Do You Know Him?

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. I thank God for giving me this program over a year and a half ago. He told me He wanted me to do a 15 minute program, and every single week, except for one week when we were in the hospital, the Lord has given us a program. And today is no exception. This program is called Do You Know Him? Do you know Jesus? Is He your friend? Do you keep his Words? Jesus said, You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. Let’s turn to 2 Pet 1:2-21, Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tabernacle, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice which came from Heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Let’s turn to Mat 11:25-30, At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 

Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Then Jesus said, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Come to know Jesus! Learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest unto your souls. Jesus said, Take my yoke on you and learn of Me! Many of us have taken on a yoke of religion, of one form or another, and we’ve never gotten to know Jesus. He wants us to know Him; know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings; Amen, that we may be accounted worthy to attain to the first resurrection. You won’t make it to the first resurrection if you don’t know Him, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and the power of his resurrection. Do not be content with empty religion. Come to know Jesus! You can know Him! You can walk with Him! Phil 3:7-11, the Apostle Paul wrote, But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

2 Pet 3:9-18, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. Let’s turn to Phil 2:5-13, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in Heaven, and of those on Earth, and of those under the Earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. We must work out our own salvation. There are things we must do in order for our salvation to be completed, with God working in us , both to will and to do his good pleasure.

Jesus humbled Himself  to become a man and live among us as a man; being tempted as we are in every way, yet without sin; that He might go to the Cross on our behalf, because He loved the Father and the Father loved us and sent Him to save us from our sins. So also Jesus loved us, suffered for us, and washed us from our sins in his own Blood. Let this mind be in you: that you love the Father and his Son, and you love your brothers and sisters, and you live for them, no longer for yourself, and you are ready to lay down your life for them. Jesus said, Greater love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you. This is the love of Jesus: that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous. If we love Him, we will follow Him, denying ourselves, taking up our own crosses every day to do the Father’s will. We are crucified with Christ, nevertheless we live, yet not us, but Christ lives in us. Is this your mind? Are you dead to this wicked world and to your own wicked ways, crucified with Him through your water baptism, buried with Him and raised with Him a new creature in Christ, seated with Him at the right hand of the Father in Heaven far above all powers, principalities and dominions, keeping his commandments, obeying Him, overcoming the Devil and the powers of darkness that are set against you to destroy you and your whole family? If you are not being diligent in all these things to know Jesus and to make your calling and election sure, that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless, you won’t make it! Those powers of darkness will keep pushing you back until you forget you have been purged from your old sins, and you will end up weeping and gnashing your teeth as you are cast into outer darkness. Wake up! Jesus is your Rock! Fall upon Him, and be broken and purged and cleansed and renewed, and stand up in Him. He loves you so much that He gave Himself for you on that brutal Cross. His grace is sufficient for you. He will help you if you will call upon Him with all your heart.

We must continue in the Word of God, reading God’s Word, studying his Word, doing his Word, living his Word, understanding his Word, praying for understanding. In 1 John we read that the Holy Spirit is our teacher. He will reveal God’s Word to us. So we go on with more and more understanding and revelation of God’s Word as the Holy Spirit is teaching us, the Holy Spirit leading us in prayer as it says in Jude: building ourselves up on our most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit, forgetting what lays behind, not letting the Devil make us guilty over things we’ve done in the past and we’ve already repented of, forgetting what lays behind, reaching  forward to that which is before by praying in the Holy Spirit, building ourselves up on our most holy faith; faith comes by hearing the Word of God; this is how we do it: continuing in the Word, continuing in the Spirit, and pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus! We will overcome, and we will be able to stand! Jesus has made many promises to those that overcome. The Scripture says, They overcame the accuser of the brethren by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Thank you Jesus! Jesus said, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross every day and follow Me. He said, my sheep hear my voice and they follow Me. If you will humble yourself and follow Him, He will lead you in paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake, and you will overcome. In Eph 1:15-23 we read, Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. This is how we will overcome: with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus. 

 A Warning From God

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today’s program is A Warning From God. We’re going to start in Mark chapter 1, verses 1-5, The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: Behold I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. Verses 14&15, Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the Gospel!

If you sin against your brother, your brother has something against you, and Jesus said, before you bring your offering to God, you must go to your brother and make things right with him. He also said, If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. If he does not come to you and confess his sin to you, you may not have the opportunity to forgive him. You cannot leave out the “IF”s in God’s Word. IF you confess your sins He is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins. IF you remain faithful unto death, Jesus will give you a crown of life. Jesus said in Matthew 7, It is not those who say Lord, Lord, (that’s Christians), but those who do the will of my Father who will inherit the Kingdom of God. He said, Many will come to Me in that day saying, Lord, Lord, have we not done many wonderful works in your name, and then I will say unto them, Depart from Me, you who work iniquity. Clearly these are Christians; people who call Jesus Lord, who are committing iniquity and not repenting. 

1Jn 2:1-6, My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep his commandments. He who says, I know Him, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. If you love Me, Jesus said, keep my commandments. If you are not keeping his commandments, being led by the Holy Spirit each day, denying yourself, your desires, your own self will, to do the will of the Father, to keep Jesus’ Words, then you don’t love Him. Let’s turn to Psalm 32:1-5, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,  and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. If we transgress Jesus’ commandments, we must confess our sin to Him; we must have godly sorrow and repentance and turn away from our sin. Then through the grace of God given to us in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, the Blood of Jesus will purge our conscience and we will walk on with a clear conscience, justified from sin. If we say, It’s all covered by Jesus’ sacrifice and we claim justification without repentance, then we are still in sin; just as though we refused to go to our brother in repentance when we have sinned against him.

Let’s go to Rev 2:2-5. Jesus is talking to the Seven Churches in Asia: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Jesus is clearly judging the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 and warning them that if they do not repent of certain things, there will be severe consequences. He said, I know your works, and there were certain works that were not pleasing to Him of which He commanded them to repent. In Rev 2:16&17, Jesus said, Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. If everything is covered, and all your evil works are already forgiven and there is no judgement for them, then why did Jesus command the churches to repent of their evil deeds. In verses 2:21-23 we read, And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Clearly Jesus is addressing evil works in these passages, as well as good works, promising rewards for both. Jesus Christ is not only our Savior, but He is also our Judge, and He will give unto every one of us according to all our works. If we have repented of our sins, then we are cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb, and we will not be judged for those sins, as they are washed white as snow and blotted out of the Books. The Books will be opened at the Judgement and we will be rewarded according to what is written in the Books. Rev 3:2&3  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Rev 3:8-10, I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Here we see that the Lord will reward good unto those who have done good. Rev 3:14-19  And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. To say that we are “Forever forgiven” is a lie. Forgiveness is forever for those who repent and believe Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins. He died for our sins. 1Jn 1:5-10, This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and his Word is not in us. 

The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Rom 8:13&14, For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. If you live after the flesh, practicing the works of the flesh, you will die, but if you through the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. And just as he did in the Garden of Eden, speaking to Eve about partaking of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, so Satan says to Christians concerning Romans 8:13; You won’t die, you are forever forgiven. You are under grace. Let’s turn to Ezekiel 13:22, Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. Eze 18:30-32, Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord God. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. Therefore turn and live! Eze 18:4, Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine; the soul who sins shall die. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Do we fear Him? Do you fear Him? Do you believe this? Do you believe that God will destroy your soul if you continue in sin and won’t repent? Or do you say, All my sins are forgiven; past, present, and future. My friend, there is no such thing as a future sin. A sin must be committed in order to exist. And, in order for it to be forgiven, according to the Words that I’ve just read you, and many other Words, throughout the Scriptures, you must confess your sin to God; you must come to God. John the Baptist came preaching the baptism of repentance before Jesus came. When Jesus came He said, Repent and believe the Gospel! Heb 10:26-31, For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who rejected Moses' law died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. In 1 John 3:7&8 we read, Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins, or practices sin,  is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 

Interpretation of  a message in tongues:

I am God Almighty. Those of you who are listening to my servant Rob speak my Words to you this day,  humble yourselves before Me; humble yourselves and consider my Words. I love you! I love you! That’s why I’m rebuking you; that’s why I’m warning you this day. It is not to condemn you, but to save your souls alive, says the Living God!

 The Mulligrubs

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes with Jesus. Today’s program is called The Mulligrubs. What is the mulligrubs? There’s an old expression: “Down in the mulligrubs”. Well I want to tell you today that’s where Satan wants you to remain. He wants to get you down in the mulligrubs, and he wants to keep you there. I looked it up in Webster’s, and it means despondent, or loss of hope, dejection, depression. That’s where Satan wants you. If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, he wants to do everything he can to keep you in the mulligrubs. Let’s turn to Phillipians, chapter 1. The Apostle Paul said in verse 2, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Let’s turn to chapter 3, verses 1-21, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! In the King James it says, the concision. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Let’s turn to Jude 1:20&21,  But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Let’s turn to Rom 8:31-39, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: For your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Jesus loved us, and He washed us from our sins in his own Blood! He Himself bore our sorrows, our pains, our sicknesses, all of our torments; everything was laid on Him on the Cross, and He overcame it all when He rose from the dead! Hallelujah! Hallelujah to our God! We worship you Jesus! We worship you Father! We thank you for what you’ve accomplished through your death, your burial, and your resurrection, Lord! Hallelujah! Thank you Lord! Thank you Lord! Glory to God! 

Let’s turn to 1 Peter 1:3-9, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 

that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Verses 13-23,  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am Holy. And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever. OK, let’s go to Phil 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

The mulligrubs: as I said earlier, that’s where Satan wants to keep us, with loss of hope and despondency. You go to bed rejoicing in the Word of God and his glorious promises, full of hope and faith and love. You wake up in the morning completely engulfed in thoughts about sins you committed and repented of 20 years ago. You are starting to feel guilty and despondent. What do you do? Get up off the bed, and go to your place of prayer. Read the Word of God out loud. Speak the things that the Lord has spoken; the things that the apostles and prophets wrote concerning you, and concerning the Lord Jesus. Believe those things and do them, forgetting those things that are behind. Reach forward unto those things that are before; building yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. This is so important! The Holy Spirit will lead you forward in prayer as you pray in faith, believing what Jesus did for you on the Cross: that all your sins which you have confessed to Him have been washed in his precious Blood. If the Holy Spirit shows you a sin, confess it to the Father and believe 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Ask Him to completely cleanse you of all unrighteousness. If He shows you that you need to go to another person and make things right, don’t wait to do it, as soon as you can. Satan wants to get us under guilt, and keep us there, because when we are guilty our faith will not be working, and he can push us down into those mulligrubs where we can’t fulfill the will of God.  If you have confessed your sin to God, you are not guilty! If you truly repented from the heart, you are not guilty! If you have confessed your fault to your brother; if you have made amends with he or she, do not allow anyone to make you ashamed. Have faith in the sacrifice of Jesus! Believe in his precious Blood cleansing you of all sin and unrighteousness! Forget what lays behind and reach forward in prayer to that which is before, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus! If Satan can’t get you under guilt, or keep you there, then he will bring up all kinds of cares, worries, or fears. Remember Phil 4:6! Speak it and do it! In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving; don’t forget, give thanks to God, right in the middle of your trial; don’t complain or murmur, let your requests be made known unto Him, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus. Remember, God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love and of power and of a sound mind. Speak it and believe it and don’t yield to fear! Ask the Lord to deliver you from it. Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. If you are in Jesus you don’t have to put up with any of these things, but you must read and speak and obey what is written to overcome Satan. Remember what Jesus said to him in his hour of temptation, He said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. He overcame Satan by speaking the Word of God to him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Then, finally, stop spending hours and hours looking at, listening to, and meditating on all the evil things that are going on in the world, and begin to read the Bible more and more. Take more time for the Word of God, and meditate in the good things of God. Phil 4:8&9, Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Those things that you have both learned and received and heard and seen in the Apostles’ doctrine, the New Testament, do; do those things, and the God of peace shall be with you.

 A Good Conversation

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today’s program is called A Good Conversation. Let’s turn to James 3:13-18; I’m reading from the King James Version, Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. (The word conversation means conduct or behavior). But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. (The word strife means self-seeking). This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife, (or self-seeking) is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 1:21-25,  Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 2:13, For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. The scripture says, Show mercy and you will receive mercy. Verses 14-26, What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. We read in Gal 5:6, Faith works by love. Good works are works of faith, in love and obedience. Let’s go to 1 John 3:16-18, By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. It is not love to say, Be warmed and be filled, or, God will take care of you, if you have this world’s goods with you. Faith works by love. Good works are works of faith in love and obedience. 

Titus 1:4-9, To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you; if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. Verse 15&16, To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Chapter 2:1-10, But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. Good works, works of faith and obedience, adorn the true doctrine of God. Verses 11-14, For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Those that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons and daughters of God. As we continue in the Holy Spirit, He will lead us in doing the Words of Jesus, in loving our enemies, in doing good. As we are zealous for good works we will be seeking the Father to lead us into those good works that He has for us; we will be following our Good Shepherd, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and He will lead us by his Spirit in doing the will of the Father. Remember, Jesus said, I only do what I see my Father doing, and I only say what I hear my Father saying. That is how He walked on this Earth. And the scripture says, If any man says he abides in Him, let him walk as He walked. And He will do it! He will lead us in his good works, works of love and faith and obedience, and we will bring forth fruit that remains to his glory. Remember, all our works will be tried by fire; of what sort they are. The works that we did on our own will be as wood, hay, and stubble. They will be quickly consumed by the fire, no matter how great they may have seemed in the eyes of men. But the works that Jesus initiated in our lives, that we did faithfully in obedience to Him, will be as silver and gold and precious stones. They will make it through the fire, and we will receive eternal rewards. The things that we do in obedience to Him, acts of kindness and love, however small they may seem to us, may have far reaching eternal results in other people’s lives that we don’t even know about. We just need to be faithful with what He gives us to do; faithful in doing his Words. 

Titus 3:1-8, Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. We are not saved by doing what we think are good works. We are saved by faith in the good work that Jesus fulfilled on the Cross for us; that He died for our sins to give us his righteousness; the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit; that we might become a new creation in Him, being led by his Spirit every day, denying ourselves, not seeking our own pleasures, taking up our cross and following Him. We are crucified with Him. Nevertheless we live, yet not us, but Christ lives in us. Let’s turn to 1 Peter 2:9-12, But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. I’m reminded of what Jesus said, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven. 

1 Pet 1:13-23 ,Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever. Jesus said, If you continue in my Word, you will be my disciples indeed, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. In James we saw that if we continue in the Word of God, not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, we will be blessed in our deeds. We read in 1 John that the Holy Spirit is our teacher, and He is truth and is no lie. As we continue to read and study the Word of God, humbling ourselves before Him, and asking the Father for understanding, the Holy Spirit will reveal the Word of God to us, and teach us, and lead us in doing it. This is continuing in his Word. As we do this, in humility and continuance, seeking true understanding from God, seeking his righteousness, we will know the truth and the truth will make us free; free from bitter envy, pride, and self-seeking; free from confusion and all evil works which blaspheme the Word of God, and we will begin to adorn the true doctrine of God with the good works that He leads us in by his Holy Spirit. We will be purified and God will be glorified in his own special people, zealous for good works.

 The Synagogue Of Satan

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today’s program is called The Synagogue Of Satan. Let’s turn to Rev 2:1-29, To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 

And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations; he shall rule them with a rod of iron, they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels, as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

Rev 2:9, I know your works, tribulation, and poverty, but you are rich; and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. The word synagogue, in the Greek, refers to an assembly of persons. The Jews are the people of God who truly praise the Lord. In these verses Jesus is referring to the people of God; they say they are Jews, but they are not; they say they are the people of God, but they are not. Let’s turn to Rom 2:28&29,  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. The real Jews are those that love God from their heart, and they obey Him from the heart, and they follow Jesus wherever He goes, wherever He leads them.  The real Jews are those that worship God in Spirit and in truth, and have no confidence in the flesh. I know the blasphemy of those that say they are Jews and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. Let’s turn to 2 Cor 11:12-15, But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers, did you hear that?, his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. Here the Apostle Paul plainly says that Satan has ministers. These are the ministers of the synagogues of Satan; the gatherings of people who say they are of God, but they are not. Their works prove that they are not. Rev 2:2, I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars. These people are liars. They lie. They say they are apostles, but they are not, and their works testify that they are not. Rev 2:4&5,  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. What was Jesus so concerned about here with the Church in Ephesus about their first love? The word “first” there is foremost, it means most important; your most important love, your foremost love. What would that be? That’s our love for Jesus. Jesus said, If you love Me you will keep my Words; you will continue in my Word; you will be my disciple indeed; you’ll know the truth, and the truth will make you free. You won’t be compromising, disobeying, twisting, perverting my Words. You’ll be continuing in my Words, and in my works. Jesus knows the blasphemy of those who say they are his people, who say they are the people of God and are not, but are actually the assembly of Satan. In 1 John 3:7&8 we read,  Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil; he who practices sin, continues in sin, will not repent, is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. We read in Revelation 2 about the Church in Thyatira; that the Lord gave that Jezebel space to repent, and she would not repent. And so it is today with these false apostles, false pastors, false ministers, ministers of Satan, and their houses of worship, so called, which are synagogues of Satan; and there are many people in these churches that are not the people of God; they say they are but they are not. And they have been given space to repent; the Lord is giving people space to repent, and they will not repent. It’s just like Jesus said in John chapter 3, Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. This is the condemnation: Men and women condemn themselves when they will not repent. Remember, Jesus said, repent!; repent, and do the first works!; repent and love Jesus!; repent and love Him and keep his Words, and seek to please Him!; not love your pleasures, your lusts, your wickedness, your money. Love Him!; love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and serve Him! These people are not doing that. They’re loving their pleasures; they’re loving their evil deeds. That’s why they won’t come out into the light. And they twist the Word of God, as Peter said; they twist the Words of the Apostle Paul to their own destruction, to try to justify their wicked doctrines. These are people of Satan. They are liars. They are not the people of God.

Jesus made a way for us to overcome. He made a way for us. In Rev 12:11, And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. By believing in Him, believing his sacrifice for us, righteousness is imputed to us. If we will remain faithful to Him, full of faith, even unto death, He will give us a crown of life. Rev 2:26, And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end; loving Jesus, keeping his Words, doing his works unto the end. Turn to 2 Cor 6:16-18, And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Chapter 7, verse 1, Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. If you are in one of these so called churches, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. Cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The Word of God says, Holiness, without which no man will see the Lord. God is holy! His people are holy. He sanctifies us through the Word of God by the Holy Spirit; the washing of the water of the Word. We should be after this with all our heart; to be cleansed of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. In 1 Cor 6:9&10 it is written, Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the Kingdom of God. And such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, by the Spirit of our God. 1Co 6:19&20,  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. Jesus Christ bought you with his own precious, pure Blood; He bought you with his Blood; He loved you and washed you from your sins in his own Blood, and you belong to Him! You are not your own. You must love Him! You must turn away from all self love and selfishness, and seeking your own pleasures, your own gratification, and seek Him! Seek to please Him! Seek to please the Father! Live for Him! You are not your own! You are dead, and your life is hid with God in Christ! Don’t let these false prophets, false apostles deceive you any longer! They deceive you with lying words. They are liars. They are false. Don’t get caught up with those who say they are the people of God and are not, but they continue in their sins, and are the people of Satan. Come out from among them and be separate! Don’t be deceived by vain words! Eph 5:6&7, Let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.