— To uplift, inform and challenge —

Dear Soldier,

To suggest the world is plunging deeper into a time that tries men’s souls, is no stretch.  The familiar is giving way to foreign, moorings are melting and society seems strange.  Weather extremes are the norm, perversity parades to media’s applause while “leaders” laud lawlessness.  The world is indeed becoming decidedly God-unfriendly as it races toward its divine rendezvous with destruction.

With equal certainty, today is the day of salvation and it, only by the Word of God: Jesus, its incarnation and logos, its inscription.  Whereas the world offers hopelessness and spiraling depravity, God provides a glorious remedy.  His Word guarantees the most blessed future and gives wisdom, strength and hope for today.  Let’s cling to the Bible.

Anchored or Adrift?

How will you fare in the coming storms?

(Jesus) "... which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast"   — Heb 6:19a

Oh, thank GOD for Jesus! Thank GOD for His Spirit!  Thank GOD for the Bible!  Without Whom and which, the world would be vastly more perverse than it has become, if indeed ... still populated.

Our Lord, then John, Paul, James, Peter and other New Testament writers, repeatedly forewarned of false doctrines, teachers and other pitfalls.  We’re made to know that our enemy has a variety of tricks, tactics and techniques to thwart God’s will, that all would be saved; their souls eternally secure in Him.  This short article targets two groups: (1) regenerates living compromised lives, and (2) religious persons who think they’re born-again, but are not.  The first are at risk of not enduring, especially in the coming tumult.  The second are already in desperate need of conversion to avoid Satan’s eternal destiny.  Are you secure?

Doing Divine Doing

“Why the dickens are you going off to Bible college ... you already know enough Word to save half the world?” was the decades-past question this then, fetal believer posed to a future pastor.  I couldn’t quite get the point of studying ABOUT our faith, rather than pressing flesh; er ... practicing it (B&CM, B&SB, JA, MP, TN and others can appreciate this view).  I struggled with his seeming leisurely response to a desperate spiritual need.  Reality would have us scream from rooftops: “Your house is on fire!”  There was no time to waste and as a rapture-ready new-born, I’d all but kept my shoelaces untied in readiness for the 1Thes 4:17 “catching away.” It was a time for doing ... and doing NOW; action being a biblical imperative.

All I knew was the world was heading for hell in a hand-basket and we “newly washed” needed to get out there and get as many “saved” as possible.  Nothing else was as urgent and there certainly wasn’t time to play theological ping-pong in school.  Though hardly knowing the Bible’s book of Job from an employment ad, my “get up, get after it and get-the-job-done” nature really witnessed to apostle James’ admonition: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (1:22). “OK ... here I am Lord, use me.  I’ll be a doer!”  That was and remains a mantra-like prayer; not to perform religious activities of the flesh, but good works of faith (Jas 2:26).  I believe diligently doing God’s Word delineates His divinely secured from the mental-assenting, misled and deceived.

It’s been said: “The main thing is to do the main thing.” In context, the main thing is to LIVE by God’s Word;  not merely subscribing to its letter but also its intent.  It can’t be done in our own strength, only by the Spirit of God Who indwells each believer.  He’s our Enabler!  All else is flesh and will produce fruit in kind.  The MAIN, main thing is to obey and that’s a faith and Spirit-enabled state of being; the wallpaper of a believer’s life, i.e: because one trusts God at His Word, he’ll lay hands on the sick for healing; for personal needs, he’ll trust God before lenders.  He walks by faith and not sight and therefore might do seeming foolish things in the world’s view.  He is moved by loving adoration for God Who supplies both grace and power to live the supernatural Christian life. He lives in Christ.

As branches of Vine-Jesus, believers are able to “do” and bear fruit by His Spirit flowing in them (Jn 15).  How, when, where and how much, being providential.  Our part is to submit to His Word and Spirit.  We do (obey) not for fruit, but because we LOVE.  Jesus made the bridge between our love for Him and obedience to Him: "If a man love me, he will keep my words" (Jn 14:21a).  To nail this truth, He then cites its corollary: "He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings" (vs 24a).  This is an amazing, upward-spiraling and exhilarating love union.  We do because of a love-motivated want-to and in so doing, our faith and strength are enhanced.  Faithful obedience brings forth fruit with fruit-bearers drawing life from the Vine.  They’re secure in Him.

Doing Devilish Doing

What can be said about those who endlessly stuff their heads with study after study ... always a-fixing to get ready to start, but never get to living what they’ve learned?  Please don’t misconstrue this; we are all for learning, being chronic students ourselves.  In mind are those who’ve substituted study for doing.  Many confuse knowing scripture with a relationship with God through Jesus. This is nothing short of impotent religion; the same error of the scribes and Pharisees (Mt 5:20).

Far also from secure are many who can precisely divide Greek and Hebrew for their coffee clatch, Sunday school or from a pulpit ... but live by the dead printed page.  Not good enough!  The Spirit must bring God’s Word alive in a heart saturated with faith.  Print itself produces no fruit and provides no security (here or hereafter).  Verse quoters are secure if their knowledge bears fruit (Jn 15:2-16).  They might otherwise be dangerously deceived and defenseless.  God’s Word is a fortress for those who inhabit it; who abide in it ... and it in them.  For example, swimming principles can be taught pool-side, but unless practiced, one could drown having a head filled with life-saving strokes.

Even where church doors are bolted against intrusion, in the guise of ever more knowledge about Christianity, the enemy finds his way into pulpits. His enticement?  Something “new” to share, as at Mars Hill (Acts 17:22). Paul likewise commented in (2Tm 2:3) ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  There’s no more security in knowing chapter and verse than in wealth, position, politics or titles.  only in abiding in Christ, the Living Word.  Devilish “doing” is not doing; it’s talking instead of walking.

Many religious fall disastrously short of grasping true Christianity.  They’re unfamiliar with real repentance or His abounding grace; without a living faith in Christ or intimacy with God.  Instead, they trust in Bible knowledge or a routine of religious service.  It’s possible they’ll get through the coming chaos and shaking.  But how will they fare on judgement day?  One does not even want to contemplate their end.

"For Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me ... That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (Jn 14:6; 3:6,7).  However well intending the host, all unconverted souls are destined to perish ... to be eternally separated from their loving Father and Creator.  Oh, dear one; please examine your heart.

Doers are secure

That the application of God’s Word is wise and our ultimate security is made starkly clear by Christ’s own declaration: "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Mt 7:24-27).

For love’s sake and safety of your soul, we press: are you truly born again?  If so, are you “abiding” in Christ, or just paying periodic visits?  Is your Christianity a religion or is it a relationship?  In good times or bad, God’s Word is the ONLY security one has, and it will never fail.  But it must be Spirit-activated in a heart of faith to release its power.  Challenge yours to an unconditional surrender.  Raise a white flag and toss God the keys to all its secret rooms.  Then declare: This one thing I do!

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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