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Christ-Like Life Ministries, Baytown, TX (2026)

09/26/2025

I have been thinking about this…people keep asking why God would take Charlie Kirk home so early when he was obviously being very effective in his ministry. And a thought came to my mind…

God’s Holy Word tells us a story about a different man who was also taken way too early when he was also being very effective in his ministry…and no it was NOT Christ Jesus.

Rather, I am thinking about John the Baptizer.

What was John the Baptizer’s ministry? Pointing others to Christ Jesus, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!”

What was Charlie Kirk’s ministry? Pointing others to Christ Jesus. “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!”

However, once Christ Jesus was serving in His earthly ministry, John the Baptizer’s ministry could have caused confusion and even division, as people had to choose who to follow: John or Jesus. So, John the Baptizer had completed his earthly ministry, and God called him home.

Similarly, while Charlie Kirk’s ministry was still going very strong…it may very well be, that it was time to pass that torch to others to spread God’s glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus even further than and more powerfully than Charlie Kirk could accomplish on his own. By removing him from the picture, and in such a violent way, Charlie Kirk’s message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone has become much, much bigger than it ever could have been while Charlie Kirk was still alive.

If Charlie Kirk’s purpose was to be, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!” Then he was not only successful, his earthly ministry was complete…and it was time…God’s time to take him home.

People all around the world have heard God’s glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus for the first time because of Charlie Kirk’s death…

One thing to think about then is, if Charlie Kirk is the modern day equivalent of John the Baptizer, and John the Baptizer was the forerunner of the first coming of Christ Jesus, then does that mean that Charlie Kirk was the forerunner of the second coming of Christ Jesus is not far behind?

Again…these are just my thoughts. I ain’t no prophet, nor do I suggest that I can predict the future, after all…only God knows the answers to those questions. But it does give us something to think about…

But you know…we can all be more like Charlie Kirk and be that, “Voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!”

So, I ask you…what are doing to for Christ Jesus today?

10/05/2024

God's Ten Commandments!

Exodus 20:1-17 “And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bo***ge.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not commit murder.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's!”

INTRODUCTION

Exodus 20:1-17 documents what we call God’s Ten Commandments. Most people around the world have at least some familiarity with these Laws. But few people, few Christians even, actually know very much about them. So, for the next few weeks, God willing, we will examine God’s Ten Commandments with the intention of learning why God established them, and how we can apply these laws to our lives today.

Before I get too much into the details of this study, I want to address a somewhat common question I get a lot.

Why now? Why did God wait until this time in Bible History to provide His Commands?

The answer here is really a whole lot more simple than people seem to realize. But to answer this question you have to understand two quick notes:

1. Up until this time in Bible history, there did not yet exist an independent or sovereign nation of Israel. The Hebrew nation started with Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel. Then the families of the 12 sons of Jacob became the 12 tribes of Israel.
2. However, the Hebrew people had lived under the laws of other governments, such as Egypt, and did not yet need their own laws.

For the first time in the recorded history of Israel, they are on their own, they are their own nation. Finally, they are no longer under the rule or slavery of any other heathen pagan government. They are no longer just the children of Israel, but they are now the nation of Israel. As the newly created nation of Israel, they now are in need of some laws to help protect them. So, God started by giving them God’s Ten Commandments.

PURPOSE OF GOD’S TEN COMMANDMENTS

Ok, so now we know why God gave God’s Ten Commandments when He did. But what is the purpose of God’s Ten Commandments?

To answer this question, let me first explain what the Law is NOT:

God’s Ten Commandments are NOT a way of salvation. Whether you keep all or none of God’s Ten Commandments matters nothing in regards to whether or not you make it into Heaven with Christ Jesus! That is NOT the purpose of God’s Ten Commandments. In fact, according to James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all!” We could not keep the whole law even if we tried.

Rather, according to God’s Holy Word as found in Galatians 3:24 “Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith!”

God’s Ten Commandments are a perfect code of righteousness. God’s Laws are given to no good, low down, good for nothing dirty rotten sinners to show us our desperate need for a Saviour and salvation! God’s Laws are designed to show us how bad we really are.

I heard or maybe read somewhere once that God’s Ten Commandments are a perfect code, needing nothing added nor nothing removed to improve it. That no other kingdom had laws so focused on morality or ethics like these ten laws. As I have been studying God’s Ten Commandments, I have personally come to learn how very true these words are. If people would comply with God’s Ten Commandments, how much better our world would be. If just we, God’s blood-washed, borned-again Christians would strive to live by God’s Ten Commandments, I think we could be a much more powerful influence on this sinful world of sinners!

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

For the newly created nation of Israel, these laws would provide more than just a moral code for the protection of the people, but also a sense of national pride. A country with no laws is no country at all. The Israelites needed God’s Ten Commandments to teach them and guide them into being a safe and secure society, not as a way of working their way into Heaven. Rather, Israel needed God’s Ten Commandments to help them bring glory to their God.

Think about this…400 years before, a mere 70 people moved into Goshen, Egypt. After Joseph’s death, the Pharaohs quickly forgot who Joseph was and what he had done for Egypt. So, the Egyptians enslaved the Israelites…brutally abusing them. Beating them, killing their children, and de-moralizing them. These Israelites were born and had grown up and lived under this cruel slavery their whole lives. They knew nothing of moral law, they knew only the laws of slavery.

The Israelites needed these moral laws to help them learn to live together as a nation…God’s Ten Commandments were exactly what Israel needed…exactly when Israel needed it!

But as slaves in Egypt, the Israelites were surrounded by the worship of false gods, and many of the Israelites did not know who the one true God was. They had not seen God’s power…until the ten plagues, anyway. Now the Israelites needed to learn to fear and respect the God who brought them out of bo***ge in Egypt. The Israelites needed God’s Ten Commandments to teach them to respect their God.

And God’s Ten Commandments were the perfect code to establish Israel as a nation and Jehovah as their God!

God’s Ten Commandments can be divided into two basic categories:

1. The first four Commandments govern our relationship with God.

1. Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Jehovah!
2. Thou Shalt Make No Graven Image!
3. Thou Shalt Not Take the Lord thy God’s Name in Vain!
4. Remember the Sabbath Day, and Keep it Holy!

2. The last six Commandments govern our relationship with each other.

5. Honour thy Mother and thy Father!
6. Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder!
7. Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery!
8. Thou Shalt Not Steal!
9. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness!
10. Thou Shalt Not Covet!

MODERN APPLICATION

Okay, so God’s Ten Commandments were important to Israel way back then. But the really big question, however, is are God’s Ten Commandments still important for us today? Do God’s Ten Commandments need to be updated or altered to conform to today’s different modern standards?

Simply put, to answer this question, let us consider what God has to say about this.

First of all, we need to ask whether or not God changes? God’s Holy Word says in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not!” And in Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever!” So, God does not change, He is the same God of Israel way back then, as he is the same God of Christians today, and He will remain the same God forever!

So, if God does not change…does God’s Holy Word change? According to God’s Holy Word in Mark 13:31, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away: but my Words shall not pass away!” God does NOT change, and God’s Holy Word does NOT change.

Okay, so now we know that neither God, nor God’s Holy Word changes. So, why would we then expect God’s Ten Commandments to change to conform to our sinful nature? That is how many Christians act, they may not say it out loud, but they act like God needs to adjust His way of thinking to conform to their lack of morals. Rather, we need to change and conform to God’s Ten Commandments.

But why do we need to follow God’s Ten Commandments? Do we need to be good to earn our way to Heaven? Again, according to God’s Holy Word in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
9 “Not of works, lest any man should boast!”

So, simply put, no one can ever work their way into Heaven.

Further, God’s Holy Word says in Romans 3:12, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one!” Even if we could do good, God’s Holy Word tells us in, Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the Law is the knowledge of sin!”

God’s Law does not save us, it simply serves as a mirror to help us see our sin and our need of a Saviour! Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith!” By looking into the mirror of God’s Ten Commandments, we can see how short we fall of the glory of God.

So why then should we even try to obey God’s Ten Commandments?

This is easy…

We should want to obey God’s Ten Commandments because we love God, who first loved us, and gave His only begotten Son to die for us. We should try to live Christ-like lives of Godly holiness because we thank God for Christ Jesus! John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my Commandments!”

CONCLUSION

Before Christ Jesus, God’s Ten Commandments were the standard. If you wanted to try to be saved by works, God’s Ten Commandments were the way to go. God’s Ten Commandments are a “ministration of condemnation” (2 Corinthians 3:9), meaning that if you are honest with them, they condemn you.

Way back in the Biblical times of the Old Covenant, a man had to sacrifice an animal, for “Without the shedding of blood, there could be no remission of sin!” (Hebrews 9:22). But eventually, the importance of the bloody sacrifice became nothing but a ritual. The sacrifice no longer meant anything to the Jewish people. And so, God’s Ten Commandments had become a great burden to people.

It would be the same for us today, but we are not saved by our relationship to God’s Ten Commandments. We are saved by our relationship to God’s one and only begotten Son, the prophesied Messiah and promised Saviour, Christ Jesus who died to pay the penalty for our sins.

God’s Ten Commandments, though, are just as much today the mind of God as they ever were. Stealing and killing were wrong before Christ Jesus came, and stealing and killing are still wrong…as are adultery, lying, and disrespecting your parents for that matter!

God’s Ten Commandments are a direct view into God’s will and ways, and no Christian can conscionably go around today violating them. Similarly, we can NOT go around boasting, “I keep God’s Ten Commandments, so, I must be saved!” If we made that statement, we would be a liar, because God’s Ten Commandments do NOT save us…rather God’s Ten Commandments condemn us. We can NOT be saved by faithfully observing God’s Ten Commandments. But that does NOT mean that we should go around violating God’s Ten Commandments every chance we get, neither! After all, God’s Ten Commandments are still the mind of God.

So, for the next few weeks or so, we will examine each and every one of God’s Ten Commandments, one at a time, to see what we can learn from them, what they mean, and how we can apply them to our lives.

As we progress through this Bible Study together, all I ask of you, is that you carefully consider the importance of each of God’s Ten Commandments and how you can apply them to your own personal life.

AMEN!

09/23/2024

Happy Monday fellow Blood-Washed, Borned-Again Christians!

Praise God to allow me to come back to this most important ministry. My apologies, due to my health and local work, I have been unable to get online here for a while.

But I am praying that God will allow me to get back into my weekly Postings. I have remained busy with my weekly Bible study, and will be updating these Bible studies so that y'all may use them for yourself in your own Christ-like life of Godly holiness.

My prayer remains that all of us live a life representative of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, and share God's glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus with others.

I look forward to hearing from all of you and will continue in prayer for you.

God bless you!

In Christ,

04/12/2022

NEVER Stop Living for Christ!

Living a life that represents our holy Saviour, Christ Jesus is admittedly difficult. This is especially true living a Christ-like life of Godly holiness...

Other people may try to berate, belittle, or even beat you down...just because you are trying to live for Christ Jesus.

This time of year, I am reminded of someone else who lived and died over 2000 years ago, who was also trying to live a Christ-like life.

Just a couple of days ago, he was lauded and heralded as a king, and tonight he was betrayed by one of His own inner circle.

And tomorrow, He was rejected by those whom He had helped and had heralded Him just a few short days ago.

His inner circle all abandoned Him, and one of His closest friends, even outright denied even knowing Him!

But even in the face of torture, He did NOT waver, nor show weakness. Rather, even though betrayed and rejected by His friends and followers, He chose to do what He knew was good and right...

He is Christ Jesus, and He loves all of you so much, that He willingly allowed Himself to be sacrificed for you.

But, of course, the story did NOT end there, because He did NOT stay dead, He conquered death and rose again, and lives today...so that we can live with Him in Heaven.

You see, that is the real story of "Easter"... Easter is NOT about bunny rabbits and chicken eggs! It is ALL about our risen Saviour.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life!" (John 3:16)

Thank God for Christ Jesus! AMEN!

03/24/2022

Someone recently asked me a question about 'religion"...this was my response...

I grew up in a semi-religious home. We attended a formal and ritualistic church. Both of my parents were active in the church, but did not live it in their daily lives, I am not sure anyone would have known we were "Christians", unless we told them so.

As such, religion was not necessarily of much importance to me. My parents did make sure that I completed catechism, where I learned the Lord's Prayer, Ten Commandments, and Nicene and Apostle's Creeds, but not much else, certainly not any practical application.

But, I always wanted to know more...

Shortly after my "Confirmation" into the church, we stopped attending church. And I devolved into a wild child, rebellious and free-spirited, not at all hindered by any religious concerns.

But there always remained that desire to know more...

Years later, as a rough and tough Paratrooper in the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, I was re-introduced to religion and church This time at a much less ritualistic church.

And this time, I was introduced to Christ Jesus and I heard the most amazing love story ever written, that a holy God could love a low-down, no-good, good-for-nothing, dirty, rotten sinner like me so much, that Christ Jesus willingly died for me, paying my sin debt, freeing me from the guilt and consequence of my wrongs.

Let me tell you something, friends...Finding God's love, grace, and mercy changed my life, for the better...much better!

Now that I know more about Christ Jesus...I desire to know Christ Jesus even more...

Through Christ Jesus, I have found true joy in my life, not through religion or spirituality, but through a personal relationship with Christ Jesus!

Christ Jesus can do the same for you, too!

11/29/2021

Kick santa clause out, and keep Christ Jesus in Christmas!

11/29/2021

The world don't need no more worldliness and pagan idols!

What the world needs is Christians to show and share Christ Jesus with them!

santa clause can NOT help the world...ONLY Christ Jesus can!

Either celebrate Christ Jesus in Christmas...or do NOT call it Christmas...if you are celebrating santa clause just call it what it is...giftmas!

11/01/2021

Christians are NOT called to live like the world in which we live!

Rather, Christians are called to live like Christ Jesus for whom we live!

07/24/2021

CHEAT CODES FOR CHRISTIANS!

It is great to be in the house of the Lord tonight, Amen?

Of course, I am extremely thankful for another opportunity to stand behind this pulpit to teach and preach God’s Holy Word to God’s “Blood-Washed, Borned-Again Children!”

This evening we will be jumping around a bit…but we will start with a quick few verses in the fifth chapter of Ephesians.

That is Ephesians 5.

While you are flipping pages back and forth, I feel inclined to share a brief story with you about my oldest daughter.

Some of you may be aware, that Levita is blessed with an innate artistic ability. Now, I feel obliged to explain that she did NOT inherit that from me…I could not draw anything more than a basic stick figure even if my life depended on it!

But Levita, well, she can draw amazingly realistic 3-D master-pieces!

So, several years back, when she was still just a wee little lass, I asked her to draw me a picture of her most favourite Bible story.

After several minutes, Levita proudly showed me her drawing of four (4) people riding inside an aeroplane!

A little bit confused, I mumbled, “Uhhmmm, that is, uhhmmm, that is very interesting! But, uhhmmm, which Bible story is it about?”

Levita smiled real big, and proudly replied, “That is the Flight to Egypt!”

“Oh!” I replied, “I get it…These two must be Mary and Joseph and this little one must be the little baby Jesus!” “But, uhhmmm, who is this guy, the fourth person?” I asked her.

Still smiling, Levita replied, rather matter of factly, “Oh silly daddy, He is Pontius! You know, the pilot!” “Pontius the pilot!”

By now, you should have found your place in the fifth chapter of Ephesians…

Ephesians 5:15-18, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the Will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit!”

Let us look back at Ephesians 5:17, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the Will of the Lord is!”

INTRODUCTION!

Some time back, I preached a message where I revealed a secret code that had been hidden deep within the pages of God’s Holy Word for hundreds even thousands of years! You may recall, that I revealed in that Bible study message, the world’s greatest Bible discovery of all time, “The Jesus Code!”

What an amazingly important discovery I revealed in “The Jesus Code!”

Well, in like manner, tonight, I have another life changing revelation from God’s Holy Word.

But before I can get into the meat of the matter, I find it necessary to provide some back-drop for your understanding.

I find myself amused by the various videos that have become so popular on the internet today…besides the various challenges like “Can you eat a spoonful of raw cinnamon powder?” challenge, the “Suck on a detergent pack!” challenge, or one of my all-time favourites, the “Light yourself on fire!” challenge, I observed that there are no viral video challenges out there encouraging, “Obey your parents!” challenge, or “Clean up your own stinking bedroom!” challenge, or again, my most favourite challenge, “Show respect to your parents who sacrifice so much for you!” challenge!

Nope! No body cares about those good challenges!

But another of the favourite viral videos out there is the so-called “Life hacks” videos…

Some of those so-called “life-hacks” are about some of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen.

Did you pop another button on your shirt? No worries! Just use a staple gun to staple the shirt closed on your stomach!

Don’t you just hate it when your tie flaps around in the wind? No worries! Just grab your handy-dandy nail gun and I guarantee your tie will not flap around in the wind anymore!

Or my most favourite “life-hack” video of all time…

Is your kitchen empty, but your friends are hungry? No worries! Just pick up your phone and call grub-dash…I mean seriously? How hard can it really be!

And then there are the “cheat codes” and video game walk-through videos, that really are only designed to teach you cheat…a very noble calling in life to pursue, I am certain!

Rather than trying to earn anything honestly, let’s just cheat our way through life!

Well, some of you may be aware that I spend many a hours upon hours in Bible study each and every day, of each and every week, of each and every month, of each and every year and so on and so forth, etc., etc., etc.!

All of this Bible study has allowed me to discover not only, “The Jesus Code!” but it has also allowed me to discover a new secret previously hidden away deep inside the pages of God’s Holy Word for hundreds and even thousands of years!

Which, of course, I am going to reveal for you tonight!

Let us look back at our text verse, Ephesians 5:17, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the Will of the Lord is!”

Friends, tonight, for the first time ever, I am going to reveal for you, three (3) Cheat Codes for Christians! These three (3) Cheat Codes for Christians, have been right before our eyes this whole entire time, and yet remained hidden from our sight.

Deep-State Conspiracy? Government Cover-Up? Papal Inquisition? I do not know…but hang on tight to your Bibles…as we now reveal the three (3) Cheat Codes for Christians!

And ALL three (3) of these Cheat Codes for Christians are oriented around our “Understanding what the Will of the Lord is!”

And friends, I think that it is probably safe to say, that the greatest mystery for many Christians is simply that, “Understanding what the Will of the Lord is!”

But as we learned in Adult Sunday morning Bible study this morning, Christ Jesus teaches us that the “Will of God!” is of critical importance in the life of a Christian…and we should actively be praying for the “Will of God” in our lives!

So, spoiler alert, all three (3) of these Cheat Codes for Christians are oriented around “Understanding what the Will of the Lord is!”

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!

The first (1st) Cheat Code for Christians that we will study this evening is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, “Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil!”

In this brief passage, God’s Holy Word presents for us a list of eight (8) Cheat Codes for Christians. But it is only one in particular that I want to focus on this evening…

In, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, God’s Holy Word commands us concerning the “Will of God in Christ Jesus for you!” “In every thing give thanks: for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you!”

Note that ALL eight (8) of these Cheat Codes for Christians are all very good things to do…but only one of which, is labelled as the “Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you!”

“In every thing give thanks!”

I like this…you see, all too often, we, who have the most for which to be thankful…well…we kinda forget to give thanks to the one who has given so much for us.

It really is kinda sad, when you think about it…I mean…look around you…everything you see is a gift from God’s own creation. Even the air we breathe, is a gift of God.

Consider God’s Holy Word as found in, James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning!”

If therefore, we believe God’s Holy Word to be true…than no matter what is going on in our lives, we should indeed learn to be much more thankful, and indeed learn that, “In every thing give thanks!”

We should be thankful in every condition, even in adversity as well as prosperity. It is never so bad with us, but it could always be worse. Be thankful for what God has blessed you with!

Be thankful for the tribulations that teach you to be more Christ-Like, the troubles that make you stronger, and the trials that increase your faith!

“In every thing give thanks!”

“This is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us!”, that we give thanks, seeing God is reconciled to us in Christ Jesus; through Christ Jesus; and for Christ Jesus sake, God allows us to rejoice evermore, and appoints us in every thing to give thanks. That is pleasing to God.

I am here reminded of, 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!”

When we learn to apply this Cheat Code for Christians, “In every thing give thanks!”…in our lives…you unlock an amazing peace in your life…you can learn to overcome the stresses of life, because when you are thankful for all things, you can learn to, like Paul, “In whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content!”

Talk about leveling up!

I am reminded of that good old gospel hymn, “The Humped-Back Mule!”

Thank you, thank you, Lord above,
For smiling down on me,
I’m richer now than any man, has any right to be,
Health and love and happiness,
Has been my cup of tea,
The richest man in all creation surely envies me!

I’ve got a humped-back mule,
and a plow, and a tater patch,
and eggs that are gonna hatch some day,
I got the Lord above, and a good girl who loves me,
I’m the richest man in the world!

Whether little or much…give thanks for all that you have!

I heard it said once that, “The world’s happiest people are NOT those who have the best of everything!
Rather, the world’s happiest people are those who make the best of everything that they have!”

That happiness is reserved for those who know how, “In every thing give thanks!”

And friends…that is a pretty powerful Cheat Code for Christians!

ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION!

The second (2nd) Cheat Code for Christians that we will study this evening is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7:

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, “For this is the Will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness!”

No one here or watching on the internet can claim that they are not aware that fornication is a sin…but just in case you are still pretending, let this be your wake-up call…

God’s Holy Word here declares that the Will of God is that we ALL abstain completely from ALL s*xual immoralities or impurity. Fornication is a much more all-inclusive sin that includes both pre-and extra-marital s*x. And as we know, Christ Jesus declared that lust is equivalent to adultery, as well.

Unfortunately, modern society has hyper-s*xualized everything nowadays…and it becomes increasingly difficult to not be constantly assaulted with this lust-crazed world…

At its most basic level, fornication is idolatry, of the lust of the flesh! And it is here proclaimed that it is, “The Will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication!”

Did you catch the middle phrase? It is not just the “Will of God!” that you “Abstain from fornication!”…But, it is also part of your sanctification.

Sanctification is the action of being made holy. Salvation makes us free from the wages of our sin…but does NOT automatically make us holy. Full sanctification will never be achieved until that grand and glorious morning, when we open our eyes in the holy land of Heaven!

Until then, we are commanded to sanctify ourselves and “Present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service!”

And that includes, “Abstain from fornication!”

It is the “Will of God!” in general that we should be holy, because “The Lord our God is holy!”

1 Thessalonians 4:7, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness!”

And when we learn to apply this Cheat Code for Christians in our lives, we can unlock greater joy in life…because while the sin of fornication may provide a little bit of pleasure…it is only temporary, but the guilt and consequences of fornication can haunt you for the rest of your life!

The sin of fornication can destroy friendships, marriages, jobs, and lives. And living in sin can rob you of the blessings God desires to bless you with.

But when we “Abstain from fornication!” we can have joy in our “Sanctification and honour!”

A LIVING SACRIFICE!

The third (3rd) Cheat Code for Christians that we will study this evening is found in Romans 12:1-2:

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God!”

This is by far, one of my most favourite verses in God’s Holy Word!

In this passage, God makes it abundantly clear that He does NOT call us to simply blend into the world of sin around us…You know, there used to be a time in this country that the title of Christian actually meant something…people could recognize Christians by the way they dressed, and talked, and acted…they .

But modern so-called churches have left God’s Holiness behind to look more like the world…many so-called churches are nothing more than rock concerts with the name of God thrown around every now and then to make people feel better about themselves.

But what God here commands is NOT that we conform to this world! But rather, that we, “by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, Will of God!”

Did you catch that last line? What is the “Perfect Will of God!”…that we “Present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God!”

That “Living sacrifice!” implies that we live lives representative of the holy Saviour who willingly gave His life for our salvation… “HOLY!” NOT worldly!

Transformed…NOT conformed!

God’s Holy Word further emphasizes this for us in, 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord!”

“Be ye separate!”

And when we apply this Cheat Code for Christians in our lives, we can unlock the ability to prove to the world, “What is that good, and acceptable, and perfect Will of God!”

And of course, because you are living in the “Will of God!”…you open up opportunities for great blessings in your life.

Hebrews 10:36, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the Will of God, ye might receive the promise!”

And, I don’t know about you…but I want to “Receive the promise!” of God in my life!

CONCLUSION!

Friends, these Cheat Codes for Christians unlock precious promises of divine blessings in our lives…but one of the best is found in 1 Peter 2:15, “For so is the Will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men!”

I love that! “Put to silence the ignorance of foolish men!”

Friends, when we consistently live according to the “Will of God!”, which includes these three Cheat Codes for Christians:

“In everything give thanks!”;

“Abstain from fornication!”; and

“A living sacrifice!”

You unlock in your life…

Peace… “The peace of God which passeth ALL understanding!”;

Joy…in our “Sanctification and honour!”; and

We can “Receive the promise!” of God in your life!

So, how about you?

Are you ready to apply these Cheat Codes for Christians and unlock some really cool level ups in your life?

AMEN!

Christ-Like Life Ministries

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