PRACTICAL PIETY: Life-Changing Truth

Practical Piety Aka Heart Religion
Has A Real Heart For His Maker
His Savior ... His Redeemer
The Living Soul's True Friend
Jesus Christ The Lord!

He Loves The Lord Will All His Mind
All His Strength
And
Worships Him In Spirit
And
In Soul-Searching, Life-Changing, Truth!

Practical Piety's Attitude Ruffles A Certain Sort's Feathers
And
Creates Waves ... Of Animosity!

One Among The Certain Sort Is Called
Head Knowledge
And
He Is A Theoretical Christian
And
Proud Of It, Thank You Very Much!

I Must Warn You ...

Don't Get Into An Argument With Head Knowledge!

Head Knowledge Is A Boss At Bible Knowledge!
He Knows Scripture ... Chapter And Verse!
He Knows Greek And Hebrew!
His Knowledge Of Things Biblical Is Encyclopedic
But
I'm Sure You Knew This Was Coming
His Heart, Thoroughly Carnal, Is Not Involved!

He Has No Love
Except In The Vein Of I Love Ice Cream!
He Would Not Give Up His Life For The Lord
Because
The Lord Is Not ... By Personal Experience
His Lord!

Head Knowledge Sees The Lord
Knows Of The Lord
And
Speaks Tirelessly About The Lord
But
He Is Not Touched By The Lord!

To Say It Another Way
Head Knowledge Refuses To Permit Himself
To Allow The Free-Flowing Love Of
The Lord Jesus Christ
To Breech The Hard Shell Of Intellectualism
That Clouds His Mind
Blocks His Ears
Taints His Tongue
And
Surrounds His Heart!

If You Still Don't Understand His Problem
I'll State It Bluntly:

Head Knowledge 
Is 
So Full Of Self That 
He Can't See That He Is A Sinner
Who Desperately Needs ... Not A Savior
But
The Savior Of Every Man!

You Know
If His Heart Were In The Work For The Kingdom
He'd Be A Wonderful Champion For The Good Shepherd!

Puzzlers ...

What I Personally Don't Understand
Is How Does One Take Pleasure
In Selling, Studying, Teaching, Preaching
Speaking Loquaciously About Something 
In Which You Have No Faith Or Belief ... No Stock!?!

I Don't Understand 
How You Can Love The Holy Words Written
But
Not The Holy One Who Is The Living Word
Or The Holy Spirit 
Who Inspired The Human Chroniclers Of That Word!?!

Consider This ...

"Humble Yourself Under The Mighty Hand Of God...!" Causes Him To Have A Conniption Fit!

Since I Am Telling You The Living Truth
I Must Also Tell You That
Head Knowledge ... And Those Of His Ilk
Are Proliferating Amongst The People Of God:

They Will Not Be Reasoned With! 

If You Do Not Think As They Do
You Hate Them
And
You Are Self-Righteous
Aka A Holy Roller!

If You Do Not Agree With Them
And
Gratuitously Pick Apart
The Immutable Word Of The Eternal God
To Accommodate So-called Felt Needs
Which Are Actually Self-Satisfying, Willful, Wants
You Are A Fundamentalist
And
Out Of Touch ... Out Of Time
Backward!

Brethren,

The Word Of The Eternal God
Is
A Polished Mirror!
The Mirror Is There To Show You Your True Condition!

If You Look In The Mirror
Aka Read The Word
And
Understand What The Word Says
What The Mirror Shows
And
Then You Turn Away From The Word Aka The Mirror
And
Do Nothing About Your State Of Being
The Mirror Aka The Word
Has Done Absolutely Nothing For You!
You Have Done Absolutely Nothing For Yourself!

Listen To The Apostle James ...

We Are Called To Put Action Into Our Knowledge!

When You See Something Wrong
You Must Do Something Right To Fix It!

When You Do Something Wrong
You Must Take Corrective Measures To Fix It!

Getting Back To Head Knowledge ...

We Will All Do Well To See In Him 
Our Own Personal Peril!

Knowing Jesus By The Book Alone Does Not Profit!

Personally Knowing The Jesus Of The Book
And
Obediently Doing All That He Asks
Learning To Live As He Lived
Walking The Narrow Way That He Walked
Doing Good Because It Is Good
Living Right Because It Is Right
Blessing Others Because It Is Good And Right
And
It Blesses Us
And
For Love Because Of Love
Is
The True Benefit Of A Personal Knowledge Of Jesus Christ!
You Do Want To Get Home To Hill Zion, Don't You!?!

Ask Yourself ...

What Does It Profit
To Know Of The God Of The Bible
But
Never Experience The True Blessings
Which Come Of Having An Intimate Relationship
With This Holy God!?!

Brethren,

Please Don't Sell To Others 
That Which You, Yourself, Will Not Buy!
You Are Damning Others Along With Yourself!
You Are Making Satan Laugh
Even As You Crucify Jesus Christ Afresh
And
Make Him Cry!

Said Differently,
Knowing Jesus Christ Is Not An Intellectual Pursuit!

Knowing Jesus Christ Is A Private Pursuit
With Each One Of Us ... Individually
Going After An Intense, In-Depth, Personal
Lasting, Committed, Progressive
Mind-Expanding
Long-Haul Relationship
That Is All-Consuming
Life-Altering ... Soul-Perfecting
Leading To Life Everlasting!

Please Learn From Apostle Paul
And
Dare To Walk Through This Life
To Be Eternally Blessed
By The One
Who, Alone, Saves And Forever Blesses!
After All
For Your Personal Sin
He Did Personally Atone!
He Is Calling You To The Heavenly Home!

HAPPY SABBATH + Sin Will Not Last!

Inside The City
And
Outside The City
Were Human Through And Through!
Inside The City
And
Outside The City
Are Men Just Like Me And Like You!

Inside The City Was Thought To Be Wrong
- He Humbly Served The Risen Lord -
And
Outside The City Was Known To Be Strong
- He Served His Lusts And Lived Like The Fraud -
And
Under Normal Circumstances
This State Of Affairs Would Be Applauded
Because
The Unjust Judge Of Their Mortal Lives
Is 
A Tame Man That Carnal Men Lauded!

But ...

Normal Circumstances Are Abnormal To Be Sure!
The True Judge Of All The Earth-Bound
Was Standing At The Open Door!
He Called To His Faithful, Enduring, People
Who Had Committed To Living Inside The City
- The City Of Light -
Where Life Is Eternal
Where There Is No Mortal Strife
And
There Is All That Will The Saved Soul Delight!

Another But ...

These Days Were Funny Nights
For Those Who Had Made A Contract With Death
With Satan The Bold
With Sin
With Self
With Hearts Rendered Unfeeling ... Cold
With Eyes On The Main Chance
With Harsh Hands On Weak Men's Throats
With Hard Heels On Needy Men's Necks
With Tainted Taste Buds Loving The Abominable
With Tawdry Thoughts Toward The Husband, The Wife, Unlawful
On Murder And Mayhem
On Dishonoring Parents Considered Old
On Lying For A Conversation
On Refusing To Accept The Call To Conversion
And Instead
Choosing To Walk In Vain Wisdom
Doing That Which Pleases Self
Desiring The Distasteful
Demanding The Undesirable
Worshipping The Abominable
Honoring The Unholy
Building Houses In Sand
Ignoring The Holy Son Of God
- The Loving Son Of Man -
Choosing, Choosing, Choosing Broadway
Ignoring, Rejecting, Despising The Strait And Narrow Way
Calling, Always Calling, The Unwary, The Unwise
The Unwashed
Those Living In Circumstances Mean
To Ignore The Call To Christ's Salvation
To Live The Lie That Says Man Is God
That Satan Is Friend And Not A Murdering Fraud
That Jesus Christ Failed On His Mission To Save Man
That A Relationship With Christ Is Not Sound Advice
That Self-Denial Is Unnecessary Sacrifice
That Man-Pleasing Is A Pleasurable Delight
That Self-Sacrifice Is A Thing That One Should Hate
That Man Makes His Own Destiny
That Man Names His Own Fate
That Waiting For A Savior Is Just Cheap Click-Bait
That Jesus Christ Is Not Coming
Therefore ... He Will Be Late!

If Only They Chose To Know ...

Outside The City Is Lost-Man Domain!
Inside The City Is Saved-Soul Terrain!

Outside The City Is The Cast-Out, Condemned!
Inside The City Are Saved-For-Eternity, Forgiven Souls
Known Repentant God-Fearing Women, Children And Men!

Don't Trust Your Eyes ...

In The Present Order Of Things
Those Outside The City Are In The Right 
Rich
Blessed Of "God" And Increased With Goods
And
They Have Need Of Nothing
Including Their Creator, Redeemer
Jesus Christ The Lord
And
It Is For This Reason
That Satan Had Prevailed Against Them
And
In The Day Of Judgment
They Will, In The Lake Of Fire
Be Seriously Joining Him!

By Contrast
Those Inside The Holy City Will Be The Rejects
The Fools
The Despised Of The Earth
But
Praise God For Jesus
The Times Are Changing
Changed
And
Those Inside The Bright And Beautiful City
Are The Blessed
The Beloved Of Christ And God
Those Who Permitted The Holy Spirit Of Truth
To Guide Them And Chide
And
Bless Them With Loving Insights
And
Desires For Ever-Increasing Truth And Light
And
They ... Accepting The Gift Of Faith And Grace
Truth And Righteousness
Peace And Rest
Forgiveness And Mercy
Yielded Their Free Will
And
Their Free Choice
To The Sweet Spirit That Leads To Eternal Life!

For All Their Sorrows, Their Woes
Their Bruised Heads, Their Stubbed Toes
Their Confessions Of Known Sin
Their Humble Repentances
They Had Reached For The High And Holy Hand
And
Accepted The Free Salvation
The Saving Grace
The Promise Of Life Everlasting
And
Their Sin Being Cast Into The Sea Of God's Forgetfulness!

They Trusted In The Promises Given
Enduring, Working, Waiting, Watching
Believing, Receiving
Knowing That In Him Was No Deceiving
And
Now ... At The Last Trumpet
The Condemned Earth They Were Leaving
In The Zion-Bound Train
Jesus Christ The King Of Glory
Leading!

It Pays To Serve Jesus ...

Their Sacrifice For Him
Had Not Been In Vain!
They Had Not His Name Profaned!
Their Earthly Losses Had Gleaned For Them
Heavenly Gain!

For His Love
They Had Suffered Time And Again
And
Here ... At Last
Is The Day From Time Forever Past
And
They ... Triumphant
Enter Eternity
- That Realm Which Lasts, And Lasts -
Where Space Is Vast
And
No Shadows Are Cast!

Those Outside The City
Had Had Their Riotous Blast
And Now
They Shall From Time And Eternity
Forever ... By The Holy Hand Of The Judge
Be Cast!

Brethren,

At This Point
Sin Is A Thing Of The Past!

It Is Better To Be Lowly Servant

In The House Of The Living God

Than

To Be A Despoiled Prince

In The Pleasure-Palaces Of Satan

The Deceiver

The Condemned God-Fraud!

HAPPY SABBATH + Are You F.O.R?!

The Question Is A Simple Question!

Will You Die IN Sin
AND
Be Lost
Or Will You Die TO Sin
Because
Jesus Christ Died FOR Your Sin
So That You Can
Daily Take Up Your Cross
AND
Follow Him ... HOME
To Hill Zion?!

Brethren,
Today I Sound The Clarion Cry:

Victory ... Over Sin

Under ... The Agency Of The Holy Spirit

In ... The Name Of Christ Jesus

IS

Available

And

IS

Ours

IF

We Will Surrender ... ALL!

We Must Surrender ALL!
All Known Sin
All Bad Habits
All Bad Attitudes
All Grudges
All Hatreds
All Lusts
All False Gods
All Leanings Toward Sin!

Our God
IS
The All Or Nothing God!
He Gave His All ... For You
So
He Will Never Accept
A Little "Something" From You
"To Keep Him Happy!"

Almighty God
By Jesus Christ
Will Never Be Happy With Your Stingy Little Bits!
If You Want Your God To Be Happy With You
Give Him Your ... ALL!
NOW!
TODAY!

Listen To Me!
Do Not Presume Upon God's Mercy
Thinking That You Have Tomorrow!
Thinking That You Will Give Almighty God Your All
On Your Deathbed!

Your Gave The World Of Sin
Plump Grapes
BUT
You Feel Contented To Give God ... Dried Raisins!?!

Do You Know How A Grape Becomes A Raisin?!

No?!?

Well, Let Me Tell You!

A  Plump Juicy Bunch Of Grapes
Is
- With Intent -
Cut From The Life-Giving Source
And Dumped Into An Alkali Bath
To Make The Liquid In The Grapes  Rush To The Skin
So That It Can Dry Out
According To The Heat Of The Elements
Which Will Afflict It!

That Bunch Of Grape Is Left To Dry
To Shrivel Up
To Darken
Turn Brown Even Unto Black
- Depending On The Variety, Of Course -
Until All Its Sugars Crystallize
AND THEN
It Is Boxed
AND
It Is Marked ... For Second Death
AKA
Eating By The Ravenous Horde!

Please Wake Up ...

Tomorrow Is Not Promised To Any Man!
NOW
Is The Acceptable Time!
NOW
Is The Day Of Your Salvation!
Do Not Harden Your Heart Against God
Lest Ye Perish In The Wilderness Of Sin!

Do Not Believe
That Your "Deathbed Confession"
Will The Wrath Of God Appease!
That Is Presumption
AND
Presumption Is A Sin!

There Is Only One Death-Bed Conversion
In The Whole Bible
And It Is The Conversion Of
The Thief On The Cross
Who Saw Jesus
Who Called To Jesus
Who Confessed His Sin To Jesus
Who Honored Jesus Christ As Lord And King
Who Asked For The Blessing Of Christ's Remembrance
AND WHO
- Let The Living Holy Faithful God Be Praised -
Was Accepted Into The Fellowship Of The Father
AND WHO
Will Be Raised Up 
On The Great Getting-Up Morning
To Wing His Way To The Paradise
That Jesus Christ Promised Him
That Therein
With His Lord And Savior
He Will Forever Reside!

Are You
Will You Be
Can You Be
F ruitful
O bedient
R ighteous?!

Let Us Take Up The Position ...

We Will Not Be Wild Grapes
AND
We Will Not Run Off To Be Dried Raisins!

Know This ...

Jesus Christ Is Willing Ready Able
To Graft You Into The Living Stock
To Become A Part Of A Vital Whole
That Will Willingly Bear
Good Fruit
Grade A
AND
Not B
Not C
Not Substandard
BUT
Premium Filled Fruit
Fit For The Table Of
The King Eternal!

I Beseech You, Brethren ...

Apply For The Water Of Life ... TODAY!
Be Filled With The Holy Spirit ... TODAY!
Get Jesus Christ ... TODAY!
AND
Get Home Safe
In The Great Day!

REMEMBER:

Good Grapes Are Table Grapes!
Wild Grapes Get Their Life Crushed Out
AND
As Is To Be Expected
Raisins. Get. Consumed!

Do The Math!

What, Now

Is Your Answer

To The Only One Who Can

Give You New Life?!