The Rapture Force

We believe unto salvation. Because we believe then we receive the forgiveness of sins,and become reborn. A brand new slate for us who believe, that Jesus is Lord. That He was sent by God, that he was perfect,that He took our place and paid the price that we could never ever pay. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever {believes} in Him shall not parish but have ever lasting life. Believing what is it? it is faith,it is trust in God. It is a huge thing for us all. I will show you in this article how very important believing is.

We are told in one of my favorite verses that all things are possible to those who believe. Mark 9:23. The scenario is a father comes to Jesus and asks if you can would you please rid my son of the evil spirit within him that throws him on the ground and causes him to have seizures. I imagine Jesus incredulously looking at the father of the boy and asking, If I can? And then replying, all things are possible to those who believe. Then the father says to Jesus I believe, help my unbelief. So in other words, he thinks he believes, but then realizes he may not have that complete faith that is unwavering, so asks for help to believe.

We are allowed this as well. We who are His own, can ask for Him to help us to believe, that which we want more than anything to believe. We find in James 1:6-8 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Many people say they do not believe in the power of the holy Spirit doing all the works and more that Jesus said we would do. I personally feel bad for these people they are living a life of lack, and really as it says here in James, cannot expect anything from the Lord.

Wow do you see that? Those who waver in belief, meaning they just cannot believe for some reason or another, wont receive anything. So now we have an answer as to why those people who do not believe in the power of the holy Spirit, to give us gifts of healing and prophecy and speaking in tongues, do not get those gifts themselves. One must believe to receive those gifts, and to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Baptism means immersion Baptisma is the Greek word for it and it means immersion. Our English dictionary gives a loose translation. Saying immersion or sprinkling. Immersion in water is also baptism,but the gifts of the Holy Spirit only comes with immersion in the Holy Spirit. These, contrary to some peoples belief, are two different things.

Jesus said you must be born of water and spirit in John 3:5,6 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. This is very important obviously,for Jesus to say it. Paul, in Acts, 19:1-6 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Now the reason I was led to do this particular article was due to an argument or a debate 2 nights ago with two men, who insisted that they believe in the Holy Spirit but that there are no gifts given from this spirit in our time. I would like to say I was incredulous,but alas I have family who believes this way, and are also stuck under the law. They have no power in the Lord. They live lack luster lives devoted to working their tails off to be considered good enough to achieve eternity, and then claim they are not going to heaven due to their works. The law is not done away with but fulfilled. Meaning it is finished! There is no more to do to pay for your sins if you mess up. These people sadly do not understand that to live by the law one must also die by the law.

Paul in Romans 7 shows us the very weakness of the law. May I suggest everyone do an in depth study of Romans 6 and 7. It helps us to understand why it is we do not have to fight ourselves at all times to try and uphold the law. This link is a fabulous explanation of dying to the law, it is a very good explanation of Romans 6 and 7. http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/4507.htm This is a whole other article though. I tell you the Lord had me going through, about 5 different articles I could do just off of this one subject,that leads to so many more possibilities.

At one point of the discussion about denying the power in the Holy Spirit, I brought up the verses in Matthew chapter 12:31,32. This says there is an unpardonable sin and that is the grieving of the Holy Spirit. These men, (and I have to laugh at them not even realizing what they are arguing here) said that this was being used by me in the wrong context ,that the men who were grieving the holy spirit were saying Jesus was possessed of demons and this was how He was able to cast out demons and heal the sick. But the argument from their point of view was that these gifts do not exist for us today the holy spirit does not do these gifts through us. After the apostles died the gifts were done away with.

To me they are doing the same thing as those pharisees! They are arguing against the holy spirit doing the healing and speaking in tongues through us, and doing all manner of miracles and signs and wonders. But my question then has to be, if it is not the holy Spirit doing these things through us, then who do they say it is, doing these miracles and signs? The correct conclusion has got to be satan. The men were telling me how Jesus was telling the pharisees how stupid and foolish their notion was that it could and or would be demons doing these things. I agree with Jesus,but I cannot understand how these men, who vehemently deny there is power in the Holy Spirit that works today, figure it is foolish for the pharisees but not for themselves to believe, any other than the holy Spirit, is doing these works that are purely and certainly of God!

It is because they do not believe, that they do not receive these gifts. Proverbs 23:7 as a man thinketh so does he. So in other words if a man, or woman for that matter, decides for themselves that there are no longer any gifts of the Holy Spirit, then they cannot receive those gifts. Let us look at the power of believing for so many during Jesus walk upon the earth. Matthew 8:13 Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have Believed.” His servant was healed in that hour. Matthew 9:28 When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you Believe that I am able to do this?” They told him, “Yes, Lord.”

See it was their very believing that reaped the benefits. They sowed belief and they received a great harvest for believing. Let’s go on! Matthew 21:22 and all — as much as ye may ask in the prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ Oh dear now look at that! Out of the Lord’s own mouth. How do men mere men argue with the logic the truth coming from the Truth’s mouth? There is so much more. Mark 5:36 But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only Believe.”This last verse is talking about Jesus bringing the 12 yr old girl back to life. He knew they had to believe in order for Him to bring her back from the dead.

Let us go on. Mark 11:23 For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain,’Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but Believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. This is another of my favorites. It is so very important to understand the things we can do as long as we believe. So yes those people those word of faith preachers, not only are they trying to get through to you that believing is the most important thing you can possibly do for yourself and for ministry. But they are also trying most often to get you to understand,if you do not have this kind of faith,you must go after it. You must seek it with all your heart mind and body. The Lord gives nothing to anyone,we must work for all of it. Faith is progressive it is not just given to you. Faith is enlarged and grown and stretched in trials and troubles and sickness and even in health.

I do not look down my nose at word of faith preachers. Instead I covet that kind of faith. Word of faith preachers are not sitting idly by, they are working for every ounce of whatever they have. They are not telling you wrong by saying you get what you believe for. They are telling you the truth. Jesus said Himself, whatever you believe without wavering, that you will receive. If your praying for and hoping for, let’s say healing of cancer,You had better have some serious unwavering faith. Because the moment you waiver in your believing for it,is the moment you have to start all over again. If you covet healing then you need to study faith and pray for faith and ask God to help you to believe. Then trust Him for that faith and that help,and trust Him, that what He says He will do for one, He will do for all!

I went to a wonderful church that blew me away when they did the offering prayer. The pastor said, I am not going to beg for your money and force you, for the Lord likes a cheerful giver. But more importantly, we believe that the Lord wants this church to prosper in all it’s ways, and therefore we believe the Lord will make sure we are funded and all our needs are met. Now that is a wonderful church! I have always believed if a church has to beg and make those in the church feel guilty about tithing, then something is just not right in the church. Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, Believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. See the Lord goes on here in the same vein as the previous verse. It has to be very important to receive what you seek if he goes on and on about that very thing.

Mark 16:16 He who Believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disBelieves will be condemned. Mark 16:17 These signs will accompany those who Believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages; Oh wow now wait a second!!! Jesus is not talking about the apostles, He says here, “those who Believe”! Did Jesus lie? Of course not! Let us not be ridiculous. Jesus did not lie, and He had to continue to equip the church to enlarge the Kingdom. We can, none of us, do anything on our own. It is only the Holy Spirit living in us that can do all of the things we do. I challenge any person, any one person in this world and or who reads this to tell me when and where does Jesus or the apostles say that the gifts will die with them?There is no such verse or conversation.

I want to look at what happens when people do not believe. First off we see in Mark 16:16 that he who disbelieves will be condemned! Then now let us look at Jesus in Nazareth as a man fully into His ministry,and what happens when the people disbelieve in Him and in the power He wields. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. Mark 6:4-6 See He could do not mighty works. In the parallel verses in Matthew it states, 58And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

So though I know and believe with everything in me that God can and will do whatever miracles He wants to, when and where He chooses,will not, due to unbelief. As a man thinketh so is he, comes to mind. In this context though it is unbelief or negativity. Also Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So think about this too out of the abundance of your heart the mouth speaks. So the abundance in those hearts of those people, that refuse to believe in the very amazing and awesome power of the Holy Spirit, is unbelief.God is never changing, what is good for one person is good for another. God is no respecter of men,not even the apostles had anything more special than any man or woman in the world today.

Why would God give to them liberally all those lovely gifts and then all of the thousands upon thousands that came to Christ in the times of the apostles witness,but not us? we who are the body of Christ, with Christ being the head He has all that power. Think of it this way,our head which is attached to our body, has all our abilities in them. Our subconscious mind does all those things we do not have to tell our bodies to do, but to move our arms our legs, to speak, to look in any direction we must think about it,right? So with Christ being our head,and we all being His body, we have that power too. He gives it to us!

Every time I hear or see or read of someone saying oh that power died with the apostles,I cannot help but think of the verse in 2 Timothy 3:5,and I am using the living translation for this one,it says it so well. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! The KJV says it like this,Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. So why do we need to believe? It is so important to our very eternity to believe every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. People need to stop picking and choosing to believe what they want to believe and only that. God does not conform to your whims. Look at Romans 10:12 for there is no difference between Jew and Greek for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. let’s look at that last part of the verse rich unto all that call upon Him! So He gives the same to all, the same riches, are for every one who calls upon Him. How wonderful that news is!

And let’s look at Romans 10:8-10 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: 9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: 10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.There it is again,our whole entire Christianity our eternity depends upon believing the Lord. If you do not believe in all of what He has to offer then you are losing out on so much! Your missing out on the very power that brought Jesus out of the grave alive! That power that conquered the grave lives inside of us. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Christ from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwells in you. Amazing truths just amazing.

I pray for each of you that reads this that the Lord would stretch and grow your faith and that you will accept all truth about the Lord and His ways. I pray that you will live the abundant life Christ gave to us all freely,of His own will. it is the Lord’s will for us to all live lives full and wonderful and joyful and strengthened and powerful. If we deny the power of the Holy Spirit we deny truth,and our unbelief will in the end hurt us in so many ways.Believe brothers and sister Believe fully and completely in the truth,that is Jesus Christ.
Love in Christ Jesus,Tammy

I just want to say it is of huge importance to recognize when the coming of the Lord is. Not because if you believe it a post tribulation rapture and it is a pre tribulation rapture you will miss it. I know without a single doubt not one little piece of a doubt that it is a post tribulation rapture, but pre tribulation people are always saying that we will not be accounted worthy to be a part of the rapture if we are not thinking it is imminent. It is not imminent. There is much that must occur before the day of the Lord,and being blind to the truth is very dangerous indeed in so many ways for those who just refuse to listen to the truth of the matter. What friends will you do when you find out that you have been blinded by satan and have allowed this blinding to go on? What will you do when the Lord tarries,and does not come when you believe He is supposed to? I pray that you will be prepared and strong because you are going to need it.

Now on to the last of the verses.

Isaiah 27:1 In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce, great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea.

Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand.

Joel 2:11 The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?

Zephaniah 1:15 That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.

Zechariah 14:6-9 On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7 It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime–a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light. 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.

Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap.

1 Corinthians 1:8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.

Philippians 2:16 as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

2 Thessalonians 1:10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. This is clearly saying YOU!!!. I do not see how people so easily ignore the word of God in it’s entirety. I cannot understand any longer how this occurs. It personally made me ask a huge amount of questions,that no one could answer,when I was a pre tribulationist.

2 Thessalonians 2:2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. A one time awarding of crowns, on THAT DAY!!! The Last day,the only return of Christ.

2 Peter 3:12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

1 John 4:17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

Lamentations 2:22 “You have called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD’S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up has my enemy consumed.”

Isaiah 13:9 “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.”

Isaiah 34:8 “For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.”

Joel 3:14 “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”

Joel 3:12 “Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I it to judge all the heathen round about.”

Zachariah 12:11 “In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.”

Malachi 4:5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD”
Acts 2:20 “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come”

Isaiah 13:13 “Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”
Proverbs 6:34 “For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.”

Isaiah 61:2 “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn”
Isaiah 63:4 “For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”

Job 21:30 “That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.”
Proverbs 11:4 “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death.”

Romans 2:5 “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God”.

For now dear sisters and brothers this is it. I will as the weeks and months go along refer back to certain of these scriptures and possibly even all of them at one time or another,and will even put different ones down,as I explain this all out. I am sorry if I repeated any verses.

We can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that we are not due God’s wrath or anger. We are though going to go through severe trials and persecution. Christ tells us we will suffer persecution and our families will turn us over to persecution in the end times,but there is one church of the seven churches that is promised protection through it. That church is the church of Philadelphia the church of love,who believes in the power of the Holy Spirit. But that is for another lesson.

May God Bless you and hold you in His hands at all times. We must endure and keep on loving and yes even praising Him as we go through trials,we do not want our running this race to have been for nothing when He comes.

One last remark I must make. People do not study the book of Revelation for many reasons,all of them are a cop out. It is just not smart to ignore the fulfillment of the word of the Lord,the ending. Also it is the only book of the bible that tells us we will be blessed for reading it. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

So in closing,I just want to say,what is the day of the Lord? It is the fulfillment of every promise,every prophecy. It is God’s wrath on a sinful world,and on evil. This day and it is a one day event,has been stored up within God for centuries,for thousands of years. No one will stand against the Lord in that great and terrible day. The day of the Lord is His vengeance being wreaked on the whole of evil men and fallen angels.

Love in Christ Jesus,Tammy

When I was led to do this particular article, I researched it, and do you know what I found?
I found that all those preachers who are busy pointing out other wolves in sheep’s clothing were actually the very thing they were preaching against. Thats right, look up the words wolves in sheep’s clothing for yourself, and notice it is preachers talking about other preachers and putting them down. You will see what it is The Lord was speaking about through Paul. What does this mean to me, when I hear of ravening wolves, hiding as one of the sheep among the sheep? I think of devious jealous snarling angry unhappy people. Who do not apparently have enough to do with their own lives, and are just not busy enough leading people to the Lord. Our great commission according to Jesus is to go out and lead others to him.How can we effectively lead others to the Lord, if we are so busy looking for something bad to report about another preacher or teacher? Or even another brother or sister in Christ. It reminds me of my children when they were growing up and jealous of one another’s attention. Dad he said this, mom she said that ,aren’t you going to punish her or him?

In effect are we not as brothers and sisters in Christ doing the same thing when we take it upon ourselves to point out a wrong word or misspoken sentence someone else might have said? Most often, peoples opinions on others, is based upon their own prejudices, jealousies and or anger.It is a sad state of afairs when in looking for verses online pertaining to wolves in sheep’s clothing. Alls you can find on the issue is other preachers putting down other preachers and teachers.We are all supposed to be honoring one another in the body of Christ. Now I have no problem personally with others prayerfully considering sharing their disappointment with other Christians. Once in a while about someone they once had great esteem for,and they found out through that preachers own words, that he/she was indeed a wolf in sheep’s clothing.This takes serious consideration and time. My issue with the preachers who are talking smack about other preachers is this, they are not working the great commission that Christ told us is our job. That is simply to further the kingdom of God. To grow it and in love and patience teach one another.

If say a person came to Christ through the teachings and or preaching or evangelizing of one preacher, and then that new Christian heard through another preacher even their own preacher, that this person whom at first led them to the Lord, was a crooked so and so, or a wolf and they simply had misspoken something. Would that new baby Christian turn away? Would that new Christian who held such esteem for this person who led them to the Lord, Now hearing that preacher is bad bad bad. Couldn’t that give them serious pause to think, oh man who am I kidding here? I don’t know anything. I was stupid to listen to that or this person. Would that not turn them away forever more? I know within myself if I had heard all that I now know as a new Christian. I probably would have turned away. Thinking I knew nothing and this was a bunch of angry people I would not want to have anything to do with.

A study was done this past summer and filmed on,what other people think of Christians, are they united or divided? The answer by people who are not saved and do not have a clue about it, was they are so very divided. That dear friends is horrible. How can we effectively show the world at large, that we are indeed of one body, if it seems to the rest of the world that we are not united. Philippians 2:2 then fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind.[ISV] 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all like minded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humble minded: This is the body of Christ and what it would look like to the rest of the world.

Romans 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Jeremiah 32:39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.  I could go on and on with these verses of unity, but this has moved me in another direction than I wanted this article to go. Obviously my next article will be one minded in Christ.

Now what we are looking for in wolves, who are ravening and mad, who hide themselves as Christians among Christians . “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. “Matthew 7:15, KJV “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. “Matthew 10:16, KJV “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. “Luke 10:3, KJV “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”Acts 20:29, KJV.

Jesus does not spell out what “fruits” to look for, although in the Olivet Prophecy, He does link the deceptions of false prophets with the lawlessness and lack of love that abounds at the end time (Matthew 24:11-13). However, the rest of the Bible elucidates God’s character and nature, so we already have the tools to evaluate whether a message allegedly coming from God fits with what His Word reveals about Him. God is not double-minded; He will not contradict Himself. In other words test everything you hear everything against the word of God. We are also quite lucky in that the Lord has provided us the Holy Spirit which helps us to have discernment within ourselves. If it sounds wrong compared to what you already know, then search it out, study it up, and learn, always learn about your Father in Heaven, and what he would have you know as truth.

The description here is very apt—wolves in sheep’s clothing. They appear on the outside to be something they are not. When Jesus uttered this, He was probably thinking of false ministers who would insinuate themselves into the church by appearing to be sheep within the sheepfold.

Jesus uses this terminology in regard to His relationship with the church. He is the Shepherd, and we are His sheep. Here we have wolves (false ministers) who look like sheep, but it is hypocrisy. They only look that way on the outside. He tells us we will know them by their fruits. The fruit that is produced will not necessarily appear quickly. But Christ guarantees that over a period of time the church will be stripped of its true spiritual vitality in terms of the character that will be produced within the flock, making the rise of wolves in sheep’s clothing more likely.

What is He saying? The implication is that Jesus is connecting belief with practice. If we believe a certain set of doctrines, we will practice something because of the teaching. A religious creed or the dogma that a group is following will produce a certain kind of conduct by the people. Belief and practice, creed and conduct—Jesus is saying they are vitality connected. In other words, the teacher cannot hide what he is going to produce. Eventually it will come out. Their false philosophies, no matter how attractive they may appear at first sight, will in the long run be exposed for what they really are.

In Closing my brothers and sisters, I wish to warn you a little further of what to look for in wolves hiding among us. (Romans 1:28-32) And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. At all times keep your ears open, your eyes trained on truth. You I trust will know who to stay away from.

It is not our job to show the world who in our own opinion is a false teacher, but to trust the Holy Spirit will warn individuals of who is a wolf in sheeps clothing. To speak ill of someone else who is according to the word, our brother or sister is gossip, and slander.

Love in Christ Jesus,Tammy

Psalm 31:19 (NIV) How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 95:1-6 (KJV) “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”

Psalm 100 (KJV) “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 107:1 (NIV) “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 145:7 (NIV) They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (KJV) “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,for everything in heaven and earth is yours.Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you;you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks,and praise your glorious name.”

These are just a few of the verses from the Old Testament on being thankful.
I thought it would be nice to share with you all of my readers a few verses that show us always to be thankful to the Lord, especially since it is Americas thanksgiving holiday.

There was an even further thaksgiving day long before the American day of thanks, and that was in Nehemiahs day, Nehemiah 11:17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.

The first American’s to land here came with religious freedom in mind and they had it. They were also starving, and cold and sick and dying, at least half of the adult’s who came to America that year died. Those who lived had their bibles and their faith and not much else. They decided to praise the Lord anyway. What the Lord did was to bring them people from those lands, that the pilgrims knew nothing about, and the Indians showed them how to garden, and catch fish and hunt. They had such an abundance that year that after the fall harvest, they celebrated their abundance by having a feast in which they invited the Indians to dinner. Thus the first thanksgiving. In short they gave thanks to the Lord. We should always be thankful but this time of year is an absolute time of knowing that God has been good to us.
We all should sit and give thanks to the Lord always. Count your blessings. Write them down if you have to. Count them and see exactly how God has provided for you and held you up, when you did not think you would make it through your tough times.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Matthew 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. Revelation 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever. Revelation 11:16-17 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

Psalms 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Psalms 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: Psalms 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Psalms 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  Nehemiah 12:31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:
Nehemiah 12:40 So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me: Acts 27:35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; Meaning give thanks for one another. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Psalms 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.Psalms 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalms 106:1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 136:1-3 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.   With all of David’s repetition going on in giving thanks, do you think it is important?  I definitely do. I personally am very thankful and begin all of my prayers with thanksgiving to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. Romans 7:23-25 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.          For Wisdom in the Lord, Daniel 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

The list goes on and on of the verses that mention giving thanks to God our Father. Think about it this way, when you do something for someone, though you do not need thanks for it, you do hope for it. The Lord does for us daily, we should thank Him on a constant basis for all he is, all he does, and all he is going to do. When you have abundance to give to other’s, give thanks that you are able.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day!
Love in Christ Jesus,Tammy