James wrote a disturbing scripture in his self-titled book. He implied that a person who wanders is a sinner and his soul is in danger of death. James preached that sinners need to be saved; which is rejected by the majority today. Jesus said, “He that believeth not shall be damned!” The scripture also declares: “Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looking back is not fit for the kingdom.” “Unless you are born again of the water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”

All of these verses and so many more declare an Exclusive doctrine. God is holy and rejects the unholy. He is just and will Judge the unrighteous according to their works. The Bible says that “every idle word” will be accounted for and judged. The scripture is filled with similar troubling statements, especially among religious people who do not believe that God would send them to everlasting punishment for what they consider “minor offenses.” How far we have come from a life of separation!

“Be certain,” the Bible says, “your sins shall find you out.” This is God’s Holy, Undefiled Word and in it He says, “God will not be mocked, for whatever you sow, you shall reap.” The scripture is without respect to the reader. This God-breathed book is without exception or division. Therefore, we adjust our lives to the Word. We must never adjust the Word to our lives. Our salvation is serious business. Being saved is always greater!

American Christians routinely live with excuses, i.e., they give themselves allowances which are against the Bible. For instance, the average church member gives 1.7% of their income instead of their tithe (10%). Prayer is regulated to words before a meal. Bible reading has been replaced with conceptual ideas filtered through relative views. Gossip, backbiting, and slander are accepted and assumed as normal conversations. Honoring “those that labor among you” is often rejected by individualism. Sacrificing is a rare practice. Clothing and gender specific attire has been dismissed as old fashion. And finally, commitment and faithful church attendance is for people who do not have busy schedules.

I rise to say, Our God is a jealous God and this Word is without excuse. He is coming back for a holy, separated people. He’s coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle or any such thing!

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

Who would have thought that one of the signs of the Endtime would be Unthankful people? It almost seems out of place among the more acceptable egregious sins of the flesh. Few would consider an unthankful spirit and adultery as signs of the times, but the Bible reveals the matter.

2 Timothy chapter three states that in the last days perilous times will come where people are “…lovers of themselves, lovers of money (greedy), boastful, proud, abusive, unholy, unforgiving, slanderous, treacherous, conceited, and without natural affection…” The “Unthankful” are right in the middle of those carnal attributes. The modern believer mostly ignores such “minimal infractions” and would never include them with these other sinful activities. The “white lie” crowd are still among the elect, i.e., they still think that sinful activities are not all the same. However, God thinks the Unthankful should be included, thus His Word has made it so.

Those who are thankful recognize God and His provision. “Thankful” ultimately leads us to the Cross of Calvary where He gave to us what we could not give to ourselves. The absence of this thought is that of humanism, thus, the unthankful disposition is the acceptance of self-sufficiency or self-reliance.

Thanksgiving may be a national holiday, but the spirit of it pertains to a lifestyle. The origin of the day is rooted in recognizing God’s goodness and not man’s ingenuity. I submit this concept as secularism moves to dismiss our need for God and employs the strength of humanity. The question that must be answered is whether we live thankful; not whether we celebrate the holiday around a family table.

Paul wrote that love keeps no record of wrongs; is not boastful or proud. Thankfulness is akin to Paul’s I Corinthians description of love. There is a prism of this word that manifests itself in our everyday life. The “Thankful” honor God for the things He has done. It does not boast in self-sufficiency or personal achievement. Thankful bestows praise upon others while removing themselves from the equation. This message must be a continual endeavor. There are no days wherein we disregard the goodness of God. It might even be said that to be Thankful is the fruit of the Body of Jesus Christ in the last days, and not just for the church at large, but also for our local body of believers. We are, and must be, a Thankful people!

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole

Leviticus 26:34 “Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths.”

Think! God warned Israel against greed. They were not to plant in the 7th year. The land was to rest in the Sabbath year, however, they disobeyed God by planting and reaping without a pause. In the end, Babylon took them captive for 70 years, thereby leaving the land empty – “the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths.” They disobeyed and God took what belonged to Him.

Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Make no mistake, this law will never go away. It will not lay empty nor be ignored. For instance, returning our tithes and offerings to God keeps it away from the Devourer who will take it and more. Sowing and reaping for evil or good is a constant which no one can rebut.

The 10 Commandments are settled. There should be no dispute: “Thou shalt not kill, steal, lie, covet, etc. God said to honor father and mother: Do not take God’s name in vain.” However, when it comes to the Sabbath, which is our Sunday (Christ rose from the grave), many make compromises. Some gladly accept 9 Commandments, but ignore the Sabbath, as if God would forget His own word. Would we openly bare false witness or commit adultery in the same fashion we excuse ourselves from being together for worship? Should we follow the strict adherence to 9 and not 10? Hebrews 10:25 is a command: Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together.

God had a message for those who disobeyed Him. God said, Leviticus 26, “I will walk contrary to you!” He said, “you will eat your weight in bread and not be satisfied.” This is the forever settled Word of God. Even Paul wrote: Romans 3:4 “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

I challenge you to adjust your life to the scripture. Some things belong to the Lord!

Pastor Jeffrey Harpole