Disclaimers: Let's be clear.
Updated: Sep 16
I have said this a bajillion times. But it's important for those new to the faith or faith curious.
Throughout my site, I have shared many links and videos. Let's be clear about something.
There is NO one teacher (past and present) that has everything right. Test all things and spirits against the Word of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit.
There is only one Man that walked this earth and never sinned or got His theology wrong and that man was Jesus who was God in the flesh.
How can any of us say that we KNOW anything when they have lied monumentally about EVERYTHING and continue to do so? Seek Jesus. The only Truth. Many things are happening concurrently and way too fast to get fixated on one thing. Lord give us discernment.
There is no wisdom in information overload.
Stages of data digestion:
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 - We are introduced to knowledge or an opinion and ingest it. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 - We process it and it takes up residence in our mind forever. It may even affect and influence us subconsciously. 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 - The data becomes knowledge. 𝐖𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 - Application of the knowledge eventually becomes wisdom. This takes time and experience.
Knowledge many times isn't helpful until it comes from someone who has wisdom to offer. For example, knowledge tells someone that something is "good or bad". Wisdom can tell someone WHY something is "good or bad".
Seems we are stuck between knowledge and wisdom. There pros and cons of having the wealth of all human knowledge and opinion at our fingertips.
We must be discerning and use our time wisely.
I think about all of this as someone that has wasted a lot of time listening to a lot of "knowledge" and opinions with no wisdom behind it. Ephesians 5:16
What does the bible say about knowledge?
https://www.openbible.info/topics/knowledge
What does the bible say about wisdom?
https://www.openbible.info/topics/wisdom
How should a person of God respond to someone searching the scriptures to see if what they are saying is true?
"The people of Berea were more open-minded/noble than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God's message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11
Paul describes these people as noble. No person of God should ever discourage you from searching the scriptures to test if what they are saying is true.
If it's the truth, then it should have no issue with being tested.
There are some things on my site that are my opinion or my own research. I must say, I see some things coming into play that have affected and changed my views on some things; even things I have already shared here that I may have changed my mind on. I add things to the comment sections pretty often when I find updates or something interesting.
The Joys of Duality.
If you're silent, you aren't supporting anything and complicit.
If you're speaking up, you are supporting the cause incorrectly.
If you're spreading positivity, you are ignorant to the world around you.
If you are a realist, people ask why are you so negative.
If you're for protesting, you're for violence.
If you're against rioting, you're more worried about property than lives.
If you believe black lives matter, you don't think all live matter.
If you believe all lives matter, then black lives don't matter.
If you believe blue lives matter, you support corruption.
One could go on and on with examples.
Basically, no matter what you say or support, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.
It's genius to have people divided that way, really.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭 so that we'll gobble up any "hero" they throw at us.
I have made so many posts exposing evil over the years.
Now you have the worldly "exposing" the worldly. So much "truth" coming to light and truth speakers coming out of the wood work.
It took me a while to learn that. I didn't realize years ago when I was exposing certain "evils", I was feeding the beast we are currently experiencing (false light and so many people becoming "enlightened"). I am doing my very best to stay Kingdom Minded and remembering it's a battle for the mind.
The world cannot expose the world. Evil was already exposed by the bible long ago.
The world is going to world no matter what "truth" is revealed. It will just "world" in a different way and we'll need "saving" from that, too.
So take people's opinions on the Word of God with a grain of salt and TEST EVERYTHING.
How people respond to information is up to them. It's my prayer that it's taken and used to prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually.
ℳℴ𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓂𝓅ℴ𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓉𝓁𝓎, test the information. Test it all.
**I may not agree with e͟v͟e͟r͟y͟t͟h͟i͟n͟g from the content I share from other people and they may not agree with me.**
**Apply critical thinking and use discernment to come to your own conclusions regarding the content in videos/links. I am humbled and corrected at times and pray to remain teachable, myself.**
There is no need to become a "follower" of ANYONE unless you test them yourself against the Word of God.
This is my disclaimer for ALL things you read/listen to. There is no ONE person who has everything 100% right. Pray for discernment.
"With lies, falsehoods, and fear - a mockery is being made out of society as a whole. No longer can two minds meet based on reason and logic." -TheBigsib
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲?
You just got saved. What's that mean? With many people telling us what this is supposed to look like (movements, revivals, teachers, preachers, YouTubers, Facebookers, bloggers - haha. etc) - what do the scriptures say? What does God's Word say?
With so many voices, noise, and opinions out there, I looked for scripture to explain what a new life in Christ looks like biblically:
Ephesians 4:17-32 and Philippians 1:6 are good ones.
"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ.
Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry, yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:17-32
Test all things and hold fast to what is good. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness.)
𝐀 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟐𝟕:𝟏𝟐
This verse is wisdom for every day life or if you're one to look at the big picture. Clearly, it doesn't say "worry to death, obsess, or be super paranoid" over problems or potential problems. Soooo let's remove that strawman straight away. Pray for discernment, for God to lead, guide, and direct decisions. Even the small ones are important, imho.
"Prepare": What does that even mean? It's different for every person/family.
As fallible men, we share information and our understanding to the best of our ability.
This place is a mess, and it's by design. Some choose not to focus on the messy scary things, some of us face it head on.
Men's hearts will fail them from fear; the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made.
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. He who endures to the end shall be saved.
There is much confusion in the church about the "end times". Some people are well meaning. Others are speaking from pride and arrogance.
Some may be right.
Many are probably wrong.
This is why you should ALWAYS take it to the Lord in prayer and read the Bible for yourself.
Don't let your zeal turn you into a zealot.
Don't allow your passion to strip you of your compassion.
Be careful not to let your knowledge knock you off the ledge of the cornerstone of love.
Stay in the awareness of humility or else you will be abruptly humbled when you stumble into your rightfully earned humiliation.
-J.S.
I know there is much theology, teachings, and denominations to sift through right now; this is why I always say work out your salvation with fear and trembling; we were instructed to do so in Philippians 2:12. We have so many questions on how and why God did something in the past and even presently how and why He's doing things. It's ok to have questions! Ask God.
With delusion and confusion amok, I hold close 1 Corinthians 1.
Cling to Christ whether you are amillennial, premillennial, post millennial, or even preterist...Each position can be deceived, some more than others.
I put together some thoughts and concerns here:
A Time of Great Revelation and a Time of Strong Delusion
Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
2 Corinthians 12, Romans 9, Romans 15, 2 Corinthians 2
Tips for studying:
https://www.wiseandgentle.com/post/tips-for-reading-studying-god-s-word
This is something I won't change my mind about:
Is being a good person and doing good deeds enough to go to heaven to stand before a 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲, 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 God?
Who is good?
Who does good deeds at all times?
Who has a clean mind at all times? 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐞!
None is righteous, no, not one.
Can you imagine standing before the Creator of all things with just our works and good deeds? God forbid.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. Trying to 'get in' any other way makes one a thief or a robber. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith in Christ our Messiah (𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲), and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Romans 3, Ephesians 2, 1 Corinthians 2
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Matthew 10, Matthew 7
Much love to you if we agree, disagree...I don't care. I love errrybody. I take what everyone has to say and tuck in my brain filing cabinet and test all things. I appreciate what EVERYONE brings to the table!
To be crystal clear:
I serve and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The One who delivered us from literal Egypt and spiritual Egypt. It is by the shed blood of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I will be able to stand before the Most High. The Living God. The Alpha and the Omega who is and who was and who is to come. I do not serve the same god as other religions! The Living God is not a religion.
1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?" 2 Thess 2:3-4 "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, proclaiming himself to be God. Have we for too long ignored the spiritual aspect of where the enemy seeks to seat himself? Between our ears and in our hearts? It's a battle for your mind, body, and soul.
God bless and keep you all. To God be the glory forever and ever.
The Gospel Message from Gordon Codjoe: