John 15:16-19
Acts 17:28
We who are saved are no longer of the world. We must strive to walk in the Spirit. As we seek to draw closer to God, we will have more of Him in our lives, directing our paths and actions.

Matthew 5:14-16
Matthew 13:45-46
Once we have received this precious thing caled salvation, we cannot be selfish with it and hide it all to ourselves. The grace of God is something very valuable to share, because it affects everyone who comes in contact with Him.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Proverbs 3:9
Colossians 3:17
Honor God with the very best we can offer. Glorify Him with our body and spirit, which are His; let our very lives be a praise unto God.

2 Chronicles 20:17
Judges 7:2
Sometimes Jesus allows to go through a seemingly impossible situation, even telling us we do not need to fight in this particular battle. We must remember that it is God who must be glorified, and not us. We are but tools for His use.

Acts 4:13
Here is the compelling question: when people see us, and observe what we say and do, can they tell we have been with Jesus? My prayer is that they do.

2 Corinthians 5:17
If we are in Christ, we are new creatures. We are no longer the same people we were before we got saved - our very lifestyle has to change to conform to God's ways.

Mark 16:17
Our speech and conversation change. We stop speaking the profane things of the world and focus on the godly things.

Psalm 98:1
Our music changes, too. We seek to sing the praises of God from lips instead of worldly things. Music comes from the heart; if our heart is right with the Lord, we will sing His praises.

Romans 6:4
Our very lifestyle is different. We will walk in newness of life, as Christ walked. We don't hang out at the same places we used to frequent, and we seek to be with godly people.

2 Corinthians 4:16
Newness of life is not a one-time deal. Every day we must be renewed, asking more of God in our lives and less of our sinful ways.

Colossians 3:9-10
The old man of sin must be put away, or should I say put down, like a horse needing to be taken out of its misery. We shall put on the new man who is after the image of Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-24
When we put on Christ, we seek to take on a lifestyle of holiness. Without holiness, no one will see God!

Romans 8:28
Everything that happens to us, wheter it be pleasant or not, is for the greater good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose. It is easier to accept the pleasant things as being part of God's plan than the unpleasant; that is simply the way of the flesh.

Genesis 50:20
Even the work of men intended for evil can be turned around by Jesus for good. Look at the tragedy of 9/11; more folks were drawn to God than ever before as a result. Much wisdom about this can be drawn from the entire account of Joseph. All the evil done to him was turned around by God to save Israel from famine.

John 20:27-29
2 Corinthians 5:7
Mark 4:40
How is our faith? Too often we find ourselves being reliant more on what we see rather than lean on God. Jesus often rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. Our Christian walk is supposed to be by faith, not yet seeing the promises of God and acting like they are awaiting us.

Daniel 3:17-18
2 Chronicles 20:17
Sometimes we have to simply stand, and allow God to fight the battles for us. We must be determined to stand for God, and not give in regardless of the outcome.

Galatians 6:7-9
This scripture is here to remind us that sometimes we bring problems upon ourselves. Every action has a consequence; if we sow to the flesh, we will be required to give an account for those actions.

Luke 22:19
Jesus said this very plainly: In our patience possess us our souls. Why do the stiuations happen that were not of our choosing? Oft times there is no answer given. We may not know the answer until later, if God wishes to give it. We must realize that no matter what our circumstances are, we shall live for Christ.

James 3:1-18
This whole chapter discusses in detail the tongue. None of us are perfect, therefore we cannot say we never offended in word. In fact no human being born of flesh can tame the tongue; only God can do this. When we speak, we must be sure bitter and sweet water do not flow from the same fountain, and be as the oracles of God.

Titus 2:1
Malachi 3:16
Proverbs 27:17
What do we speak to one another? Do we speak the sound words of Christ, or do we speak as fools? Iron sharpens iron, so we must ensure we are sharpening one another with the good word of the Lord. God knows every sound word, and every idle one. Choose our conversations wisely.

Ephesians 4:29-5:4
Colossians 3:8
O what a mess we find ourselves in, because we allow ourselves to be taken in by filthy and corrupt communication. To seek to be spiritual in our conversation is a learned discipline. Anyone who is undisciplined or unlearned in God's ways can spout off at the mouth, utter profanity, or simply speak foolishness. Corrupt communication is more than just profanity; gossip, backbiting, talebearing, even whining can fall into that category. We must ask ourselves, and God, this question: is my conversation really going to edify anyone? If not, silence is the best answer.

Proverbs 15:1-7
James 1:19-20
What fruit do our lips bear? When we answer people, we be careful and suffer our mouth to cause us to sin or offend someone. We must be slow to speak, swift to listen! Do our conversations dispense words of life? A wise man's does just that.

Hebrews 13:15
Psalms 34:1
In everything we say, as in everything we do, we must be continually praising and glorifying the Lord. We must praise Him not only when everything is going well, but even when things go wrong in our lives too. Let our very lives praise the Lord.

James 1:27
Matthew 5:16
What is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God? This is what we must practice if we are to stay pure. It is easy to act like a Christian in church, underway, or anyplace where we are not exposed to the temptations of the world. When we go into the world and actually do God's service, this is where our testimony counts.

2 Corinthians 6:3
1 Thessalonians 5:22
We must watch what we say and do. We also must be careful where we go and what situations we get ourselves into. A careless word or action can damage our testimony, hindering others from receiving Jesus. We should be diligent to where we don't even to appear evil to others.

Proverbs 16:3
We must commit our very works unto the Lord. By doing so, we will be guided through the path He wants us to walk.

Ephesians 5:1-5, 14-16, 27
Don't fall asleep spiritually. We must walk circumspectly, always on the alert and seeking to stay on the will of God. The days are truly evil, so we must be about His business, not wandering in our minds. We need to ensure all uncleanness is not even named among us; God wants us to be spotless and without blemish when He returns for His children.

2 Timothy 2:21-22
Purge ourselves from the sin that is not only in the world, but also in our lives. We need to flee youthful lusts, which war against the soul, and follow the pure ways of God.

Micah 6:8
What is good and required of the Lord? Walk humbly, love mercy, and do justly before Him.

John 3:30
Ask for more of Jesus in our lives and less of ourselves. We will be more in tune with the Holy Ghost and better able to please Him.

2 Corinthians 13:5
We must examine ourselves daily and prove our own walk with God. Nobody else can do it for us.

Mark 12:29-33
Colossians 3:1-10
The best way to stay pure is to keep Jesus as our first love. If Jesus is our first love, we will do whatever it takes to serve Him and give Him glory.

Psalms 51:10-12
Psalms 19:12-13
2 Corinthians 4:16
Psalms 5:1-3
From the very moment we awake, we need to seek the Lord on a daily basis. If we are faithful to Him, he will cleanse us and purify our hearts. Jesus will renew our inward man. Even those secret faults and presumptuous sins will be cleansed and removed from our lives.

Zechariah 3:1-7
Just as Joshua was purified and given a change of raiment suitable for God, we must allow Jesus to do the same for us today. Get rid of our own righteousness and don the pure righteouness of God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Who we associate ourselves with makes a difference in whether or not we stay pure. If we desire to live righteously, we must seek to be with people who are like-minded. If we seek this, and still hang out with people who choose sin, we eventually start taking sin onboard, drawing us away from the presence of the Lord. This does not mean to shun them, but to avoid partaking of their sins. One must still be a friend to those who are in sin, that they may see Christ's love in us and come to repentance.

2 Kings 18:4
Matthew 5:29-30
Do we have idols and high places in our lives? Do we have things we hold dear that are holding us back in our Christian walk? If we do, then we must remove them. Even the pain of removing some of those things is well worth the peace and joy we will receive, knowing we have cleared more room in our lives for God to shine through. Let nothing come between us and our walk with God.

Isaiah 26:3
Philippians 4:8
If our minds are settled and focused on the pure and righteous things of God, we will be at peace and it will be much easier to stay pure in Him.

1 Timothy 4:12-16
Don't just talk about being pure or staying pure. Do it! Talk is cheap, and the people around us need to see a true example of someone who is living godly in this present generation. By doing so, others will see Christ lifted up in us and desire what we have.

Galatians 5:1
Stand always in the liberty of Christ, never again desiring to be entangled in sin. God will keep you if you choose to stay kept!

Ecclesiastes 12:1
Psalms 103:2
We need to always remember the Lord from the days of our youth. Never forget the Lord, His mercies, and His benefits.

Proverbs 3:1-4
Proverbs 6:20-23
God wants us to bind His word on the tables of our heart, and about our neck. Our hearts and minds will in tune with His spirit, and we will desire to please Him.

Psalms 37:30-31
Psalms 119:11
Allow the word to be hid in our hearts, so we will not sin against God. That word will guide us and steer us on the course of holiness, allowing us to stay pure unto Him.

John 8:31
2 Timothy 1:13-14
2 Timothy 3:14-15
How do we remember the Lord? By continuing always in the word, taking heed to the truth. We also must hold fast to the sound doctrine of the gospel, never wavering despite what storms life may send. If we continue in God's word, we are truly His disciples.

Ezekiel 33:30-32
Jeremiah 2:32
WARNING - do not allow our spiritual walk to become naught because of the cares of this world. We should not get so caught up in what we are doing that we forget the precious words of our Savior. When we go to church, we should go with an attitude of allowing God's word to cleave to us so we can stay focused once we leave the building. We are not seeking to be entertained, but be better equipped for Jesus' service.

Hebrews 2:1
Take heed, never let the word slip from our lives. Rehearse it, let it sink deep within the very fibers of our souls.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17
By remembering the gospel truth, we shall be able to stay saved and bear fruit for Christ.

Hebrews 13:8
Luke 12:2-3
Jesus, our God and Savior, will always be the same. He is our Alpha and Omega, and His reign is everlasting. His commandments do not change with our locations. We must live righteously and holy anywhere and everywhere we go. No games! What sins we commit in secret will be revealed on the day of judgement.

1 Timothy 4:13-16
Don't neglect what we have been taught in the scriptures. By abiding and continuing in the word, we will save ourselves and others we deal with.

Psalm 91:9
Psalm 1:2
1 Corinthians 16:15
In order to remember the word of the Lord, we must delight ourselves in it. We must be consumed by it, making it our habitation. We must become addicted to the gospel - never getting enough of God in our lives (and we never will)!

1 Corinthians 15:58
Do not grow weary in our labor for the Lord. No matter where we go, no matter what we do, our labor is not in vain and our heavenly reward awaits us!

John 10:10
The world has nothing to offer us that will last. Jesus has treasures and gifts for us that are incorruptible. He also gives us these things so we can be happy.

John 4:7-10
Using this example of the Samaritan woman, Jesus always asked the people what they wanted. He still does today.

Luke 15:11-32
James 4:2-3
What are we seeking for, and why? Do we seek those things God does not want us to have? Look at the Prodigal Son for an example of seeking things outside of God's plan.

Matthew 6:8
What perspective do we have in seeking God for our desires?

Genesis 1:26-28
God originally gave man dominion over all things on this earth.

Daniel 7:27
Luke 12:16-21
We must give God the glory in everything we have dominion over, and not puff ourselves up.

Luke 17:20-21
The kingdom of God is in us...not a physical kingdom, but a spiritual one. Jesus Himself said if it were of this world, men would fight over it.

Matthew 6:33
Matthew 5:6
How much do we truly hunger and thirst after God's righteousness? How much do we seek to be filled?

Ephesians 3:19-20
John 3:30
2 Corinthians 4:16
God's desire is to fill us with more and more of His Spirit, and blessings abundant. For God to perform this work in us, we must cut more of ourselves out of the way and give Him room.

1 Corinthians 6:12
Matthew 25:14-30
Acts 5:1-11
Things of this world can be very addictive. In fact, they can draw us away from our walk with God and lead us into sin. God wants us to honor Him in every aspect of our lives, glorifying Him.

1 Kings 3:6-15
Just as God asked King Solomon, Jesus asks us today: "what is it you want most?"

Psalms 37:4
Jeremiah 29:13
Mathew 6:19-21
If we are willing to seek the Lord with a whole heart, we will find Him, and He will give us our heart's desire. Are we willing to follow the Lord?

The inspiration for this study came from a recent church service I attended. Indeed, our walk with the Lord is based on series of daily decisions; how strong and close we are in our Christian walk depends on the choices we make. - JSC

Joshua 24:15
God shows us right here that our walk with Him is a conscious CHOICE.

Matthew 6:24
Teaches us that no man can serve two masters; for he will either love one or hate the other or he will hold to one and despised the other. It will be made very obvious. Who will we serve - Jesus or Satan?

Isaiah 1:19-20
Ezekiel 18:20-29
Romans 6:16
God not only offers us a choice whether or not to live for Him, but He shows us the end results of our actions. God is fair and just - He will not hold our past sins against us when we repent and turn to Him (though we may still have to pay the consequences in this life), but at the same time He will not allow us to "get by" when we turn to sin after walking with Him for any period of time. Whom we yield ourselves to will have direct consequences...if not now, in the life to come.

Galatians 5:19-23
Matthew 7:16-20
There are fruits associated with our decisions. If we choose to live in sin, there are corrupt fruits which will be made manifest; the same holds true when we choose to live for the Lord - there will be glorious spiritual fruit which will be like golden apples, sweet and pure.

Psalm 91:7
Psalm 20:7
Luke 12:4-5
Our decision to live for God must be ours and ours alone. We cannot allow the influences of popular opinion, political correctness, or the failure of those who have labored with us to prevent us from achieving our spiritual goals in Christ.

Matthew 24:24
Galatians 1:6-9
People will come along with polluted versions of God's truth, trying to tell us there is another way to live for Jesus and still get into heaven. Do not listen to them. Follow what God has shown you.

Acts 2:40
Philippians 2:12
In the end, it is not about what everyone else does...we must make the choice to save ourselves from this wicked generation.

2 Corinthians 4:16
Making a decision to live for God is one which has to be made daily. Every day we need to renew ourselves and live a fresh, clean life before our Lord.

1 Timothy 4:15-16
When we think no one cares about whether or not we serve God, do not let Satan fool you. Our testimony is seen by others, and they will be impacted by what we do. The results may not be immediate, but in due season God will reveal His truth by the lives we live and the choices we make.

Psalm 139:7-8
In conclusion, our future is in our hands...God will record the choices we make and reward us accordingly.

This study, simplistic as it may seem, was writen in the hopes all who read it will be inspired to carry out the Great Commission as Jesus taught. Let us all be soul winners for the Master! - JSC

Proverbs 11:30
Mark 16:15
A SOUL WINNER is a wise person indeed...he (or she) has a mind made up to be led of God to share the gospel with others, leading the lost to Christ!

1 Peter 5:8
John 4:35-36
Matthew 9:37-38
In these last days, Satan is out like a roaring lion, seeking to drag as many souls to hell as he can. Our mission is simple: we are to go out and harvest (rescue) as many as we can! All of us have a part to do - don't let the devil defeat us by saying we aren't adequate enough, articulate, charismatic, etc.; whom God calls He qualifies! One does not have to preach from a pulpit to be a soul winner. The fields are white to harvest right where we live and work!

How can I be a Soul Winner?

John 12:32
It starts here...what, or who, are we exalting? Is Jesus is forefront of all of our day's activities? Our efforts should always be to lift up Christ. Church programs and community events are great tools, but they alone can never save anyone - it is Jesus who saves!

1 Corinthians 10:31
Colossians 3:17
In every thing we do...in every aspect of who and what we are...and everywhere our feet take us, we should seek to glorify God and find opportunity to be a minister of the gospel. Even a stop at the gas station can be an opportunity if we allow it.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
When we go out on our day-to-day lives, we must remember it's not about us. God is the one who must be glorified in all things, and everything we do must point others to Him.

John 14:6
1 Timothy 4:12,16
Jesus pointed us toward Him. We must blaze the trail that will lead others to God. A friend once shared with me, in my hour of discouragement, that sometimes we are the only Jesus people ever see - never give up in setting the Christian example!

1 Corinthians 9:22
James 2:15-16
We must be able to relate to the people around us and meet their needs where they presently are. How can a person, for example, who is hungry and needing shelter be more interested in hearing a Bible study? Our love is not just manifest by our words, but our actions as well. Christians are not to be like the world, but at the same time must live in it and not be isolated.

Proverbs 15:1
Jude v. 22-23
1 Peter 3:15
We must be prepared at all times to give an answer to people of the hope which is in us...allowing God to guide our lips and bring peace and joy to those who hear us. However, sometimes God will require us to preach "hellfire and brimstone" to warn the wicked of the judgement which will come for all of us. We, as Holy Ghost-filled believers, must allow the Lord to give us the words to speak in His timing.

Isaiah 61:1-3
We can call this Jesus' mission statement...He came to liberate sinners from the bondage of sin. As soul winners, we need to adopt His mission statement and make it an integral part of our daily lives!

There is a big danger in our walk with God when focus so much on traditions and trivial matters that we overlook the meat of the word. We must examine ourselves and ask Jesus "are we focused more on these matters or on Your truth?" God bless us richly as we read His word. - JSC

Matthew 23:23-24
Jesus warned the Pharisees from the beginning about focusing on trivial things so much that the important matters of the law were left undone. This message rings true now...we can become so focused on by-laws and church policies we allow things to slip when it comes to obeying the gospel!

1 Corinthians 3:11-15
When we stand before God on Judgement Day, we will be rewarded based on our works. The gold, silver, and precious stones represent those things which are based sound on sound doctrine; the wood, hay, and stubble represent those trivial matters which do not profit. Our desire is to lay up as much of the former in heaven as possible, and less of the latter.

What are the dangers of focusing so much on trivial matters (gnats)?

We drive others away from the simplicity of Christ.

Romans 14:1-5, 13-15
We place stumbling blocks in front of those we witness to - be they lost people or new converts - and expect them to dress, behave, and worship like us. People get offended when we force our standards down their throats without careful consideration for their soul's well-being.

Job 7:20
It is hard enough trying to live by the convictions God has given us. When we try to place those convictions on other people, it never works. People take offense to this sort of thing.

Matthew 18:10
John 7:24
Proverbs 18:19
We must take heed in not forcing our standards on others, especially if we are trying to force traditions or by-laws on them. We risk looking at the outward appearance only of the individual, and not at what God is doing in their lives. In time these inidividuals become offended and are afraid to come to church because all that happens is negative...not the positive flow of faith and the Holy Ghost they seek.

Acts 15:10
We risk placing grievious yokes upon others which neither the disciples, nor us, were willing or able to bear; our zeal, when carelessly applied, will kill people spiritually instead of saving them. They will be driven away from Christ, not drawn to Him.

We are in danger of focusing on church traditions instead of sound doctrine, thus swallowing things contrary to the gospel (camels).

Mark 7:7-9
Jesus warned the Pharisees that their focus on traditions voided the word of God in their lives.

Galatians 1:6-8
Even in the early church, this was a problem. People would bring their ideas and traditions and try to add them to the gospel. There is a popular phrase which goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"; this applies especially to God's word. He wrote the book and set the standards...He does not need our input!

Colossians 2:8
This same warning applies to us...if we focus so much on tradition and dogma, we can corrupt the teaching of the gospel.

Isaiah 65:5
This is the sort of stuff that offends God...we become so self-righteous we stink!

How can we, as Christians, nip this problem in the bud?

Matthew 7:5
Look at ourselves and cast out the hypocrisy our traditions can create, and then we see exactly where other people are and effectively minister to them.

2 Timothy 2:15
It all boils down to returning to God's word. Do our traditions actually have support from the scriptures? Are they based on sound doctrine? Are we allowing strange doctrines to enter unawares because of our own blindness? We must seek to rightly divide the word.

Deuteronomy 4:2
We must be careful, when establishing a church's creed or tradition, that we do not add to or remove from the precious word of God.

John 12:32
When we minister to others, who and what do we lift up? Jesus? Or our own traditions?

1 Corinthians 9:22
Romans 12:16
In closing, here is another warning the Bible makes: we must look at other people through God's eyes and be able to relate to where they are at that moment. Not everyone in Christ is at the same level; we cannot force our convictions on anyone else. Instead, we must always be ready to share what God would want us feed these souls. This will help draw people in the house of God, not chase them away.

This seems to be a growing concerning among the church in general. We can play lively music, jump and shout, and the preacher can preach till he is soaked in sweat...but if we are not seeing souls saved, then we are missing the reason why Jesus saved us in the first place and called us to preach His word.

Matthew 11:7-8
Ezekiel 33:30-33
As in the days of old, what have we come to the house of God for? Have we come to be merely ENTERTAINED? If we have, then we have missed out completely. Too often it seems we allow the worship and the anointed messages from God to go in one ear and right out the other. These were meant to sink in and do a marvelous work within us...if we leave a church service the same as we entered, then we wasted our time, and God's.

Ezekiel 34:3
John 21:15-17
Matthew 25:18, 24-25
Matthew 25: 40, 45
These passages are selected to challenge us to think about what we do with the blessings, gifts, and messages God Almighty has given to us. Do we have a burning desire to share these with the rest of the world? Or do we sit fat, dumb, and happy like a possum before he becomes roadkill? Are we afraid to share the gospel (good news) with other people? Jesus put Peter to the test because he denied Him thrice...therefore Christ asked Peter three times, "lovest thou Me?" Sometimes God has to do that with us to make us realize we need to invest what He gave us, to further His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The word of God was not meant to be politically correct, but to guide us on the path of righteousness and eternal life.

1 Kings 19:11-12
As God showed to Elijah, we sometimes look for His voice in all the wrong places. Sometimes the message does come forth through the noise and music...and sometimes it comes through that still small voice. We allow ourselves to become too distracted by all the whistles and bells at times to pay attention to the Holy Ghost when He speaks to us.

Psalm 47:7
When we sing praises unto the Most High, do we seek to understand just what we are singng about? Or are we just following a catchy hook or beat? The music we play in the church is meant not just to make us feel good...but to inspire us to draw closer to God and seek His will for our lives more fully.

Matthew 10:7-8
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
We have received freely the wonderful blessings of Jesus, our Lord Almighty and Savior. We must be willing to share freely these blessings with the people around us whenever the Spirit directs. If we do not have the compassion to go forth and be effective ministers in our homes, workplaces, schools, etc., then all the jumping around and shouting and singing has been nothing more than a short period of entertainment.

Proverbs 11:30
The most important event in any Holy-Ghost filled, Bible-believing church is not the music, nor the preaching...even though they are an essential part of the worship. It is when we see souls walking humbly down the "sawdust trail" as they come forward to receive Jesus into their lives. That is the reason we come to church - to bring others into the joy of salvation through Jesus Christ!

Church is meant to be fun, but it is not merely entertainment...we enter to be filled and blessed, and we must leave to serve God.

God gave me this study in regards to why we would run from our calling and purpose in Him. So often we start out strong in the Lord...we cannot get enough of His presence, read enough of His word, attend enough worship services, and do enough soul-winning. As time goes on, we find ourselves (if we are not careful) diminishing in our duties as Christians. If we are born-again believers, I pray this message will minister to you as much as it does to me. We must always be about our Heavenly Father's business, and that fire must grow daily. Glory to Jesus!

Romans 11:29
Romans 8:16-17
John 15:16
1 Peter 2:9

With these opening Scriptures, we see where God has called us out of sin and into a life of righteousness and holiness. How many of us can recall the time we felt the pull of God on our hearts? Can we look back on the time we were baptized in Jesus' name for the remission of sins? How about when we received the blessed gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues? When we were born again, it was a wonderful sensation. We felt on top of the world, and nothing could slow us down. God placed a zeal in us that we did not want to quench at all! There was a time, when I was deployed, that I was writing Bible studies almost on a daily basis. I couldn't get enough opportunities to go soul-winning; even when I traveled on leave, I sought for opportunities to minister. Many of us were in the same shoes I was in...so what happened? Where is the fire we once knew, that burned to the very core of our being? How did we allow the fire to grow cold, and ourselves to grow distant from our God?

Matthew 13:7
Matthew 13:22
1 John 2:15-17

These Scripture passages outline one of the causes for our spiritual problem. Have we become so enamored with the things of this world - which are going to perish - that we have allowed the word of God to be choked out of us? Have we allowed the zeal for making gain to supplant the zeal for sharing the gospel? There is nothing wrong with being successful in this life, but if we permit worldly prosperity to be more important than securing our place in eternity with Jesus, then we have become blind and unfruitful.

Matthew 24:12
Acts 28:27

Here poses another question: have we become so desensitized by the sin that proliferates in our world that we are no longer tuned in to the voice of God? Could it be that we have allowed ourselves to become burned out, thinking that our efforts serve no purpose?

Proverbs 24:30-34
Proverbs 19:15
Revelation 2:4
Revelation 3:15-17

Here we see one of the leading causes of our diminished effectiveness as Christians. We can easily allow ourselves to be lulled into a spiritual sleep; we place our walk with God on *cruise control* and take our ease. I fell into this predicament too: as time went on, I was not writing and teaching Bible studies like I was during my deployments. I became, in the spiritual sense, *fat, dumb, and lazy*; the enemy slowly took advantage of this situation and as time went on I became more carnally minded and less focused on the things of God. I began making decisions which I would never have considered beforehand, and they were certainly not Godly choices. I fell into the mode of *as long as I go to church and hear the truth, I will be all right*. It did not take long before I fell into sin and backslid. Had I kept Jesus as my first love, and the labor of the gospel as the driving force, everything else would have fallen into its proper place in my life. To put it simply, I reached a point in my walk with God where I was doing the mechanics, but not really living the life.

Jeremiah 1:8
1 Samuel 15:20-21
1 Kings 19:9-10

Looking at these passages, we see another cause for us to wander from God. We become fearful of the situation around us, and forget all the times Jesus has provided for us, delivered us, protected us, and blessed us beyond measure. We will even go as far as king Saul did by justifying our actions and even shifting the blame on someone else for our own shortcomings. To *protect ourselves*, we may even go as far as to compromise our convictions in order not to be criticized, ridiculed, or left out of the crowd. Jonah ran away from God altogether to avoid preaching His judgment upon Nineveh, and Peter hid in the crowd, denying Christ thrice when asked. Nothing that anyone or anything has done to us is an excuse to walk away from God, or to backslide. People's opinions must never be a reason for us to sell out on our God-given convictions.

Luke 11:34
James 1:6-8
James 3:10-11

How is our vision? Are we totally focused on doing the work of the Lord? Or has our mind wandered and now we are serving a dual purpose...perhaps even living a double life. God is not mocked by people who behave one way in church and a different way outside the congregation. These passages can also present the challenge: have we allowed seeds of doubt to take root and rob us of what God really wants to do with us, in us, and through us? If we are double minded in any way, we will never be sold out to the gospel and our lives will be very unstable...physically as well as spiritually. Our jobs, relationships, and our families can all suffer because of double-mindedness.

So, we have covered some of the things that can draw us from the presence of God, robbing us of His blessings and even placing our salvation at risk. What do we do as believers to correct this problem?

Psalm 20:7
Hebrews 4:16

Place our trust completely in the hands of the living God. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is always there to meet our needs.

Proverbs 23:23
Luke 12:4-5
Joshua 1:6-9
2 Timothy 1:7

A lot of wisdom is shared in these words from God. First, we must never compromise the truth. It doesn't matter who disagrees with the message; we must let the world know in Whom we believe. We also need to be of good courage and not cower when folks want to make fun of us because of the Christ like example we seek to live...we must remain true to our convictions and make a stand whenever necessary. It is more important to be Biblically correct than politically correct. Finally, in Joshua we see another pearl of God's wisdom...we must strive to meditate on the word of God every day, that our steps will be ordered and we will have a successful walk with Him. We cannot follow God's word unless we read God's word; therefore we need to ask Jesus for our DAILY bread.

Galatians 6:7-9
1 Corinthians 16:13
2 Corinthians 4:16

There will be times in our walk when we feel we cannot go another step...that is when we need to cry out to the Lord for renewed strength. God is more than able to strengthen the feeble knees and the hands which hang down; His Holy Spirit will quicken us and renew us, giving us life! We must realize that this renewal must be done daily if we are to be successful and consistent in following Jesus. Yesterday's blessings are just that - yesterday's! We must seek to live for God and ask for His will today.

Ezekiel 18:21-23
Revelation 3:2
Revelation 3:18-19
Revelation 2:5

Sometimes God will want us to perform some major damage control on our lives. We might have to go as far as redo the first works...those things we did back when we first received the Lord...to help shore up the damage sin and complacency have done. Notice, too, the urgency of the matter: God wants us to be zealous about getting right with Him, and doing it NOW - we may not get another chance.

1 Corinthians 16:15
2 Timothy 4:16

As we conclude this study, we need to realize that we must take heed to living the gospel, and equally important, LOVE living the gospel. How can we win others to Christ if we do not love what we are doing? People can spot fakers and folks who are just *going through the motions*. If we want to go to heaven, we need to get right with Jesus, stay right with Jesus, and love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength! Then our light will truly shine to others and bring them to Him. To the only wise God our Savior be the glory.

It is easy to preach a message or teach a Bible study which gets everyone jumping and feeling good. However, there are times when God gives us the messages which are not popular, and reveal the hearts of all who hear the Word. My prayer is that all of us who are called to preach the Gospel will have the courage to speak the truth...even when no one wants to hear it.

2 Timothy 4:2

I want to open with this Scripture because we must be ready at all times to preach the Gospel. We do not preach a feel-good message, but we share words of truth which are meant to edify and admonish those around us.

1 Peter 3:15
Titus 2:1

We need to realize that we are instruments of God, ready to be used at His discretion. Our goal is to speak the sound word of God, and be prepared to answer all those who ask of the blessed hope God has given us. As ministers, we are used to teaching and attending messages where the truth touches the hearts and the Holy Ghost leads people down the aisles to either receive salvation or to rededicate their lives to Jesus. We rejoice when others receive God's word...but what about the times when they don't? What if we were told in advance that the people (whom God sent us to preach the Gospel) were going to reject what we told them? Would we obey the Holy Ghost or just give up?

Exodus 4:21-23

After rebuking Moses for trying to use his shortcomings as an excuse for not fulfilling God's call, God tells Moses that Pharaoh will reject the words requesting him to free captive Israel. Moses and Aaron went forth and performed the will of God - Israel was later delivered from slavery.

Ezekiel 3:1-7

Ezekiel was sent to warn Israel of the wrath to come from Almighty God. Jesus will send us to people we know and work with even now...friends, co-workers, business associates, even church members...some will accept what God has for them, but many times they will not. We would like to think that the people we associate with most would be most willing to receive the truth, but this is not always the case.

Matthew 10:34-36
Mark 6:4

Many of us in our walk with God have found it so much easier to witness to people we never met before than to our family, friends, and close co-workers. Some of these folks knew us before we came to Christ; therefore it is difficult for them at times to accept the change in our lives. Another factor is local tradition. Traditions are sometimes deeply based in a community, family, or workplace; our Christian experience goes against many of the traditions in which we may have been raised or exposed. Sometimes this conflict creates resentment among those closest to us...creating feelings that we want nothing to do with them, which is not true at all. We have a precious gift in earthen vessels - God's truth - and we want them to share in the joy we have found!

Ezekiel 33:30-33
Isaiah 5:20

Our present generation's attitude for the word of God is vividly illustrated in these passages. If we want to know why so many people reject hearing God's truth and choose to take the broad way to hell, here are two good answers. Our society has degenerated to the point where things which were only two generations ago considered repulsive and evil are now part of the mainstream culture. To speak against the current tide is to called *homophobic*, *prude*, *fanatic*, *waterdog*, and even *Jesus Freak*. And this sort of thing takes place in churches as well as on the street! We also have those who come to church and treat a worship service as nothing more than a type of entertainment - the word of God is preached to the point of physical exhaustion by the preacher and it rolls off some people's backs like water on a duck...not able to penetrate the hardened hearts. If one wants to be entertained, don't go to a Bible-believing, Holy Ghost-filled assembly - the Gospel is not a game and Jesus is not a toy!

SO...do we give up? NO!

2 Timothy 4:3-5

The response of those around us does not diminish our responsibility to preach the Gospel. Some will even persecute us for our stand for truth. Regardless, we must remain true to our God and obey His holy commandments.

Luke 21:14-15

Earlier in the study we mentioned how we must be prepared to answer every man. That preparation does not just come from our own knowledge; it comes from being humble before God, studying His truth, and praying for an open door. The Holy Ghost does the rest. Let Jesus give us the words to speak.

John 6:60-68

Here we have Christ, our perfect example, showing us that even He was rejected when He was moved to preach hard sayings. If the people rejected our Lord and Savior, then what makes us think we will be treated differently? There is encouragement to be found here as well. There will always be those precious few souls who will have their eyes and hearts opened to the word of God, and receive His life-giving truth.

Luke 6:26
Galatians 4:16

We should actually take comfort in the fact many will not receive us when we speak the truth. We have wonderful examples of Godly men whose words are recorded like Micaiah, Amos, and John the Baptist; these men were brave in declaring God's message without regard to how others would respond. There are many - MANY - false preachers whose sermons are filled with flattering words that tickle the ears and give the audience a warm fuzzy feeling; there is no substance either in word or in Spirit to really impact the souls in a positive way concerning their walk with God. We who know Jesus and cherish truth must never compromise, and take courage in knowing that even God Himself was rejected when He walked among us. Our treasure is in heaven, not in earthly fame or glory...so let us keep on preaching truth! Glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This topic is a hot item in the news. Once upon a time, the very thought of cloning human beings and performing genetic engineering to create *superspecies* was merely the stuff of science fiction, stemming from the imaginations of the writers. However, that which was only dreamed of 100 years ago is now a reality, and being performed in laboratories in the United States and in other countries. The challenge presented here in this Bible study, coupled with history and news headlines, is this: are we entering forbidden territory? Did Jesus Christ, the Lord Almighty, even want us to tamper with creation?

DEFINTIONS

CHIMERA - The Chimera was a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, body of a goat and tail of a serpent. It killed and ate human beings until it was killed by Bellerophon who was riding the winged horse Pegasus. In modern science, this term refers to genetically altered animals, often with human parts.

CLONE - creating a genetically identical copy of a living organism, often human or animal.

HISTORY

1815 - Mary Shelley writes her novel Frankenstein. This book tells the tale of a scientist obsessed with cheating death; by playing God in resurrecting a dead man, he unwittingly creates tragic results. While considered a classic horror novel for its time, the theme of man using science and technology to perpetuate life has been actively pursued ever since.

1857 - Scientist Gregor Mendel begins research into the field of genetics. Experiments included various plants and mice. Mendel's research reveals hereidtary traits which are passed on to generations.

1896 - H.G. Wells writes The Island of Dr. Moreau. Dr. Moreau operates a secret laboratory where he genetically alters animals and creates a new superspecies - half man, half beast. Again, the results are disastrous.

1928 - Frederick Griffith announces the theory of what would be later known as the existence of DNA.

1942 - Oswald Avery confirms the existence of DNA.

1940s-1953 - Various scientists - Erwin Chargaff, Rosalind Franklin, Maurice Wilkins, James Watson, and Francis Crick - all attempt to give a picture and shape to the DNA molecule. Franklin and Wilkins discover the double helix pattern. Watson and Crick built on this to create the DNA model which is known in science labs, classrooms, and among the general public.

1973 - Claude Vorilhon claims to have been visited by aliens (aka Elohim), and writes a book on his experience. The Raelian movement begins; human cloning is among the items on their agenda. By 2004, Rael would have 60,000 followers of this UFO-based religion.

1978 - Ira Levin writes The Boys From Brazil, a novel where an escaped Nazi war criminal plans to make clones of Adolf Hitler.

1996 - Dolly, the first successfully cloned sheep, is born in Scotland. The donor DNA came from a 6-year-old ewe.

1998 - President Clinton announces that human cloning will not be permitted in the United States.

1998 - Evan Balaban, a Canadian scientist, succesfully merges the brain tissue of a quail in the brain of a chicken. The scientific community embraced the arrival of the "chimera".

1999 - Hybrid clone using human and cow DNA announced in the UK by Advanced Cell Technology.

2000 - The Sixth Day, a science fiction movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is released. The topic of *Sixth Day Laws* to ban efforts to clone humans is discussed.

2001 - Advanced Cell Technology announces they have cloned a human embryo. Their claim is to mine the embryo for cell research, not create a human being.

2002 - Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones is released. Again, the ethics of cloning is questioned - most of the Jedi Council object to cloning.

2002 - Dr. Brigette Boisselier, a scientist employed by Clonaid (a Rael-owned company), announces the first human being has been succesfully cloned.

2003 - Chinese scientists in Shanghai successfully merge human cells with rabbit cells.

2003 - Dolly the sheep dies. Apparent cause was premature aging.

2004 - The US announces it will not push any resolution through the UN to ban human cloning.

2004 - National Academy of Sciences announces much research has gone forth in the US concerning genetic merging of human and animal cells, with successful results.

I share all this history to lay a foundation. We live in perilous times, where man thinks he is smarter than God; we live in a time where man has reached the point he can venture into the very realm of creation. The question I lay before everyone is this: what right do we have to tamper with God's handiwork? When did mankind suddenly have the ability to create life? Did this knowledge come from God? In recent years, science has accelerated the process to create life, using DNA and other materials.

Why is this happening? God foretold this through the prophet Daniel:

Daniel 12:4
Ecclesiates 1:18

Because man has forgotten God days, months, even years, without number, he has instead leaned on his own wisdom. Every bit of news concering genetic engineering and human cloning has not once acknowledged God for giving them the ability to bring this technology to pass! Rael and his followers openly deny that God exists, and that all our knowledge, wisdom, and religion were given to us by aliens. If this knowledge is not of God, then where did it come from?

Jeremiah 2:32
Psalms 14:1
James 3:15
2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Does this mean that all scientific discovery is wrong? NO. In fact, many scientists have acknowledged the Lord in their research and it has been blessed. However, we must consider the source of the knowledge and the hearts and mindset of those involved. We must be aware that the devil - our enemy - can slickly imitate and make a lie look very much like truth. Remember this, though - Satan can imitate, but he can never CREATE.

What did Jesus say concerning the creation of man?

Genesis 1:24-27
Genesis 1:30

God intended for every creature on this earth to reproduce after its own kind...dogs breed and produce more dogs; fish spawn and produce more fish; cattle breed and produce calves; nowehere did God try and perform *genetic engineering*. It also states that MAN was created in GOD's image. If we are seeking to create *new life forms* and bypass the Creator, then in whose image are WE creating them?

Genesis 2:7
Psalms 139:14-15
Deuteronomy 32:39
1 Samuel 2:6

Only God can put a soul in man...no genetic engineer or clone laboratory can manufacture a soul! We also see here that God, and God alone, has the power and authority to make life and to end it. This facet of creation is forbidden territory for mankind. Yet there are those who boldly defy God and try to stake their claim on creation:

From Rael's YES TO HUMAN CLONING: Eternal Life Thanks to Science - "Once we can clone exact replicas of ourselves, the next step will be to transfer our memories and personality into our newly cloned brains, which will allow us to truly live forever..."

Rael and others who subscribe to his viewpoint think they can cheat death. They think they are so smart that they can determine when a person's life is going to end, and thus transfer all of his (or her) mind into a *replica*. What saith the Lord on this?

Ecclesiates 9:10-12

First, none of us know when we are going to die...or when Christ is soon to return. The day that one of these *scientists* plans to replicate himself might well be pre-empted with an autombile accident in a remote region...no place to save the body or brain...all that knowledge gone forever into eternity. Then what happens next? Before we go any further there, let us assert one truth here and now. Death is going to come for all of us, and that was established since the fall of man in the garden.

Romans 5:12
Ecclesiates 12:7

It is a FACT. If Jesus tarries His return, we will all go the way of the grave. Even copying all one's memories into a replica will not stop the inevitable. Plus, no one can duplicate a soul. That is something only God can create; when we die, our souls will return to God who made them...not the cloning lab.

Hebrews 9:27

When we leave this life and stand before the Lord, He will judge us based on what we have done for Him...and if we ever accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. These are the bare facts according to God's holy word.

So what do we do?

Matthew 24:4
1 John 4:1
Deuteronomy 13:1-5

We must stand on the word of God. We also must try the doctrines and teachings which come our way with His word to prove whether or not they be true; if the teachings are false, then we must put them away from us and reject them as false doctrines, and those who teach these things must be denounced as false prophets. We must be on our guard more so in these last days; more things like this will appear before Jesus returns.

We live in the last days where God's word is not viewed as important to our daily life as it was a generation or so ago. There are people all the time who ask the burning question: CAN I GO TO HEAVEN WITHOUT JESUS? Some think any way will get them saved; others believe their own good works will get them inside the pearly gates. But what saith the word of God?

John 14:6

Jesus said there was only ONE way, not many, to get to heaven. Such a statement is not considered *open-minded* or *politically correct*, but God's truth is still God's truth.

Matthew 5:18

Jesus even warned us not to compromise His word just because others did not agree with the gospel message. Yet we have leaders, supposedly Christian, who have done exactly that just to give folks a *feel-good religion* instead of sound doctrine.

One prominent evangelist was even quoted in an interview that accepting Jesus Christ is not necessarily a prerequisite to enter heaven. He stated that people who practice other religions - including Islam, Wicca, etc. - will enter God's kingdom because *in their hearts, they are seeking to please God*. While one has the right to believe as they wish, not every belief in the world is correct. God has not changed His mind when it comes to salvation, and He has never compromised to accommodate unbelievers.

"I used to think that pagans in far-off countries were lost - were going to hell - if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I no longer believe that. I believe there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God - through nature, for instance - and plenty of other opportunities, therefore, of saying yes to God." - Billy Graham, McCall's interview, 1978

"Well, Christianity and being a true believer - you know, I think there's the Body of Christ. This comes from all the Christian groups around the world, outside the Christian groups. I think everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ. And I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time. I think James answered that - the Apostle James in the first council in Jerusalem, when he said that God's purpose for this age is to call out a people for His name. And that's what God is doing today, He's calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived." - Billy Graham, 1998 interview with Robert Schuller

Billy Graham is one of the most prominent televangelists in the world. While he is respected for his crusades, his comments concerning Biblical salvation indicate that Graham teaches there is more than one way to enter God's kingdom. This is a compromise of the gospel, and we are at risk of being on the wrong side of judgment if we condone this type of teaching.

Luke 6:26
John 10:1

So, are we leading people into the Door that leads to salvation? Or are we aiding and abetting thieves and robbers by telling them that any teaching, any doctrine, any belief will be sufficient enough to bring them into God's kingdom? God will only recognize those who have accepted Jesus Christ and taken upon themselves His yoke.

First, let us look at all the different religions and their leaders. In the United States alone, there exist over 3000 registered religious entities. Each has their own set of beliefs. However, are all of them in line with the gospel?

1 Corinthians 14:26
1 Corinthians 14:33

While Paul wrote this passage to the church, there are some points which can apply to society in general. Everyone seems to have their own personal view of how to get to heaven and how to achieve peace with God. There are more flavors of doctrine than Baskin-Robbins has of ice cream. This creates a lot of confusion, and even causes folks to cease from seeking God's perfect will.

Isaiah 42:8
Exo 20:3-5

The Lord Almighty is a jealous God, and one who wants us to love Him completlely. He never wanted us to bow down to other creations or idols - whether the idols be stone, gold, human, animal, or even spirits. Yet in our time we have seen such an explosion of religious movements which have served only to draw people further from God, not closer.

Example: Islam is now the world's largest religion with well over 1 billion members. There are some misinformed souls who honestly think tha! t Muslims and Christians serve the same God. However, if one was to ask either a devout Muslim or a devout Bible-believing Christian, the true answer is that they do not serve the same deity. Allah in Islam is not the same as Jesus Christ.

Every religion seems to have its own leader who is even considered as the *saviour*. Is this true in light of Scripture?

Deuteronomy 32:37-39
Judges 10:13-14
Jeremiah 11:12
Jeremiah 16:20

So far, we see that it is folly for man to set up idols and worship them. They have no power of their own; they cannot save themselves, nor offer any comfort or salvation to those who believe in them.

Isaiah 45:20

Some examples of religious leaders who claimed they knew another way:

The point here is that despite whatever good (or bad) ideas these men had, and however many followers, these men were still flesh and blood. They died; their souls left this earth and are now awaiting judgment...just like all of us will one day. None of them had the power to save themselves from death's sting. None of them have returned from the grave to warn us of what is to come.

John 8:24

There is only ONE who had the power to lay down His life and pick it up again...JESUS!

John 10:17
1 Peter 3:18-19
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Jesus, being Immanuel (God with us), was none other than the Lord Almighty. There is only one historical account of ANYONE resurrecting from the dead, and that was Jesus Christ! Whose words will we believe...those of dead prophets who are still sleeping in their graves, or the risen King?

We have now briefly covered the concept of "more than one way to enter heaven". Now we go to another concept: Being saved based on our works. Even today, there are people still walking around with the mindset that if they have good morals, do the right things, and are basically good, upright people, then God will have a place for them in Heaven. What saith the word of God?

Isaiah 64:6
Romans 3:10

There is no one in this world who is brave enough, noble enough, good enough, or righteous enough to enter heaven on their own. We need God's help, grace, and mercy to save us from our sins. Without Jesus there is no hope.

Isaiah 64:7
John 15:5

We cannot even seek God on our own. It is His Spirit that stirs us up and causes us to draw unto Him.

What is so special about Jesus? Why is it that we must depend on Him and not all of these other ways if we are to enter His kingdom?

Revelation 1:5
Ephesians 2:8-9

Jesus shed His innocent blood to wash us of our sins. How so? Jesus was born of the Holy Ghost, not of flesh as are all mankind. He did not know sin, but took upon Himself the sins of the whole world, that we would not have to bear the price for our sins. He gave eternal life as His most precious gift!

Romans 6:23
Acts 4:10-12

We have been given the gift of eternal life through Jesus our Lord; we also have salvation through His precious name. If Jesus is the door, and there is only one way to be saved, which way do we follow? This is critical as our very souls depend on it.

John 3:3-7

Jesus commands us to be born again. This is the salvation message for all mankind. How do we become born again?

Mark 16:16
Acts 2:38
Galatians 3:27
2 Corinthians 5:17
Acts 2:4
Acts 19:5-6

We must accept Jesus' message of salvation if we are going to be born again. We must accept Jesus at His word if we are going to escape the eternal penalty for sin and reign with Him in paradise. For those who still think there are many paths to heaven, then why did God put this in the Bible?

Matthew 7:13-14

In closing, here is a warning for those who choose to believe that God is a fairy tale and Jesus' blood is a myth. God's word is still true, and His truth will still be fulfilled regardless of what we believe.

Isaiah 45:22-23
[22] Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. [23] I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.