. In this I mean all those that call on the name of JESUS as personal LORD and SAVIOR. This was a command given by JESUS HIMSELF, and by doing this the world will know we represent CHRIST as HIS disciples. Lately, I have seen a whole lot of hatred being thrown around by those that call JESUS LORD! People cutting others to the quick, right out in the open on the internet. Not the taking them aside in private and in a loving manor showing them their wrongs, but posting (for all to see) what they believe is right and the other person's wrongs.
In all rights what they are doing brings us to our second verse for today. They're taking their brothers out into the fields of the world and slaying them! They might as well step in front of a TV camera and slice their throats (sorry for being so graphic). Is this loving a fellow Christian in the manor set forth for us? I'd say not. We are our brothers keepers and should rightfully act always in a manor showing love and edification, to them. Not one of blatant disregard and hatred. Can anyone with a true respect for JESUS treat another Christian in such a manor? I'd say not! To treat a brother or sister in CHRIST in this way is totally outside of anything that even closely resembles being CHRIST-like.
Not only are these dishonoring another Christian, but they're showing utter disregard for our SAVIOR. We are told that when we have disagreements, over words and doctrine (here I'm not talking about false teachings), to take the brother aside and confront them in private and to do such, in a loving and compassionate way. All these people are succeeding to do is tearing down the Christian faith, making a mockery of it and making themselves look so much wiser and more learned (their pride)in their own eyes). Not in my eyes or those of any devote believer. For those of us that truly have given our lives over to JESUS, crucifying our flesh upon the cross and humbling ourselves before HIM, would do things in a whole different way.
Yes, I am telling others that they are wrong in their treatment of another Christian, but I'm doing it on a site that is not out in the open for the world to see. For there are very few of the world that will come here to read my devotionals and those that do, their hearts are being worked by the HOLY SPIRIT and have a reason for being here. Those of you that read this, I ask you, that if you know those that have been falling prey to this way of the adversary, for that is what it is, enlist them to come here and read that which the LORD has given me this day. They just may be one of those that the LORD has had me write this for. Then again since nothing happens without the LORD's condoning it, I'd say that they are one of them!!!
(Dissension and hypocrisy are two of the major distractions that keep people from going to church or ever thinking about joining one, or even becoming a Christian! Isn't it about time we began acting like the name we claim as ours, Christian (CHRIST-like???)
Other verses to study:Matt. 22: 37-40, 23: 1-39, 24: 12; Luke 6: 35-38; John 13: 34, 35; 1 John 2: 3-11
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministrieshttp://vineofchrist.org
Vine Ministerial Network International
Praise the LORD!!!
Oh, it feels good to be back about the LORD's work for me. I've done a lot to "try" and make the computer function better! It's all in the LORD's hands, as usual, and we'll just have to wait and see!!! Today we have two sections of scripture to work with:
1 John 3: 11
"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another."
Gen. 4: 8, 9 (please read verses 1-9 also)
"Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Now in the first verse, we're told that we are to love our brothers(and sisters), this doesn't mean just our blood relatives, but the whole body of the Church. In this I mean all those that call on the name of JESUS as personal LORD and SAVIOR. This was a command given by JESUS HIMSELF, and by doing this the world will know we represent CHRIST as HIS disciples. Lately, I have seen a whole lot of hatred being thrown around by those that call JESUS LORD! People cutting others to the quick, right out in the open on the internet. Not the taking them aside in private and in a loving manor showing them their wrongs, but posting (for all to see) what they believe is right and the other person's wrongs.
In all rights what they are doing brings us to our second verse for today. They're taking their brothers out into the fields of the world and slaying them! They might as well step in front of a TV camera and slice their throats (sorry for being so graphic). Is this loving a fellow Christian in the manor set forth for us? I'd say not. We are our brothers keepers and should rightfully act always in a manor showing love and edification, to them. Not one of blatant disregard and hatred. Can anyone with a true respect for JESUS treat another Christian in such a manor? I'd say not! To treat a brother or sister in CHRIST in this way is totally outside of anything that even closely resembles being CHRIST-like.
Not only are these dishonoring another Christian, but they're showing utter disregard for our SAVIOR. We are told that when we have disagreements, over words and doctrine (here I'm not talking about false teachings), to take the brother aside and confront them in private and to do such, in a loving and compassionate way. All these people are succeeding to do is tearing down the Christian faith, making a mockery of it and making themselves look so much wiser and more learned (their pride)in their own eyes). Not in my eyes or those of any devote believer. For those of us that truly have given our lives over to JESUS, crucifying our flesh upon the cross and humbling ourselves before HIM, would do things in a whole different way.
Yes, I am telling others that they are wrong in their treatment of another Christian, but I'm doing it on a site that is not out in the open for the world to see. For there are very few of the world that will come here to read my devotionals and those that do, their hearts are being worked by the HOLY SPIRIT and have a reason for being here. Those of you that read this, I ask you, that if you know those that have been falling prey to this way of the adversary, for that is what it is, enlist them to come here and read that which the LORD has given me this day. They just may be one of those that the LORD has had me write this for. Then again since nothing happens without the LORD's condoning it, I'd say that they are one of them!!!
(Dissension and hypocrisy are two of the major distractions that keep people from going to church or ever thinking about joining one, or even becoming a Christian! Isn't it about time we began acting like the name we claim as ours, Christian (CHRIST-like???)
Other verses to study:Matt. 22: 37-40, 23: 1-39, 24: 12; Luke 6: 35-38; John 13: 34, 35; 1 John 2: 3-11
Use these verses, but don't stop with them, cross reference and seek out GOD from within HIS WORD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministrieshttp://vineofchrist.org
Vine Ministerial Network International
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