(Hos 4:17) "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

" Even today we have some that are "joined" to their idols....they cleaved to thei r idols, were glued, and as it were wedded unto them, and there was no separatin g of them..... Joined to, or Addicted to the lusts of the flesh, to the mammon of unrighteousn ess, or to their own self-righteousness, or to any idol they set up in their hea rts as such. There comes a time that God says; "let them alone". Jesus says it this way; "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:14) (1John 4:1) "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." Heb 4:1-3 (1) Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his r est, any of you should seem to come short of it. (2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word pre ached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (3) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Mat 7:26-27 (26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shal l be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (27) 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. James 2:20-24 (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac h is son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made p erfect? (23) And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. James 2:14-18 (14) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; no twithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith w ithout thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Eph 2:10 For we are His (God's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." 2 Cor. 3:5-6 "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kille th, but the spirit giveth life." 2 Cor. 4:6-7 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath s hined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in t he face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." We are warned time and again in scripture to watch who we "listen" to...to be ca reful of who we follow; (Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them t o err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.) This tells us that even those who follow the wrong leaders are led into destruct ion, they are destroyed. The importance of knowing the WORD for yourselves can not be stressed enough. Y ou'r very soul depends upon it. Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their mean s; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? As a matter of fact it seems some will do this on purpose to keep you from your promised salvation; Gal 2:4 " And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in pr ivily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might brin g us into bondage" Bondage? They are "brought in"? Who is this that is brought in and who is it that brings them in? FALSE BRETHREN??? I thought that when you read of "the brethren" is always refer red to men or women that are born again...evidently not. Some are FALSE ...yet, they set beside you on the pew. They eat with you at the camp meeting gatherin gs. Jesus teaches us; .."For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, a nd shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matt. 24:24) Peter calls them "scoffers" those who are walking "after thier own lusts" he cau tions us; 2Peter 3:17-18 (17) Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastne ss. (18) But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chri st. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. Peter says we can be lead away "with terror" of the wicked...in other words we m ight be "afraid" that something we have done is so wicked we can not be redeemed , and in other cases it might be that we are actually "afraid" of those evil men and women who are "sent" in to cause us to fail of the grace of God.

We have a wonderful promise from Jesus Himself" Rev 3:10-11... "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will kee p thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which th ou hast, that no man take thy crown." "Because" what?? We continue in..... "the word of my patience"? What?

John the revelator says: "I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in tr ibulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ..." Jesus says it is the "word of His patience"...and John says he is our companion in the patience of Jesus Christ, I think it behoves us to consider just what th is is. Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not , then do we with patience wait for it. So now we understand that IF we continue in HOPE ....hope for eternal salvation, we continue with patience and wait for it. We do not see it on another person, or in this world. But we continue with faith. So that brings me back to "fait h". The substance of things HOPED for. The evidence of things NOT SEEN. Hummm, so Jesus is saying in order NOT to be lead astray by false brethren, I mu st continue in the patience of His Word....with faith and hope. Interesting. Not at all what I heard preached the other day. I thought it was something I co uld "gain" by my goodness. Let's read on. (Rev 14:12) "Here is the patience of the saints: here are the y that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." OH no...now we read it is the "FAITH OF JESUS"...What? I thought it was my fait h. Now I read it is the faith OF Jesus that I must keep. How can I keep the fa ith OF Jesus? Well, John puts it this way in Revelations 1:2: Who (John speaking of himself) bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of al l things that he saw." So just what is the testimony of Jesus Christ? Could that be THE faith OF Jesus? 1John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word , and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One." 1John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." So the faith OF Jesus is the "record" that God hath given to us eternal life. T he faith OF Jesus is the Word of His patience and record of our eternal life fou nd by His finished work upon the cross, sealed by His resurrection from the dead . 1John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should b

e called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Hi m not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall s ee Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure . The faith of Jesus is that through the offering of His Body, the shedding of His Blood, He is able to bring many into eternal salvation. This is THE Faith we lift up from the world. The faith OF Christ by laying down our own lives, we to o, may bring many into revelation knowledge of the grace of God, that by His gra ce, through faith they too may be saved. Is it a common faith? Do all men share in this faith? No. Many, it seems, have come to us, proclaiming to know God, while in fact it is on ly their own lusts and desire they seek to satisify. They will lead many into p erdition and while they themselves are blind to the glorious Gospel of Jesus Chr ist, they seek to make followers and in this way lead many astray. Be careful that you do not trample under foot the glorious GRACE of GOD. 1John 3:7-10 (7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is rig hteous, even as he is righteous. (8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the begi nning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: w hosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his b rother.

(Jude 1:20-25) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultle ss before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, bo th now and ever. Amen. The "Faith OF Jesus" is the MOST HOLY FAITH. The "patience" of HIS Word is the promise we have. The "record" He bears is the finished work of the cross. Jesus tells us what the "record" He bears is; in Luke 4:17-19 And there was del ivered unto Him (Jesus) the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He (Jesus) had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lo rd is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, a nd recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, T o preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Reading from Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the L ORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bi nd up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound" We know the record of Christ, even as He sent answer to John the baptist, (Luke 7:22-23)" Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what t hings ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is prea ched. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Peter walked it the faith OF Jesus.... (Acts 5:15) "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them." the scriptu re goes on to say; "and they were healed every one. " Paul walked in the faith OF Jesus... (Acts 19:11-12) "And God wrought special m iracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spiri ts went out of them." Barnabas walked in the faith OF Jesus ...(Acts 15:12) "Then all the multitude k ept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them." Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, a nd Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch all reco rded as men who walked in the Faith OF JESUS so that signs and wonders were test imony of the power of God in their lives. Do you walk in THE faith? Do you expect people to be healed as your shadow passes over them? Do you see the dead raised to life, the blind recovering sight, and the deaf ear s opened as evidence of THE faith OF Jesus at work in your life? Perhaps you have been listening to the wrong leader. Perhaps you have been misl ead by the false brethren that would tell you that these things are not for toda y. It is the faith OF Jesus that saves today even as it did on the Day of Pentecost , when 3,000 were added to the chruch. It is the faith OF Jesus that takes us to the cross every day in submission to t he perfect will of GOD. It is the faith OF Jesus that will bring our dead bodies alive on that resurrect ion morning, even as Christ now lives in us, it is the Holy faith that caused Ch rist to be raised from the dead, the firstfruit from the dead that will preach g lad tidings to the meek, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the cap tives, and the opening of prisons to them that are bound. It is the faith OF Jesus that the blind can see, the deaf hear, the lame to walk and the dead raised. Christ said "blessed" are they which are not offended in H im... Today if you will take a moment and search your heart. Do you hide from the fai th OF Jesus? Have you prayed for someone today? Have you told someone the Good News? Perhap s you have taken a moment and worshipped the LORD in the beauty of holiness and

truth. To keep ourselves from being lead astray, we need only keep oourselves in THE FA ITH OF JESUS and for His name's sake live in obedience to His commands...love on e another. The LORD our God is ONE Lord, and we shall love the Lord our God with all our he arts, our minds and our strength. We do it best when we keep the patience of His Word. This is the patience of the saints; "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the comm andments of God, and the faith of Jesus." (Rev. 14:12)

Can you deny THE FAITH? Well, yes.... (1Tim 5:8) "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. "(2Ti 3:5) This refers to the following list: "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphe mers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, tru cebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are goo d, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;"(2T im. 3:2-4) John states it more clearly: "For many deceivers are entered into the world, w ho confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2John 1:7) Can we lose that blessed assurance? That confidence in our salvation? "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, t hat denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. "If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also sh all continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life." (1John 2:22-25) IF? "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;" (Heb 3:14) IF? "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelievi ng is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedien t, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:15-16) So we learn that there really are men (humans) that are reprobate (morally casta way) worthless concerning the truth of the gospel...totally worthless concerning the conviction and reliance upon Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of our faith.

These men and women will creep into your mind (your house of faith) and cause y ou to completely misunderstand the WORD of GOD. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: m en of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." (2 Tim. 3:8) Paul says; "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selve s. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be re probates? " (2 Cor. 13:5) What do we examine? How that Jesus Christ is IN YOU. Now that is the faith OF Jesus. Christ in us the hope of glory. Anything else (any other doctrine) is contrary to the gospel of the cross. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abound ing therein with thanksgiving." (Col 2:6-7) Could you lose this promise? "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but th at we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doc trine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hat h both the Father and the Son." (2 John 1:8-9) Simply by not abiding in the docrine of Christ, we can lose this promise and the reward. I did not mean for this to grow so long, but the warning is clear. You can lose the free gift, just by trying to "earn it". liberty we have in Christ by following the wrong leader. wrong person and become entangled in a web of deceit that ternity. You do well to surrender your own understanding ledge God and allow Him to teach you by His Word. You can toss away the You can listen to the will cost you all of e and in all ways acknow

Yes, this is a warning to those who have been listening to the wrong information . It can kill you. We have directions on the back of the poison jar, even a skull and cross bones t o warn us about the dangers of ingesting that natural poison. God has given us warning in HIS WORD, even with preachers and teachers, declarin g the warning about listening to false doctrines and false brethren. Know those that labor among you. Be careful that you are not bewitched by some doctrine of man. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of t he uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, a nd fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to un cleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies b

etween themselves:" (Romans 1:22-24) Again I must point out that GOD gave them up...it is GOD that will send the stro ng delusion; ....."because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved . And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should beli eve a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had ple asure in unrighteousness." IS there a damnation? IS there a Hell? Is there a reason for concern? "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whorem ongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in th e lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev 2 1:8) We are all familiar with the story of the rich man who had no compassion on the weak; "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool m y tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. "(Luke 16:23-24) Should we be careful of who we listen to and who we walk with? Is it important to guide our children well? "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev 20:15) Is there some way to KNOW if our prophets are true or not? PERHAPS scripture says it best. "Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resur rection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto th e next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of THEM WHICH HEARD THE WORD b elieved; and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high pr iest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set t hem in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the i mpotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that BY THE NAME OF J ESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, EVEN BY HIM doth this man stand here before you whole. This is THE STONE (Jesus the ROCK of salvation) which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the HEAD of the corner. NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: for there is NONE OTHER NAME under heav

en given among men, whereby WE MUST BE saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were u nlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And BEHOLDING THE MAN which was healed standing with them, they could say nothin g against it. " (Act 4:2-14) WE HAVE THE WORD THE VOICE THE TRUTH "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesu s Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Listen well, do you hear JESUS CHRIST being preached? What is being preached to your children?.....politics?, works? A man or woman's righteousness? You can be bewitched and caught in a snare, simply by listening to the wrong peo ple. STAY FOCUSED ON THE WORD for yourself. Pray without ceasing.

Romans 12:1-3 (1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present y our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonab le service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing o f your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, w ill of God. (3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberl y, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.