Isaiah 59:1
God's hand is able to save and forgive anyone. There is no need to live in condemnation.

Romans 2:11
God is not a respecter of persons. He will never exclude anyone from rceiving His forgiveness.

Romans 5:6-10
Man's philosophy says we are to slay and hate our enemies. Many times we find ourselves not willing to forgive someone for what they have done. Jesus came to save us while we were wretched, filthy sinners. Without Him, we would be lost forever.

Romans 6:23
Romans 8:1
God has given us His grace as a precious gift, along with His forgiveness. All He asks in return is to serve Him and walk in the Spirit.

Psalm 91:1-7
There will be times when it seems no one wants to have anything to do with us. We feel so alone at those times. Yet God is there and He will not forsake us. Jesus will forgive and protect us.

2 Samuel 12:1-13
Acts 22:3-16
We may feel that we have commited such heinous acts that there is no way we can be forgiven. This is a lie from Satan himself. If God can forgive David for adultery, conspiracy, and murder, and forgive Paul for slaughtering many believers, He is able to forgive us.

1 John 1:9
Isaiah 1:18
Simply put - don't hide your sin. Give it to Jesus and let Him forgive you and cleanse you.

Acts 9:13-14
As Ananias was not willing at first to accept the fact God had called Paul to the faith (even though he persecuted the church), many people even now are not forgiving of our past sins, be they before or after we got saved.

John 7:24
1 Samuel 16:7
Man only looks at the things he sees, and judges based on the outward observation. This is why so many people can never find forgiveness from others for the wrongs they have done. God, however, sees the inward man. Seeing the repentant heart, God will make the crooked ways straight and cast those things into the sea of forgetfulness.

John 8:1-10
When the adultress was brought before Jesus by the Pharisees, Jesus asked her where her accusers were after he wrote a message on the ground. If God is able to forgive us, it won't matter what anyone else says about us.

Hebrews 6:1-2
Hebrews 12:1-2
Once we realize Jesus has forgiven us, we must move forward. We must leave behind the past and learn to forgive ourselves. Forgiving ourselves is the most difficult thing to do, but we must if we are to continue forward in Christ.

Matthew 6:14-15
In closing, we must realize also that if Jesus is willing to forgive us of our sins, we have forgive each other. It does not matter what the wrong was; we need to follow Christ's example.

The trend in society is toward avoiding any and all controversy. One method is "political correctness" - the practice of not making any stand on given issues to avoid debate, confrontation, or offense. When one takes the politically correct stance, he is often seen as weak, afraid to make any kind of stand whatsoever because he fears the negative comments and confrontation; while the Bible says to live peaceably with all men (don't go looking for a fight), God expects us to make a stand where matters of truth and righteousness are concerned. If we do not make a stand, then we are ashamed of the gospel and an offense in the sight of God Almighty.

Mark 8:38
2 Timothy 2:12-13
If we are ashamed of Christ and His truth, he will be ashamed of us on the day of judgement. Which is more frightening...being ridiculed for our faith or being cast away from the presence of God?

Luke 12:4-5
Indeed, we should not fear what peple will say or do to us. We must fear God more than man, for man's threats end on this life only. God's judgement is eternal!

Luke 21:14-15
Don't worry about what to say. Jesus will guide our lips and give us the words to speak.

Colossians 3:22-24
Proverbs 16:7
Let us do our work to please God, not men. If we please God, everything else will fall into place as He sees fit - even with those who hate us.

Matthew 5:10-11
Galatians 4:16
1 Peter 2:12
1 Peter 2:18-19
These scriptures teach us that when we sek to live the righteous and holy life, we will offend people. It is not us who offends, it is the spirit of God who reveals the darkness of sin in their lives. No one likes to be shown the light when they are in darkness; yet they need the light in order to be saved and have their sins washed away.

1 Peter 3:16
1 Peter 4:4
1 Peter 4:12-14
2 Timothy 3:12
More scriptures reinforcing the fact that when we make a stand for Christ, people will get offended. When this happens, take comfort in knowing we are in the saving arms of our Lord. Take good cheer in knowing that even if they are offended for now, they will glorify God later on.

Examples of people who who did not stand for God's word:

Exodus 32:15-24
Aaron gave in to the people when they complained about why Moses had not returned. He allowed them to make a golden calf, which became an abomination to Israel. Aaron did not stand on his faith to encourage the people until Moses returned from Mount Sinai.

1 Samuel 15:14-26
Saul, the first king of Israel, messed up royally. He disobeyed the commandment of God to destroy all of Amalek, allowing the people to bring the spoils of war to offer as a sacrifice. His fear of the people cost him his anointing as king.

Matthew 25:24-30
The servant who buried his talent was afraid to admit he disobeyed his master. He tried to offer lip service to appease the Lord, but He was not impressed. If we seek to use lip service and a man-fearing spirit, we will be rejected by God faster than a bad meal. We will be damned forever in total darkness - the lake of fire!

Examples of people who stood for God's word:

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego told King Nebuchadnezzar they were not going to bow down to his idol regardless of the cost to their own lives. They valued their integrity with God far more important than their very lives. Their courage to stand for the truth resulted in their deliverance from the fiery furnace, and the king golrifying God.

Daniel 6:10-15
Daniel openly defied the king's decree and prayed to God. His walk with the most High was more important than anything else. His testimony culminated in his deliverance from the den of lions, and a change of heart in King Darius.

Luke 3:7-8
John the Baptist did not pull any punches. He admonished the religious people of his day not to do things out of tradition or habit, but out of a good conscience toward God. The Pharisees were not pleased by John's statement, but he refused to back down from his stand for righteousness.

Matthew 15:10-20
Matthew 11:6-19
Jesus, our perfect example, was not afraid to tell the people what they needed to hear. He admonished the disciples when they asked him if He understood the Pharisees were offended by his comments. We must follow this example if we are to be strong in Christ.

When to make a stand and when not to:

Romans 12:18
Proverbs 3:5-6
Luke 21:14-15
Matthew 5:10-11
1 Peter 4:14-15
Hebrews 4:12
These final scriptures teach us that there is not always an opportunity to speak and make a stand. Sometimes we say and do things out of emotion instead of God's anointing; we become victims of our own devices vice being persecuted for righteousness' sake. God wants us to live peaceably with all people as much as possible. If there is the need, and God will show us this, then and only then should we make a stand for God and His truth. Words fitly spoken will bring light to all who wil hear; those who refuse to listen will be without excuse. Words spoken in haste bring destruction and division, spearating people further from Jesus. When we seek to be Biblically correct, we must, must, must exercise godly wisdom. We want our stand, like our other good works, to glorify God.

"POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: A PERSON WHO TRIES SO HARD NOT TO OFFEND ANYONE HE DOES NOT MAKE A STAND FOR ANYTHING"

Romans 8:11
Just as God raised up Jesus from the dead, He also quickens us, giving us newness of life when we get saved.

Ephesians 2:1,5
In sin we were dead. In Christ we are made alive! When we get saved, we walk in a whole new way, a way of peace that only God can give.

John 6:63 - My words are spirit AND life!

Psalm 143:11
God quickens us for His glory. It is His good pleasure to make us alive. He will deliver us out of trouble, and out of sin.

Psalm 119:88,107,156,159
God gives us life according to His loving-kindness and His judgments. His ways are perfect, and His path is true. Jesus is no respecter of persons.

Psalm 71:19-21
No matter what we have gone through, God is there. He will give us strength and life. For those who are saved, the ultimate quickening comes when we who die in Christ are resurrected and those who remain shall be changed to meet the Lord in the sky! Take comfort in this truth.

Psalm 138:7
When we feel all is lost, God will revive us, give us life to continue the journey.

Romans 6:11-13
Once we have been quickened to life unto Christ, we must be dead to sin. We need to allow Jesus to reign within us, and cast the sin out like a bad tenant!

1 Corinthians 15:16-22
If we had hope in this life only, why would anyone want to be a Christian? Our hope is in things eternal. The first man Adam brought death, but Christ (the second Adam from above) brought us life eternal. Seek it, love it, hold on to it...our labor for God is not in vain!

Music, like so many other things, was created by God to be an instrument of His praise.

Psalm 150:1-6
Psalm 100:1-5
Psalm 81:1-3
Psalm 47:1,6-7
Psalm 68:25
The entire book of Psalms shows us how to praise the Lord, both in our voices and in our musical abilities. The above Scriptures are but a few examples.

Exodus 15:20-21
God impressed upon Miriam to declare a song of triumph unto God for His deliverance of Israel.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22
King Jehoshophat appointed singers and musicians to declare God's praises as the enemy approached. God granted the king a mighty victory the likes of which he had never seen before.

Now the question asked frequently by people who claim Christianity is "what is wrong with secular (worldy) music?" Some will even justify that they can listen to it without being affected, saying "it isn't what goes into a man". What does the Bible say?

Colossians 2:8
Colossians 3:8
1 Corinthians 15:33
Worldly music more often than not delivers the philosophies of worldly minded people. It simply does not glorify God, and it even speaks blasphemies against God. One popular artist even boldy stated in one of his songs we do not even need the Bible. When we begin to glorify the evil things of sin, it pollutes our minds and hearts.

Daniel 3:7
Matthew 12:34
Because of the pleasing melody to the ears, worldly music can easily entice people to fall down and worship idols. Once the person is enticed by the music, the message easily gets in and infiltrates our mind and heart. That is why people can sing most secular music more quickly than godly music. We are not discussing music styles here; we are stating the deceitfulness of Satan. We as Christians must not allow ourselves to be defiled by sin, and that includes what we listen to.

1 John 2:15-16
Romans 8:6-8
Galatians 5:9
James 4:17
We see that we must not love the wrld or the sin it offers. When we allow ourselves to be seduced by worldly music, we become carnal-minded. What we sing from our lips is not a praise unto Jesus Christ, but unto the gods of this world.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 5:19
Hebrews 13:15
Colossians 3:16-17
What do we do then? Do we not listen to any music at all? No, we instead must seek God to clean up our music. When we get saved, we become new creatures in Christ. We learn to sing new songs and praises unto God, lifting up the name of Jesus. Let the fruit of our lips be a never-ending praise unto our Savior!

1 Timothy 4:12
Here we see that the Christian's example must always be consistent, ever shining in a world of darkness. We must be an example in all circumstances our lives will experience.

James 1:8
We will be unstable if we live a double life. How can we lead others to the King if we live one way at church, underway, etc. and a comletely opposite way at other times?

2 Timothy 4:2
Matthew 11:7
Indeed, what are people seeing? Do they see us as reeds shaken with the wind? Do we act Christlike only with our Christian and religious friends and act like the world around everyone else? We must be instant at all times, for there are souls dying to hear the good news about Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 9:21-22
Romans 12:1-2
What was Paul saying here? We strive to learn where the people we work with are coming from, that we may be able to meet their needs. It does not mean that we are to act like the sinners to win them over; doing so only causes us to blend in like chameleons, hiding our testimony from those who need it.

Ezekiel 3:4
Ezekiel 33:7-9
We must always be the faithful watchman. It does not matter what our circumstances are; God commands us to warn the people without fear or favor. By being consistent, we set the example others need to follow.

Matthew 4:1-11
Mark 8:36-37
James 1:12-15
2 Timothy 1:12
Here is where the rubber hits the road. Being underway pretty much isolates us who are or were in the Navy from the world's temptations; it is easy to focus on Jesus. When we hit a port, especially a foreign one, the devil will tempt us in like fashion - offering all manner of sin to give us pleasure. A true believer will rebuke Satan in Jesus' name and allow God's keeping power to protect him or her in these times. We need to allow our commitment to Christ to be strong in order to resist temptation. We must be fully persuaded that God will keep us in all situations.

Romans 1:16
Mark 8:38
What have we to be ashamed of? It is Jesus who protects us, cleanses us, and loves us when we need Him most. The pleasures of this life, no matter what satisfaction they give, are only temporary. The gift of salvation is eternal!

Matthew 6:33
Proverbs 16:3
Philippians 4:8
Hebrews 5:14
When we are away from the church body, we do not have the convenience of a pastor to talk to directly concerning spiritual decision-making. We must commit our very works unto God if we are to be successful in living a godly, righteous life. We must learn to lean on own God-given convictions and exercise them. By doing so we grow stronger and are better equipped to fight the good fight.

1 Peter 2:12
1 Peter 3:15-16
If no one wants to follow our example of righteousness, do not despair. One day, in God's timing, the people we dealt with will realize the impact we made on their lives. We must therefore remain faithful to Christ, maintaining a consistent walk.

1 Peter 4:3-5
Do not fear. People will obviously ask why we do not run with them into sin; keep the light of Jesus burning bright through your good works and obedience unto Him. This is what separates the true believers from the pretenders, or hypocrites.

Galatians 6:7-9
Don't pretend to be a Christian if we are living on sin. God will one day hold us accountable for our double lives, so let us remain true to Him always.

1 Timothy 6:12
2 Thessalonians 2:10
1 Thessalonians 5:23
What allows us to remain consistent throughout our life for Christ? We must have a love for the truth. This love will strengthen us and allow us to fight the good fight every day we live. This very same love will preserve us and keep us blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, or a sailor's return home (whichever comes first).

Joshua 7:1-26 (v. 11-13)
Achan was killed because he disobeyed God and brought the cursed things of Jericho into the camp of Israel. His sin also brought havoc upon Israel, and remained until Achan, his family, and the accursed things were all destroyed.

Galatians 5:9
Ecclesiastes 10:1
Proverbs 14:34
It only takes a little sin to ruin one's testimony. In our society, we focus on one negative thing more easily than hundreds of good, positive things. This sin brings reproach to both the church, and us and hinders our ability to bring other people to Christ.

Revelation 2:18-23
Do we invite sin into our lives like we do our next-door neighbors? Do we allow sin to take root and grow? Do we want Jesus to be angry with us as He was with the church at Thyatira? If we invite sin to take its unlawful place, this will happen.

Luke 12:2-3
Numbers 32:23
No one gets over on God when it comes to sin. God sees the most secret places where we think nobody will know what we are doing. We will have to answer to Jesus on the day of judgement for every deed we do...will a secret sin be the reason we are kept out of the gates?

Proverbs 16:25
Malachi 1:7
Proverbs 27:5
Isaiah 59:2
Sin is a deceiving force of Satan. We too often allow it to become part of our lives, and it then pollutes everything about us. Secret love in this case refers to our holding on to the sin because it means so much to our flesh. Being deceived, we do not realize the destructive path sin is taking us; if we do not turn to God, we will surely perish.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8
How do we get rid of the sin in our camp? Ask God to purge it, renewing us in His image of righteousness. It takes discipline to do this, and God will help us succeed.

Psalms 19:12-13
Yes, even the secret things and sins we may not realize we committed must be cleansed!

Matthew 5:29-30
No matter how painful it is to the flesh, we must remove the sin from our lives and realize it is a cancer waiting to kill us - if not physically, sin will certainly send us to our damnation.

Psalms 101:3
We must be of the mind not to even set the evil things before our eyes, that we may not entertain the thought of partaking of those wicked things that would separate us from the salvation of God.

Ephesians 5:27
We must strive daily to be part of God's glorious church - without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. Get the sin out of the camp!

1 Corinthians 1:17-29
God never chose anyone because of their strength, wisdom, wealth, or numbers. In fact, he used things we consider foolish to get His work done. Why? So He would be glorified, not the flesh.

John 5:16
1 Corinthians 12:18
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Ephesians 2:10
Never say "I am not qualified or capable of doing what God has called me to do", nor think we serve no purpose. It is God's good pleasure to call us, and whom He calls, He qualifies to perform the job required at that time. Each of us has a job to do, whether it is preaching the sermon, picking people up, serving the dinner, or whatever...all of us are important tools in furthering God's kingdom!

Jeremiah 1:4-9
Exodus 4:10-16
Here are examples of people who made excuses why they couldn't do what God called them to do. Just as the Lord would not buy their excuses, Jesus expects us to do His will today. He will give us everything we need, just as He gave Moses his brother Aaron.

Jeremiah 32:27
How often do we short change ourselves by doubting God?

James 4:10, 15
Exodus 35:21
As the children of Israel allowed their hearts to be stirred in the building of the tabernacle, we should allow our hearts to be moved by the Spirit now. God uses us because we are available, not because we are gifted or special. It is through our imperfection God's perfect will is carried. Be that conduit for the Master.

Mark 13:13
Luke 9:62
This is a fight to the end. Jesus will come back for those who have been those strong warriors for Him. No half-stepping, no turning back.

2 Timothy 2:3-4,12
Soldiers and sailors endure many hardships, including combat, long separations, and many sleepless nights. Yet despite all this they endure, knowing that their cause - defending the freedom of this nation - is worth the suffering they presently endure. We as soldiers of the cross must do the same.

Proverbs 29:18
What gives a soldier the ability to stay true to the cause? A vision of the freedom and values he believes in and defends. We must have a vision of not only seeing ourselves saved, but declaring the gospel to the lost if we are to make it in.

Luke 11:34
Let our focus be singular - on Christ and His heavenly kingdom. Let nothing distract us from the goal of entering in to God's presence.

Ecclesiastes 9:10-12
Colossians 3:23
When we put our hand to the plow, we must do it wholly unto God, and not unto men. We must strive with everything we have, for there is no guarantee we will have tomorrow. Let us be found pleasing in God's sight.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
Ezekiel 33:1-10
God has called us to be faithful watchmen. We cannot be true to this call if we are not vigilant in doing our Heavenly Father's business. Don't be sleeping on your post!

John 15:4-7
John 8:31
Matthew 5:16
We must abide where God has called us and hold true to His word. We must hold fast to that profession of faith and declare it to others; we must live the life that others may behold our good works and glorify God.

1 Timothy 6:12
No matter how rough the storms of life are, we must never give up the good fight of faith. No suffering or battle is joyous, especially to the flesh; there will be a crown of life awaiting those of us who live victorious in Christ, especially once we hear the words "Well Done".

Philippians 2:5-8
Each verse in this passage can be a study in itself. The mind of Christ...humbling Himself to be like us, taking no thought for Himself, even unto death. Before we got saved, many of us were very self-centered. Now that we are in Him, we are focused on doing the things that please the Lord. Our ways start to take a back seat to God's plan.

Matthew 20:26-27
Matthew 10:8
Do we seek to be great in God? Jesus said we must become the servant of all. This too is a contradiction to the worldly vision of greatness. Again, the mind of Christ seeks humility, not pomp and grandeur. We must give of ourselves freely, seeking to be those able ministers.

Romans 12:2
We must continually renew our minds to let more of Christ in our lives, and less of our own ways.

Isaiah 26:3
Do you want perfect peace? Then stay focused, keeping a singleness of mind on the Lord.

Philippians 4:8
Positive, godly thinking wasn't just a book title. Paul spoke about what we should think on, that we can have joy and peace in the midst of everything going on around us.

James 1:8
WARNING! Do not allow this to happen, or you will not be at peace! You cannot please the Lord if your mind flip-flops between pleasing Him and serving sin.

1 Timothy 4:15-16
We meditate continually on the things of God. In our jobs, our time at home, underway, wherever and whatever we find ourselves doing, let our minds stay on God. By doing so, we will stay saved and see other people come to the reality that is in Jesus Christ.

Before I go any further, let me open this study with the words of Jesus Himself when He was asked by the disciples concerning the end times:

Matthew 24:4-5
[4] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. [5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

There are many, many decievers in the world who have perverted the gospel and polluted God's word all for the purpose of making people feel good. The spirit of Antichrist has worked in this world for centuries, and it is only a matter of time before the man of sin is revealed. By then it will be too late for many people. Our job as believers is to resuce as many souls from the devil's snare as possible!

Matthew 24:21-24

As a child, I grew up watching the old Twilight Zone television series. I am not certain what Rod Serling�s own beliefs were, but there was a particular episode that has stood out over the years, especially now that we are approaching the return of the Lord. �To Serve Man�, an episode that aired back in 1962, told the tale of how a race of aliens (Kanamits) deceived the whole world into welcoming them on the planet. At first, there seemed to be only good intentions from the aliens; once their book, left with the global leaders, was completely translated, the horrifying truth was told � too late for many people. Looking at current events and Bible prophecy, there are alarming similarities between the aliens in the old TV show and the rise of the Antichrist and the mark of the beast. The goal is show just easily people can become deceived and fall into Satan�s devices if they do not fully seek God for the answers.

From the website Sci-Fi Film.Org:
"Odd...how many of them are around now...that's the odd thing...the fantastic ease with which human beings make adjustments." When nine foot tall aliens named the Kanamits (played by the hulking Richard Kiel, giving them quite an unforgettable presence whenever on screen) descend upon the Earth, people first reacted with fear and uncertainty. However these Kanamits soon showed their intentions were seemingly to help humanity as they suggested and implemented cures for all our ills...they found a means to make unfertile soil fertile, a means to ensure defense of every nation on Earth ending the need for warfare, and humanity it seems in time came to embrace them and except them as a tremendous benefit to humanity. "It was the age of Santa Claus...only these Kris Kringles came without white whiskers, rosy cheeks and twinkling eyes...they were nine foot tall enigmas who..." With all this outpouring of kindness from these alien benefactors, why would they bother so with us (to them a most primitive race)...what could possibly be in it for them? A book one of the aliens left behind might explain it all, if only it weren't such a tough nut for military decoders to unscramble...the title "To Serve Man" being the only words easily uncovered by the story's lead character Mr. Chambers (Lloyd Bochner) and his assistant Pat (Susan Cummings).

Satan works his deception in a similar manner as the Kanamits. He provides what looks like a new revelation, and dresses it up to appear as if it truly came from God. Have we not heard this many times in real life by some of most notorious false prophets of our time? The enemy even makes his message appear like it had to be specially deciphered. However, God's truth is plain, and easy to understand once we allow Jesus to open our eyes.

1 Corinthians 2:11-14
2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Because the world leaders were so eager to embrace what the aliens were trying to say without finishing the translation, they set the whole planet up for annihilation! Our world is doing the same exact thing today, as they listen to every wind of doctrine in the mindset that all ideas are good, and we can all work together as one. Such thinking is folly in light of truth, for there some various teachings which go totally oppositie from God's word, and in fact set mankind up for a highway to hell!

Matthew 7:13-14
Colossians 2:8

In the fall of man, we see where Satan himself deceived Eve. He twisted the word of God and offered a new, though totally false, revelation.

Genesis 3:1-5

The result was this: both Eve and Adam, in that order, were deceived into eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge. They did not realize their folly until it was too late, just as the decoders did when the aliens took thousands of Earthlings to their unsuspecting doom. Sadly, many people will find the same fate awaiting them when they find themselves standing before Jesus in judgment and realize they too have been deceived...and are now going to eternal damnation!

From Wikipedia:
"A race of aliens known as the Kanamits land on Earth and promise to be nothing but helpful to the cause of humanity. They eradicate hunger, eliminate war, and obliterate expensive power sources. All is not well, however, when a decoder discovers the Kanamits' true intentions. Their book, To Serve Man, is actually a cookbook."

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

This is a serious matter we are discussing here...there is great deception everywhere as people are accepting any and every doctrine and philosophy known to mankind, thinking they can find eternal life. What did our Lord warn us?

John 14:6
2 John v. 7
Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Notice how the word of God mentioned that some of these false teachers can perform miracles and wonder too, yet at the same time drawing people further away from truth. Some of these deceivers appear to be Christians, others totally into New Age or some other pagan practice. The point is, no matter how pretty the package, we cannot accept every prophet or miracle worker as someone from God. We must be able to prove their works with the whole Word before we dare to give them Godspeed.

From a science fiction message board:
Kanamits, a benevolent race of aliens who land on earth with the sole intention of serving man (the Kanamits are nine feet tall with bulging bald heads - and Richard Kiel played all of them!). The Kanamits provide a cure for cancer, show man how to triple the productivity of his crops, offer a force field which can be used to protect man from invasion, and provide an ultra-efficient source of power. One of the Kanamits leaves a book at the United Nations following a speech (well, not really a "speech" since the Kanamits communicate with humans strictly via telepathy). Since the book is in Kanamit, U.S. decoding experts are set to work on it. The work proves difficult, but eventually they manage to at least decipher the title: TO SERVE MAN. Given how well everything is going on earth, they do seem to be interested in man's welfare. There are some who still don't trust them, but they are certainly in no position to argue with success. The Kanamits set up an interstellar shuttle service to their home planet, so humans can vacation there as they please. With no more wars or problems at home, one of the top decoding experts books his own trip to the Kanamit's planet. A lady waiting in line relates how her sister wrote back from the Kanamit's planet saying how much she enjoys it there. Just as the decoding expert is boarding, one of his associates rushes up in a frenzy. She screams at him not to get on the ship - they've deciphered another part of the book: TO SERVE MAN is a cookbook! But she's too late - and a Kanamit shoves him aboard.

From this commentary on the storyline, we see a vivid illustration of how we can become deceived. Not only does the enemy provide us the false information, but we so easily swallow the bait hook, line, and sinker without any further research! We do no not ask God for guidance nor do we ask Him to prove whether these things are so. We do not study the scriptures enough, and that is why there are many souls being stolen by deceptive teachings that look good on the outside, yet on the inside will draw us further from God.

1 John 4:1-3
Luke 6:26
2 Peter 2:1-3
Matthew 24:24
2 Timothy 2:15

The more we know the truth, and the more we know the Bible, the better equipped we will be to avoid being deceived. Be it known, there are many showmen out there who create a lot of smoke and noise, but where is their substance? What is their core doctrine? How do they base their salvation? Rev. Nathaniel Urshan, in his 1976 sermon "Apostolic Revival", admonished the need to study and know the word of God in order to stand fast in the truth of the gospel. Rev. Urshan was concerned that if we were not careful, we would lose sight of our blessed hope, which is in God's truth. The Knanmits illustrate what Jeremiah foretold centuries ago:

Jeremiah 5:30-31 - [30] A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; [31] The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

What is really upsetting is that the people in our time, just as those in the story, enjoy the show given by the false teachers. They willingly join the bandwagon, thinking the ride will be pleasant...only to be in for an awakening that will drive them to tears!

Proverbs 16:25

It would be a sad thing indeed to follow some lying prophet all our lives without ever proving what he says to be true. It would be even worse to find ourselves on the wrong side of the judgment, looking at those who deceived us, and really be stunned by the fact it was all just one big smoke and noise production!

Isaiah 14:16-17

There is a moral to this lesson. Had the leaders of the world not jumped at accepting the Kanamit's offer before translating the whole book, the earth would not have been turned into a farm for an alien race. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves deceived and lost forever because we believed and loved a lie. The only good thing about "To Serve Man" is that it was just a story...make believe. What we are dealing with here is very real, and we are in the fight for our lives and those around us, even if they are blinded by Satan's devices. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, stick to His word, and walk in the Holy Ghost!

John 14:26
1 John 2:27
2 Timothy 4:16

Let us go forth and uphold the truth, both in word and by example.

Daniel 1:8
Joshua 24:14-15
In these two passages, we see how we must decide to live godly in this present world. Even if it means we have to stand alone. Even so, we are not truly alone, for God is with us.

Psalms 20:7
In whom do we trust? If we trust in God wholeheartedly, we will NOT fall.

Isaiah 1:19-20
Galatians 6:7-9
In these scriptures we see for every decision we make we pay consequences for it. If we choose God, we shall reap the rewards of eternal life; if we choose sin, we reap damnation.

Luke 21:14-15
Romans 8:1-8
We must settle in our minds that we will follow the lead of the Holy Ghost no matter how uncomfortable we may feel at times. God will never leave us hanging in any situation, providing we are walking in the Spirit.

James 1:8
While "flip-flopping" works great for electronic equipment, a Christian who is double minded is very unstable. We must be all for God or not at all.

2 Timothy1:7, 12
Luke 9:62
We must be persuaded in our minds and hearts and decide that God's plan is the one we must take for our lives. Once we start, we must never turn back.

Proverbs 3:5-8
To stay the course of being decided, we must always focus on God and not our carnal understanding. This will help ensure a healthy spiritual man.

Haggai 1:5-7
2 Corinthians 13:5
We must consider our ways and examine ourselves to see where we stand with God.

Galatians 5:19-23
Here is a small but essential checklist to see how we are doing in our spiritual walk. Are we walking in the Spirit, or the flesh? Either way we will reap the fruits.

Luke 12:16-21
Matthew 6:19-24
What riches do we seek after? Who is our master? Let us seek to build riches in Christ.

Revelation 2:4
Matthew 12:34
What is our first love? Our treasure? Let it be God.

1 John 3:15-18
Matthew 15:8
We need to examine ouir actions to see if they are consistent with our words. Let not our hearts betray us.

1 Corinthians 11:28-29
We must check to see if we are walking worthily of the calling God has instilled in us. We must live as Christ commanded.

Jeremiah 2:32
Psalms 5:3
Every day we have a choice to remember God, or not. Too often we forget Him in our decisions, and we go astray. God loves us and wants us to keep Him in the center of our lives.

Luke 9:23
2 Corinthians 4:16
Every day we must seek to be spiritually renewed. We must seek to be filled with more of God and less of ourselves. This includes this unpleasant thing called self-denial, not giving in to every whim of the flesh.

Job 23:12
Matthew 24:12-13
We need to hold our salvation as the most precious thing of all. We must never allow it to grow cold, nor give up in fighting the good fight. We will reap God's eternal benefits if we endure to the end!

God gave me this one because too often I get comments from people who tell me how great the Bible studies are, but I want them to be blessed not by my words, but God's. I hope this challenges us to look at the scriptures to prove that what is shared is in fact true and of God.

Romans 3:3-4
Let every man be a liar, and let God be the final authority.

1 John 4:1
Colossians 2:8
Romans 16:18
Deuteronomy 13:1-4
Don't believe every spirit or every person who comes along and says that what they are doing is of God. My favorite example is the used car dealer who tries to sell a piece of junk masquerading as a fully functional automobile, using colorful and flattering words to entice the unsuspecting customer. Once taken in, the customer discovers too late that he was ripped off. Don't let this happen spiritually!

Luke 6:26
2 Samuel 15:1-6
People spoke very well of Absalom, for his flattering and eloquent words stole their hearts. False prophets today do the same thing. We need to look beyond the fair speech and good looks and go back to God's word.

2 Timothy 2:15
John 5:39
Acts 17:11
We must study and learn the word of God. It is here we find the truth of our salvation, and the right direction on how we must live and act. If the early church searched the scriptures daily, we should do the same lest we become dull in hearing God's voice and be taken in my the smooth-talking fake teachers.

2 Corinthians 13:5
Simply put...prove our salvation! Don't take anyone's word for granted!

Deuteronomy 8:3
Matthew 4:4

Some people will tell us that we can tailor God's words to fit us like a suit of clothes. Not so. We must conform our lives to please God, and live righteously according to His commandments.

Galatians 1:6-9
Don't allow the gospel to become perverted by our own ideas and philosphies. We are warned that it will be a curse on us if we do so. This covers not just us, but angels too!

John 12:47-48
We will be judged by every word from the mouth of God. We will be without excuse as we must give account for our obedience, and our rebellion.

Romans 8:28
God has a reason for placing us where He did. Everything works out for the greater good, glorifying God.

Ephesians 4:17
James 4:6-10
We are foolish to think ourselves as "prima donnas". Everything we do is meant to give glory to God, and not to puff us up to a celebrity status. At the same time we should not think so little of ourselves that we cannot do anything for God. Whoever God calls, He qualifies for His purpose.

Romans 12:3-5
Not all of us were called to be singers, preachers, pastors, etc. God placed a multitude of talents in His body.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7
The spiritual gifts and abilities were given by God to profit His church.

1 Samuel 30:22-24
1 Corinthians 12:8-31
King David rebuked the soldiers because they wanted the spoils for themselves, and those who guarded the stuff did not fight with them in battle. God has a purpose for all of us, whether we be on the front lines or in a supporting role out of the limelight.

Romans 11:29
It is not a mistake that God called us to do anything for Him. He put us where He felt we were needed at the time.

Here is a study on Moral Purity; I pray as we go over these scriptures, we will see the need to exercise the discerning of good and evil.

1 Timothy 4:12
We must be an example of the believers in all things. Purity is one of those topics mentioned. Too many people see Christians who talk the talk...but how many walk the walk?

2 Corinthians 6:3
Romans 14:16
Just as in job interviews or inviting guests, that first impression is very important. We must be careful in our testimony, that no one can have cause to say evil about us.

1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Thessalonians 5:22
What kind of appearance do we give to others? Will it draw them to Christ, or chase them away?

Psalm 24:3-4
Remember, we must be pure if we are to even stand before God.

Leviticus 10:10-11
Matthew 7:16-20
God wants us to be able to judge between good and evil. How else are we to stay away from sin?

Psalm 101:3
Colossians 2:20-22
We again must be aware of our surroundings. If there is anything that even appears to be sinful, or puts our testimony in question, we must leave it alone! Satan puts all kinds of snares out there, and we must learn to recognize and avoid them.

Ezekiel 22:26
Isaiah 5:20-21
It is imperative we know how to stay pure. We live in a day and time where people call evil things good, and vice versa. This is confusion, and leads people astray.

John 7:24
1 John 4:1
Hebrews 5:14
God indeed commands us to be able to exercise the ability to judege between good and evil, so we can separate ourselves from sin. This way, we can remain spotless before the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:4
If we do not know how to stay pure, and be a vessel of honor before the Lord, how can we expect to enter Heaven?

John 7:24
Beauty is only on the surface. What about the heart of the person you desire to be with? Is he or she on fire for God?

Ruth 1:16
Ruth had a special quality: she loved the God of Israel, and she wanted to be with God's people. Too often men and women find themsleves not looking for this quality, and that creates a recipe for disaster. How can a marriage work if the house is divided?

Proverbs 31:10-31
Positive scriptures covering a godly companion. More of what we need to seek God for.

Ephesians 5:21-33
The relationship between a man and wife is very special. God expects the husbands to love their wives as He loves the church; He also expects the wives to be supportive of their husbands.

Matthew 6:33
Proverbs 16:3
Where do we often fall short? When we don't seek God for that special someone. When we do meet the person God has for us, both parties in the relationship must put God first and foremost. Why? Because Jesus will never fail us or disappoint us; also, as both the man and woman draw closer to God, they will draw closer to each other.

James 4:1-3
Physical attraction only goes so far. Why do we want to be with that person?

1 Corinthians 7:1-40 Guidelines for Marriage
v. 1-9 - For some people it is better to marry than to be consumed by lust, which leads to sin.
v. 20 - We must abide and be faithful where God placed us.
v. 25-28 - Marriage is a wonderful thing, but couples will still have trouble in the flesh...we are still human.
v. 29-31 - Our responisbility to the gospel does not diminish when we marry.
v. 32-28 - Both being single and being married are good things in the sight of God; we must seek His will for both lifestyle choices.

Luke 14:26-28
Like any lifestyle choice or decision for God, we must count the cost. Marriage involves a major lifestyle change; we are no longer making decisions for just one person, but a whole family.

1 Timothy 3:5,8
Luke 16:10-11
If we cannot control our own lives now as single people, how can we expect God to bless the marriage? If we cannot be faithful to God NOW, in our present state, He will never reward us with greater things later.

Philippians 4:8
Matthew 12:34
If we meditate on the positive, godly things, then that is what we will talk about. What we meditate and allow to take root in our hearts will become the focus of our conversation.

2 Timothy 1:13
Titus 2:1
Acts 17:28
We speak the sound and wholesome words of God, and hold fast to them. Let the Word become an integral part of us.

Proverbs 15:4
There is a definite difference between a wholesome and a perverse tongue. Positive communication draws people to Christ, while negative communication scatters people away.

Proverbs 16:7
Speaks for itself. A lying tongue is very evil, and can murder people spiritually. Do not be fooled by the childhood phrase "Sticks and stone can break my bones..." Unkind words and lies are very devastating. Careers, reputations, lives, and churches are destroyed by this sort of thing.

Colossians 3:8-9
Ephesians 4:29-32
Most people when they read this first thnk of profanity. That is only part of it. Gossip isn't just telling lies, either. Before engaging mouth to discuss things about the church or other people (whether they be in the church or not), we need to ask ourselves the following: is this topic going to build up my brother or sister, and will it dify the church? If not, it best not to broadcast information even if it is true.

Psalms 119:11
Psalms 120:2
The best way to ensure that we speak positively about our church, our brothers and sisters, and our God is to hide God's word in our hearts. Since no one can can tame the tongue by ourselves, we must ask the Lord every day to deliver us from a deceitful tongue.

John 13:34-35
By speaking positively, we build up and strengthen one another; we also manifest God's love toward us. Would Jeus speak hateful, destructive words? No.

Revelation 21:8
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived. Lying tongues and evil communication will keep a person out of heaven just as easily as murder, adultery, or any other sin.

My prayer is that as we read these scriptures, we will realize that in order to do great things in God we must have a vision, the faith th see it accomplished, and act on that vision to fulfill it. God blees us richly as we read His precious word.

Joel 2:28
Acts 2:16-17
God foretold that especially in the latter days, He would give visions and dreams to His people. These visions can be a positive force to motivate us to achieve great things in the Lord.

Proverbs 29:18
In the most basic sense, all of us need to have a vision to see ourselves in Heaven with Jesus. That will inspire us to do the things necessary to please God, and make it inside the pearly gates!

Hebrews 11:6
James 1:6
Once we realize we have a dream and a vision to achieve great things in Christ, do we really believe? Do we allow our faith to be released and strengthened? By doing so, we will have confidence in God that we can achieve anything He gives us to do.

1 John 4:1
Before going any further, we must remind ourselves to ask the Lord to confirm that the vision is in fact from Him. Otherwise, we will lean to our own understanding and have disastrous results.

Habbakuk 2:3
When God gives a dream, vision, or prophecy, it will be fulfilled in His timing. It will be fulfilled with us or in spite of us.

Ecclesiastes 5:3
James 2:17-18
Our dreams must be backed up by our actions if we are to see them bear good spiritual fruit. Without the good works to show, our faith and dreams are hollow, empty, and dead.

Proverbs 16:3
Psalms 37:4
In order to accomplish the dream or vision God has given us, we must commit our works unto Him. By giving God our best, He will help us achieve the best we can accomplish...beyond our own wildest dreams!.

Genesis 37:1-50:26
The story of Joseph is one of the best biblical accounts of a man who received a vision from the Lord, believed in it, and saw it fulfilled in his life. Jospeh also endure many hardships, false accusations, ridicule, and even imprisonment during his lifetime; it did not diminish his dream nor deter him from seeing it accomplished.

Isaiah 54:17
Romans 8:35-39
Nothing Satan nor man can throw at us can prevent us from achieving great things in God. We must exercise the faith this is true!

John 14:12
Jesus tells His disciples one of the most mind-blowing statements recorded in scripture - "Greater things than these shall ye do!" Too often we think with our finite minds and doubt the power of God. We must realize that if God gives us a dream or a vision, He will fill out the details and qualify us providing we unleash our faith!

I was challenged with this question by a friend. As we look through the Scriptures, we will see the Bereans had a quality God desires in His people, and it is one we should pursue.

Acts 17:10-11
The church in Berea had a special quality about them that made the believers there very noble. They diligently searched the scriptures on a daily basis to prove that what was said and taught was in fact from God. We need to feast on the word of God every day to draw our spiritual strength, and know the will of our Heavenly Father.

John 5:39
Jesus offered this challenge 2000 years ago, and it rings true now. If we think we have eternal life, we must be able to prove it by the word of God.

Romans3:4
Do not take any man's word for granted. Let us all be liars, and allow God to prove His truth to us through His word.

2 Timothy 2:15
The Bereans were a great illustration of people who sought to be approved unto God, and thus were diligent in their reading of His word. They wanted to successfully chart their lives after the Master.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
By knowing the word of God, we can make the right decisions that will permit us to possess our vessels (lives) in sanctification and honor.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Deuteronomy 6:17
God not only expects us to diligently search His word and follow it, but also He commands us to teach others.

Psalm 119:9-11
Romans 10:17
Our faith is strengthened every time we dive into the word of God. As we earnestly search the scriptures, our love for the Lord will make His word come alive in us, guiding our every step on the path of righteousness.

Titus 1:9
Titus 2:1
How are we able to speak sound doctrine? By holding fast to the word of our Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:6
The word of the Lord is a tool, like a surgeon's scalpel or a warrior's sword. By allowing the Holy Ghost to bring the word alive in us, it becomes a tool to bring life to all those who we share it with.

1 Samuel 3:19
Job 23:12
How precious do we hold the word of God? The gospel is a treasure which is more precious than all the pirate gold in the Carribean and all the diamonds in southern Africa. This precious gift - the truth - is from God and we must hold it as priceless. The gospel is the only thing that becomes more valuable as it is used!

1 Timothy 4:13-16
By searching the scriptures daily, diligently holding to the truth, and effectively teaching the gospel, we will not only save ourselves, but draw others to Christ.

My prayer is that as we review the scriptures, that we will realize our first love must be toward Jesus if we are to please the Lord. By placing Him #1 in our lives, everything else will fall into place. - JSC

Revelation 2:4
We can do many wonderful things, and perform mighty works for God; but if He is not first in our lives, all those works are for naught. We must examine all our relationships and our attachment to possesions, and ask ourselves if we have placed these things above God.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Matthew 22:37
Mark 12:29-31
God spoke this through Moses in the Old Testament, and confirmed it again through Christ in the New Testament: God must be first in all aspects of our lives. Does this mean we should not love our families, friends, etc.? No - it is a matter of priorities. By loving God first, we actually learn to love other people better!

How important is it to have Jesus as our first love?

Jeremiah 29:13
We cannot hold anything back in our love for God. By seeking Him wholly, we will be blessed. It is amazing how easy we can place our whole love and devotion to other people, but it seems more difficult on the spiritual plane. Yet through God all things are possible.

John 4:23-24
Mark 8:34-35
Matthew 10:37
Worship means to show great affection for, to greatly adore something or someone. Again, if we are willing to show great affection toward the people or possesions we cherish, we should be even more so toward a loving God who offers freely the promise of eternal life.

Genesis 22:11-12
God honored Abraham's faith and love for Him because he held nothing back, including his own son Isaac. What an awesome example for us to follow.

Colossians 3:1-2
1 John 2:15-17
Matthew 6:21
Matthew 12:34
Our actions and conversations will reveal to others what is most important in our lives. More often than not, the facts are quite obvious where our affections are. Again, we need to examine our lives and see where our affections sit.

Exodus 20:5-6
Loving God first is so essential to our spiritual survival that Jesus had the words carved in stone in Moses' time. The message is as relevant now as it was then.

John 21:15-17
Jesus offered Peter a challenge. He asked him three times "Lovest thou me?" He asks us that same question now - why? We must look at everything and everyone we hold dear to us, and examine our relationships to these worldly things. We must look at where our worldly relationships stand compared with relationship to God. In placing God as our first love, all these things will fall into their proper place.

J-O-Y: Jesus - Others - You

2 Corinthians 6:3 - Here the apostle Paul warns us that as Christians we must be careful not give offense to the ministry. This does not mean just a church or an organization, but our personal minstry and testimony of Christ to those around us. Will our carelessness drive others away from the peace in Jesus?

James 3:2 - None of us is blameless in this area. We have all sinned and we have all offended someone, be it knowingly or unknowingly.

Ephesians 5:3-4 - We must watch the things we say and do, not allowing sin and scandal to be named among us.

Romans 14:13-23 - If the things we do cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble and be weak in their own walk, then we need to stop what we are doing! Otherwise, we are guilty of keeping others from entering the grace of Almighty God.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 - We must strive to even avoid the very appearance of evil in what we do, what we say, and where we go.

1 Peter 4:14-16 - There is a difference between suffering for Christ's sake and being held accountable for our own wrongdoing.

"BUT IT ONLY CONCERNS ME WHAT I DO"...oh really?

Joshua 7:10-12 - Israel as a nation suffered because of the sin of one man, Achan. Achan's disobedience was felt by all.

2 Samuel 12:10 - Even though David repented of his sin with Bathsheba, his whole house suffered. Nathan prophesied that the sword would never leave David's house from that day forward.

Ezekiel 34:1-16 - Shepherds who feed off their flocks instead of feeding their flocks will be held accountable to the souls they have destroyed, and driven away from God's holy presence.

Matthew 18:6-10 - Even Jesus warned us that if we offended people to where they are driven away from God, it would be a woeful accounting.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO NOT OFFEND?

Psalm 101:3 - Very simply, watch what we say and where we go.

Psalm 19:12-13 - Ask God to cleanse us of even those secret thing we may not realize are sin or offensive to others.

1 Timothy 5:24-25 - It is better for us to come clean and confess our sins before God than to have them brought out on the day of judgement.

1 Corinthians 9:14, 27 - We need to practice what we preach. People will care more about how we LIVE than what we SAY.

1 Timothy 4:12 - We must remember we ARE an example for others to follow. let us be an example that wins souls to Christ.

1 Timothy 3:1-3 - This especially holds true for anyone God has called into leadership positions.

Numbers 32:23 - Beware...secrets are deadly!

As we search the Scriptures, we will see that just because society makes sinful things LEGAL, they are still wrong in God's eyes. Who are we to think we know more than the Lord?

Proverbs 14:12
Proverbs 16:25
Romans 11:34
Every society, religion, culture, and government have philosophies that seem to be right. Are they really? Or are they a path down a dead-end road?

Ecclesiates 1:18
Since the late 20th century, we have seen amazing increase in knowledge and technology. Yet the wisdom is missing...sorrows have increased just as quickly as the knowledge.

2 Peter 1:20-21
Galatians 1:6-9
Proverbs 3:5-7
From the very beginning, we have been warned about tampering with the perfect word of God. Paul mentioned that even in his day, folks were perverting the Gospel, thinking they had some new divine revelation. This mode of thinking was a prelude for the problems our society is facing now.

Proverbs 21:2
Proverbs 1:25
Psalm 2:2-3
Matthew 24:11, 23-24
Man began to think he knew more than God, and as time progressed, he rejected the counsel of Jesus. People sought counsel among EACH OTHER instead of God; as they debated the scriptures vice studying them, men came up with all manner of doctrines which Jesus Himself never taught.

WHAT WAS THE RESULT?

Jeremiah 2:32
Isaiah 5:20-21
John 16:2
We as a society have forgotten God days and years without number. We have made those things which were an abomination right and holy; those who scream "embrace diversity" will be the first to forbid prayer and Bible studies, claiming we are "pushing religion". We have legalized many sinful activities and deceived people into thinking they are okay because the law will not touch them. Christians are generally portrayed in a very negative light by the media, thus discouraging people from going to church and reading God's word. Modern society has made Jesus an evil being and a punchline. Nativity scenes are forbidden on public property. Those who are brave enough to make a stand for Christ are persecuted and labeled "homophobes", "prudes", and "outdated".

Amos 8:11
James 3:16
Matthew 23:15
There is a horrible famine in our world for hearing the gospel. Generations have been kept blind from Biblical truth, and are taught that just about everything is acceptable - yet many of those things are SIN! As future generations are made more distant from God, and fed the constant flux of man-made philosophy, they become more convinced than their ancestors of man's rightness out of their sheer ignorance. There has never been peace in man's ways - only confusion and evil result when men seek their own wisdom instead of God's counsel.

WHAT CAN WE AS BELIEVERS DO???

Proverbs 22:6
It starts in the home. What do our children see? What do our wives and husbands see? Are we lifting up Christ in the family? Do we pray and read our Bibles, or waste our time on other activities?

1 Timothy 4:12
Matthew 5:16
As we go about our day's business - work, school, shopping, sports events, etc. - do we seek to lift up Christ by our living example? Do we desire to draw others to Jesus, or do we seek to blend in like a chameleon? People will never know unless they SEE Jesus manifested in our lives.

Matthew 7:15-20
Galatians 4:16
Part of our society's problem is POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. We must not be afraid to call things what they really are! "If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and waddles like a duck, it's a duck." If anyone is offended, let it be because of righteousness and truth. Let others know there is indeed a difference between what man sees as legal and what God sees as right.

2 Timothy 2:12
Mark 8:38
Never, never, NEVER be ashamed of the gospel! It is our life and the path to eternity with Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:5-8
Regardless of what others may think, we as Christians must always seek to LOVE the sinners even though we HATE the sin they do. This compassion mixed with truth will help win souls!