Burky's Blog

What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
French Vanilla!

Favorite video game?
None

Do you have to sleep with a fan on at night?
No, not for a long time

Your feelings on global warming:
It probably means this earth is moving toward end times.

Do you still own a VCR?
No, I never do.

Been on a sailboat?
No.

Two of your best friends are fighting. Your reaction?
Preach peace.

Home depot or Lowes?
Home Depot!

Beer or Hard Liquor?
Ummm....

Best movie you've seen recently?
Accidental Friendship

Would you walk across broken glass for $100?
No

Your feelings on dolphins?
Graceful

Would you ever rob a bank?
No.  Why should I, if I believe in God's providence?

Do you plan out your day before it begins?
Good question!

Can you fall asleep with your eyes open?
No

Winter or summer?
Either.

Your ex's car breaks down and they ask you for a lift. Your response?
Ready, willing, and able!

Your feelings on Britney:
She is just as human as I am.

Do you go to the gym regularly?
Never did.

You've just bought a new house. What color will you paint the walls?
cream.

Best subject in school?
English/Language Arts

What are your goals for this year?
To grow closer to God.

Do you consider yourself religious?
No.

Internet Explorer or Firefox?
Firefox!

Ever play online poker? For real money?
No!

Describe the first house you lived in.
A farmhouse.

Do you want to kick someone in the face right now?
No.

Favorite sport to watch?
None.

You see someone running around naked in the street. Your reaction?
That's his choice.

How much syrup do you put on your waffles and/or pancakes for breakfast?
Enough to cover them.

Favorite junk food?
Buffalo Wing Pizza

Where would you most like to be right now?
Here.

Do you own a sleeping bag?
Yes.

UFC. Entertaining or stupid?
Stupid!

Favorite reality show?
The Naked Archeologist, Trick My Truck, Pimp My Ride, Ripley's Believe It Or Not...

What was the first CD you ever bought?
Charity choir?

Are all infomercials completely pointless?
Not necessarily.

Who did you vote for in 2008?
No one.

If money was no object, what car would you drive?
BMW Roadster

Last 10 played songs in your Itunes playlist?
I don't use iTunes.

Is your second toe longer than your first?
No

Look at your planner for March 14. What are you doing?
If you mean in 2009, I didn't have anything planned.

What color are your bedroom curtains?
Antique White with white mini-blinds.

What color are the seats in your car?
Gray

Have you ever had a black and white cat?
Had?  I never owned a cat.

Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming?
Yes.

What kind of car were you driving 2 years ago?
The same one I had now.

Last time you went to six flags?
June 16, 2007, I think.

Closest thing to you that is yellow?
False Flowers in the vase.

Closest framed picture to you?
Artwork.

How many new e-mails do you have?
I haven't read 65 emails yet.

Do you think the sanctity of marriage is meant for only a man and woman?
Yes!

What are you listening to right now?
I can't hear, sorry.

What is your cell phone ring?
I have no cell phone.

Do you play air guitar?
No.

Who is the last person you talked to from high school?
Gilson Eby

Have you ever worn a crown?
Not that I remember.

Last time you saw fireworks?
July 14, I think.

Who has the prettiest eyes that you know of?
That woman who I don't know.

Do you have a little black dress?
Me?  Wear a dress?!

Do you prefer a shower or bath?
Depends on my mood.

How often do you find yourself thinking about your ex?
Occasionally.

What kind of cell phone do you have?
I had Blackberry 8705g, but I am not using it anymore.

What would you do with a $10 bill you found on the ground?
Keep it, if I don't have any idea who is the owner.

What would you do with your significant other if you knew today was your last day with them?
If summertime, I would be sitting outside on the deck, drinking and talking.

Have you said "I love you" today?
No.

What's one thing you actually remember about kindergarten?
Speech therapy.

Did you cry at your graduation or smile because you were glad it was over?
I never really graduated.

Are you closer with your mom or your dad?
Mom

Do you prefer the tanning bed or the sun?
Sun, because it is natural, free, and loaded with Vitamin D.

Is chocolate really better than sex?
Well, Dark Chocolate is an antioxidant, and sex belongs to committed love of a married couple. (I ain't married)

What's 2 of your favorite movies?
Accidental Friendship and The Reading Room

What would you do if your best friend jumped on your ex the day after you two split?
I would accept that's a fact.

What's a nickname you go by?
Seldom do anyone call me by nickname, but I like "Burky."

How do you calm down when you're extremely angry?
I turned my feelings over to God.

What are three places you want to see in the world?
California, Boston, Hawaii

A movie or a long walk in the park on the first date?
Long Walk

What are three of the first things you notice about the opposite sex?
Beauty and Love.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Contented in a simply house in Belize.

In 10?
Same thing.

Do long distance relationships actually work out?
Yes.

Ever thought you met "The One"?
No.

What are 2 of your favorite places to eat?
Subway and Subway

3 of your favorite places to shop?
Factory outlets, malls, and custom-made shops.

Which would you prefer... be rich and miserable, or poor and extremely happy?
Poor and Extremely Happy.

What's your favorite TV show(s)?
Hogan's Heroes, Dukes of Hazzard County...?

What did you want to be as a child?
A Student.

Would you ever date someone covered in tattoos and piercings?
No!

Do you believe the first kiss tells you everything you need to know about the relationship?
No.

Where do your hands go when kissing someone?
Handshake.

Do you know who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
Huh?

How many showers do you take in one day?
Usually one.

Would you want a house at the beach or in the mountains?
Summertime would find me at the beach.  Wintertime would find me in the mountains.

What are 2 of your favorite colors?
Brown and Black.

What do you think about people that are extremely skinny and actually like the way they look?
Give God His glory.

Who do you prefer... Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
Angelina Jolie, of course!

Do you like Starbucks or are they just overpriced?
Starbucks!

What color are your eyes?
Blue.

Do you have glasses or contacts?
Neither.

How many times has an ex just called you up when you least expect it?
Never.

Is it love at first sight or lust?
Love.

Which do you want... a big extravagant wedding or a quiet intimate ceremony?
Extravagant..

What's the most expensive thing you own?
My car.

How many pillows do you sleep with?
Three.

What could you tolerate... someone who snores or a sleep walker?
Snores, because I am deaf!

Would you rather sky dive or bungee jump?
Um....

Ever been outside of the US?
Yep, I have been to Belize, Guatemala, and Canada

Are the shows on MTV too fake?
Not Pimp My Ride.

Do you have to have some kind of noise to fall asleep?
No.

What's your zodiac sign?
Leo

How long does it take you to get dressed?
2 to 5 minutes.

Do you prefer to call or text someone?
Text, of course.

Who is your celebrity heart-throb?
I favor no one.

Would you have survived 100 years ago?
Definitely!

What do you think the world will be like in 30 years?
Corrupted, unless too many Christians are praying.

Do you have to be the center of attention?
Used to be, but not anymore.

Do you save your money or spend it?
I am ashamed to say it, but yes, I often spend it.

Did you get a New Year's kiss?
No.

What was one thing you wanted for your birthday but didn't get?
Laptop computer?

Are you a happy person?
Always.

How many concerts have you been to?
None of them.

What are 3 set radio stations in your vehicle right now?
I don't use radio.

Do they "wear out" good songs by over playing them?
I would guess so.

What's one thing you always said you'd never do but have done?
I don't know.

Have you ever flat-ironed your hair?
No, my hair is too short to even try.

Do you go to church every Sunday?
Yes!  It is a nutriment of my soul.

Do you have a hidden talent?
Yes, alot.

Do you like water parks?
Yes...well...I am not an expert swimmer.

What do you normally eat for breakfast?
Cereal and milk.

What is one of your childhood memories?
First one comes to my mind is sitting on the hospital bed getting stitches on my ring finger on my right hand.

Do you like to cuddle?
Yes.

Do you like heat or cold weather?
I like it hot, because you don't have to wear coats.

What was your favorite cartoon as a kid?
I didn't grow up with TV, so I don't have any.

Dogs or Cats?
Both.

When no one is home, do you walk around naked?
Sure, I love that free feeling.

Have you ever seen a ghost?
No.

Do you prefer scary movies or comedies?
Well, I would prefer comedies, if I can't have other choice.

Ever had a huge crush on someone and never tell them?
Yes.

If you could change anything about your body, what would it be?
Ah, that's my secret.

If someone ever held a gun to your head and asked if you believe in God, what would you say?
Yes, Lord, I believe.

Would you drive 1000 miles for the one you love?
Er...welll...I am not that fond of driving...

What was the one thing you were given as a child and still have?
Birthday Suit, I suppose.

Do you have a favorite shirt or pair of jeans you wear over and over?
No.

Will you move away from your hometown soon?
Hopefully, yes.

Would you actually relocate for the one you can't live without?
What can't I live without?

Does love really make you act crazy?
Ah...maybe!

How many texts do you send on an average month?
When I use and had Sidekick 2 and Blackberry, I do text and email alot.

How many kids do you want?
15!  Well, more or less.

What's your favorite name for a girl and boy?
Girl- Ivy, Jemima...
Guy- Horace, Tryler...

Ever been taken to jail?
No, but that don't mean I was a good boy.

Have you ever had a penpal?
Yes, during my teen years.

What are you about to do now that this survey is over?
Go to Lewis Meyer's for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Some Important Truths That I Have Learnt
By Zac Poonen

      During the 40 years that I have been a born-again Christian, I have learnt some important truths that have encouraged me and given direction and purpose to my life. I share them here with you with the hope that they will be an encouragement to you as well.

      1. God loves us as He loved Jesus

      "Thou didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me" (John 17:23).

      This is the greatest truth that I have discovered in the Bible. It changed me from an insecure, depressed believer to one who has become totally secure in God and full of the joy of the Lord - always.

      There are many verses in the Bible that tell us that God loves us, but only this one that tells us the extent of that love - AS MUCH AS HE LOVED JESUS.

      Since there is no partiality with our heavenly Father in the way He loves any of His sons, He will certainly be willing to do everything for us, His sons, that He did for His firstborn Son, Jesus. He will help us as He helped Jesus. He will care for us as much as He cared for Jesus. He will be as interested in planning the details of our daily life as He was in planning Jesus' life. Nothing can ever happen to us that will take God by surprise. He has already planned for every eventuality.

      So we need no longer be insecure. We have been sent to earth with as definite a purpose as Jesus was.

      All this is true for you too - but only if you believe it.

      Nothing works for the one who does not believe in the Word of God.

      2. God delights in honest people

      "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" (1 Jn.1:9).

      To walk in the light means first of all that we hide nothing from God. We tell Him everything, exactly as it is. I am convinced that the first step towards God is honesty. God detests those who are insincere. Jesus spoke against hypocrites more than He spoke against anyone else.

      God does not ask us to be holy or perfect first of all but to be honest. This is the starting point of true holiness. And from this spring flows everything else. And if there is one thing that is really easy for anyone of us to do, it is to be honest.

      So, confess sin immediately to God. Don't call sinful thoughts by "decent" names. Don't say "I was only admiring the beauty of God's creation" when actually you lusted adulterously with your eyes. Don't call "anger" as "righteous indignation".

      You will never get victory over sin if you are dishonest.

      And don't ever call "sin", "a mistake", because Jesus' blood can cleanse you from all your sins, but not from your mistakes!! He does not cleanse dishonest people.

      There is hope only for honest people. "He who covers his sin will never prosper" (Prov.28:13).

      Why did Jesus say that there was more hope for prostitutes and for thieves to enter God's kingdom than for religious leaders (Matt.21:31). Because prostitutes and thieves make no pretense of being holy.

      Many young people are turned away from churches because church-members give them the impression that they themselves have no struggles. And so those young people think, "That holy bunch of people will never understand our problems!!" If this true of us, then we are unlike Christ Who drew sinners to Himself.

      3. God delights in a cheerful giver

      "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor.9:7).

      This is why God gives man total freedom - both before and after conversion, and after being filled with the Spirit.

      If we are like God, we also will not seek to control others or pressurise them. We will give them freedom to be different from us, to have different views from ours and to grow spiritually at their own pace.

      All compulsion of any sort is from the devil.

      The Holy Spirit fills people, whereas demons possess people. The difference is this: When the Holy Spirit fills anyone, He still gives that person freedom to do whatever he wants. But when demons possess people they rob them of their freedom and control them. The fruit of being filled with the Spirit is self-control (Gal.5:22,23). Demon-possession however, results in the loss of self-control.

      We must remember that any work that we do for God that is NOT done cheerfully, joyfully, freely and voluntarily is a dead work. Any work done for God for a reward or for a salary is also a dead work. Any money given to God under pressure from others has no value at all, as far as God is concerned!!

      God values a little done cheerfully for Him far more than a great deal done under compulsion, or done merely to ease one's conscience.

      4. Holiness comes by looking unto Jesus

      "Let us run the race....looking unto Jesus" (Heb.12:1,2).

      The secret of godliness is found in the Person of Christ Who came in our flesh (as 1 Tim.3:16 makes very clear) - and not in the doctrine that Christ came in our flesh. It is through His Person and not through a doctrinal analysis of His flesh, that we become holy.

      Any amount of self-effort will never make a sinful heart holy. God has to do a work within us, for that to happen.

      Holiness (eternal life) is God's gift - and it can never be attained by works (Rom.6:23). The Bible states that God alone can sanctify us (make us holy) entirely (1 Thess.5:23 says that so plainly that no-one can mistake it). Yet multitudes of believers are struggling to deny themselves in order to be holy. They become Pharisees instead.

      "The holiness which is no illusion" (Eph.4:24-Philips) is attained by faith in Jesus - in other words by "looking unto Jesus".

      If we keep looking only at a doctrine we will become Pharisees. The purer our doctrine, the greater the Pharisees we will become.

      The greatest Pharisees I have met on earth were among those who preached the highest standards of holiness through self-effort!! We have to be careful that we don't end up as one of them!

      What it means to look unto Jesus is very clearly explained in Hebrews 12:2. First of all we are to look at Him as One Who lived on earth "enduring His cross" daily - "tempted in all points as we are and yet without sin" (Heb.4:15). He is our Forerunner (Heb.6:20), in Whose footsteps we are to run. Secondly, we are to see Him as the One Who is now "at the right hand of the Father", interceding for us and ready to help us in every trial and temptation.

      5. We must be continually filled with the Holy Spirit

      "Be (being) filled with the Spirit" (Eph.5:18 - Literal).

      It is impossible to live the Christian life, as God wants us to, if we are not continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is impossible to serve God as we should without being anointed with the Spirit and receiving His supernatural gifts. Jesus Himself needed to be anointed.

      The Holy Spirit has come to make us like Jesus in our personal lives as well as in our ministry (See 2 Cor.3:18).

      God fills us with the Spirit in order to conform us to the likeness of Christ in our character, and to equip us to serve as Jesus served.

      We do not have the same ministry that Jesus had, and so we won't be able to do what Jesus did in His ministry. But we can be as fully equipped to serve God as Jesus Himself was - to fulfil OUR OWN ministry.

      All that is required is an adequate thirst and faith, on our part, for rivers of living water to flow out through us (Jn.7:37-39).

      We must earnestly long for the gifts of the Spirit if we are to have them(1 Cor.14:1). Otherwise we will never have them.

      A church without the gifts of the Holy Spirit is like a man who may be living but who is deaf, blind, mute and lame - and therefore useless.

      6.The way of the cross is the way of life

      "If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him" (2 Tim.2:11)

      There is no way for us to have the life of Jesus manifested in our body other than by accepting death to our Self-life in all the situations that God plans and arranges for us (2 Cor.4:10,11).

      We must "consider ourselves dead to sin" (Rom.6:11) in all situations, if we are to overcome sin. We must "mortify the deeds of the body through the Spirit" if we are to live (Rom.8:13). The Holy Spirit will always lead us to the cross in our daily life.

      We are sent by God into situations where we are "slaughtered the whole day long" (Rom.8:36) and "delivered to death for Jesus sake" (2 Cor.4:11). In such situations, we must accept "the dying of Jesus" (2 Cor.4:10), so that the life of Jesus may be manifest in us.

      7. Man's opinions are fit only for the garbage bin

      "Stop regarding man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for why should he be esteemed? (Isa.2:22)

      When a man's breath leaves his nostrils, he is no better than the dust that we walk on. So why should we value man's opinion.

      If we are not rooted and grounded in the fact that the opinions of ALL human beings put together are only fit for the garbage-bin, we will never be able to serve the Lord effectively. If we seek to please even one man, we cannot be servants of Christ (Gal.1:10).

      Every man's opinion is worthless compared to God's opinion. One who is convinced of this will thereafter seek only God's approval over His life and ministry. He will never seek to impress people or to justify himself before them.

      8. God detests all that this world considers great

      "That which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15).

      The things that are considered great in the world, not only have no value in God's eyes, but are actually an abomination to Him.

      Since all worldly honour is an abomination to God, it must be an abomination to us too.

      Money is something that everyone on earth considers valuable. But God says that those who love money and long to get rich will suffer the following eight consequences sooner or later (1 Tim. 6:9,10).

      (a)they will fall into temptation;

      (b) they will fall into a trap;

      (c) they will fall into foolish desires;

      (d) they will fall into harmful desires;

      (e) they will plunge into ruin;

      (f) they will plunge into destruction;

      (g) they will wander away from the faith;

      (h) they will pierce themselves with many sorrows.

      I have seen this happen again and again to believers everywhere.

      One of the main reasons why a prophetic word from the Lord is hardly ever heard these days in our land, is because most preachers are lovers of money. Jesus said that the true riches (the prophetic word being one of them) would not be given by God to those who were unfaithful with money (Lk.16:11). This is why we hear so many boring sermons and so many boring testimonies in church-meetings and conferences.

      9. Nobody can harm us except we ourselves

      "Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?" (1 Pet.3:13)

      God is so powerful that He makes ALL THINGS work together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose - that is, for those who have no ambition on earth outside of His will for their lives (Romans 8:28). One who has selfish ambitions cannot claim this promise. But if we accept the will of God totally, we can claim this promise every minute of our life on earth. Nothing can harm us.

      Everything that others do to us - good or evil, accidental or deliberate - will go through the filter of Romans 8:28 and will come through working for our very best - conforming us each time a little more to the likeness of Christ (Rom.8:29) - which is the good that God has planned for us. This filter works perfectly every single time for those who fulfil the conditions listed in this verse.

      Further, 1 Peter 3:13 tells us that no-one can harm us if we are "zealous for what is good". Unfortunately this is not as well known a verse as Romans 8:28 is. But we must popularise it now.

      However, this promise too is applicable only to those who are zealous to keep their hearts good towards all people. It will be impossible for any demon or human being to harm such a believer.

      So whenever any Christian complains that others have harmed him, he is indirectly admitting that he does not love God, is not called according to God's purpose and has not been zealous for what is good. Otherwise, whatever those others did to him would have only worked for his good, and then he would not have had any complaints at all.

      Actually, the only one who can harm you is you yourself - by your unfaithfulness and your wrong attitudes to others.

      I am 59 years old now and I can honestly say that no-one has ever succeeded in harming me in my entire life. Many have tried to do so, but EVERYTHING they did only worked for my very best and for the good of my ministry. So I can praise God for those people too. Those who have opposed me have been mostly so-called "believers" who have not understood God's ways. I am giving you my testimony only to encourage you to believe that this can be your testimony too - always.

      10. God has a perfect plan for each of our lives

      "We are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph.2:10).

      Long ago, when God chose us in Christ, He also planned what we should do with our earthly lives. Our duty now is to find out that plan - day by day - and to follow it. We can never make a better plan than God's.

      We must not imitate what others do, for God's plan for each of His children is different. God's plan for Joseph, for example, was for him to stay in the palace in Egypt and to live in great comfort for the last 80 years of his life. On the other hand, God's plan for Moses was for him to leave the palace in Egypt and to live in great discomfort for the last 80 years of his life - in the wilderness. If Moses had followed Joseph's example, through the love of comfort and ease, he would have missed God's will for his own life.

      In exactly the same way today, God may want one brother to live all his life in comfort in the U.S.A., and another brother to toil all his life in the heat and dust of North India. Each must be convinced about God's plan for his own life instead of comparing his lot with that of the other brother and being jealous of him and criticising him.

      I know that God called me to serve Him in India. But I have never demanded that anyone else should have my calling.

      We will, however, never be able to find God's will, if we are seeking our own honour or if we love money or comfort or the approval of men.

      11. Knowing God intimately is the secret of being strong

      "The people who know their God will be strong" (Dan.11:32)

      Today, God does not want us to know Him second-hand through others. He invites even the youngest believer to know Him personally (Heb.8:11). Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God and Jesus Christ personally (John 17:3). This was the greatest passion of Paul's life and must be our greatest passion too (Phil.3:10).

      One who desires to know God intimately, will have to listen to Him always. Jesus said that the only way man could keep himself spiritually alive was by listening to EVERY word that proceeded from God's mouth (Matt.4:4 ). He also said that to sit at His feet and listen to Him was the most important thing in the Christian life (Lk.10:42).

      We must develop the habit that Jesus had of listening to the Father from early morning every day (Isa.50:4), right through the day; and then to be in a listening attitude in the hours of night when we are asleep too - so that if we ever wake up from our sleep at night, we can say, "Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening" (1 Sam.3:10).

      Knowing God will make us overcomers in all situations - because God has a solution for every problem that we face - and if we listen to Him, He will tell us what that solution is.

      12.The new covenant is far superior to the old covenant

      "Jesus is the Mediator of a better covenant" (Heb.8:6).

      Many Christians do not know that there is a fundamental difference between the old and the new covenants(Heb.8:8-12). The new covenant is as much superior to the old, as Jesus is to Moses. (2 Cor.3 and Heb.3).

      Whereas the old covenant could purify only a person's external life through the fear of judgment and the promise of reward, the new covenant changes us from within, not through threats and promises, but through the Holy Spirit giving us the nature of Christ - a nature that is totally pure and loving.

      There is a vast difference between a pig being kept clean through being restrained by chains (fear of punishment under the Law), and a cat that keeps itself clean because that is its inner nature. That example illustrates the difference between the two covenants.

      13. We are called to be rejected and persecuted by men

      "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Tim.3:12)

      Jesus told His disciples that in the world they would face tribulation, (Jn.16:33); and He prayed to the Father NOT to take His disciples out of the world (Jn.17:15). The apostles taught believers that only through much tribulation they could enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:23).

      Jesus said that if people had called the Head of the house Beelzebul, the members of His household would be called by worse names (Matt.10:25). It is thus that we know we are faithful members of His household. Some of the names that I have been called, by other "believers", have been: "Devil", "Son of the Devil", "Evil spirit", "Antichrist", "Deceiver", "Terrorist", "Murderer", and "Diotrephes". It has been a great honour to be identified thereby as a part of Jesus' household. All who serve the Lord faithfully will experience this.

      Jesus also said that a true prophet would not be honoured by "his own relatives" (Mk.6:4). Jesus Himself was not accepted by His family members. Every true prophet of God will be rejected and dishonoured by his own relatives, even today. In the same way, a true apostle will also be "slandered and treated as the scum of the world and the dregs of all things" (1 Cor.4:13). Suffering and rejection have always been the appointed lot of God's greatest servants.

      The teaching that the church will be raptured before the "great tribulation" is a popular one with most believers because it comforts their flesh to hear it. But Jesus made it very clear in Matthew 24:29-31 that He will return to take His elect only AFTER the great tribulation.

      THERE IS NOT A SINGLE VERSE IN THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT THAT TEACHES THAT THE CHURCH WILL ESCAPE THE GREAT TRIBULATION BY BEING RAPTURED OUT OF IT. This doctrine was invented by man in England in the mid-1800s.

      We must now prepare the church in our country for persecution.

      14. We must receive all whom God has received

      "God has placed the members in the Body just as He desired...that there should be no division in the Body" (1 Cor.12:18,25).

      God has raised up men at different times in different lands to restore a pure testimony for Him. But after those men of God died, their followers have made their groups exclusive and cultistic.

      But the body of Christ is larger than any group. And we must never forget that. The bride of Christ is found in many, many groups today.

      So we must seek for fellowship with all whom the Lord has accepted, even though we may not be able to work together with many of them, because of differences in interpretation of the Word of God.

      15. We must treat every human being with dignity

      "With our tongue, we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way" (James 3:9,10).

      Any word or action that degrades a human being is never from God. It is always from Satan who forever seeks to demean and degrade people.

      We are commanded to speak "with gentleness and respect" (1 Pet.3:15) to all people - whether they be our wives, our children, younger people, beggars or enemies.

      All men must be treated with dignity. For example, when giving a gift to a poorer brother, we must do so, without robbing him of his dignity as a human being. We must be his brother and not his benefactor.

      16. We must reveal our financial needs only to God

      "God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil.4:19).

      Full-time Christian workers must trust God for all their financial needs and must reveal those needs only to Him. God will then prompt His children to supply their needs . They must not live "by faith in God and hints to other believers", as many live today.

      "The Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel" (1 Cor.9:14).

      So those who serve the Lord full-time are permitted to receive gifts from other believers. But they must never receive a salary . There is a vast difference between gifts and a salary. Gifts cannot be demanded, whereas a salary can be demanded. Here lies the cause for the backslidden condition of most Christian churches and institutions today.

      We must however, never receive any gifts for our personal or family use from people who are poorer than us. If such people give us gifts, we must either give the money away to someone poorer than them or put the money into the offering-box for the Lord's work.

      Here are "TEN COMMANDMENTS" on money that all full-time workers will do well to take heed to:

      1. Never make your financial needs known to anyone but God (Phil.4:19).

      2. Never accept money from unbelievers (3 John 7).

      3. Never expect any gifts from anyone (Psa.62:5).

      4. Never allow anyone to control you or influence your ministry by giving you money.

      5. Never accept money from those who don't receive your ministry.

      6. Never accept money for your personal or family needs, from anyone poorer than you.

      7. Never be dependent on any man for your financial needs.

      8. Never handle God's money in a way that would cause others to suspect mishandling (2 Cor.8:20,21).

      9. Never be excited when you receive money.

      10. Never be depressed when you lose money.

      Conclusion

      I hope these truths will not only encourage you, but liberate you as well. If you are serious about your walk with the Lord and your ministry, you should take all these truths seriously in your daily life.

John 1:18 speaks about one of the purposes Jesus had in coming to earth. Most people think He came only to die for our sins, but let's look at this verse: 'No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' Before Jesus came to this earth, people could not know God as their Father. You never see people in the Old Testament calling Him 'Father.' He was a great and terrible God who was to be feared. The greatest revelation Jesus ever gave to His disciples was that God was their Father. You can see how Christ labored to help them be able to find security in knowing God as their Father, but they didn't always respond the way He wanted to that new revelation. I believe that today God is seeking to reveal this unto us also. It is on this foundation alone that we can progress and grow in our Christian life, have victory over sin and build the body of Christ. It is in this revelation of finding God as our Father that we find the answer to many, many of life's problems. The reason for this is: When we do not know God as our loving Father, we have a false image of how God is. The devil is always trying to portray a wrong picture of God to us.

When I was young, the thing that changed me from an insecure person who was always trying to make a good impression on people into one who was secure was the truth that God loved me as much as He loved Jesus Christ. If someone were to ask me what the greatest truth I have ever discovered in my forty years of being a born-again believer of Jesus Christ and studying the Bible, it is this. As far as I know, it is mentioned in only one verse in the whole Bible. John 17:23- 'I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.' This whole chapter is a prayer for unity amongst believers. But when we look at Christendom today, we see that this prayer is not being answered. We don't see Christians united together. This was the burden of Jesus' heart. Having unity amongst believers comes from knowing that God loves us as He loved Christ. I find it very difficult to understand or explain how this is, but it is something we desperately need to get ahold of, for when I saw it, it changed my life completely. It delivered me from my desire to impress people and compete with others. It helped me to overcome jealousy and my desire to compare myself with others and many of the problems that Christians have that bring disunity. Just this simple truth that God loves me as much as He loves Jesus. The very same way that He planned and cared for Christ's life is the way He will do for me.

I think of the many times in Matthew where it says that something happened so that the scripture might be fulfilled. He was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth, He went to Galilee so that the scripture would be fulfilled, and all the way through His life you find that there was a plan that God had laid out and had prophesied of through the prophets of. Even while Christ was hanging on the cross, He said: 'I thirst.' John 19 says even that was done that the scripture might be fulfilled. There was such perfect planning in the life of Jesus. God had planned it exactly for Him- where He was to be born and all of these things. He couldn't have just been born anywhere. I believe He had to be born in that stable. This was all God's plan for His life. He couldn't have just lived anywhere. There was a reason for Him being raised in Nazareth. His life was so perfectly planned because the Father loved Him. When I realized how the Father loves me as He had loved Jesus, I realized that He planned my life too in exactly the same way. That took a lot of insecurity out of my life.

When I was a young Christian, I was a really shy, reserved and introverted kind of person. I would look at these other people who could go up and slap people on the back and say: 'Hi! How are you?' and make friends with people so easily, and I couldn't do that. I wished I could be like that, but I wasn't. When I realized that God made no mistake in making my temperament the way He did, and it was He who determined the color of my skin, it was He who determined what country I was to be born in, and He determined every last detail of my life it was because He had a specific plan for my life, I realized I didn't have to envy everybody else. If I would try to be like someone else, it would ruin the plan He had for me that could only be fulfilled through the gifts He had given me. That brought such rest into my life. It delivered me from wanting to be like other people and competing with them. It gave me perfect peace. This was all from this simple truth that God loves me just as He loved Jesus and in the same way He planned Jesus' life, He planned mine. I was converted when I was 19 and baptized when I was 21, and in this time, God showed me that He had a plan for me, and if I would submit to that, He would direct my life.

When the Lord delivered the Children of Israel from the land of Egypt, He led them with a pillar of cloud. He just didn't give them a map of the wilderness and say: 'Okay, go and find the Promised Land.' No, He led them. He wanted to teach them to live by faith. It's the same way with us. God doesn't give us a map of our whole future. We don't really know what lies ahead of us. He wants us to learn to learn to follow Him and put our trust in Him. God showed me that if I would submit my will to Him, day by day, and follow His direction and guidance, I will fulfill His plan for me. This helped me so much. I'm glad the Lord didn't wait until I was forty or fifty to reveal this to me. That's why I have a great burden for young people. I wish I could drill into the minds of all our young people that God has a plan for their life. He's made a plan for your life, and you could never make a better plan than that. It's impossible. The devil's always trying so hard to convince us that: 'If you give your life to God completely, He'll just mess it up and you won't be happy. Don't ask God what job you should do because He'll pick out the most difficult job in the world and tell you to do that one. Don't ask God which girl you should marry because He'll pick out the ugliest girl in the world and tell you to marry her.' This is the picture that the devil has painted of God to so many young people. If it weren't so, why wouldn't every single young person surrender everything to Jesus? He's got them afraid to do it. Why was the rich young ruler so reluctant to give his money to the poor? Because He thought God was there to mess up his life. He thought God was there to make him poor. He didn't want to end up in the poorhouse. There are so many commandments in the Bible that Christians are reluctant to obey because they feel that God wants to mess up their life. God has come to spoil their fun and to take everything away. God is not come to take away, He's come to replace with something far better than they have. They don't realize that if they would only surrender their all, they could have the most fulfilling life that they could ever live. I'm so, so glad I realized this when I was 21. Today, more than 40 years later, I can testify that I could not have planned my life better than the way God did. He never showed me what those 40 years were going to be. He showed it to me day by day. He'll do the same for you.

When Satan came to Eve in the garden of Eden, we see that He tempted her to eat of the forbidden fruit, but behind it all, was the lie that: 'God doesn't really love you, Eve. If He loved you, He'd allow you to eat of that tree. Why has He not given you that which is so attractive and appeals to your senses?' That's the way the devil comes to us even today. 'Why hasn't God answered that prayer of yours? It's because He doesn't really love you. Why didn't He give you that other thing which you wanted so badly? Because He doesn't really love you. Why hasn't He made you like that other person? Because He doesn't really love you.' It's only when Eve believed that lie in her mind: 'Yes, it's possible that God doesn't really love me.' that she sinned and ate of that fruit. Her failure was not primarily one of disobedience, although that was involved. It was the sin of unbelief. If she wouldn't have believed Satan, can you think of what the result would've been? She'd have told Satan: 'Yes, it looks as though God doesn't love me. I don't know why He doesn't allow me to eat of this lovely fruit, but Satan, there must be a very good reason He doesn't that I can't understand. God's wisdom is far greater than mine. There's one thing I'm absolutely sure of, Satan. God loves me, and if He doesn't want me to eat of this fruit, it must be for my good; even if I can't understand it.' That's the way to overcome temptation. There are so many things God had told us not to do. When Satan comes to us and says: 'Why don't you just yield and enjoy yourself?' Can you say to Him: 'I don't know why God has forbidden it, but there must be a very good reason. God loves me, and it is His live that has forbidden me from taking part in that.'? In the same way, when God tells us to do something that looks difficult, we know that it is God's love that makes so we must do it.

Holiness is a word that frightens many Christians. I don't know why. Before I understood it, I would think: 'I've got to be holy- all the time! Boy, what a terrible burden!' I want to ask you brothers, do you get frightened over the word �health?' Being 100% healthy 365 days of the year? Do you think: 'Oh no! Healthy!'? Why aren't we scared of health? It's because we know health is good for us. What are we scared of? We're scared of sickness. How many of you want just a little bit of sickness? Holiness is spiritual health. That's what it is. Why are we afraid of it? It's because the devil's fooled us for years. Holiness is an expression of God's love for us. Maybe my little child had leprosy and I would take him to a doctor. I'd tell the doctor: 'Don't heal him completely. Just keep a little bit of leprosy. It'll keep him humble.' There are people today who think: 'I need to sin once in a while so I will be humble.' That's the same as if I would tell the doctor: 'Just keep a little leprosy there to keep him humble. He'll get proud if he's healthy.' No good father would tell the doctor to do that. We would want him to be completely free. If he's got tuberculosis, we'd want him to be completely free of that as well. If this were your son, how free of tuberculosis would you want him? 90%? 99%? Or 100%? How free do YOU want to be from sin? 90%? Maybe some of you only go 65% and you're happy already. Would you be content for your child to be delivered only 65% from tuberculosis? Why are you content to be only 65% free from sin? You say: 'Well, it's better than it was before.' Maybe it is, but are you happy to stay there? Holiness is spiritual health. Sin is spiritual sickness. But the devil has blinded our eyes into being afraid of holiness and thinking of all kinds of reasons why we should be able to sin. He tells us: 'Well, it'll keep you humble.' and all kinds of very stupid arguments like that.

When God calls us to be holy, it's the same desire that I have for my little children that I should become completely healthy. They should be free from all sickness. Maybe they have a little fever that concerns me. I don't want them to have a little fever. I don't want them to have a cold. That's the same care that God has for us. His love is so great that He wants us to be totally pure from all sin. He wants us to be free from dirty thoughts- not 65%, not 90%, but 100%! If the doctor says: 'It's going to take a little time.' I say: 'Let it take time, but I want him to be free 100%. He wants us to be free from anger 100%. These aren't just my words. It says in Ephesians 4: 'Let him that stole steal no more.' How free do you want to be from stealing? 80%? 90%? Or 100%? Would you be happy when you were only stealing 10% of the time? Would you have a good conscience? No. I don't think there's a single person here who would have a clean conscience if he were stealing only 1% of the time. Let's go to the next verse. 'Let no corrupt communication proceed from thy mouth.' What's the difference between that and the previous verse? Are you happy when your speech is 90% good? How is it that we don't get convicted about a few unkind words that come out of our mouth, like we would if we stole- just a little bit? It's because the devil has made us selective in reading God's word. We take some things and say: 'Now, that's important.' Then, we go to the next verse and say: 'That's not so important.' Let's go further down. Verse 31: 'Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking (slander), be put away from you.' Well, if we put away ALL anger from our life, how much will be left? Are we scared of that? 'Let all leprosy, and all tuberculosis and all AIDS and all every other disease be put away from us.' Are we scared of that? No! That's what we want. Let me tell you, that's exactly what God wants for us. Holiness is an expression of God's love. Think of how a father and mother will take their child to the hospital and long for it to be perfectly healthy. That's how God longs for us to be spiritually healthy. Free from sin in the way we look, the way we speak, and every area of our life. The devil has succeeded in portraying holiness as a burden and something that strange, fanatical people speak about. People are afraid of the word perfection. I know it's true in my country. I have been criticized for 25 years by almost every single group of Christians for preaching one simple verse- 'Let us press on toward perfection.' I tell them: 'It doesn't make any difference what you think of me. God has told me to preach it, so I will until Jesus comes again.' Let us press on toward perfection in every area of our lives. I want my relationship with my wife to be better than it's ever been before. I want my speech to be kinder this year than it's ever been before. I want the love of money to be more detached from my life than it's ever been before. To press on toward perfection is to go farther in every area of my life than I've ever gone before. Nobody will reach the top of the mountain in one day. It's pressing on toward perfect spiritual health.

Think of the craze for heath there is in this country. You see people jogging so their cholesterol level goes down. People are very careful of what they eat. Even with packaged food there's a health facts table written on the outside of the package. People are so careful about their physical health. Why are they not more careful about sin, which destroys one's spiritual health? Why are believers, who have light on this, not caring about sin in their life? How can someone have lust with his eyes all day, then sleep peaceful y that night? How can this be possible? How can believers speak angry words to his wife and not weep on his pillow that night? I can't understand it! Jesus said: 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.' When you've learned to weep over sin, you'll get victory pretty soon. When is the last time your pillow was wet by your tears because you've grieved God in some way that day? We can argue about doctrines, but it's those who mourn over their spiritual condition who will be strengthened and overcome and be filled with the Holy Spirit experiencing perfect spiritual health in every area of their life! I want to encourage you brothers, let your laughter be turned into mourning. There's a great need for mourning. Paul said in Acts 24:16:'And herein do I exercise myself to have a conscience void of offense before God and man.' That was one of the great secrets of his life. It's not that he never made any mistakes. He made lots of them. He never wanted to give people the impression that he was a man who never made any mistakes. Do you know who wrote the book of Acts? Luke. Luke was Paul's closest co-worker. I can imagine that when he wrote the book of Acts he would have liked to leave out a lot of those mistakes that Paul made. Paul must have said to him: 'Make sure you write every one of those things down. Make sure you write how I quarreled with Barnabas and we separated. Make sure you write that I acted like a fool and shaved my head like the other Jews after becoming a Christian. Make sure you write how I circumcised Timothy, and make sure you tell how I yelled at the high priest calling him a white-washed wall.' That was Paul's humility. I cannot imagine Luke writing that unless Paul encouraged him to do so. He wasn't a man who wanted to give people the impression that he never made mistakes.

A lot of preachers are like that today. There's a lot of fathers who try to give that impression to their children. I've never wanted my children to feel they have a perfect father. That would only discourage them. I never wanted the people in my church to feel they have a prefect elder. I wanted my children to know that they have an honest father- one who is willing to confess that he has failed. I want the people in my church to know they have an honest elder who's willing to confess when he slips up. I've already had to go to one of the youngest brothers in the church and say: 'I'm sorry, brother. I was a little too hard when I corrected you. Would you forgive me?' No, we're not perfect, only God is perfect. Even Paul made mistakes, but he was honest. He kept his conscience clear before God. He wrote in 1 Timothy 1: 'This is a faithful saying, And worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.'

I believe that when God sees we are honest enough to admit that we have come short, He will be better able to lead us to a greater height of holiness in our lives. I've been amazed at the work God has done in my life. I've been amazed at how it's really true that He is able to keep us from falling. I've already wondered 'How does He keep us from falling?' If I am standing, I can fall. If I sit, I can still fall. There's only one place where you can never fall- that's when you're flat on the ground. If you are willing to keep your face in the dust before God, it is impossible to fall! Keep your face in the dust before God. 'God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble.' When we are secure in the love of God, we aren't afraid to admit that we slipped up there. We're not afraid to apologize to our wife, children or our younger brothers in the church. We realize that Jesus wouldn't behave that way.

For many years I tried to get a good definition of sin from the scriptures. There are many definitions, but I finally found what I believe is the clearest one given. That was Romans 3:23. 'For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.' I realized when I read that verse, that sin is anything that comes short of the glory of God. If I have something in my life that comes short of God's glory, it is sin. The glory of God was seen in Jesus. John 1 says that we beheld His glory in the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. So, anything that is below what is seen in the life of Christ is sin. I'm very thankful for this definition of sin, because it helps me to see that nothing good dwells in my flesh. Since I have found this verse, my life has been one of continuous repentance because the Lord points out things in my life to me that are not Christ-like. I often need to fall on my face before God praying: 'Lord, be merciful to me- a sinner.' so that I can be cleansed from them. Do you know what you're missing when you don't deal with the areas of your life that God points out to you and you call sin by some more descent name like 'mistake' or 'righteous indignation' when it's really just plain, carnal anger? God will not deliver you from it. But when I call sin what it really is- sin, and say "Lord, that was an adulterous look." then God can deliver me from it. He can not deliver you from "admiring the beauty of God's creation." We've got to be honest enough to say 'Lord, this is what it is.' for Him to deliver us from it. This is what it means to walk in the light. Why are we afraid of calling sin what it really is? Because we're not secure in God's love to us as our Father.

Jesus said in John 14: 'I will not leave you comfortless.' And the word �comfortless' was translated from a Greek word meaning �orphans'. 'I will not leave you as orphans.' When I look at a lot of Christians, I see that they behave exactly like orphans. I have often met orphans in India. Children who never in their whole life have known the love of a Father and Mother and were brought up in an orphanage. I find the characteristics of orphans in these people even when they're sixty years old. Insecure, feeling threatened by others, wanting somebody's friendship only for themselves, and the characteristics I find in so many believers are feeling threatened by others, competing with others, trying to show that they can pray better, or sing better or preach better or do something else better. They are like orphans. They are trying to compete with someone else to show that what they are accomplishing is much better than the others, writing things in a way to show others that 'God's really using me.' They are as orphans. They're not content with the fact that the Father knows. Jesus said: 'Your Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.'

As I was reading in John 7, I found something that really came home to my heart strongly. In verse 4 we read that the brothers of Jesus told Him to go to Judea and they said these words: 'For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly.' No one will do anything in secret if he desires to be known by everyone. How does this apply to us? Why is it that we don't do things in secret? Because we want to be known of men. Why is it that

our public life is so much more than our secret life? Why is it that the impression we give to other people about our prayer life is much more than what it really is? No one does anything in secret if he wants to be known of men, but if we do not desire to be known of men, we will do a lot of things in secret.

When I was a young Christian, I was in a group that emphasized having a quiet time with God. It's a good thing to do. I would recommend it to everyone. In the group I was in, we were taught to read the Bible on our knees every morning and evening. We had fasting and prayer every Saturday. We had all-night prayers. It was good, but in spite of all these hours spent on the knees, the people were still sour, hard to get along with, critical, bitter, complaining, no victory over anger and hardly victory over any sin. This really puzzled me. There have been times when I've spent 15 minutes with a godly man, and the influence of that stayed with me for days afterward. 15 minutes with a godly man can change the direction of one's life. Could you imagine what 15 minutes with God Himself would do? If speaking with a godly man for a little while could do so much, can you imagine what spending even a little while with God could do? The reason that their lives weren't being changed even though they did all these things was because they weren't spending time with God, they were spending their time with a book. Whether it's a chemistry book, a math book or the Bible, it doesn't really make a difference. A lot of people who have a quiet time aren't really having it with God- they're just studying a book in the same way that a scientist studies his science book and becomes proficient in that particular area. That is not the way you get to know God! To know God, you have to be humble. You must have a sense of your own need. Christ said: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.'

When I saw that, I realized I had to get out of all these rituals. I saw that what I needed was not a bunch of rules and regulations because all of those rules and regulations didn't help me to find God! They didn't help me to overcome the sin in my life! This is the illustration that came to my mind. 'Is it possible for me to take a pig on a mile long walk through the dirt and muck and for it to come out clean on the other end?' Yes, it's possible. If I tie that pig with ten chains and every time it is attracted toward some mud over I quickly pull it back, and every time it heads for the mud puddle over there, I pull it back. With much struggle and effort I could probably manage to bring that pig out on the other end of the walk clean. Those ten chains are the Ten Commandments. That is how God kept men clean under the law. When they wanted to go this way, the law would jerk them back. When they were attracted the other way, it held them from going, and they were clean. But, it would be quite different to take a cat on that same walk. It doesn't need a single chain, and it will come out absolutely clean. Even if it were to accidentally fall into the mud, it would jump back out and lick itself clean before it goes any farther. And, it doesn't only lick itself clean when other people are looking! That would be a pig trying to make others think he's a cat. If it's a real cat, it will make no difference whether other people are looking or not. It detests that mud and licks itself clean before it even goes any farther. I've seen cats that you can't see a speck of dust on, but they're still licking themselves- trying to keep clean. I thought: 'What an example for me.' We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Brothers, the cat doesn't need any chains. It doesn't need man-made rules and regulations. This is the mistake that many churches have made through the years. They want to keep the pigs clean, so they have man-made rules and chains to hold them back, and, of course they're clean! Some rules are written down, and some might be just a general impression given in the church. We shouldn't do this, we shouldn't have that, and don't go there, and people look on and say: "Boy, what a clean church!" Yes, they're clean, but their old, sinful nature hasn't been changed at all! People are afraid to disobey because they'd be in danger of being thrown out. They're afraid that they might not be accepted. If they do something, people might frown on them, and so that fear of being frowned on acts like a chain and pulls them back from something they always want to do.

Now, supposing we had a whole bunch of pigs and cats all together in a room and we locked all the doors and kept them inside, they'd all be clean- every one of them. But, if a preacher came along and opened up all the doors, there'd be quite the difference. The pigs would be dirty, the cats would be clean. And everyone would blame the preacher for opening the doors. No, those pigs didn't become pigs when the doors were opened. They were always pigs! This preacher made the dividing line clear. It's when the doors are opened that you discover who are the pigs and who are the cats. We're fooling ourselves into thinking everyone is a cat by keeping the doors locked. It is so easy to deceive ourselves and lock every door saying that we're all cats because we're all clean. Well, let's test it. Let's open the doors and see. The cats will remain cats, and the pigs will be revealed. This has an application. God never intended for man to be constantly kept under rules and regulations. I realize that it's necessary for children. Children are under the law and we have to have rules and regulations for them because they don't have any wisdom or discernment, and it's our responsibility as parents to tell them what they may and may not do. But Brothers, it was not God's will that we should be children forever! He wants us to be sons who can decide: 'I don't want that.' He wants us to follow Him in obedience to His commands out of love for Him.

In the years that I had to lay out detailed rules for my children, my heart longed for the day when they see the wisdom of what I told them and choose it for themselves. Isn't that what we as parents desire for our children? That's exactly what God desires for each and every one of us. He doesn't want us to all our lives be tied up with chains in effort to keep us from sin. That's why did away with the law. But He didn't throw out the law and give us nothing else instead. He gave us something better. Moses went up on the mountain and came down with the Ten Commandments, Jesus ascended into Heaven and sent us the Holy Spirit! If you don't have the Holy Spirit, you'll certainly need those chains holding you back. The trouble with a lot of Christians today is that they're trying to be freed from the Old Covenant and they end up with no covenant. It doesn't mean that everyone who has chucked the law is under the New Covenant. Not at all. Most 'Christians' are under no covenant! The people who were under the Old Covenant had a certain standard of morality and godliness. I can not think of a single Old Testament preacher who would sink so low as many preachers do today. That's under the Old Covenant. And these folks today are preaching 'grace.' That's not grace! That's no covenant at all! I can't think of any Old Testament preacher who would run after money like the preachers do today. How is that? The Old Covenant people had a higher standard than they do! Brothers, it's a deception. There is false "grace" being preached around the world today. True grace delivers a man from sin! 'The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.' (John 1)

Let me ask you a very simple question. Who was greater? Moses or Christ? A child could answer that. If Moses could lift us that high, how high do you think Christ can lift us out of our old life of sin? Much more. How much more? As much more as Jesus was greater than Moses. That's the message of the gospel! That's why Jesus said: 'Under the Old Covenant you weren't to commit adultery. I say to you: �don't lust with your eyes.' The Old Testament said: �do not commit murder,' I say to you: �don't even be angry with your brother.'' He didn't lower the standard, that is for sure. But, it's like a verse of a poem I once heard: 'Run John, the law commands, but gives us neither feet nor hands. Better news the gospel brings, it bids us fly- but gives us wings!' That's the gospel! It bids us to fly. The law, it told you to run, but it didn't give you anything to run with. Isn't it better to be commanded to fly if the gospel gives us wings? This is what the Holy Spirit is come to give. He has come to lift us from our past life into a relationship with Christ. And there we find security. We don't need to compare ourselves with others, we don't compete with others, we don't look down on others because it the work of God and His grace that has made us what we are. If you can be proud of your holiness, that's a good indication that you produced it yourself.

Supposing I brought here a wonderful cake baked by some of the sisters and I passed it out to you, and you said: 'Wow, that's a fantastic cake!' I'm not even tempted to be proud because I didn't bake it. But if I had made it, and I heard all of you appreciating it, then I'd be tempted to be proud. We're tempted to be proud of that which we manufacture ourselves. The holiness you manufacture yourself is what you're proud of. That's why you feel good if someone says something good about your character. The sermon you manufactured yourself you'll be proud of, but if God truly gave it to you, you'll just say: 'I'm just distributing what God gave me.' This is the gospel! I CAN NOT be proud because I realize: 'What do I have that I have not received?' Tell me what it is that you have that you didn't receive. Not a single thing.

I've seen situations where a person can come to a church and feel inferior because he was a sinner. He may feel awkward because his children are wayward and the church is preaching a high standard. I have four sons. They're all born again and following the Lord, but I don't deserve one bit of credit for that. I fall on my face and I say: 'Lord, it's all your mercy. I dare not ever think that I baked this cake.' I didn't. We often make people feel inferior because of how good we have it in our life. 'Come and see how it is in my home.' That poor brother may think: 'I could never make it. I better go to some other church.' If it is like this, we've failed. That's not the spirit of Jesus. Jesus came to lift the fallen.

I don't have any daughters, and once I needed to give a word of correction to some of the young teen-aged girls in the church. As I was getting up to speak, the Lord said to me: 'Remember, they're your daughters.' That really struck me. Those were my children. They were not just somebody else's children. It's so easy to preach at other people's children. Then, as I got up, I spoke to them as if they were my own daughters. I saw that this is how it should be in the church. When you see that brother's son going astray, hear the word of the Lord: 'That's your son.' and then you won't point a judgmental finger so easily. This is the body of Christ. We say we are one family, but our attitude is: 'See what I did over here in the corner with my family. Sorry, you didn't do so good.' Why is this? We are not secure in our Heavenly Father's love. We want to show off. We don't recognize that every single thing we have is what God has given me. There's nothing we can glory in. THIS is what hinders the building up of the body of Jesus Christ. This is where we've come short. There is Pharisee-ism. There is looking down upon others because they've failed. One who truly recognizes that there is nothing good in his flesh can never point a critical finger at another. It's impossible. I often think of the verse in Ephesians 3 where Paul says: 'Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given.' Grace is given when one realizes that they're the least of all the saints. 'Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.'

If you were to catch Paul by surprise and cut open his heart to find out what he thought about himself, you would find a deep conviction that he was the least of all the believers in the world because he saw his own corruption more than anybody else. He saw that nothing good dwelt in his flesh. I believe we need a revelation of that. I can honestly say that since the time when I realized these things and found security in my Heavenly Father I have not had much problem acknowledging where I failed or slipped up and sinned. I can see that God has given me others in the body of Christ to balance me because by myself I can be unbalanced. I need them. I'm not in competition with them. I thank God for the brothers He's given me who balance out the imbalance there is in my life. The areas of my life where I don't reflect the glory of God and the character of Christ, I've got brothers to encourage me in. And together we can manifest the glory of Jesus. I praise God for that. I praise God for a wife who is different than me who can balance me out at home and protect me from doing a lot of stupid things there in the same way that my fellow elders protect me from doing a lot of stupid things in the church. Do you recognize your need of your brother and your sister? Do you see that young person who is going astray as your son or daughter? The Bible says: 'The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.' The same love of the Father, which He showered upon us, we begin to have toward other people. This is what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. 'The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.' This is done by the Holy Spirit.