What a mighty song of so few words! This song is by far the best victory song ever sung by mankind. Many war songs have been created, and many revolts have had chants of freedom. However, none have come close to the level or depth of meaning this victory song has acquired. When this song is sung, even thousands of years after the victory was won, it still sounds like a fresh victory. And that is precisely what it is, continuously in the lives of people everyday: it is a fresh victory! Sin is defeated; we, as true Christians, reign above sin!

From the beginning until our Saviour came, sin has reigned on earth. In Genesis, 3:6 we read where sin entered the earth. From this time on, until our Saviour came, sin has had its way. It has been a powerful foe. Many of “God’s people” who walked this earth prior to Christ being born could not win against Satan. In Luke 10:24, Jesus tells His disciples that many prophets and kings desired to see and hear those things the disciples were seeing and hearing. The prophets and the kings were subjected to literal offerings. They had to show their obeisance to God with offerings. When they were disobedient, they had to show repentance with offerings. This was an ongoing system because they could not reign over sin. Even with offerings, prayers, fasting, and total dedication, they still could not live a life above sin.

The enemy has had years of success in destroying God’s people. The list includes the first man (Adam), the strongest man (Samson), and the wisest man (Solomon). With these victories, the enemy no doubt felt as though he could get to any of God’s people. But God had a plan all along, since the beginning of time; the wonderful plan of salvation. HALLELUJAH!

John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Imagine this moment, when John sees Jesus. From the prophet Moses to Malachi, there had been many prophesies of a king and messiah coming to deliver God’s people. But deliver them from what, or who? This is where many people miss the true essence of the song we are currently discussing. From the beginning, once sin entered the earth, God had a plan to take it out of the earth. II Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” We are an earth, and God has a plan to take sin out of your earth and to keep it out! Glory!

Romans 5:19, “For by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” The disobedience is that of Adam. The obedience is that of Christ. Luke 22:42, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” This obedience of Christ going to the cross and being crucified is what took sin out of the earth! Without the blood of this spotless Lamb, we could not reign over sin. We would not be able to sing this victory song. God had allowed Satan to think he was victorious, but he knew the day was coming when he would send his champion son to defeat Satan and all his powers, including death. In John 19:30 Jesus says “It is finished…” meaning the battle is over, sin has been defeated, the enemy has failed!

The definition of redemption is ‘the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil’. Redemption is completed, we can now be delivered FROM sin and evil. All this because of our Saviour; Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Wonderful, Counselor, The Prince of Peace, Fighter, Friend, Champion, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

The next time we sing this victor’s song, please sing it with all your soul and all your might, sing it with everything in you!

Many people feel it’s not a sin to have a favorite sports team, or a favorite player. Before I got saved, I followed several teams in several different sports. I betted money and other stuff on games. I dedicated lots of time to watch the games. I followed what my team did, how the players on my team performed, what the coaching staff did. I even looked into their personal lives. I was concerned about how my teams performed. I wanted them to win. I had a sick feeling inside when they lost. I sometimes argued with friends and family over games, even to the point of violence!

I hung out with athletes, they were very ungodly men. You may be saying “oh I don’t like sports that much,” but if you’re concerned about a team or players, and if we look back on what the definition of the world is, it says “a concern for.” Sports have placed a barrier between the outside world and the church. It has placed a compromise in many a Christian home. It has placed a division within congregations. If it has done so much and yet and still we choose to make it a choice, what kind of church do we leave God to work with?

I don’t wear team clothing anymore; I don’t follow after teams anymore; I don’t follow after the players anymore; I don’t concern myself with that world! The “sports world” is so strong, I heard an individual say it was the reason they can’t get saved; they can’t see themselves giving that world up. God will not have any “fans” other than Christian fans in heaven! God help us all to see it, and apply it as necessary.

In summary, God is looking for a people to represent his church. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 27 says: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. The more of the (my) world that is in us, the more likely we have spots, or wrinkles, or a such thing.

When God chose the Israelites, he told them to stay to themselves, inside their walls. If someone wanted to come in, that was fine as long as they served the Israelites’ God. Too many times we have allowed the enemy to come in and to bring his god with him. And as a consequence, that god is worshipped over the true and living God. Worship means show devotion to, a feeling of profound love and admiration. It doesn’t have to be that we’re making graven images; we’re just devoted to and have too much admiration for those things that are not of God. Let us take inventory of “our worlds”; do we still have some things we need to put out so more of God can come in?

I truly trust and hope this article has been an encouragement. Let us all strive to get closer to God. He’s waiting to bless his church! Amen.

Index

I can’t justify putting their songs into my CD player, or iPod, or on my radio station when I know these people have no salvation, or real contentment; they are after worldly gain!They savour the things of men! The bible says in 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verse 5 “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. If they’re in my ears and feeding on my mind, I’m not turning away. Many of the producers who produce this “gospel” music also produce rap, R&B, rock, reggae, and whatever else they’re paid to produce. So that means the music, minus the lyrics, is the same music from gospel, to rap, to R&B, to reggae, and to rock. Same song, different lyrics.

Needless to say, I stay away from that worldly music; I love to hear good old church of God Evening Light songs.

Part 6

Fashion World – I loved clothing! I loved to put on nice clothes, new clothes, and designer clothes. I loved to dress up in outfits that no one else had. I loved to be the first to wear certain apparel. It was easy for me because I had a friend who owned an upscale clothing store, and another friend who managed a hip hop clothing store. So, I kept up with the trends and the new fashions at all times. After I got saved, I learned the bible was against what I was doing. The bible instructs in several places about dress, male and female. We are to dress modest, not in rich apparel, not in clothing unbecoming of a Christian. The scriptures I read, and the Holy Spirit prompted me to clean out my closet.I got rid of some things that I truly loved and wanted to keep, but I wanted to love and keep God more. I had lots of “hip-hop” clothing, and one thing I would like to say is I do not believe “Hip-hop” fashion is becoming of a Christian. The whole world of “hip-hop” is anti-Christ. Many of these fashion designers promote drinking, fornicating, rebelling, worshiping the devil, and a host of other things the Church stands squarely against. Now it would seem real strange to me if I’m calling myself a Christian and I’m all decked out in an outfit that some rapper designed. And, he’s singing songs of wickedness and debauchery while wearing the same outfit.

In addition, many other “styles of dress” come from the world. The church should imbibe worldly styles and bring them to the church, i.e., sagging. Two things that don’t go together: “sagging and saints.” The bible says the inward adorning. Praise God!

Parents, please be careful of what clothing you allow your children to purchase and wear. Many designers are designing clothing so girls are lusted after, and for boys to look like homosexuals. Many designers are homosexuals! They put all kinds writing, emblems, pictures, and whatever else across the women’s chest. This is done to attract attention to that area! They put writing, designs, and bold stitching across the backside of women or girls. This is done to attract attention to that area!

The bible says in 1st John chapter 2 verse 16, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. We as Christians shouldn’t be wearing apparel that entices the opposite sex to lust after us.

I also stripped myself of all jewelry, including cuff links (metal) and all bracelets. The definition of bracelet is jewelry worn around the wrist for decoration. It doesn’t have to be gold or silver; that includes rubber, leather, strings, and any other material the devil uses to “creep in unawares” for us to decorate our wrists with. Before leaving the house, ask yourself, “how does what I have on look to God?”

Part 5

Let us first look at 1st John chapter 2 verse 15: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. This is a very blunt verse. First we’re told not to love the world, and if we do, we don’t love God. I had to study this verse out to get the full meaning of what the apostle John was saying. Please bear in mind that John was one of the disciples Christ was speaking to in the gospel of Matthew, chapter 16. So he knew the importance of not loving the world. The magnitude of this scripture is going to take time for me to decipher and explain, but I will try to do my best.

First, let us look at the definition of the word “world.” “World” is defined as the earth and its inhabitants, with their concerns; the sum of human affairs and interests. With that definition in mind, let’s look at the scripture again. Love not the earth, and its inhabitants, or their concerns, or their affairs, or their interests. And if you do, you do not love God! That is a hard saying, but this is a commandment thru John, from God.

To bring this scripture closer to my understanding, I studied and searched and meditated on it even more. I would like us now to take this same verse, and personalize it. When Jesus spoke of gaining the whole world in Matthew chapter 16 and verse 26, He was talking of us gaining our “personal worlds.” We know we can’t have this whole earth, but are we trying to have “our” whole earth. Read with me 1st John chapter 2 verse 15 again: Love not my world, neither the things that are in my world. If I love my world, the love for my father is not in me!

The personalization of this scripture will now allow us to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit when he starts telling us what things in “our individual worlds” are preventing us from having the love of God in us like we should. Let us not take the word “love” to mean “we can have some things… as long as we don’t love them.”

Rather, look at it as “is this taking away my opportunity to have more of the love of the Father in me?” Our goal as saints should be to get as far from the (my) world as humanly possible, and as close to God as humanly possible. Why? Because if we’re too close to the (our) world, then some things will not seem as bad as they really are. And if it doesn’t seem that bad, we won’t be able to stay away from it.

I would like to give my personal testimony of how I’ve worked on not loving this (my) world, with all praises to God for His grace.

To savour something means to take pleasure in, get enjoyment from, or receive pleasure from. So the Lord knew that Peter didn’t take pleasure in, or wasn’t getting enjoyment from the things of God. He may have liked being seen as one of Christ’s disciples. He may have liked being around Christ, for all the attention Christ received. He may of even liked seeing the miracles and being around when Christ performed them. However, Peter, as so many others, was still holding on to something in the world.

Christ said Peter savoured the things of men. Now let’s not get confused about where Christ is coming from when he said this. Christ can see far down the road, way into the future. He knew when things got tough, Peter was going to deny Him. But what He saw even further down the road is what I believe led Him to say Peter savoured the things of men.

Looking at the end of the gospels of Matthew and Mark, Jesus gave His disciples the great commission; to teach and baptize all nations. At the end of the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until He sends the power from on high (Holy Spirit). In the 21st chapter of the gospel of John, we have a different kind of ending. In verse 3, Peter said unto the other disciples “I go a fishing.” They said unto him, “We also go with thee.” As we read down further into this chapter we can see that Jesus came to his disciples that morning. In the next verses we are able to see Peter and his love of the world. When Jesus chose Peter to be his disciple, what was he called from? Fishing. Years later, after Jesus has given the Great Commission, Peter is back fishing. The Lord had to question him whether he loved the fish more than he loved Him.

It seemed to Peter like a big thing that Christ would ask him if he loved Him over and over again. But to Christ, it was obvious that he didn’t. Christ called him from fishing and made him a fisher of men; Peter decided to go back to fishing for fish, and took other disciples with him. Who was left to do God’s work? There are many others lessons in these precious scriptures, but we only want to use that portion for now.

Let’s bring this story a little closer. What were you/I doing when God called us out of sin? Are we still trying to do those things that he called us from? Going back to Matthew the 16th chapter and verse 24 and 25, Jesus said” if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” These are the words of Jesus talking to His disciples.

Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you willing to deny yourself? Are you willing to lose your life? These questions are paramount to our entering into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Index – Total Separation from This World

The reason why I believe this is simply because of technology. In this age, mankind has been given a very simplistic way of falling prey to the world. In the days of old, you could keep the “world” out of your home and out of your children’s lives by simply keeping them in the home. However, with the advent of the computer, cell phones, video gaming systems, and other various electronic devices, it is more difficult than ever to keep the “world” out of the home.

But, as difficult as it is, it is of the utmost necessity. We must, as saints, beware of how the devil is trying to constantly put the “world” into our homes. Once he places it into our homes he works it into our lives. Then once it’s in our lives, he puts it into our children’s lives (and sometimes in the opposite order).

Let us please look at the seriousness of the world and all that it is. We will take time to look at how detrimental the world is to our lives and how it directly affects the church. Jesus was very clear in how he felt about the world. In Matthew chapter 16 verse 26, he asked his disciples, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

This is a verse and question that we hear the ministry and many saints speak about to the sinner-friend. However, whom was Jesus speaking to when He asked this question? Let us look back a few verses when this dialogue first began. In verse 21 Jesus is telling His disciples that He was going to suffer and be killed and raised the third day. Peter rebuked Jesus saying that those things were not going to happen. Jesus turned to Peter and said “Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou art an offence unto me.” Why would Jesus say these things about one of His chosen disciples, whom He had taught and walked with for several years? Well, let’s look at Jesus’ explanation for what He said…

(to read the next portion of this article, click here)

Total Separation from This World (Part 1)
Total Separation from This World (Part 2)
Total Separation from This World (Part 3)
Total Separation from This World (Part 4)
Total Separation from This World (Part 5)
Total Separation from This World (Part 6)

In the meantime, we suggest you check out some of our archived articles. You can do this by clicking on the months listed on the right of your screen, and sorting through anything that catches your eye. There also other things upon which you can click, such as a writer’s icon on the lower right to see a catalogue of the individual’s works.

Thanks again!

On Dec. 28th (if the Lord tarries) I will have been saved two years. Glory to God, without his strength and daily grace, it would not be possible.

However, this letter is not about my testimony, but what I have learned through my journey as a Christian these past 24 months and some days; the actual definition of a “Christian”… Many people if you ask them will say they are a “Christian”. Well, they aren’t atheists, or buddhists, or muslims, or whatever else, so they must be “Christian”, right? WRONG!!! To be a TRUE CHRISTIAN my friend is much deeper than a person just saying, “I’m a Christian”… Many people think certain values and way of living qualify you to be a “Christian”… WRONG! There is much more to it than that! Allow me to help you understand who a True “Christian” really is. Hopefully, you have a littlle time and a bible.

Do you have your bible? Ok, let’s look into the scriptures… turn with me to Acts chapter 11 verse 26. In this verse we see the first time the word “Christian(s)” is ever used in the bible. The disciples were going about everywhere preaching about “Christ”. There were many people who believed and were added to God’s kingdom, and all these people were then called “Christians.” All the disciples and the new believers were behaving “like Christ”. Now stay with me here… Let’s go over to Matthew chapter 1 verse 21. Mary brought forth a son, Jesus Christ!!! “For he shall save his people from their sins.” So now we know that anyone who calls themself a “Christian” must be of the family of Jesus “Christ”. How can you be of a family of anyone and not have one or the same parents? (I am a Cavin because I was born to Ronald and Stella Cavin.)

In this verse, the Jews were Christ’s original “people”. However, the Jews rejected him, so He turned to the Gentiles, you and me! So we are adopted, born-again (spiritually) into the family of Jesus Christ, hence we call ourselves “Christians.”

Now here is where the problem is: people are adopting themselves into the family who are not apart of it!! These are they who simply call themselves “Christians.” To be a TRUE CHRISTIAN, you have to be born-again, and Jesus Christ has to adopt you into His family, you can’t just call yourself a ‘christian” without his adoption. Then after you’re adopted into the family, you have to live like a “Christian”; otherwise, you’ll put yourself out of the family. Now remember I said there was a problem? Here’s another one!

People, (pastors, deacons, elders, ministers, so called men of God), are telling lies about how to be put into the family of Christ. I won’t go into all the lies (too many), I’ll just tell you the correct bible way to be adopted into the family of God… still have your bible? Turn first to John chapter 3 verse 3. Jesus says “except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom (family) of God”… Now turn to Acts chapter 2 verse 38 (read also verse 37, the people want to know how to be “Christians”); verse 38 says Repent! (webster def. turn away from sin; feel remorse for). Then Peter says “and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission” (webster def. surrendering, resigning, or giving up) of sins!

So if you repent because you feel remorse for your sins, and you have remission or you give them up, and you ask Christ to come into your heart, you will be born again and you will become a “Christian.” Praise God!!! However, in order to remain a “Christian,” you have to behave as one, or as Christ did. Let’s look at another scripture: John chapter 1 verse 1. The Word was God. Now go down to verse 14: And the Word was made Flesh… keep your finger on this chapter please and then turn your bible to Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin!

One last scripture please and then I’ll summarize all this… 1 Peter chapter 2 verses 21, 22. Christ suffered for us and left us an example, that we should follow in his steps, (vs 22) who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth!

Summary: If you, or me, or someone we know, from the biggest preacher on down to the smallest “babe in Christ” is calling themselves a “Christian” and still have sin in their life, politely tell them, “you’re not a Christian according to the bible”. Then show them where I have shown you; the only way they, or you, or I, can be a “TRUE CHRISTIAN” is by repenting and asking Christ to come into our lives, and then living our lives according to the example he left us: His LIFE.

MAY GOD BLESS AND HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOULS!!