STEPPING OUT ... IN FAITH: Jesus Christ Saves!

There's A Notorious, Demonic
Counterfeit Of Faith That Many Of Us Practice 
And 
Don't Even Know It! 

It's Presumption 
And 
It Can Lead To Deadly Consequences! 
Adam And Eve 
Presumed Upon Their Creator's Great Love For Them
To Save Them From Their Great Disobedience: 
It Didn't 
And 
We Are Living Out The Results Of Their Sin! 

Our Faith Claims God's Promises 
And 
Obeys His Word 
And 
Does His Will! 

Our Presumption Claims The Promises
Expects The Gifts
And 
Deliberately Disobeys God 
Daring Him To Protect Us From Our Own Folly!

We Should Not Tempt Almighty God! 

We Need To Be Faithful To Be Blessed! 

Let's Think Straight
To Be Wise ...

If Stepping Out In Faith
Is 
To Step Into The Unknown
And
You Are Sacrificially Loved And Blessed By
And
Personally Know 
And
Are Personally Known By 
The One God Holy Who Makes The Unknown, Known
And
Who Has Promised In His Own Blood
To Never Leave You Nor Forsake You
How Can Your Stepping Out In Faith 
Be Stepping Into The Unknown!?!

He Has Said Via The Inspired Word:

As Christians, We Are Asked, Called
To Live By Faith ... Not By Presumptuous Sight!
We Are Called To Trust 
In The Unseen, Holy, Eternal
Faithful, Just, Kind, Merciful
Giving, Forgiving
Saving, Healing
Sealing, Revealing
Blessing ... All-Knowing
All-Seeing, Ever-Present
All-Feeling Creator, Redeemer, Friend-To-The-End
God Of Grace
Our Provider And Sustainer!

Since Our God Is
And
Is Real
Having Been To See Us
And
To Show Us The Way To Live To Be Blessed
And
Revealed The Right Way To Pray
And
Having Died To Save Us
Still Lives
And
Is Presently Interceding
In The Most Holy Place Of The Heavenly Sanctuary
And
Is Soon To Return ... He Promised
For A People ... His People
Prepared And Ready To Go To His Home
Where He Has, Is Preparing, Places For Them
Why Would We Choose ... It Is A Choice
To Doubt Him At His Living And Preserved Word
Which Is A Transcript Of 
His Holy, Unchanging, Character!?!

His Mercies Showered Upon Us
Are New Every Morning!

The Lord God Almighty
Cares For All Of His Creatures
But
We Are Special:

We Are The Only Ones
Who Are Made In His Image
After His Likeness
And
We Are The Only Ones
Who Have Sinned Against His Holy Name
And
We Are The Only Ones
The Only Created Beings
For Whom ... In Sacrificial Love
He Willingly Bled 
And
Died To Save
Because
His Holy Love
Could Not ... Cannot ... Let Us Go To Damnation!

Soooo, What's With The Doubt Thingie!?!

You Just Made My Point! 

Huh!?! How!?! 

You Clearly Said: "Doubt Thingie! "

That's Like Thingamabob, Thingamajig, A Whatever

Not Worthy Of Its True Handle

It's Real Name! 

I Didn't Mean Anything By It! 

It's Just An Expression! 

Oh, Really!?!

How's About We Don't Call Sin

By Its First And Last Name

And Just Call It Cheese Danish

Chocolate Eclair

Apple Butter!?! 

You Can't Do That! 

And Why Not, Pray Tell!?! 

That Would Be Denigrating

The Holy Word Of God

And Giving Sinners Needing The Savior 
The Foolish Belief That Sin Ain't No Big Deal! 

Just Eat It ... And Get On About

Your Own Business! 

It Ain't No Biggie! 

That's Sliding Down A Slippery Slope! 

Yeah! 

One Gentle Push

And Off To Hell You Go! 

Oh, Dear! 

We Should Be Ashamed Of Ourselves!
We Need To Confess And Repent Of Our Sin!
We Need To Have Contrite Hearts
And
We Need, Now, Today
From Known Sin To Aggressively Depart!
Doubting Damns So From Doubting We Must Depart!

Jesus Christ Saves ... To The Uttermost!

Know The Right ...

By Faith
No Sin Is Too Low To Confess
No Sorrow Too Great For His Comfort!
No Need Is Too Broad For Satisfaction
And
No Hope Is Too Far-Fetched To Fulfil
According To His Will

Because

Jesus Christ Says That

We Are His Own By Creation

And

By Redemption

And

That We Do Not Travel In This Dark World Alone!

Jesus Christ The King Calls!
Jesus Christ The Righteous Answers!
Jesus Christ The Redeemer ... Saves!

The Holy Spirit Guides And Chides And Comforts

And

The Holy Angels Surround And Protect

And

Influence Us To Do The Good And The Right! 

We Should Dare To Be Bold

On This Pilgrim Journey! 

Our God Is Real, Reigning, And Returning! 

Our Savior Is Righteous And Redeeming! 

Our Redeemer Is Revealing And Sealing! 

Our Creator Is Providing And Sustaining! 

Our Shepherd Is Leading And Feeding! 

The Lord Christ ... Prince Shiloh

Is 

Our Perfect Peace! 

Brethren,

Salvation By Faith Is Personal
So I Speak For Myself

And 
With The Attitude Of The Saints

Who Have Gone To Their Rest:

My God Is Real! 

Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust Him! 

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

And 

If Almighty God Is For Me

Who Could Be Against Me!?! 

Before His Glorious Throne Of Grace
Let Us, In Working, Waiting, Watching, Faith
Humbly, Expectantly, Enduringly
Kneel Before Our Maker And Our God Eternal!

Jesus Christ Promised Me A Home In His Father's House

And

By His Grace

I Intend To Collect My Deed! 

We Have Choices To Make:

Feed On Foolishness From The Fiend And Fry

Or

Eat From The Hand Of The Shepherd Of Rest

And

In The Appointed Day ... With Him Leading

To Hill Zion Fly! 

Believe And Live! 

Doubt And Die! 

I'm Heading To The Sweet By And By! 

OXYMORON: Oh, Foolish Christian!?!

The Fool:

Says There Is No God!

The Christian:

Follows Jesus Christ The Lord!

**--**--**--**--**

Oh, Foolish Christian

Why Do You Emulate The World In Its Vanities!?!

The Lord, Your God, Points The Way!

Oh, Turn! 

Return!

Please Don't Continue To Stray!
Please Don't, From Saving Truth, Fall Away!

What Can The World ... So Full Of Sin

Teach A Child Of God That He May Live

In Godly Fear

Honor And Right 

That God Almighty Wouldn't Put Him Out Of His Sight!?! 

No Matter How Often Almighty God Called, Calls, The World

They Saw, See, No Reason To Conform

To Live Upright In The Gospel's Bright Light

But Choose To Walk ... Not In Faith

But In Carnal Eyesight! 

Oh, Child Of The Living God

Listen Well:

Fall Not Under This World's Bewitching Spell

Of Siren's Song, Baubles, Shows And Expos! 

There Is More To Life 

Than What Is Seen Here Below! 

You Are A Precious Tool For The Good Lord To Use!

So Don't Be Silly And Play The Fool! 

You Were Created! 

You Didn't Make Yourself! 

Give The Eternal God His Glory! 

Confess Your Known Sin And Repent

And

He ... Just And Faithful

Able To Cleanse

Will Assuredly, Immediately, Forgive You
And
Me, Too! 

Let's Be Wise Unto Our Own Soul's Salvation:

All Of Our Help, Comfort, Aid, Rescue
Provision, Sustenance

Maintenance ... And So Much More

All Come By The Holy Hand Of Jesus Christ The Lord! 

Let's Boldly Cut Out 
The Useless, Worldly, Middle-Man Class

And 

Reach For The Lord Of Life

- Who Is Ever Willing, Ready

And Able To Provide For And Protect Us - 

By Prayers, Praise, Glory, Honor

And 

Willing, Heartfelt, Worship! 

The Lord's Love For Us

Has

No Known Limits!

Believe, Trust

And

Obey Always 

And 

Be Eternally Blessed!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS: Ignoring Instructions

This Sermon, Brethren

Is Like No Other You'll Hear

And 
I Desire For Us All To Pay Close Attention:

Follow Almighty God's Commandments Always

And

To The Letter

And

Live Humbly In Godly Fear!

That's Nothing New!

I've Heard That All My Life!

In That Case, Big Mike

Since You Have Life-Long Experience

Come On Up Here With Me

And 
We'll Run An Experiment

For A Visual Aid To Bless Everybody!

Big Mike, Do You Like Garlic!?!

Of Course! Who Doesn't!?!

As A Matter Of Fact

I Take Two Garlic Capsules Every Day Without Fail!

Did You Take Your Capsules Today!?!

As You Well Know, Pastor Mac

Because I Told You When You Picked Me Up

I Was Running Late

And I Put Them In My Pocket For Later When We Eat!

I Have A Glass Of Water On The Lectern!

Would You Take Your Garlic Capsules 
Right Now ... In Our Presence!?!

No!

Would You Care To Tell Us 
Why You Won't Take The Garlic Capsules!?!

I Won't Take Them Now

Because The Instructions Clearly State:

Take With Food To Avoid Upset Stomach!

Sounds Reasonable!

Do You Always Follow Instructions!?!

By God's Grace, I Valiantly Try To Do So!?!

That's Fantastic, Isn't It, Brethren!?!

AMEN!!!

May I Encourage You To Not Follow 

The Instructions Aka The Rules

Aka The Commandments 
For Taking Your Garlic Capsules!?!

No!

What If I, Your Beloved Pastor

And 
Trusted, Lifelong, Friend

Your Brother By Faith

By Blood

And

By Affection

Were To Tell You That

I Also Take Garlic Capsules!?! 

I'd Say, Smart Man!

What If I Say I Take Garlic Capsules

On An Empty Stomach

And 
With No Ill-Effects!?!

I'd Say Good For You! 

I'd Say Prove It!

This Is Very Good, Brethren!

We Have Two Opinions:

The World And The Church

The Believer And The Doubter

The Right And The Wrong 

The Good And The Bad

Covering The Sinner And The Saint!

Big Mike, As We Discussed Prior

And 
To Open The Eyes Of The People Of God Today

How About We Both Take Our Daily Garlic Capsules

Just To See What Will Happen

To Those Who Dare To Ignore Instructions

Reject Rules

And

Defy Commandments!

Are You Game!?!

Against My Better Judgment

But All For A Good Cause

And Because It Won't Kill Me

I'm In The Game!

Brethren, 

Observe Carefully!

Big Mike, Do I Have Garlic Capsules In My Hand!?!

They Sure Smell Like My Garlic Capsules

That I Have In My Hand!

Very Good!

The Clock On The Wall Says It's 11:45 p.m.

Let's Give This Experiment Fifteen Minutes To Play Out!

Anybody Have Any Crackers ... Just In Case!?!

Lacey Macy Always Has Crackers!

I Sure Do!

Then We're Set!

Bottoms Up, Big Mike!

Likewise, Pastor Mac!

Not Even Five Minutes Later ... 

Lord Jesus, Help Me!

You Alright There, Big Mike!?!

No, Pastor Mac!

My Skin Is Going Clammy

And It Feels Like Someone 

Is Ripping Through My Stomach With A Hacksaw

And My Whole Body Feels ... Feels 
Feels Like It Is Electrified ... On Alert!

Aren't You Feeling Anything!?!

Not At All!

I Don't Understand Why Not! 

You Must Have A Cast-Iron Stomach!

Not Really!

I Had A Sandwich During The Five Minute Break!

But You Said You Take Yours On An Empty Stomach!

I Most Certainly Did Not!

The Congregation Gasped!

But, But ...!

... I Said: What If I Say ...!

Uhhhh, Uhhhhh, Ooooo, Mama! 

... You Alright, Big Brother!

I Feel Like I'm Dying!

Lord, Help Me ... The Pain! 

Sister Lacey, Bring Those Crackers Now, Please!

Here You Go, Big Mike!

Chew, Brother! Chew!

After The Conclusion Of The Experiment ... 

Brethren, 

As You All Observed 

Temptation To Sin Can Even Come

From A Silken Cord Of Affection 
Aka The Hand Of Blood Brethren!

As You Also Observed

Nuanced Speech And Outright Lies

Cause Us To Yield Common Sense

And

To Disobey

And 
To Fall Into Satan's Traps!

You Also Observed That Rules, Instructions 

From Manufacturers, From Parents
Our Teachers, Our Civil Rules

The Commandments From Our God Holy

Are Not Put In Place To Make Us Miserable

To Deny Us Pleasure

To Lord It Over Us!

They Are There For Safety 
Comfort And Protection!

Big Mike, My Beloved Brother, 

Thank You For Participating: 
Sorry For You Pain, Your Trauma!

Is There Anything You'd Like To Say To Us!?!

First, Pastor Mac, Lil' Brother

In The Hour Of My Distress 

I Seriously Wanted To Hurt You Profoundly!

You Lied To Me!

I Apologize For Not Disclosing The Whole Plan!

Brethren, 

I Know The Rules!

I Was Fully Informed Of The Risks And The Rewards!

I Also Knew, In Advance

The Penalty For Disobedience!

I Paid The Price!
Foolishness Is Not Common Sense In Any Language!

Let Me Tell You

Almost Instantly Upon Taking My

Not The ... My Garlic Capsules

I Felt When They Hit My Empty Stomach!

I Felt ... The Change

And I Then Felt 
When They Fully Bloomed In My Stomach!

The Pain, The Upset
The Trauma To My Innards
Was, Is, Unbelievable ... Pastor Mac ...!

... I Understand! 

I'll Take It From Here! 

Brethren, 

Let This Be A Lesson To Us All! 

This Is What Sin Does! 

Temptation Is What Satan Proffers! 

This Is What Disobedience Works In Our Hearts! 

Do Not Play Games With Your Soul! 

Big Mike Is Going To Feel Pretty Poorly For A While!
He Is Going To Know ... Fully
The Cost Of His Disobedience!

Silken Cords Tie Us Up Tighter
Tighter Than A Ship's Anchor Rope
Because
They Are Smoother, Nearer, Softer
And
We Like, Love, Admire, Appreciate
That To Which They Are Attached!

Silken Cords ... Unchecked
Will Cut Us Off From Freedom
From Good Health
And
They Can Kill!

What We Have Witnessed Today Is Minor
In Comparison To What Sin Does To Us!
We Know When We Have Sinned!
We Feel When We Have Sinned!
We Suffer As A Result Of Our Sin
And
The After-Effects Of Our Sin
Are Of Long Duration
Even When We Confess And Repent
Of Our Known Sin!
Repentance Does Not Mean No Punishment!

The Sin Of Presumption
- Which This Was -
Can Lead To Deadly Outcomes
So Do Not Be Presumptuous!

Listen To This Closing Word

And

Know That We Cannot Hide From Our Maker:

It Takes An Enormous Amount Of 
Pride And Presumption ... Both Sins

For Mortal Beings To Believe That 
They Can Hide Anything That They Think
That They Did Or Are Doing 
From The Creator Of Us All! 

Who Makes It Knows It ...

Very Foolish Is The Builder Of The House That 

He Does Not Know How To Breach 
If He Is Locked Out! 

The Custom Watch-Maker Intimately Knows 
The Workings Of His Creations: 

Why Would The Creator God 
Know Less About Us, His Creatures!?! 

Do Not Be Presumptuous

Believing That You Are An Island

A Nation Unto Yourself

Impervious To Self-Destruction! 

Let's Us Be Ever Wise Unto Soul Salvation

And

With Contrite Hearts

Sorrowing Over Our Personal Sin
And
Desiring To Get Right With Our God

Humble Ourselves 

And

In The Time Appointed
The Lord Will Raise Us Up For Our Best Good 
And

For His Great Glory! 
When The Lord Says: 

"Don't Do It!

Thou Shalt Not ...!

Remember ...!

Keep ...!

Believe ...!

Don't Doubt ...!

Have Faith ...!

Trust ...!"

He Means It
Because
To Do Otherwise
Will Surely Cause Us Pain, Sorrow And Regret!

Please Do All To Walk In The Light Of Life

And

Do What's Right In The Eternal God's Sight! 

Let Us Endeavor ... By Willing Obedience

His Loving Heart

Always To Delight! 

AMEN!!! 

HAPPY SABBATH + Contentment!?!

The Sorrows Of This Life

Are Myriad

But
The Joys Reposing In Christ Jesus

Are Infinite! 

How Many Of Us Can Truly Say 
When We Are Short Of Money, Food
The Comforts Of Life
Personal Peace, Quiet, Rest
Pleasant Work
Or Even A Loving Relationship: 

"I Am Contented In Christ!?! 

Do You Remember To Say Likewise 
When All Is Well!?! 

Is Your Contentment From Having Things 

Or From Personally Knowing Jesus Christ Our Lord!?! 

Can You Recognize The Difference!?! 

Let Me Make It Perfectly Plain That
What Jesus Has For You, Is Yours: 
He Always Blesses No Matter How Things Look Or Feel! 

I Encourage Us All

To Stand On His Sure Promises

And 

To Be At Peace! 

Jesus Christ Is Caring For Us

And

Abundant Blessings Await All His Believing Ones! 

Let Me Point Out Here For Us All That
Contentment Is A Godly Attribute 

Which Is An Indicator Of 

Our Faith And Trust In The Living God 

To Be Our Provider!

AMEN!!!

That's A Whole Sermon That You Just Preached!

Truth Must Be Completely Told, Though, Brethren!

Contentment Is Scarce All Around 
Because 

People Don't Know The Real Jesus 

And 

Do Not Understand "This Faith Thing" 

That We Practice 
As They So Disdainfully Call It!

I Ain't Practicing!
I'm Living By Faith!

I'm With You!
This Is The Last Over Of The Game
And Jesus Christ Is Coming
And That Satan Is Bowling Bouncers
With Live Ammunition!

You Got That Right!
This Ain't No Practice Game!
This Is Do Time!

Jesus Christ Gives Unto Us 
- The Word Says Every Man -
The Daily Gift Of Faith
- Believers Use It To Cope With Life -

And

Since Multitudes Have No Faith

Because 
They Don't Know King Jesus

All Around Us Is Disarray

Sorrow, Discontentment
Murder, Mayhem, Spiritual Bankruptcy 
Carnality, Criminality And Conspiracy

And

The Real Problem Children Called 
And 
Known As 
Debilitating Doubt And Damnable Disbelief! 

A Lil' Bit Of Jesus Surely Soothes The Savage Heart! 

A Life Lived In And For Christ Jesus 
Makes The Pains Of Human Existence Easier To Bear! 

Indeed
And
With Your Kind Permission
Here Are Some Words To Live By
Which Will Settle This Matter
Once And For All
For Us All:

I Have Faith 

So I Am Trusting My Lord Jesus 

Who Daily Gives Me His Faith 

So That I Will Daily Trust Him

By Daily Having His Gift Of Faith

Which Daily Causes Me To Daily Trust Him!

It's A Beautiful Circle!

All In All A Good Day's Blessing!

Nice Circle!

Hear, Hear!
I Sincerely Thank Our Father In Heaven That
There Are No Angles In Or To Our Jesus!

Preach It, Brother! 

You Are All So Correct!
When I Look Around
I See The Detritus Of Lives Lived By False Gods
False Teachings From False Teachers
And Broken Promises
Because Of All The Angles Useful ... Supposedly
To Find Happiness Aka Contentment!

It Makes A Big Man Want To Cry!

Let Me Repeat, My Peoples
Contentment 
Is Only Found
In Jesus Christ The Lord!
Any Other Way ... Or Mode To Contentment
Is
Compliments Of Satan The Adversary
That Lying, Murdering, False God!

People!
Hope In The Lord!

Bless Yourself

Aka Make Yourself Truly Happy

By Pleasing Almighty God!