Summer Vacation Trip

My wife and I are taking a trip to Colorado for the rest of the week. I am going to show her some of the places I have hiked and would love to go to hike. We will also rest and recreate.  I should be back online early next week.

Be blessed in the Lord my brethren.

Walking in Wisdom

by Mike Ratliff

5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:5-6 (NASB) 

There are really only two mindsets. There is the natural man mindset that we were all born with then there is the transformed mindset that comes as a result of being transformed by the renewal of our minds as a way of life and walking before the face of God. (Romans 12:1-2) The natural man mindset sees things of God as foolishness or unfairness while the transformed mindset is in the process of learning to see things as God sees them.

Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord

by Mike Ratliff

13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NASB) 

While I rejoice as there are so many Christian leaders whom God has raised up at this time to tell the truth about the growing apostasy within the visible church. I know that there is a force at play hitting all genuine believers to be distraught, to be angry, to be full of doubt and so many other distractions that keep us from where we need to be and doing what we need to be doing for our Lord. My first reaction when I see the leadership of the SBC act like the world in being deceitful liars while attacking God’s truth continually chipping away at it thereby proving to be apostates is anger and deep desire to depart the denomination. I was right there this morning when I opened my Spurgeon’s Morning by Morning for my daily devotional. 

Damaged Goods

by Mike Ratliff

There is a push in the United States to make it illegal to preach the truth from God’s Word where it pertains to the sin of homosexuality. Of course the emphasis of those laws or initiatives is to protect the rights of certain people based on their sexual preference, which is also called gay rights. They say that to preach what the Bible says about homosexuality is to foment hate; therefore, the laws are placed under the umbrella of hate crimes.

On the other hand, some who preach against certain sins are also guilty of trying to force morality upon the unregenerate. How can an unregenerate person stop sinning? When Christians focus on sins that are abhorrent to God that should be just as abhorrent to believers, the focus should be on cleansing those sins from the Church itself. At the same time, we must never shut our doors to the lost, no matter what sins are consuming them. God saves sinners.

Telling the Truth

by Mike Ratliff

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 He said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and you have followed the Baals. 19 Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:17-19 (NASB) 

There was a time when the English and American cultures were decidedly “Christian.” Those days are long gone. Whatever it is that God is doing through this, the “Remnant” of genuine believers within the visible Church must awaken and become prepared for what is coming. We cannot be complacent any longer. Why? No matter where we turn, we either encounter growing apostasy within the visible Church or neo-pagans, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, or New Agers being included in the “many ways to God.” Atheism is gaining ground all over the Western World.

The Christian world view is no longer prevalent in the West. It is under attack from every direction. What should be astounding to us, however, is that what is replacing it is highly irrational. It claims tolerance yet will not tolerate Christians having a say in anything. Personally, I see these trends as the beginnings of a very hostile environment for the uncompromising Christian. While that may be something we look to with foreboding, I believe it is going to be used by God to cleanse His Church in preparation for the return of her Bridegroom.

Union with Christ

by Mike Ratliff

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB) 

We are commanded to have unity among the brethren, but that unity must be based on our union with Christ. Jesus prayed that His church would have unity through Him in John 17, but how does the Bible describe it? Here are a few passages. The first two describe union with Him as Christ being in us.

God of All Comfort

by Mike Ratliff

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NASB) 

Suffering is part of life. It is part of the curse that fell upon all creation after Adam’s sin. (Genesis 3) There are some preachers who have taken sections of the Bible out of context to make it say that suffering happens only to those who “have sin in their life.” Well, I suppose part of that is true. We all sin. However, the suffering that comes upon us is not necessarily a punishment from God for some specific sin. Our tests and trials are painful and stressful. They are tests of faith just as much as they are sickness or mental problems. In fact, God uses our suffering for His own purposes in our hearts as well as in the hearts of those whom we minister to.

The Holiness of God

 

by Mike Ratliff

1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said,
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.” Isaiah 6:1-3 (NASB) 

In the English translations of the Old Testament when we encounter the word “Lord” we are actually reading the Hebrew word “Adhōnāy.” On the other hand, when we read the word “LORD,” it is is completely different Hebrew word, “Yehōwāh.” “Adhōnāy” is actually a title for God meaning “sovereign one.” “Yehōwāh” is the sacred name of God. It was the name He used to reveal Himself to Moses at the burning bush. “Yehōwāh” is the unspeakable name, the holy name of God. The Hebrew scribes wrote it as “YHWH.” Therefore, it is referred to as the sacred tetragrammaton, the unspeakable four letters. “Adhōnāy” is the plural noun form of “Ādhōn,” which, when used in reference to God, means Lord. However, “Adhōnāy” is plural but singular in meaning. This speaks of the Holy Trinity, i.e. One God in three persons.

The Lord is My Strength and My Shield

by Mike Ratliff

1 “I love You, O LORD, my strength.”
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalms 18:1-2 (NASB) 

This walk before the face of God is according to the ways of God not according the ways of men. God’s good work in our hearts to grow us unto Christlikeness resembles the work of of a good diamond cutter who shapes an uncut, rough gemstone from something that is not worth much in its raw state into a polished, faceted, and extremely valuable diamond that appears to have a brilliant fire within with innumerable facets reflecting that light in every direction. The various planes and facets are cut to perfection. That internal fire is actually the result of the diamond’s form as a many faceted prism. The light comes from outside the diamond, but it appears to be within.

Who is Responsible for a Believer’s Salvation?

by Mike Ratliff

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1 Corinthians 1:30 (ESV) 

There are so many who want to attack the teachings I post with their extra-biblical arguments, which are mostly based in tradition. There are many topics where the numbers of those doing this drop drastically, but when it comes to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and how it relates to what is hot in the visible church “right now” my spam bucket seems to fill up fast. 

It is not of yourself

by Mike Ratliff

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB 2020) 

I have learned to never be surprised when I teach a group of believers about our Justification that no matter how mature most of them are, there is still various misunderstandings about it. I used to be surprised, but have come to understand that the famine of solid discipleship has been neglected in our churches for a very long time. Even in those churches that are very solid when it comes to preaching the gospel the emphasis has been heavy on evangelism and light on discipleship. I have heard way too many younger preachers say to their congregations that focus on “doctrine” can cause division so they will just preach the Word. Well, how do you do that?

All for Christ and Straining Toward the Goal

By Mike Ratliff

3 I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 1 Corinthians 2:3-7 (NASB 2020) 

When we observe those “Christian Leaders” espousing the social justice of Wokeism, which is rooted in Marxism, it should make us wonder at what motivates them. Why would these people seek to create a new religion for what they are espousing is not Christianity at all? Instead of preaching the Law and Gospel these preachers attempt to placate the “feelings” of their adherents about their sins while pointing the finger of accusation at those of us who call sin what it is, telling those offended that we are guilty of being judgmental and divisive. If you have discernment just listen to their sermons and it won’t take long to see what is wrong. They are soft on sin and steer their followers away from the Word of God as being absolute truth. The call is for social justice not to repent of your sins and obey the Gospel. This is apostasy.

That You May Know

by Mike Ratliff

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NASB) 

As the scandals within the SBC have gotten worse and worse along with the continual pressures from those who are demanding that we all become “Woke” I have come under conviction that I should point out those corruptions as warnings, but focus primarily to true believers that our real battle as we remain in this hostile environment is against discouragement and to remain focused on personal holiness as we walk by faith. 

What does it mean to Walk in the Spirit?

by Mike Ratliff

26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NASB) 

Undoubtedly, there is much confusion about the subject of walking in the Spirit. To some it speaks of the Charismatic movement. Others avoid the subject like the plague because they believe it leads to some form of Christian mysticism. However, many believers have found that walking in the Spirit or walking according to the Spirit leads them to a life of deeper devotion to their Lord resulting in more joy and fulfillment than they ever thought possible.