Jacob The Heel Catcher - Spiritual Adultery

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MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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Bread Crumbs “A Legal Salvation” August 22

Justification is the doctrinal term for the tremendous truth that mankind becomes righteous through a legal decree; one declared by a thrice Holy God. The basis upon which God makes this decree is the sacrifice of his Son, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Any man, woman, boy, or girl that recognizes their sinful state and acknowledges that Jesus paid the price on Calvary for their sin can be saved. Simple faith in Jesus as Savior is the legal foundation upon which man's salvation is secured and the rock upon which redemption rests. The believing sinner is then granted the righteousness of Christ as his or her own. All of this is obtained solely through faith. It is nothing we have earned, nothing we deserve, nothing we have worked for. His Grace should astound and amaze each of us as we gaze upon it. What mercy! What kindness! What an awesome display of graciousness! I am justified today, not by works of righteousness which I have done, but by faith in the One who loved me and gave Himself for me. And because God has orchestrated and ordained that salvation is a legal work, the character of God cannot be impugned though He forgives the guilty. His Grace still amazes me!

Eph 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 4:13
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

The Galatian’s were under heavy attack, just as the church has been for the entirety of its existence. When we are being told that God’s justifying salvation is through any other means than simple faith in what Christ did at Calvary, we are under attack. Most of the time it doesn’t even require others for this lie to surface, for our own hearts can, and often do think that we can work for what God has to offer while all of what He offers is only free or forfeited (Romans 8:32, 1 Corinthians 2:12).

Recently I saw in a book by J.C. Ryle entitled ‘Holiness’ his comments, “that although it is very Scriptural to say that we are justified by faith alone, it is NOT Scriptural to say that we are also sanctified by faith alone”. I’m not being unkind concerning this dear Brother, but this is where the Church has been for its entire existence. Trying to work, not for their salvation, but for their sanctification, as his book teaches that it is faith AND our works that sanctify, which could not be further from the Truth. Although there will ALWAYS be works where faith is found, for faith is death without works (James 2:17,20), but it is never by our works in any sense that God justifies or sanctifies (Titus 3:5). Jesus paid the ENTIRE price at Calvary for our initial Salvation, and our daily Sanctification, and though there is fruit, the fruit doesn’t sanctify, but only Christ and His work at Calvary and our faith therein! Don’t continue to be duped, as many are hearing this long-awaited for Truth and Way of daily victory. Remember that if we are trusting in anything other than the cross of Jesus Christ for anything from the Lord, we are telling Him, “The Cross was insufficient”. God’s Grace is only as sufficient to us as Christ’s Cross is sufficient to us!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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8/22/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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Bread Crumbs “Dealing with Sin” August 23

The true gospel always deals with sin. It does not “sugarcoat” the truth. The gospel does not ignore sin or call it by another name. Jesus did not come from heaven and give His life on a cruel cross so that we could pretend that sin did not matter. He gave His life that we might be free from both the penalty of sin and the dominion of sin. No believer is without sin, yet that does not mean we have to sin a little bit every day or be dominated by sin continuously. The grace of God gives us the power to face sin, take personal responsibility for our sin, and then overcome sin. All sin must be recognized, cleansed by the blood, and defeated through the processes of faith and grace. None of this is possible without the cross of Jesus Christ and the Christians’ faith placed securely in it. The good news in all this is that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to free us from every aspect of sin. Let us not ignore sin! Let us deal with it and live free from the dominion of sin. The world needs to see a believer that neither denies nor continually gives in to sin. Let your light shine!

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 4:14
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Whatever the Apostle Paul’s trial in his own flesh, the Galatians were so excited to hear that there was a God who loved them and that He had sent His Son to die on the Cross to save them from their sins, that they not only did not despise Paul, but they also did not reject him because of whatever his infirmity was. Those who hunger for the Truth of God’s Word will not make excuses as to why they will not hear it. The Lord told me a couple of years ago that we would know who was really looking for Truth, for when they hear it, they will receive it (John 10:27)!

God’s Word is Truth (John 17:17). Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). The Spirit is Truth (1 John 5:6). The only avenue through which one knows the Truth and the Truth make them free (John 8:32, Romans 6:7) is faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ. Likewise this is the EXCLUSIVE avenue of ALL Grace (Galatians 2:21, Colossians 2:6), therefore let us come back to the place where we can hear and receive (Revelation 3:3), which is faith in the Cross alone, for it is only through faith in the blood of Christ that we were brought near to God (Ephesians 2:13). Let not another day pass that we do not consciously deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow our faithful Christ (Luke 9:23), or we will not be following the one we think we are. This was the reason for the letter to the Galatians, which is also to you and me!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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8/23/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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Bread Crumbs “The Spirit and Power” August 24

The power of the Pentecostal experience of Acts 2 is a benefit intended by God for every believer. The early church displayed a great urgency relative to seeing to it that every born-again believer be subsequently baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. In Acts 2, at the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit, believers were first baptized into Christ, then filled with the Spirit and spoke with new tongues. The Samaritans of Acts 8 were born-again, baptized with water, and then later, filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10, the Gentiles were saved and instantly after salvation they were baptized with the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues. In Acts 19, men who were believers in Christ, were water baptized, then filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with tongues. It seems obvious then that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a second subsequent work of the Spirit. The foremost purpose of this experience is to enable the believer with supernatural power for service. The born-again experience equips the saint to overcome sin. The baptism with the Holy Spirit equips the saint for supernatural service. Jesus died so we could have it all! Ask, believe, and receive by faith today!

Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 4:15
Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

Whether Paul used the phrase, “You would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me”, as an expression of speech to show the deep respect, honor and trust in which they honored him when they were receiving the gospel at their salvation, their thoughts toward him had now changed. When we stop trusting in the Gospel, we move away from the preacher of the Gospel. I have personally been a part of a local Church where the Gospel is not and never was the central theme of the mission, and I mean the message of the Cross was not what we taught as the power of God, but rather we were all looking for some new thing in which God would pour out His power through, but it was always something we would have to do. Oh yes, we claimed it was faith, but it was really our doing. This is the story of the Galatians, and though scary, ALL in Asia had actually turned away from Paul (2 Timothy 1:15), and the Message which he preached unto them. The Way of The Cross never becomes a comfortable Way, but it is God’s only Way!

Once we stop seeing every Chapter and ever Verse of Scripture through the Cross of Jesus Christ, we are no longer seeing with the eyes of Biblical Faith. Every Word of God is “In Righteousness” (Proverbs 8:8), but God’s Righteousness is only revealed in the Gospel to those who go from faith to faith in the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17). This Righteousness is only imparted as the initial and secure position In Christ at the Born Again experience, and as fruit daily as our faith stands in the Cross of Christ alone (2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:20-21). We can talk about the blood of Jesus all day long, but faith does NOT come by speaking, but rather by hearing (Romans 10:17), and it is only when man believes with His heart unto THAT Righteousness (What Christ did at Calvary), that God honors THAT FAITH (Galatians 2:20) with Grace and Fruit!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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8/24/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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Bread Crumbs “Sanctification of the Heart” August 25

Progressive sanctification holds to the idea that a person is being changed, little by little, from what they were, into something pleasing to God. Jesus taught us that all actions, statements, and attitudes proceed from the heart of man. The Bible teaches us that out of the abundance of the heart man speaks. Therefore, out of the abundance of the heart man acts and thinks as well. If our speech, thoughts, ...or actions are not right, that is concrete evidence that our heart is not right. As a believer, there are portions of our beings that have yet to submit to or be changed by God's redemption plan. Even though we are “new creations” in Christ Jesus, not all of the content of the human heart which has been affected by the fall has experienced transformation. The good news is that the power of the Holy Spirit can unravel the clinging vines of the fall that have attached themselves to the heart and set us free from the wickedness therein. As the believer maintains simple faith in Christ and Him Crucified, the heart is progressively changed by the power of the Spirit. We can rest assured that God will not stop until He triumphantly concludes the work, He set out to accomplish in us.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 - Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 4:16
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
...
The story throughout the history of God’s people for the most part is one of a people who start out with a blaze of fire, but allow the fire to go out, many of which lost their souls. The Old Testament Scriptures were written as ensamples for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11), which means for our learning. Whatever your experiencing in the Church today happened to Israel. Every situation we have faced was already experienced by Israel, and it seems that we just can’t seem to get out of the cycle. Paul wrote his last letter to Timothy from a prison dungeon reminding him that EVERYONE in Asia had forsaken him. He also wrote to the Churches in Galatia asking them if he had become their enemy because of the TRUTH he had spoken to them.

We catch on fire through the preaching and believing of Christ and Him crucified, then it seems as if we began to fade away, even if we still have a lot of activity, it’s all in the attempt to produce Light which will only shine through faith in the Cross of Christ. The Light of God has always, and only shined on Christ and His work at the Cross, and this is why everything in the Old Testament is type and shadow, as it was all in the shadow of the Cross. Today the Light of Christ and His work of Redemption shines directly into our hearts as we believe the Gospel. When we refuse to move our faith, or our message away from the Cross, God has promised that the path of the Just will SHINE MORE unto that perfect day (Proverbs 4:18). Let us make sure we are on the right path, for if we are, it will daily shine more and more with God’s Word confirming our each step of the Way (Psalm 119:105)! Most have, and will unfortunately continue to turn away from this Sound Doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3), but some will be saved and make it unto the end!

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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8/25/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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Bread Crumbs “Change” August 26

The one thing that never changes is the fact of change itself. Everyone grows a little older, hopefully gets a little wiser, preferably matures into their roles in life. We move from being rosy cheeked babies through the acne of the pre-teen years and stumble on into early adulthood. We advance from knowing nothing, to thinking we know everything, to realizing we understand very little, until we ultimately begin to forget it a...ll. Perhaps there is one other truth that never changes besides the fact of change itself. That is, that our God never changes. His love is as sure and as strong as it was when we first met. His grace is always available and His mercy endureth forever. When life gets hard on me, He looms large. When life gets better, He receives all the praise. But never, not for a moment, has He ever forsaken, forgotten, or moved away from my side. Even when I thought He was busy somewhere else, He proved Himself faithful by showing up right on time with a plan for me that could not fail. I guess the only thing that never has changed and never will change is the character and faithfulness of my God. And for that He is worthy of my praise!

Malachi 3:6 - For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Pastor Loren Larson
Loren Larson Ministries
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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The Miracle of God’s Word

Galatians 4:17
They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

“THEY”, those who were turning the Children of God against the man and the message (Gospel) which God had sent them. Everyone who is not preaching God’s Word in the context of the message of the Cross, NOT only for initial Salvation, but also for daily Sanctification, is actually drawing the people of God to themselves for their own personal benefit, even if it is being done in ignorance. This is done with great zeal and fervency which has thrown us for a loop at one time or another, and of which most are held in bondage by today.

The Scriptures are in the context of Righteousness (Proverbs 8:8), and that Righteousness is only SEEN and EXPERIENCED through faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16-17, Galatians 2:20-21). The Scriptures tell us prophetically of Jesus that the VOLUME of the book (The Bible) is written of Him (Psalm 40:7, Luke 24:44-46, John 5:39, Hebrews 10:7), therefore when we open the Word of God, we need to see Jesus, for He is the Living Word. If we cannot see Jesus, then we can never find ourselves, for we as Christians are “In Him.” God is never tricked into anything through anyone’s outward display of any type. He looks on the heart of man (1 Samuel 16:7), and He looks for faith in the Cross of His Son, for it is only with the heart man can believe God, and that belief has to be unto Righteousness (Romans 10:10).

Seeking God in His Word and experiencing Him through faith in the sacrifice of Christ!

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8/26/2020

Pastor Curtis
 
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MessageOfTheCross said:
God does not give victory to the flesh. All victory is in Jesus Christ; all victory is in Who He Is and What He accomplished for us at Calvary. Those who are proclaiming Jesus, but forsaking the Cross are wrestling with God. They are trying to bring about victory other than the "Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus-God's prescribed order of victory over sin, the world, the flesh, and the Devil (Rom. 8:2)." This is why God (Jehovah, i.e., "a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ") touched the hollow of Jacob thigh (type of the flesh). We learn form this, "Jacob the heel catcher," went from wrestling to clinging, (the flesh is now crippled) depending on God's blessing(s). The sentence of death must be written on the flesh-the power of the Cross must be entered into before we can steadily walk with God.

Remember, if you leave the Cross, you walk away from God! Most Christians have left their First Love. They are proclaiming Jesus, but forsaking the Cross (lukewarm). This is called "Spiritual Adultery." If it continues, the scripture says the light is removed! Revelation 2:1-7; Revelation 3:14-19

The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...the only way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke 14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23). If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thief and a robber" (John 10:1).
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Thank you for sharing.... This was needed and came through strong. Thank you.
 
F

Fundamental

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#2,039
#2,039
MessageOfTheCross said:
99.9999% Christians reject this!
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Well I still have to read the entire topic though, but I would not know why? The movie in the beginning of this topic sure made me hungry to watch more tomorrow. I don’t reject any of it yet.
Changing in His image is a constant wrestle on this earth and it is spiritual warfare.

Maybe the rejection is where a christian sees the struggles in life today from the devil. While most are, but God isn’t changing that situation soon clearly. I need to change.

Also the reminder of not walking away from the cross was needed to read.
Thank you once more.
 
MessageOfTheCross

MessageOfTheCross

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Fundamental said:
Well I still have to read the entire topic though, but I would not know why? The movie in the beginning of this topic sure made me hungry to watch more tomorrow. I don’t reject any of it yet.
Changing in His image is a constant wrestle on this earth and it is spiritual warfare.

Maybe the rejection is where a christian sees the struggles in life today from the devil. While most are, but God isn’t changing that situation soon clearly. I need to change.

Also the reminder of not walking away from the cross was needed to read.
Thank you once more.
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Holiness and Sanctification are actually the same thing. Our holiness is obtained by faith and trust in Christ and what He did at the Cross. Without such Faith, there is no holiness, and there is no Salvation.

The gospel remains to be the only avenue through which Righteousness is revealed and experienced (Romans 1:16-17), and without the experience of Righteousness there is no Holiness, and without Holiness, no one can see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

When the Believer is proclaiming Christ while forsaking the Cross, this is a form of godliness because they are rejecting the power which is the Cross of Christ (1 Cor. 1:18). Because of the flesh, the Cross of Christ is an offence to most Believers after salvation. Therefore, grace stops and sin begins to much more abound.
 
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