Most “Free” Things Are Not Really Free

Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I've lived long enough to know that most of the time when people offer you something “FOR FREE,” it comes at a cost at some point. A perfect example of this is all the very familiar so-called “free” software programs offered online, that come with a bunch of annoying pop-up advertisements, spyware, browser add-ons and additional software that we didn't ask for, all trying to sell you something. None of these programs are truly “FREE!” 

“Salvation can only be evidenced by works, if works are required to be saved.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong!”

I have often seen banks and other businesses offer new customers a “FREE GIFT” if they sign-up, open an account or buy something. How is that free? If you have to commit to buying something, or commit to a one-year contract, then it is really a reward, not a gift! 

Our text Bible verse says in Romans 6:23b, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Oh, how important is this beautiful word—GIFT!!! 

When I hear a Calvinist teaching that a saved person WILL persevere in good works, and WILL turn away from their sins, OR ELSE (they say) THIS PERSON IS NOT SAVED; then I know they do not fully understand the depth of God's grace and the free gift of God! Salvation is free without obligation. In fact, a person can get saved, and yet still choose to continue living in willful sin, and not be at risk of losing eternal life. That is how a gift works! The recipient is not obligated to live a certain way because they received it. 

The Bible Even Calls Eternal Life A “Free Gift”

Please notice in the following Scripture passage, that the word “GIFT” is mentioned 6 times...

Romans 5:15-18, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

What a beautiful doctrinally rich passage of Scripture! Notice that the Bible specifically mentions the “GIFT BY GRACE” and the “GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” What awesome phrases! God's gift is provided by His GRACE. I like an acronym which is often used for G.R.A.C.E. (God's Riches At Christ's Expense). JESUS PAID IT ALL!!! Christ paid our debt of sins. The price was His precious blood. ... 

1st Peter 1:18-21, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

I love that phrase—“WHO BY HIM DO BELIEVE IN GOD”!!! John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The Holy Bible is very clear in this matter, that if you want to come to God the Father, you MUST absolutely come by way of faith in God the Son!!! 

God offers to each and every human being the FREE GIFT of eternal life, through faith in the 'GOOD NEWS' of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Unlike most things today, which are falsely advertised as “free,” but come with a catch; God said what He meant, and meant what He said. John 14:2b, “if it were not so, I would have told you.” Our God is faithful! 

Pastor Harry Ironside Was Not A Calvinist

Read what Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951) said in his Gospel tract: “ANOTHER GOSPEL?” ...

“When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender' of all that they have to God, and who 'pay the price of full salvation' he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary's cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him.” —Pastor Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, “Another Gospel.”

Amen and amen! I thank God for Pastor Ironside. In recent decades, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago has lied about Dr. Ironside, claiming that he transitioned in his latter ministry toward a moderate Calvinist position, which is totally untrue. I tell you, Pastor Harry Ironside was NOT a Calvinist! Just because he used some familiar Calvinist terms to explain his theology doesn't make him a Calvinist. Brother Ironside plainly stated that he believed in the Perseverance of The Holy Spirit in a believer, which is 100% Biblical. In other words: Once saved, always saved. Once the Holy Spirit indwells a saint, they cannot lose the new birth! Dr. Ironside DIDN'T believe in the false doctrine of the Perseverance Of The Saints. 

Calvinism in all its tenets (a religious doctrine taught without proof) is of the Devil. John Calvin (1509-1564) was a horrible man, who murdered 58 people for disagreeing with his junk theology. Despite the heretical teaching of Mr. Calvin that salvation WILL produce a changed life (aka, the Perseverance Of The Saints), John Calvin never changed himself! What irony! Calvinism has been repackaged today, commonly known as “Lordship Salvation.” As we have just seen in the Scripture for our self, salvation is the FREE GIFT of God. It is God's GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!!! Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” 

I have already received that wonderful GIFT of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. How about you dear friend? Simply come to God as a needy sinner, acknowledging that you have broken His Commandments. Simply by faith receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, believing that He is bodily risen from the dead, and you are saved! You have God's PROMISE of it! Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The word “CALL” here doesn't mean to pray, it means to RELY upon the Lord to be saved. It means to put your TRUST in Him. God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.

“How can you give up the world? Just do what you ought to do, and it will give you up.” —Pastor Jack Hyles

Jesus Died On The Cross For 'EVERY MAN'

Hebrews 2:9, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

The Calvinist doctrine of 'Limited Atonement' is a LIE of the Devil. This Satanic heresy has crept into many churches. The Word of God plainly teaches that Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of “EVERY MAN.” Men must not follow their own human rational and FEELING; but rather, follow the VOICE of the inspired Scripture! Hebrews 2:9b, “that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

It is difficult for me to accept the fact that London's mightiest Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), taught the heresy of Limited Atonement (also called: “Definite Atonement” or “Particular Atonement.” Pastor Spurgeon unequivocally rejected the theological truth that Christ DIED FOR THE UNSAVED DAMNED IN HELL...

“We do not believe that Christ made any effectual atonement for those who are forever damned; we dare not think that the blood of Christ was ever shed with the intention of saving those whom God foreknew never could be saved, and some of whom were even in Hell when Christ, according to some men’s account, died to save them.” —Pastor Charles Spurgeon, 'Particular Redemption'; 'Sermons' - Volume 4, sermon #181 (1858) [emphasis added]

What saith the Scripture? 2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” This is a truly amazing passage of Scripture! The Bible says that Jesus BOUGHT THEM! Bought who? Christ bought false prophets WHO DENY HIM!!! That is what the inspired Word of God says—EVEN DENYING THE LORD THAT BOUGHT THEM!!! 

Shame on Mr. Spurgeon for denying a fundamental teaching in God's Word, that Jesus Christ died on the cross 'FOR EVERY MAN.' That is why people will be weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth in Hell—not just from the pain of their torment—but because they could have enjoyed all the splendors of Heaven FOR FREE, just for the taking, but they rejected it by rejecting the dear Savior! Luke 13:28, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”

“If we could ever hate the sin in ourselves as much as we hate the sin in others, we might have some idea what His Book is all about.” —Pastor Jack Hyles (a quote from page 322 of the awesome biography of Dr. Hyles titled, “The Fundamental Man”)

Difficult Times Don't Mean God Is Not Blessing You

Deuteronomy 8:2-4, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.”

The Hebrews had been enslaved in Egypt for 430 years. Exodus 12:40, “Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.” But wait, the Bible says 400 years in Acts 7:6, “And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.” Did God make a mistake? Is the Bible untrue? Is this a blatant contradiction? Oh my, lions and tigers and bears, Oh my!!! Ah ha, don't drool you atheist scoundrel, I have an answer to put down your infidel skepticism! Carefully notice that Exodus 12:40 says the children of Israel “DWELT” in Egypt for 430 years; but in Acts 7:6 the Bible says suffered “EVIL” for 400 years! The Jews enjoyed 30 years of prosperity while Joseph was still alive, but when he died and went to Heaven, the Egyptians afflicted the Hebrews with evil for the next 400 years! 

Four hundred years came and went. In the Old Testament, we find the phrase: “IT CAME TO PASS” mentioned 387 times! We find the phrase: “IT SHALL COME TO PASS” mentioned 116 times in the Old Testament. My Christian friend—whatever problems, burdens, health woes, losses, worries and struggles you have in your life today—IT SHALL COME TO PASS!!! God can use all things to bring glory to Himself!!! The Lord could not heal a blind man in John 9:5, unless God had made a blind man! Did you know that God makes deaf, dumb and blind people? It is true! Exodus 4:11, “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” Humanity tends to look down on disabled people as if there is something WRONG with them, but God makes some people disabled, so that God can be GLORIFIED!!! 

From The Frypan Into The Fire

The children of Israel were so happy! It had been 400 long years of cruel bondage in slavery to the Egyptians. Finally, God had raised up a deliverer, Moses! They got to the Red Sea and were overcome with FEAR. Oh no, the Coronavirus is going to overtake us! What shall we do? OUR GREAT OMNIPOTENT GOD DELIVERED THEM!!! Here they went, across the Red Sea on dry ground, being rescued by a divine supernatural miracle of God. Can you imagine? The Hebrews were so happy, rejoicing over the new found liberty and freedom. But things didn't go as they planned. Life is what happens to you when you're making big plans!!! 

So we learn that just because things aren't going the way we want, doesn't mean God is not blessing us. Whether or not things are going well in your life is absolutely no indication if God is pleased with you or not. Even our beloved Savior suffered while here on earth. Isaiah 53:3-4, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” I sometimes wonder if the Lord Himself was the man who was beaten and left for dead, and a Good Samaritan came along and helped Him. A lot of people hated the Lord. The Bible says Jesus was tempted in all ways (Hebrews 4:15), so He must know what it feels like to be robbed, mugged and left for dead. I am not saying this is what happened, but I simply consider the possibility. Perhaps Jesus was the Good Samaritan Himself. We simply don't know. 

But I do know that—A FAITH MUST BE TESTED! God tests all His children, to see if we will keep His commandments in hard times of adversity. There are not some believers who get a free pass, and others have to struggle or suffer. God is not an absent parent (Hebrews 12:6-8). Granted, some believers are called into a ministry of suffering, as I believe I have been, suffering more than our share of hardships, burdens and afflictions in life; but that simply means God has chosen me to use in more mighty way, which requires that He humble and break me more. God is always good!!! 

God Wants You To Have Problems

Our text passage of Scripture says in Deuteronomy 8:2-4 that God caused them hardships! The Lord sent them from bondage in Egypt to bondage is the desert! There were scorpions and snakes, a lack of food and water, intense heat from the burning sun, and no more leaks (onions), cucumbers, melons, fish and goodies that they had previously enjoyed in Egypt. Numbers 11:5-6, “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” You could say they had leaped from the frying pan into the fire!

GOD DID THAT TO THEM! That's the lesson I want you to learn my friend...

Deuteronomy 8:2-4, “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.”

God provided for them for the next 40 YEARS, but He never gave them a satisfied life, to teach them that man shall not live BY PHYSICAL FOOD ALONE, but by EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD! Boy I love that truth! God let's problems, difficulties and adversities happen in our life; to HUMBLE US; to teach us that we need more than eating at Taco Bell to survive, we also need the inspired Word of God!!! By the way, I always get 5 Taco's Supreme and one ground beef Taco Salad (and I eat it all)! That's like 15,000 calories...lol! There is a God! Listen friend, God didn't put us here to stuff our face and enjoy life (although He wants us to enjoy life), God put us here to OBEY HIM! Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

We Must Have An “EVERY WORD” Bible Today To Live

And may I say, God plainly emphasized that He tests us so that we will learn to live by “EVERY WORD” that comes from His mouth. Notice that it doesn't say by every “THOUGHT,” nor does it say by every “REVISION” of the Bible; but rather, it says by “EVERY WORD”! Oh dear friend, THAT'S INSPIRATION!!! When some horrible Bible professor or preacher says that the King James Bible is NOT inspired, he is denying that we have an “EVERY WORD” Bible today!!! Denying the verbal inspiration of the Word of God is wickedness! 

Ironically, Bob Jones University (BJU) today strongly denies the inspiration of the King James Bible. Instead, they claim that only the original Hebrew, Chaldean and Greek autographs of the Bible were inspired, which no longer exist. Yet, their very own founder, Bob Jones Sr. (1883-1968), who started BJU in 1927, proclaimed the inspiration of the King James Bible...

“We believe in the inspiration of the Bible.” —Dr. Bob Jones Sr., “Comments On Here And hereafter,” page 103; Bob Jones University Press Inc., 1942

Apostasy has overtaken BJU and they are doing major damage to the cause of Jesus Christ today, by shaking the faith of young people in the verbally inspired Word of God! I love the folks at Bob Jones University in the Lord, but God will deal with them for dishonoring the Savior with corrupt Bible revisions that attack His deity. If we are TO LIVE for God today, then we absolutely need an EVERY WORD Bible!!! I believe we have that inspired Holy Book in the King James Bible!!! 

“Remember, you don't know the Bible, until the Bible controls your life. You can memorize every verse in the Bible and not know the Bible, until the Bible controls you, and permeates your thinking. You can know a lot of things about God, but until you walk with God and live with God, and abide in the Lord, then you don't know THE LORD intimately like you should.” —Pastor Ralph “Yankee” Arnold, “They Loved The Praise Of Men More Than The Praise Of God”

The Blessed Indwelling Holy Spirit

John 14:15-19,  “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” 

I love this passage of Scripture and think of it often! The unsaved man (i.e., the unregenerate person) cannot see the Holy Spirit. That is what the Holy Bible plainly says! The unsaved world refers to people who have never been born-again. That is, they have never come to God as a needy sinner, placing their trust in God's only begotten Son, who died on the cross for their sins. The world hates Jesus, because He (through the Word of God) testifies against their evil works (John 7:7). 

Who is the Holy Spirit anyway? I'm glad you asked! The Holy Spirit is an individual person, just like God the Father and God the Son are both individual persons. The Bible teaches that there is only one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4), but God exists in three unique persons of; namely, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). Here is a helpful chart that a web visitor shared with me, that I agree with theologically...

Jesus said, “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus said, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Yet, Jesus is not the Father, saying, “my Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). There is a popular heresy today in some churches today called “Modalism,” which teaches that Jesus and God are the same person. Modalism says that God goes into different MODES, fulfilling different roles of Father and Son, but it is the same person. Modalism teaches that when a believer gets to Heaven, we'll only see God the Father. What saith the Scripture? Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Clearly, Jesus sits on the RIGHT-HAND of the Father. Could the Scripture be any plainer? I think not. 

The doctrine of the triune nature of God in theology is called the “Trinity,” but I prefer the word “Godhead,” because it is found in the Bible in Romans 1:20, Acts 17:29 and Colossians 2:9. Unfortunately, most of the modern Bible revisions corrupt these passage by removing the Godhead, instead referring to the “divine nature” (which is meaningless). That is exactly what the English Standard Version (ESV) which Bob Jones University promotes and sells says—“divine nature” in Romans 1:20. 

'MEET THE HOLY SPIRIT' (a helpful book by Pastor Jack Hyles)

I love the Holy Spirit. When I got saved at age 13, for the first time in my life I felt the VOICE of God in my soul, telling me not to sin. Before I was saved there was only darkness. I used to sass my mother before I was saved. When I got saved, I heard that still small inaudible voice in my soul saying: “David, I don't want you talking to your mother like that anymore.” For the first time in my life I had a hunger for the things of God, and I thirsted for the milk of the Word each night before I went to bed. In the months that followed getting saved, I remember my mother saying to me one evening: “YOU'VE CHANGED!” Well of course I did, I had the Holy Spirit living inside me now, and He was working on me. You see, that's how salvation works—you don't give up your sins to be saved, nor to evidence that you are saved, but the Holy Spirit begins to work in your life when you get saved. I still had sins in my life, but I felt bad about them, and God's Holy Spirit convicted me for those sins. As Christians, we SHOULD live for Christ; not MUST (that is works); not WILL (that is Lordship Salvation). God saves you, and then the Holy Spirit changes you!!! 

The blessed Holy Spirit does all of the following in the life of every believer:

• Comforts us (John 14:18)
• Teaches and reminds us (John 14:26)
• Guides us into truth (John 16:13)
• Seals us (Ephesians 1:13)
• Gives us eternal life (Romans 8:10-11)
• Reproves ours sin (John 16:8)
• Intercedes for us when we pray (Romans 8:26)
• Empowers us (Acts 1:8)
• Helps us (John 14:26)
• Gives us spiritual gifts (1st Corinthians 12:7-11)
• Sanctifies us (Galatians 5:16-26)
• Fellowships with us (Philippians 2:1)

Now if you are not a born-again child of God, you don't see or know the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). I thank God for the awesome Holy Spirit! 

“Salvation can only be evidenced by works, if works are required to be saved.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong!”

The Wrath Of Man Worketh Not God's Righteousness

James 1:17-20, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” 

The Bible says MAN'S WRATH is not the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT...

James 1:20, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

Always remember that “ANGER” is just one letter away from “DANGER”! That added “D” stands for “DEVIL.” Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

The moment we were saved, God's Holy Spirit came to live inside us. God SEALED US with His Spirit. I love that! That sure makes me feel good as a believer, knowing that God wants me, claims me and gave me His Holy Spirit to confirm it and always be with me! I am sooo thankful for the indwelling Holy Spirit!!!!!!! The Lord's Holy Spirit gets GRIEVED when we sin...

Ephesians 4:30-32, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Humans are BY NATURE the CHILDREN OF WRATH! If you don't believe it, just consider all the wars throughout history! Did you know that only 8% of human history has been without a time of war? Some of God's saints has hot tempers. One-third of the Bible was penned by murderers (Moses, David and Paul). The world has nearly always been at war...

Everyone gets angry. A real man gets upset, but he realizes that there is a place and time to get upset. The Bible teaches us when we get angry NOT TO SIN...

Ephesians 4:25-28, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

Like anything in life, there is a right way and a wrong way to handle a matter. There is always a higher path, and a lower path. For me personally, I am slow oftentimes to intake what is happening around me. My brain doesn't process as fast as others, so as a general rule I stay quite, not saying or doing anything. I will speak up if I feel it necessary, but sometimes I have to think about what just happened, to make sure I am not overreacting. I am a passionate person, which is why I love music so much. I am passionate in my faith, writings and love towards others. Therefore, I am also passionate when I get upset, so I have to be very careful, lest I make a bigger issue of something than I should. Staying quite has worked well for me over the years. I can usually come back and voice my opinion latter.

In fact, that is exactly what the Scripture teaches us to do:

James 1:19-20, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

What saith the Scripture? Proverbs 18:13, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” It is wise to keep quiet until we know what is going on. I learned two great truths many years ago, which I will share with you now, and if you are wise you will memorize these dear friend:

1. If you don't know what you're talking about, keep your mouth shut!
2. If you do open your mouth, you'd better be able to backup what you're saying!

I have allowed these two guiding principles to control my ministry over the years since 2002. 

Be Careful What You Hate

Anger and hatred are inseparable! We get angry over that which we hate. Therefore, it is important that we monitor our HATE LIFE. Yes, every Christian should have a hate life. Hatred is good, if you hate the right things. Proper anger is a tool, which the Lord used to drive the covetous men out of God's Temple (John 2:15). I hate the Coronavirus, because it is killing people, and I love people! I hate sin, because it kills people! The Coronavirus has a mortality rate of about 2 to 3%, but sin has a 100% mortality rate. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I hate Calvinism (aka, Lordship Salvation), because it damns men's souls to Hell forever! I hate the modern corrupt Alexandrian Bible revisions, because they mislead and damn men's souls to Hell. I hate the Devil's ecumenical movement—it makes light of sound Bible doctrine and weakens the churches. We must never accept the sin with the sinner, nor should we ever reject the sinner with the sin. We ought to love everybody with God's unconditional love, through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Salvation can only be evidenced by works, if works are required to be saved.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong!”

God Comforts Us To Comfort Others

2nd Corinthians 7:6, “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us...” 

What a precious Bible verse—GOD COMFORTS THOSE WHO ARE CAST DOWN!!! Psalms 34:18, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” I love that PROMISE from God. When we are dejected and cast down in our spirit, God consoles our hurting soul. I have been there more times than I can remember, and for several years now I have been in the dog house of life! 

The Precious Indwelling COMFORTER

Thankfully, one of the tasks of the blessed indwelling Holy Spirit is to COMFORT us as believers. John 14:16-18, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” 

One of the benefits of being saved is the precious COMFORTER!!! He comforts us with the written Word of God, bringing truth to our remembrance. John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

God Comforts Us To Comfort Others

2nd Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Please read this tremendous passage of Scripture a few times. Wow, did you ever notice that Bible passage before? The Bible literally teaches that God “COMFORTETH US IN ALL OUR TRIBULATION,” so that we may be able to comfort others “WHICH ARE IN ANY TROUBLE”! I love that!!! No matter what hardship, burden, battle, loss, misery, worry, hurt feelings or tragedy that someone else is facing—GOD COMFORTS US SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THEM!!! What an awesome God and Savior!!!!!!! 

If you survive in constant chronic bodily pain as I do, comfort others who suffer in constant bodily pain. If you are the victim of an unwanted divorce as I am, comfort others who are divorced. If you have lost your home as I did, comfort others who have lost their home. If you are lonely and can't find companionship as I cannot, comfort others who are lonely without a mate. If you are hurting in your soul with inexplicable emotional pain as I do daily, feeling all alone in your afflictions as I do, comfort others who are hurting in their solitude. I have had all of these painful things happen in my life, and my broken life is still a mess, but God is faithful and I am serving Him faithfully. God is always good! 

Bringing Others Comfort Further Comforts Us

2nd Corinthians 7:13, “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed 

The apostle Paul told the believers at Corinth, that comforting them brought the apostle and his peers comfort. Paul was effectively saying to them: “We're in this thing together!” There is a great Bible truth to be learned here—we find comfort in our afflictions by comforting OTHERS! Pastor Jack Hyles preached two wonderful sermons called: 'WASTED SUFFERING' (1997) and 'WASTED PAIN' (1995). Don't let your suffering go to waste dear reader, use it to honor the Lord Jesus Christ. God can take the broken pieces of your life, and use them for His purpose and glory. One of my absolute favorite sermons by my favorite preacher, Pastor Jack Hyles is called: “SOME ON BROKEN PIECES” (MP3). If your life can no longer sail as a ship for God to do His will, then help rescue other people on the broken pieces of your shipwrecked life, by God's grace! 

“Did you know that God uses hurtin' people? That's part of the reason why we have to hurt in this world, so we can help other people who hurt.” —Pastor Danny Castle, “KEEP ON PRAYING”

“You Could Be The Next John R. Rice!”

John 21:20, “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?”

I had the privilege of attending Hyles-Anderson College, which at the time was the greatest Bible college in the world (1985-1993), when Pastor Jack Hyles was still in charge, and they still believed that the King James Bible is 100% verbally inspired (word for word)! Sadly, since 2008 First Baptist Church Of Hammond (FBCH) has openly denied the verbal inspiration of the King James Bible, to their utter shame! God hasn't changed! The Holy Bible hasn't changed!

One day as I sat in class at HAC (with about two dozen other students), I remember something that the teacher (Brother Mitchell) said to me in front of the class—“You could be the next John R. Rice!” That made me feel good, that somebody believed God could use a nobody like me. However, after class ended, another male student approached me with contempt in the hallway, sarcastically saying: “The next John R. Rice, right!” That hurt my feelings, but the Lord saw that negative and discouraging remark! You know, I would never even consider myself even worthy to shine Dr. Rice's shoes, because he was such a great man of God. However, due to the power of the internet, God is reaching more people through my humble online labors than Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) could have ever imagined! 

Since 2002, my Jesus-is-Savior.com ministry website alone has received 110,407,505 visitors!!! I haven't keep track of my other six ministry websites. I have seven total, to God be the glory! Just like Dr. Rice, God has given me the gift of writing. It is my passion! On many nights I wish I didn't have to sleep, so I could just keep writing 24 hours a day for the Lord! I just wish I had a loyal wife by my side, to help me, while I help the ministry. Maybe someday, God willing! 

In my heart I feel like the next John R. Rice. God has given me the same burden and determination that Brother Rice had, to win as many souls to Jesus Christ as I can. Albeit, I am not trying to be the next John R. Rice, I am trying to be David J. Stewart (who God made me). But moreover, I am daily being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, my great God and Savior (Romans 8:29). I never stop to see how I'm doing in my ministry, I just stay busy each day laboring for Christ, always moving forward, never looking backward. I don't care what my enemies say, nor do I even know, because I don't go searching for what critics (trolls) say, I have much better things to do with my time. And when a few web visitors tell me such garbage, I always send them this truthful quote by famous author Mark Twain:

“It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart: the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.” —Mark Twain

Whatever accomplishments God has made through me in the past are done. Whatever mistakes I've made along the way are history as far as God is concerned. What's past is past; I am only concerned about right now, and moving forward for the Lord. Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

I don't know if I'll ever be the next John R. Rice, but I am humbled that somebody thought that of me. It's is not about me, it's ALL ABOUT JESUS! I sure want to be all that God wants me to be. I like Hyles-Anderson Colleges's present motto: “MAKE AN IMPACT!” It was said of Christ's disciples in Acts 17:6b, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;” I'd say they were MAKING AN IMPACT! By God's grace, my website ministry has and is making an impact for the cause of Christ! I take no credit or praise for myself, I give it ALL to Jesus. John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” 

Humbly, if it weren't for Hyles-Anderson College, my website wouldn't exist today! So if there is any credit to be given—it is to my parents who sacrificed to put me into a Christian Jr. high and high school at our Baptist church, and Pastor Jack Hyles who turned the world upside down with his incredible ministry, and all the fine folks who were at FBCH and HAC when I attended between 1985 and 1993, when I graduated on the 'Dean's List.' I still can't believe I made it to the Dean's List (it only took me 8 years), because my first semester I failed half of my classes, literally! I was a loser, now I'm just a misfit...lol. I love this Scripture passage:

Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

So God not only gives us the desire (to will) to do something for Him, but then He gives us the ability to do it. I love that! Friend, if you are saved, God is assuredly working in your life. I don't know who, what, where, when or how, but He is I assure you, or else this verse is false. HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME!

“Love is thinking.” —Pastor Jack Hyles

Seek God's Face Continually

1st Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.”

The Bible speaks of seeking GOD'S FACE. When God is pleased with a man, He turns His face toward him. Genesis 33:10, “And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.” Jacob had seen the face of God, because the Lord WAS PLEASED with Jacob. Is the Lord pleased with you friend? Is God pleased with me? 

What saith the Scripture? ...

Psalms 13:1, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”

Psalms 22:24, “For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.”

Psalms 51:9, “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”

Psalms 69:17, “And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.”

Psalms 88:14, “LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?”

When we live in willful sin as His children, our heavenly Father turns His face away from us, expressing His disapproval. Isaiah 59:2, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Living in sin hinders answers to prayer! 1st Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” Over and over throughout the inspired pages of God's Words, we find mention of “GOD'S FACE.” Is God's face toward you dear reader? 

Deuteronomy 4:29, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” The Lord PROMISES us in His Word that if we seek Him, “WE WILL FIND HIM”! I love that reassurance from the Lord. God desires to be close to us as His children, as would any loving parent with their child. If we make an effort to SEEK THE LORD, He will run to meet us (as did the father running out to meet the Prodigal Son whom had returned). 

Here is one of my favorite musicians, Calvin Yawn on YouTube, playing “IN THE GARDEN” on the piano...

James 4:6-11, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” We have God's solemn PROMISE that if we draw nigh unto Him, then HE WILL draw nigh unto us too! Do you understand dear friend that God wants to be CLOSE to you? 

1st Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” Notice that we are to seek “HIS STRENGTH” as well. I need God's strength each day. This world is a jungle, cruel, woefully lacking in love and moral integrity; but our righteous God will never let us down! God's PROMISES in the Holy Scripture are 100% sure, reliable and guaranteed! Humanity will fail you. Family will disappoint you. Friends will let your down. Loved ones will betray you. Neighbors will despise you. What saith the Scripture? Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” The LORD never forsakes His own, no, not ever, no way, ain't gonna happen!!! Seek His face dear reader! 

Numbers 6:24-26, “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

When the Lord is pleased with us, He turns His face toward us, and we have His blessing. As a proud father turns His face in joy toward his earthly children, so also does our Heavenly Father lift His countenance in joy, toward them that obey Him. 

“You can't come back to God because He is already there.” —Dr. Jack Hyles