Carnal Christians? (Part 1)

(From Pastor Mike Miller's website, http://www.straightpathsbiblechurch.com, June 13, 2005)

If you talk to the average professing Christian, they will defend this creature that is found nowhere in the Bible – a “Carnal Christian.” The first thought that comes to my mind is this:

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Rom. 13:14

“Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,” but isn’t that exactly what believing in a carnal Christian is? You are making a place for something the Bible doesn’t. Not only that, but you are making a place for something the Bible strictly forbids, condemns, and clearly defines as enmity with God. 

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom. 8:6-8 

The carnal mind is not subject to the law of God and indeed it CAN’T be! The carnal mind does not and cannot obey the law of God. Yet many claim that a person like this is saved. They have a real problem explaining all those verses in the Bible that say we can, do, and must obey if we are saved:

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Cor. 10:5

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Acts 5:32

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt. 7:21

The Bible promises that carnal people are to be judged by God. These are people who are not subject to God and his law, those who do not obey him.

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Thess. 1:8

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Pet. 4:17

Those who are truly saved obey God – they are NOT carnally minded:

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Heb. 5:9

The whole idea of Romans 8 is to make a division between those who walk after the Spirit and those who walk after the flesh. Those who walk after the spirit are saved – those who walk after the flesh are not. You cannot be both at the same time – you are either walking after the flesh or you are walking after the Spirit. The verses above plainly show that one is life and one is death. If Christ lives in you the body is dead and you do not walk after the flesh anymore. It is not your lifestyle and not your habit. If the Spirit of Christ does not live in you then you are not saved:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Rom. 8:9

Much more can be said about this matter. There are some verses that are used to “prove” the existence of “carnal Christians” but they do no such thing. The Bible is very clear in the few verses we have presented here that carnality and true salvation do not go together. The Word of God is the standard and we should judge ourselves and others by that – not by looking around at what is sitting in the church pews calling themselves “carnal Christians.”

A story in the news this week talked about a porn star who is going to be at a fundraiser dinner for the Republican Party in a week or two. She will be there with the President and many of our so-called conservative leaders. She says she is a Christian! She reads her Bible and prays every night. She says that she isn’t as bad as a lot of people and when she acts in those pornographic movies it isn’t really her – she is pretending to be someone else. She says God looks on the heart and she isn’t immoral just because she does those things for the camera. She is a “carnal Christian.” Check out the article on Worldnetdaily.com here: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=44671

All the above is a true story, but very few Christians would accept her testimony as real. They can’t believe that a porn star could be a Christian, but they believe in “carnal Christians.” What hypocrites! They are teaching exactly the same thing as this woman is professing, but they have an imaginary line or limit where you just can’t be a Christian and do those things. They are powerless to condemn this woman because they really believe just like she does. There really is no difference between the lost and saved. A Christian can do anything! Just because he is saved doesn’t mean he can’t be carnal! But I remind you that is just the logic of men, while the Word of God makes a clear difference and very plainly teaches quite the opposite.

There are no carnal Christians, there are simply carnal people and spiritual people. There are people who walk after the flesh and those who walk after the Spirit. Just as God judged his people in the past He will judge this wicked generation for blurring the lines and failing to make a difference between the clean and the unclean.

Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Ezek. 22:26

Some Questions To Ponder (Part 2)

This is a continuation of the 1st part l did some time ago. Too much at once to write at one time, so l now continue on with this. There may not be Scripture, but believe me there is. At that time l did not intend to use verses to support all this.  Though it can be, l will carry on as what is written the way it is and no add ons, with possible exceptions. Thank you. 

The questions:

• Should we deny our Christian faith and give in to the beliefs of other religions, or should we follow, live in obedience, and surrender to Jesus Christ no matter what?
• Are we to give in to these so-called bibles believing  God inspired these books for our benefit, or instead believing by faith that God has one Bible? The simplest answer? - Get on your face before almighty God.  Humble yourself in His sight.  Pray and ask Him, He will answer and tell you His Holy Word is the KJB, even though others will mock you silently and all will doubt you. 
• Do you know that when you doubt God, doubt what His Holy Word says, you call Him a liar?
• Do you know that the power of conviction from the Holy Spirit can beat the damnable pride out of you and make you do, act and say things that are pleasing to God? 
• Do you know the Holy Spirit can convict you on things that no person ever could? 
• Do you realize what NO PERSON knows about you? God does, for God hates sins of all kinds.  
• Do you know that if you never confess your sins and repent and ask His Son Jesus to come into your heart and life in brokenness of heart and humility, you will go to hell? 
• Do we live in such an age where rebellion, strifes, stirrings and heartache create division in churches, that we ignore what God can do in us to aright such things? 
• Do we allow apostacy in these local churches to grow to a point where believers and non-believers are alike? Where we, believers, grow weaker in faith and we depart from Holy God by allowing some men to dictate to us their values, ideas, vain babbling, philosophies, arrogant smugness, tolerance for world leaders to preach behind pulpits, and non-believers to follow?  Where we do not allow God Almighty in heaven to show us all the way, how to live the life that God can give each one of us and lead us in a  way of complete humility, true surrender, and complete obedience to Jesus our Lord? 
• Are we that foolish to think we can be godly, at the same time Godless? Why do we never feel the need for that longing for God in our souls? 
• Are we that self-absorbed and shellshocked that we have no need for that satisfying deeper hunger for God that our spirit craves for? 
• Why are we so complacent in our Christian lives and comfortable that we reject the idea of a loving God who can give us the desires of our heart? 
• Why do we serve the wickedness of this lustful world, not serve and be best friends with our risen Saviour? 
• Why do we drool after carnal things of this life when we don't even want to be consumed by the Holy Spirit and what our Majestic Lord God in heaven has?WHY?   WHY?   WHY? 
• Are we at a loss for words for the lost and hellbound sinner, that we rather gloat in our own 'Christian' attitudes while denying them the chance to become saved by ignoring them? 
• Do you want to be under the guiding arm of the Lord Jesus Christ, convicting you of your blatant sins, or would you rather be living a Christless lifestyle and go to a Christless eternity? 
• Are we just a passing ship in the darkness of the world, or are we a beacon of light and hope for others to see? 
• Are our senses that dull and incapacitated that we rather be decapitated from the love of Christ, rather than live in the fullness, richness of Christ and be smothered in His Glory? 
• Are people that full of stinking pride and inhuman wickedness, that they can't see what they become, and turn to Jesus Christ our Saviour to become who they need to be for Christ and depend on Him wholeheartedly thru His free gift of eternal salvation? 
• Why do we fill our minds with the attitudes of this 'politically correct' garbage that the world forces on us and not be firm and take a stand on what is 'Biblically Correct'? 
• Why do we say: "l care for you, l love you, l want the best for you, I am interested in you, I want to see you happy and succeed", when our eyes and whole countenance say the exact opposite? WHY? WHY? WHY? 
• Why do we feel no remorse on things we say, what we do, how we act, no guilt, yet all we have to do is kneel before Almighty God and repent? 
• Why do so many profess Jesus Christ as their Saviour and call themselves a Christians, yet know not what one is and how to act, live, talk, and dress as one? 
• Why do we call what is wicked acceptable, yet what is Godly wicked? Because of sin. 
• Why do so many say they love God and Jesus yet rebell against Him, show Him hate and contempt, and live in direct disobedience to Him?

 (End of Part 2)

(c) Mike Carey; December 2008

Which One Are You?

(Re-post from Couple's Nest dated August 23, 2010)

 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:19

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I came across Luke 17:11-19. The LORD then stopped me and did not allow me to go any further till I settled what I needed to get right with Him. Conviction set in greatly that when I wrote want happened in my personal diary, what He had done and how I saw myself in that passage, I decided to share a bit with you, but not all as it is between Him and me. What I am sharing you now is just a few thoughts of the goodness, mercy, and grace of our LORD that we tend to overlook and take for granted.

If you read what I learned with your heart into it, you will be touched. What I saw were 10 lepers ALL cleansed, yet only one turned back to give Jesus the glory and thanks due Him. You see, all ten had to walk afar off from people due to their disease. They had to restraint themselves so as not to contaminate others. They lifted up and protrude their voices above normal tone to communicate with people. They did these for Jesus to hear them and He heard their plea of mercy.

But, after their faith had made them whole, who came back? Did all ten to thank Jesus for what He had so mercifully done for them? Did they made effort to glorify Him and shout the victory in Jesus for the great miracle that Christ the Lord had done for them? NO! Nine out of the ten left, went their good old merry way and took for granted what Jesus had just done for them. Don't you think after such a miracle, they all would of returned to give Jesus thanks and fall at His feet as one did?

So I ask you, which one are you? Are you 9 of the ten that the Lord has given everything? The you who constantly accept what He gives you, yet you NEVER return to Him to give Him the glory due Him? Do you give Him the thanks that He so faithfully deserves? Do you glory in yourself, your own lusts and indulgences and never give one iota thought of what God Almighty has done in your life? Do you get on your face to cry out to God and thank Him for the life He has given you by not throwing you in Hell yet? Do you even give Him one moment of your time in prayer each day, or do your bible studies on a regular basis? Or do you do so little that you think you are good and righteous enough to get by each day with reading and praying as little as you can, making yourself to be a spiritual giant for our God?

Now, about the one that returned, he came running back all excited, happy and thrilled to the bone because after he had gotten healed by the Lord Jesus, he acknowledge His greatness and went out to proclaim the name of Jesus to others. I saw in this one cleansed leper that he witnessed to others about what Jesus had done for him. I am sure he led many others to Christ by testimony. He was once spotted by the blight of sin and disease, he is now clean. I myself personally believe this one who 'turned back' with a loud voice, glorified and thanked Jesus at HIS FEET; probably in tears and his heart full of joy, is in heaven now.

So again which one are you young man or woman? Are you the one who glories, thank and praise God every day for ALL He has done for you? Or are you one of the nine who has been given everything by the grace of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, yet ignore His goodness and mercy? Do you just live for yourself portraying as a just and righteous person who THINKS you walk with God, if saved? Or if you are not saved and born again, you may have that same attitude like many do, yet proclaim "saved" as they do.

In this great passage I can see our Lord Jesus Christ's great compassion as He healed the lepers. I saw His abounding grace as He decided to give to them all , even to the 9 who never returned to give Him glory, thanks and reverence. I saw the Lord Jesus' righteousness as He did not condemn those who did not return to give glory due to His holy name. I saw His mercy which He did not have to give, but He did because He knew they did not deserve it, yet He still gave to them His healing. I saw His goodness as the Lord Jesus immediately saw their desire and need to be made whole.

Though Jesus never had to do anything for them, yet, He chose to show them His unique goodness by allowing the bondage they were in to be released and cleansed. I also saw Jesus as He is the only one who can cleanse anyone who is under the chains of the self life. These lepers were under a chain of heaviness after which Jesus Christ lifted it off them. They were relieved and though the others may have been thankful in some little ways, they were not really like the one who returned. I felt this man who returned was convicted and he loved Jesus in a way that he was so excited when he thanked and glorified Him.

What about you friend? Do you want to have a walk with the Lord each day and have His blessings pouring down on you ? He can give you much. If you have never trusted Jesus as your personal Saviour, you will never be released from the bondage of your sins together with the chains of this old world. It's carnality will drag you down into an inferno of hellfire. You shall never see the face of the One who can save you from such a fiery, tormenting place.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will give you peace, happiness and joy. After salvation, you will still go through trials and bad times. Never listen to fake televangelists who say you will never go through any bad times anymore. They will just lead you astray. Listen to people who know better, even if they speak in biblical truth and hurt your ego. They do mean well and you will be directed to the truth.

Yes, as a Christian, we will all go through many trials, and will be tested by the world or by God Himself. We all go through things that are unpleasant, but that does not mean God is not with us. He is there with us through everything. We just need to keep our faith and trust in the Lord to help us through all things. He will help us in our walk each day with Him.

John 3:16, probably the greatest verse in the Bible on salvation, tells you that 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.' God is where you are, the distance between the floor and your knees. Your religion, works, penance, or keeping His commandments will not save you. Only trusting in Jesus as your personal Saviour can. You will be delivered from a hell, and saved by the blood of Christ to be with Him in heaven forever.

My prayer is that the Lord will convict those who read this, and will do a miracle in saving a dear soul from the pits of hell. He will give that person His grace and that person will make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. He will be cleansed from the chains of sin and be renewed in soul, mind, spirit. He will call on the name of the LORD in humility and tears, and have a life that is committed in serving our risen Saviour. He will turn from all sins and live for Jesus Christ.

If you come to be saved, please drop us a line here on our blog. We love to hear how the Lord delivered you, how you are serving Him and all the blessings He is giving you.

God bless us!

(c) August 2010, Michael Carey

... On Prayer

glitter-graphics.com

 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. Psalms 4:1

This is so true...

[Re-post from Couple's Nest 1 (April 18, 2009),  with revisions]

Some Food For Thought

(This is a re-post from our previous blog, Couple's Nest 1; April 20, 2009)

"...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sins." 1 John 1:7

"If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

 A story...

A little boy goes to his best friend's house to play with him. Reaching it, he hears a distant noise like a slap or something similar. He quickens his step. The noise stops, he stops walking, too. After a few moments, he hears the slapping sound again. He walks towards it as it gets louder. The little boy is now scared and trembling not knowing what he will see.

Then the boy hears a slight moan, and then a louder slapping. The sound he hears is that of a strap, a stick, or a......... whip! Now he is really scared and trembling more. The noise loudens as he gets closer.

The little boy is calling his friend's name loudly. He then hears an answer, "In here!” A little voice hollers out; so the little friend, who was searching, has now found his friend. He comes to a small out-building in a field, glazed with bright green grass, and surrounded by a small hedge of light-green hemlock trees.

With the door slightly open in the dusty building, chair in one corner, broken table on the opposite with some tools on it, hammers, nails, ruler, and old steel shovel; the little boy peeks in and is shocked to see his little friend hitting his Daddy across his back with a small black, knotted, dusty handmade whip.

Young boy that he is, he cries out loud, "Stop!" His little friend says to the Dad's son, "Why did you do that? You're bad and very awful. What did he do?” The little boy, in tears, says to his young friend, "I've one more to go, save one." So, he whips his Dad for the final and last time.

The Dad turns his head towards the small lad who befriended his son. His son does not know what to say, so the Dad answered the lad, "He did some bad things and instead of spanking him, my love for him is so strong that, this time, I am taking his punishment for him. Yes, he deserves it, but I deserve it more, so that he will see and know that he needs more respect for me and love me more. When he is grown up he will remember when this happened. It will make him a stronger person and he will be a better man because of this experience."

The young boy is somewhat confused. His little mind is put to rest as something is revealed to him, and put in him a little wisdom that he so desperately needed. He knows what was done is done for a reason. The little boy understands.

Then the two little friends, crying, go their merry, lively way to play. The Dad, meanwhile, is praising the Lord God Almighty till he meet his timely death.

You see, the Dad was a born again Biblical Christian and he knew about the cross, the shed blood of Christ, and the death, burial, resurrection. He knew because he did the same to his own Dad; and his Dad to his Dad.

Out of a pure love and total commitment to their sons, Christ did also for us. He shed His blood for us that we may live. He, who knew no sin, took our sins on Him, so we may live, as He died on the cross at Calvary.

"...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sins." 1 John 1:7

"If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

(c) Mike Carey, April 2009

Seven Things About God's Grace

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

My grace is sufficient for thee.  2 Corinthians 12:9

Awhile ago, l preached this and now l shall put it here and share with you.  As the Lord called me on this, so this l will do for Him. I may have changed some things, too and added my own to it, as it was longggg time ago. 

I would like to say first, what is God's grace, or grace as it says in the Bible? Simply, grace itself means undeserved favour or goodwill God gives us and loving mercy from Him for the salvation of our souls which we don't deserve. 

Some things l would like to say what His grace means to me. 

1. God's grace is amazing --- because l am saved from Hell and l no longer  worry where I will go when l die. I do not deserve from Him His grace, as it much undeserved, but He saved me by my faith in Him as a young boy.  l am ever so thankful to my Lord God and my heavenly Father, my only true Father, who saved me from the pits of hell and for that l am eternally thankful, grateful and in communion more with Him now than ever before. His grace is amazing and l love Him more because of this. No man can save us from anything, but God who looked down on me and came to seek and save that which was lost, ME, l turned to Him as He was right there waiting for me to turn to Him so He could prepare a place for me in heaven. Amen.

2. God's grace is understandable --- because l understand what He did for me in allowing His Son Jesus Christ to die on the old rugged cross for my sins and took my place and died for ME.  Imagine that! Why would He do that for ME, a sinner once lost?  Now l redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, glory to God for this and His never ending sweet love to me. HIS umbrella of grace is like that blanket that covers a bed to keep it from getting dirty, as it protect you and keeps you warm. Well, God Himself keeps me warm under His wings, but if you take your eyes off Him, you peek out from under His blanket of protection and will get involved in sin, so do keep Him in sight all times and keep under HIS wings. Under His wings is under His guidance, His care, His concern for us, and more so to me, His protection.

3. God's grace is a magnet --- because as we hear His sweet voice convicting us, we are drawn ever more closer to Him.  As when you are drawn to Him like a penny to a magnet, you are closer to Him than you imagine. He is a magnet as He draws people closer to Him because of His free gift of salvation that so many desperately need in these last days. The magnet of His glory is like unto visegrip that never looses, that is rusted on forever.  When He saves you, He redeems you.  He sanctifies you and sets you apart from this wicked world and sets you aside so He can use you for His service and for His glory each day.

4. God's grace is a field of flowers --- because it is where the Lily of the valley blooms  and where His sweet odour tells you that you are alive and refreshed in Him, not in decay anymore and you are the object of His affection. Where the lilies bloom and roses brightly show their glossy wine and snow coloured colours, and so the fragrance of the Lord's bosom.  The colour of  our Lord Jesus Christ's red blood saves and His white robe of righteousness that He gives after salvation.  l say, we are the field and He is the harvester as He is ready to take home His children.

5. God's grace is a picture of light --- because we shine in a dead and dark world full of pride, corruption, and rebellion. But, we can be a mirror image of our Father God if we live according to His commandments.  Keep in mind we are the light of the world now and if we don't shine the way we should for Him, we will be in darkness. To be a light is to saved from the world and ourselves, from others, and from hell.  To be saved from going to hell should be number 1 on our list that would make us shine to others so we are able to lead someone else to Jesus. As Christ the Lord has given us grace and more mercy each day, we should be and must show it to others.  If we don't, we will be just like the world itself. A world without Christ is to live in hopelessness. To live in Christ and be as He is is to live an abundant life.

6. God's grace is like a trophy room --- because we are on display for the world to see, thereby we must put on the whole armour of God to protect ourselves from the devil and the evils of the world. We are on display for all to see and to show and tell them about Christ.  We must be willing to be on display in the proper and right way, in a graceful way, otherwise we will be looked down on as they would want nothing to do with us or even be as one of us. When Jesus is the true lover of our soul, we will be more committed and surrendered to Him in all areas of our life. We should be anyway. We are to be a trophy for our Lord in a way that as while on display for Him, we need to be an example for others especially those in need.  All without Christ is in dire need of Him and for His free gift of eternal salvation, too. To be a trophy of the grace of God our Father, we need to allow Him to take the reins and steer us in His paths to display to this reprobate world all that He means to us, what He has done for us, in us, and how we may lead the lost to Him.

7. God's grace is sufficient --- because when He says my grace is sufficient for thee, it is all we need.  Without it, people are lost and doomed.  You cannot have faith without grace and vice versa. You cannot have one without the other. It is impossible. When all else fails you and you are at the end of your rope, if saved, His grace is sufficient.  It is enough for you to live each day and will sustain you long as you depend, rely, and commit yourself to Him every day of your life. If you are not saved, realize this: you are a sinner, you have sinned, you must confess your sins, you must be heartfeltfully convicted and ask forgiveness from the Lord Jesus.  You must ask Him to have mercy on you, and come into your heart and save you.  Simple.  Children can do it, so can you friend.

                      
A little tidbit from Oswald J.Smith goes:

I have seen Him, l have known Him,

For He deigns to walk with me;
And the glory of His presence
Will be mine eternally.

O the glory of His presence,
O the beauty of His face,

I am His and His forever,
He has won me by His grace.

Amen to this!  I love it.

(c) Mike Carey; November 27, 2011

Some Questions To Ponder (Part 1)

I found something the other day, as l was intentionally looking for this material, and came across it. I wrote this back in 2008 and the Lord convicted me very much on much of this. It is my writing the Lord gave to me to write back then, so I will share it with you readers, and maybe the Lord will bless you and convict where needed, as He sure did me. Hard to imagine the Lord convicting you on your own writing, but when it is of God, it really is not our writing, but the Lord's. Read and l pray you'll be challenged as well. Reading this again even challenged me on many things, so here it is my friends. God bless you always. Maybe in time, if the Lord wills it, l will do sermons on each question, or statement. Reason l have is because of so much l have to put down, I will only do a portion for now and do more another date, as this will be in at least 3 parts. Too much time as my Bible time and prayer time is more important, but the Lord gives me time to do this also so l do a bit for now. 

Here it is:

• Are we that weak that we can't acknowledge GOD for who He is? 
• Are we that backslidden that we can't put our wickedness behind us and step forward in a brighter light in our precious Saviour?
• Are we that vain in our feeble attempts that we try to make ourselves big and great in our own eyes, at the same time quenching the Holy Spirit? 
• Are we that full of pride and so hard hearted that we can't see past our vileness and not see what's before us? Our Wonderful Saviour? 
• Do we have such an attitude of self-denial and shame that we can't count on GOD to lift us up when we mostly need it? 
• Do we attempt to malign others in a way to build ourselves up, yet not break down in humility to acknowledge HE who died in our place? 
• Are we that truthfully trustworthy in our minds, ways and thoughts that we can't see through this blight; not trust in, how know we can be content and secure in the arms of Jesus? 
• Why do we grieve the Holy Spirit in an attempt to be our own man or woman and have our own way, when we can fall prostrate and cry out to Almighty God to cleanse us from our sins and renew a right spirit within us? 
• Why are we so theologically and doctrinally sound when we can't even allow our Lord God to work in us to accomplish His will for our lives? 
• Have we strayed so far from the fold that our tender Shepherd has given us for a safe refuge from danger and the terribleness of this carnal world? 
• Are we in a state of utter despair and deception that we refuse, reject, and deny the authority of God's Holy Word, the KJB, and His holiness? 
• Why do we give in to the thoughts, idealogy, concepts, laws of man, when we should be trusting in and surrendering to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? 
• Is it not true that we live in a Christ-less country where people rather count their wealth and time instead of giving thanks where thanks is due, in Jesus Christ? 
• Is it not hard to kick against the pricks of corruption, prejudice, and discrimination; and believe all the hooplah of the government  and it's so called morals, than allow the commandments of God to humble and lower ourselves to the point where we live according to, and under, God's divine mercy and grace? 
• Do we live day to day with no purpose in life and no excitement, dreary, downplodden, living in remorse and humiliation than to be caught up in the glory and splendor of our Lord Jesus Christ? 
• Are we just a stone's throw away from certain financial destitution and insanity, or are we relying on God's faithful promises and in that He'd never leave us nor forsake us? 
• Do we intentionally desire to live out our fleshly lustful lusts and so called needs, and in turn forsaking the assembly of each other for the purpose of loving each other and exhorting one another in appreciative togetherness? 
• Are we so concerned with the conversion of sinners that we come to the point where we feel we need not witness anymore; too proud of the thought, that, hey, I have God, l'm going to heaven, l'm spiritual, I don't need to witness, yet at the same time the verse 'he that winneth souls is wise', is not this a direct commandment from God Himself? 
• Are we that coldminded and liberalistic in thought that we get caught up in a dictatorial religion, where God and the Holy Spirit is out, yet not realizing God and the Holy Spirit, both are ready to be let in our hearts? 
• Must we be lustful, prideful, contentious, foolish, wicked in our attitude, that we can't even bow on bended knee to confess it ALL, repent with heartfelt remorse and have Jesus Christ our Lord forgive us? 
• Why do we worry about public opinion when all that matters is God's opinion? 
• Why do we resist, grieve, and quench the Holy Spirit? Because we are not instant nor constant in prayer. Our minds, our thoughts, our hearts are not on the things of God, nor centered on HIS Holiness, HIS Goodness, HIS Beauty, HIS Ways, His Thoughts, HIS Providence, HIS Mercy, HIS Grace, His Faithfulness, His Righteousness. 

(End of Part 1)

(c) Mike Carey, December 1, 2011