​In today’s time, many choices must be made.  The choice of going to church or not.  The choice of attending an entertainment church or attending a biblical-based church.  The choice between serving God or Satan.  The choice to go to Heaven or Hell.  Sadly, many people make these choices each day and do not consider their eternal significance.  Each of these decisions has an impact on the lives of that person and the lives of those around that person.  The choice of going to church seems like a decision based on feelings or how the weather is that day but the significance is having faith built by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), not forsaking church attendance (Hebrews 10:25), allowing the provocation to good works and love (Hebrews 10:24), and having the same attitude toward church as Jesus Christ (Luke 4:16).  The choice of which church to attend seems like a decision based on which church is more comfortable and trendy but the significance is hearing the unadulterated Word of God (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19), having a biblical pastor (Ephesians 4:11-12; Jeremiah 3:15), allowing the Word of God to reprove, rebuke, and exhort (2 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17), and being discipled to live a Christian life (Luke 9:23; 2 Timothy 2:2; 1 Corinthians 11:1).  The choice of serving God seems like a decision that does not need to be made today but later when one knows they are about to die but the significance is today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2; Proverbs 27:1), the decision must be made and made for life (1 Kings 18:21,39; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 24:13), and having a God-blessed life (Psalm 1:1-6; James 1:12; Ephesians 1:3).  The choice to go to Heaven seems like a decision that is based on being a good person but the significance is if a person does not know God they will not get to Heaven (Hebrews 11:6; John 17:3; John 14:6), whom one serves while living determines their eternity (Matthew 6:24; Colossians 3:23; Romans 12:1-2; John 12:26), and a person must be born again to enter Heaven (John 3:3; John 3:5; John 3:36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 5:18).  Here is the review of the biblical answers to these decisions.  A person must choose to go to church, be part of a Bible-focused church, serve God, and go to Heaven.  The spiritual enemies of our souls seek to make these decisions harder by convoluting the biblical answers with easier or more flesh-pleasing answers (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 21:8; Hebrews 10:26).  Christians must know the Word of God for themselves to have God’s answers to the decisions that must be made.  When the flesh is pleased in not going to church, attending a trendy lukewarm church, choosing to serve Satan for now, and planning to get to Heaven by making things right with God just before one dies, life is not truly lived especially not having life in abundance.  Jesus came to give life and life more abundantly to anyone who would receive it (John 10:10).  The day of decision is here.  What will the answers be?  Every person must give an account for their own life (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 12:36).  Each day’s decisions will impact tomorrow’s options.  May each person not only make the best decisions today but have the biblical answers each day producing a better present and future.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org. 

The Bible discusses in the last days there will be many people who love themselves and the pleasures of the world more than they are lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4).  This also includes having a religious form but rejecting the power of God within their lives (2 Timothy 3:5).  The key to this type of Christianity is compromise.  Compromise is defined as to come to an agreement by mutual concession or granting a right, accepting as true, or acknowledging defeat to meet in the middle.  There are generally four types of reasons Christians compromise their walk with God.  One is fear of rejection.  This is fear of being alone or pointed out from the crowd.  The second is tolerance.  This is sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from God’s.  The third is pleasure.  This is the willingness to adjust standards to be “happy”. The fourth is laziness.  This is being too lazy to fight for what the Bible stands for.  Compromised Christians are also called lukewarm and make Jesus want to vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).  Christians should not be afraid to be bold and uncompromising for God.  If a person chooses to compromise their walk with God to allow sinful desires of the flesh, they are lukewarm.  Christians must choose God.  Compromise comes in four stages.  The first stage is attraction.  This means something gets the attention of a Christian.  The second stage is justification.  This is reflected in making reasons for the wrongs to be allowed due to desire.  The third stage is indulgence.  This is when restraints are removed and the conscience is hardened toward conviction.  The fourth stage is re-definition.  This reflects the creation of a new definition of what sin is to remove guilt while opposing what the Bible says.  The responsibility of every Christian is to renew the mind and find the will of God (Romans 12:1-2).  Christians should live for God and be transformed within their minds to what He desires.  Christians should not be conformed to this world, but show the attitude and character God defines.  No one should compromise a walk with God to imitate the world for anyone or anything.  God desires for His people to reflect His image each day.  
The true people of God know Who they worship and how to worship God (John 4:23-24).  Christians must worship God in spirit and truth.  They should desire to serve Him with all of their heart and mind not because they feel they must do it, but from their love and obedience to God.  Christians do not receive eternal salvation from works but through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  No Christian can afford to get lazy or compromise true worship.  Christians must decrease their desires to be like the world and allow Jesus to increase in their lives (John 3:30).  They must choose to let go of the desires of the flesh and give God more room to grow within.  No one should compromise by giving God less room or by staying stagnant within their relationship with God.  Things within life that reflect more of a life of sin and do not glorify God are counted as waste (Philippians 3:7-9).  Anything a person gains for the flesh (the sinful nature) is wasted time, wasted energy, and is a detour away from what God desires to give that person to benefit their life.  God desires a deep relationship with everyone.  Christians must live an uncompromising life for Jesus Christ.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.  

​Throughout the month of June, there are a lot of events and sayings concerning pride.  Without the insertion of opinion, which many people allow to override the Word of God, the Bible has plenty to say regarding this subject.  “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).  “All who fear the Lord will hate evil.  Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech” (Proverbs 8:13).  “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).  “But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).  “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3).  By now the question may have risen “Does this writer even know what pride month is”?  Yes, the writer does.  The Word of God also has a lot to say about homosexuality.  “Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman.  It is a detestable sin” (Leviticus 18:22).  “Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived, misled: neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, nor cheats, swindlers and thieves, nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).  “For this reason God gave them over and abandoned them to vile affections and degrading passions.  For their women exchanged their natural function for an unnatural and abnormal one, and the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze, burning out, consumed, with lust for one another-men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies and personalities the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray, which was their fitting retribution” (Romans 1:26-27).  “And then He (Jesus) added, It is what comes from inside that defiles you.  For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.  All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you” (Mark 7:20-23).  Jesus discusses both of these topics here in this last scripture listed.  Both of these sins can and should be repented of.  No matter the sin within one’s life, it should be repented of to have a right standing with God.   “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him” (Acts 17:30).  “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them (repent), they will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).  “I tell you, No; but unless you repent (change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost eternally” (Luke 13:3).  Jesus describes the need for everyone to repent of their sins or they cannot be in right standing with God.  Everyone needs Jesus regardless of their type of sin, background, or current religious status.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Without accepting the free gift Jesus has purchased for everyone, the alternative is death as the wages of sin (Romans 6:23).  May everyone choose life in God through Jesus Christ.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org. 

​As time continues to move forward, each day brings everyone living closer to the day of the Lord.  Churches and Christians progress toward this day but also those who choose not to believe the Word of God.  One of the dangerous slopes that are found today is the lukewarm slope from being in a true relationship with God through Jesus Christ and then sliding down to making Jesus want to vomit the now lukewarm person out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).  In general, most people who are lukewarm did not start with the mindset of being lukewarm but they allowed themselves to cool off during the process of time and compromise.  One of the methods of this cooling process is to follow the lustful desires of choosing lesser God-led churches.  When God’s people truly have a heart needing deliverance, they cry out to Him (Exodus 3:7-9).  In these moments, God sends a spiritual leader also known as a shepherd or pastor to tend to God’s flock, shear the heavy burden of wool from them, and help guide them to still waters and green pastures (Exodus 3:10; Psalm 23:2).  Jesus still gives this gift to people today (Ephesians 4:11-12).  This is the method of church God has established but when the flesh is more involved it seeks to have less of a pastor and more of a hireling (John 10:12-13). Pastors sent out by God have the same heart as Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 3:15).  Those who are not established by God play the role of pastor but are less spiritual and more driven by earthly ambitions.  When a person chooses to have a pastor by title but a priest in action they are looking for someone to conduct the religious acts for them while they sit back and wait for the blessings of God (Leviticus 4:26).  This same heart looks for a judge to fight their enemies for them (Judges 1:1-2).  Not desiring to be led by a spiritual leader or have a personal relationship with God gives way for people to do what is right in their own eyes (Judges 21:24-25).  When seeking a priest or judge to cater to one’s desires this leaves room for perversion to come to the priest or judge and lead the people even further away from God (1 Samuel 4:3-11; Jude 3-10).  This perversion leads people back into bondage and the same ideology of non-believers (1 Samuel 8:1-9, 19-22).  King Saul disobeyed God to obey the people because of peer pressure (1 Samuel 15:7-23).  Having a person who is afraid of the congregation is not a God-ordained position but leads to a lust-filled carnival of entertainment.  This does not give people the opportunity to grow in the things of God but counts how many people will be in attendance.  This dangerous slope does not help prepare people for the last days but instead feeds a carnal group of people now thinking they are righteous while violating the Word of God in areas of their lives.  People are left having a form of godliness but denying His power to work within their lives (2 Timothy 3:5).  Christians should seek not to be entertained but to be led by the true God-ordained pastors He has established (Hebrews 13:7, 17).  To be entertained and treated like a vacation town tourist is not God’s plan for a church but a God-centered family that prays, fellowships, and grows in the Word together as an army achieving victory is the goal (Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:11-24).  Be hot for God.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.