No Corners Cut, No Pacifying, No Round-About Way

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Today is, “Second Chance Day!”… Today is, “Get Right Day!”… Today is, “Election Day!”… A day in which you get to “Cast Your Ballot!”… A day in which, you get to “Choose!”… A day in which, Your Decision will affect your “Destiny.” It is a personal decision… It is so personal that no one else can make it for you.  And it is a decision that must be made “Today!”  So, “Cast Your Ballot” and “Choose this day Whom you will serve.” Will it be God or the World? Christianity or Secularism? Wealth, pleasure, beauty, physical perfection, or sensationalism? I want you to know that the decision God is calling you to make today is of more importance than any other decision you will ever make. And it is a decision that must be made now because you do not know what tomorrow holds. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. [James 4:14]. It is a decision that must be made now to avoid the hardening of the heart. It is a decision that must be made now because it cannot be made after death. Why is it such a big deal? Why should this decision be made NOW? Because you cannot save yourself. Because God does not desire to see a soul eternally lost. Because Jesus, gave His life to save you!

I want you to know that today you stand very much where the tribes of Israel stood when Joshua addressed them [Joshua 24], and now you too must respond.  Understand that there is a battle going on for your heart and mind, your loyalty and allegiance; so choose carefully! And remember that the choice and commitment you make today will determine your future. I want you to know that after Joshua addressed the people of Israel, they rose to the occasion and replied most appropriately: They said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods….” I am sure they meant it.  But, they quickly fell away. How are you doing? What will define you? Will it be God or the world that comes first?  What about … “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!”  Is that a defining statement for you?   Jesus says, “Follow me.” Then He comes back insisting that it’s “Either-or.” Jesus calls for a clear decision. “You cannot serve God and Mammon.” You cannot keep wavering, He says. Time is running out. You must take a stand. “Choose this day Whom you will serve!” Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. [2 Cor. 6:17-18]. Just as the Lord issued a call through Joshua all those centuries ago for His people to make of their minds as to Whom they would serve, so He issues the same call to you on this day. It’s time to make up your mind! And, it is! Decide Who will have your worship, your love and your obedience: God Almighty or the World… Sadly, Israel did not keep their vows to the Lord and they paid a terribly high price. Justt read [Judges, Samuel, Kings and Chronicles].

Today is “Election Day!”… Choose this day Whom you will serve…. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” [Deuteronomy 30:19].

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

It’s too late… There is nothing more I can do!  I want you to know that one of the most tragic phrases in the English language is “too late.”  It indicates something that once held promise now is without hope.  The tragedy of being “too late” is the implication that there was a time when it wasn’t too late.  There was a time when options were still available, an escape was still possible, a remedy was still viable. The parable of the ten virgins is a tragic story of being “too late!”  The parable of the ten virgins is a direct parable with a terrible consequence following a foolish decision.  In the parable Matthew 25 Jesus compares the coming of the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast.  The parable concludes with the arrival of the bridegroom.  The time has arrived.  The celebration begins.  The great banquet is open.  The five wise bridesmaids with oil in their lamps enter the house, while the five foolish bridesmaids went wandering around the dark village streets looking for oil.  Jesus sternly said, “And the door was shut” verse 10.   And who were going to enter had already entered.  No one else would be allowed in.  It was too late! The five foolish bridesmaids finally showed up.  They shouted out “Sir, Sir, Open the door for us!” verse 11.  The bridegroom responded to their desperate pleas with an unflinching resolve, “I tell you the truth, I know you not” verse 12.   It’s a terrible word.  It’s a final word.  There is no room for negotiation. It’s too late! The sad part about it….The foolish virgins knew the bridegroom was going to get married, they knew he would come to the banquet, and they knew they needed oil for their lamps. It wasn’t a matter of a lack of information or having the wrong information. All ten virgins started with the same facts. The five foolish virgins just weren’t ready. Don’t do it…. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Of course some will argue that it is never too late to mend, but the Bible says in Hebrews 6:4-6, “It is IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance.” I do not speak to you as an originator or discoverer of this tremendous truth—the impossibility of certain souls to be saved after they have reached a certain point; my business is to be faithful first to God, then to His Holy Word. Yes, people say, “It is never too late to come to Christ. It’s never too late to change my ways.  I can come at any time.  It’s never too late to be saved…” My friend, the idea that you can go just as far as you please, then turn back; the idea that you can descend into the well of sin and climb out again is a very comforting creed for those who believe it. But the question is, is it true? Will it stand the test? On the authority of the Bible, I do not think so; I say to you, it is False. I want you to know that the parable of the ten virgins reveals the awful truth that the kingdom of heaven has a door and it does close. I cannot tell you when the door will shut, only that it will shut one day.  I cannot tell you who will be allowed into the kingdom of heaven but only that Jesus is the gatekeeper.  And according to the gatekeeper’s own testimony, there will be those who will be left outside, the foolish ones, the ones who were invited but rejected the invitation or were so negligent and casual about the invitation they failed to prepare properly for it. Don’t do it… Don’t wait until it’s too late! Come to Christ now and let Him save you.

In Ezekiel chapter 33, God says, “As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked” verse 11. That’s the heart of God, a God who pleads with His people, Repent, Repent. I don’t want to judge you. I don’t want to damn you to Hell. I don’t want you to come under My chastening hand of discipline as believers. Turn, Turn.”… I beg you my friend, I plea with you, don’t do it… Don’t wait until it’s too late! “Too late” is the heartache of sin. “Too late” is the history of missed opportunities. “Too late” is the heat of a burning hell, and Hell is real!  Don’t do it… Don’t wait too late!

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Jesus! —- You pause in astonishment; with your tail between your legs. You want to run but you can’t move. You don’t know what to do. Then you hear a voice that says, “Tonight, your soul will be required!”  I want you to know that this is not a childhood game. Eternity is at stake and Jesus is saying, “Ready or Not, Here I come!” There are warnings that should be heard and heeded by every person reading this message. This is a wake-up call! It challenges the saints to be ready, and it calls for the lost to get ready. The Bible says, “Christ will come like a thief in the night, when you least expect him. It will happen in the twinkling of an eye, with the sound of a trumpet.” But the devil has whispered a different lie into the ears of many believers. That lie is, “Christ has delayed His coming.” Jesus addresses this in Matthew 24 in his parable about being ready for his return: “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Paul constantly cried, “Wake up! It is past midnight, and the Lord’s coming has drawn near. Stir yourself and don’t be slothful. Jesus is coming for those who are expecting him.” He wrote to the church in Rome: “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light” Romans 13:11-12. In Revelation 22:17, “The Spirit and the bride say, come.” This verse shows us the very last cry, or prayer, of the Holy Spirit, when he knows his work on earth is about to be completed: “Come, Lord Jesus!” In Verse 7 of this chapter, Jesus announces, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that kept the sayings of prophesy of this book.” May all such blindness be removed!

The truth is that God is shaking all that can be shaken. And what is still to come is too dreadful to think about. In the midst of all this, I hear Jesus saying, “Surely I come quickly” Revelation 22:20. I also hear the bride of Christ answering, as John did, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” I want you to know that before the flood, people couldn’t imagine water falling for forty days and forty nights. They couldn’t imagine the great deep bursting forth and the floodgates of heaven opening up. It was inconceivable to them that water would destroy them and their world. If anyone did believe it and actually prepared for it, they called them a fool Genesis 7:14. But then one day, the flood came and wiped the earth away. I don’t know where a message such as this finds you today. If you have never trusted Jesus as you Savior and you would like to be saved, I invite you to give your life to Him today.  If you are saved, but the Lord has shown you that you are not ready for Him to return, confess your sin(s) before the Lord and repent. If He has spoken to you on any level, heed His voice. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour God is coming. The Bible says that when Noah and his family entered the ark God shut them in Genesis 7:16. There always comes a time when it is too late. Why not make preparation? “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” 2 Cor. 6:2.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“You unbelieving generation, Jesus replies, “How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you…?” Mark 9:19. I have done everything for you!  I’ve healed, I’ve preached, I’ve saved, I’ve loved, and I’ve taught you, and you still refuse to believe much of anything I say.  After all I’ve done up to this point to display My power, there is still a question as to just how powerful I am… “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?” “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword, Matthew 10.  You uncircumcised Philistines!  “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I wish thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16… Wow!

Is there any doubt as to why Jesus spoke in such a manner to His disciples and speaks to us in this manner today…? I think not! We’re just not accustomed to think of Jesus in this light: frustrated with us, irritated, disturbed, annoyed, dissatisfied. And please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying; I’m not suggesting in any shape or form that the Lord spoke these words unduly harshly, or in an extreme or unreasonable manner. But surely you’ll have to agree with me that we tend to think of the Lord’s winsome characteristics, His grace, His love, His gentleness – we’re not accustomed to thinking of Jesus as being frustrated with His people, and rebuking His people. This is what we have, I believe, before us in Luke chapter 9, specifically in verse 41 and the verses that follow. He is grieved at the failure of His followers, and He says: ‘How long do I have to put up with you?” Put up with your unbelief; your lack of faith; your failure; your lack of prayer; your spiritual blindness; your pride; your lack of love towards the brethren; your lack of dedication? How long? Tell me….

You know in Numbers 14:11, God complained to Moses about the stubbornness of the Israelites, “How long will these people despise me? And how long will they not believe in Me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?  I want you to know that throughout the Bible, God rebukes humanity for the problem of unbelief. For the greatest problem you and I struggle with, whether we detect it or not, is the problem of unbelief. We are like the Israelites who doubt, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” Psalms 78:19. Hear me and hear me good…. Jesus was severe with the people of His day because of their unbelief. He even criticized His disciples when He frankly told them that they had littleness of faith Matthew 17:30, but He promised them that if they would have faith as a mustard seed they could move mountains, that is, they could do things which, with people, are impossible. As believers, we face threats to the life of the kingdom of God. Jesus and the disciples encountered these threats as well, but trusting in Jesus allows us to overcome. Do you hear what I’m saying to you? Jesus is grieved because of our lack faith.  He was grieved then and He is grieved today when we lack faith.  They had no faith and no spiritual perception and apparently neither do we. We should be running to the altar, I tell you…. Frustrating the grace of God is a great and horrible sin. God says, “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Y’all Going to Make Me Go Off, Up In Here, Up In Here!”

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Well Mama always said, “A hard head makes a soft-behind.” You made a decision and now you must accept its consequences. Stop your crying! You went and found out that what they said was true….“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and will cost you far more than you want to pay.” Sinful choices… severe consequences! God’s message is simple. If you do not lay down your idols and repent of your sin, He has no other choice than to allow you to be consumed (perish) with those He directs His judgment towards; spiritually as well as physically. Listen, there is a time of divine ultimatum when we must make a decision to remain in our sin or repent and follow God in holiness and purity. The angels in Genesis 19:15 “hastened” Lot to get his family together and get out. Time was up! Yet in verse sixteen, Lot lingered (question, hesitate, was reluctant) He may, as many of us, still think we have plenty of time. But Romans 13: 11-14 says, “This is all the more urgent, for you to know how late it is; time is running out!” Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Paul challenges his readers to “Understand the present time.” Do you know what time it is? It’s time to wake up! Why? Because salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The long night is fading away, the sun is peeking over the eastern horizon, and Jesus is coming soon!

I want you to know that in Genesis chapter 13 a division occurred between the herdsman Abraham and Lot. Abraham took Lot to the mountain top to see all the lands round about them. He told Lot, “You choose your direction. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right.”Abraham had a mission to accomplish. He was looking for a city whose builder and maker was God. He had to separate himself from those who had not put their whole heart into the journey. As Lot surveyed the territory, he was drawn to the Jordan valley for his sheep, yet pitched his tent toward Sodom. He describes this as “the valley of the Lord” yet it was full of slime pits, homosexuality, violence, murder and every sin imaginable. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom because his heart was there and it would soon cost him dearly. He was saved, but because his heart was not fully surrendered to the Lord he sacrificed his sons, daughters, daughters-in-law and his wife to Sodom. He entered into an incestuous relationship with his two remaining daughters that produced the heads of two pagans, God hating tribes. What a testimony! But Lot was not too different than many in the church of today. Some have an attitude of so-what if I sin, this is a time of grace. God doesn’t judge sin the same way as He did in the Old Testament. I want you to know that the truth in both the Old and New Testaments will ring in our ears throughout eternity. The wages of sin is death! Get your heart out of Sodom! God is drawing a line in these last days. Those who refuse to heed the warnings will, like Lot, probably sacrifice the things that mean the most to them. Maybe their own soul as well. As the judgment of the Lord increases on our country and persecution towards the Church intensifies, those who are not fully persuaded like Abraham will not make it. They will not believe that a loving God would cut them off. Some believe that all their shouting, praising, dancing and tongue talking somehow pacify a holy God as they continue to compromise with the god of this world. Wrong!

In Luke 17:31-32, Jesus tells us that when he returns we must be ready and willing to forsake everything or we will miss Him. He confirms it with, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Although she accepted the mercy of the Lord to save her life, her heart remained in Sodom. She was told, “Don’t look back.” When she did she was turned into a pillar of salt. God is drawing a line in His Body in preparation for His return. On one side of the line will be those who have forsaken everything in order to follow Him. On the other side of the line are those who will not take the warning seriously. They will no doubt perish. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance 2Peter 3:9. The Bible makes it very clear: Backsliding is an evil, bitter thing – and it has awful consequences! “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee…” Jeremiah 2:19.   For every action there is a reaction, and for every choice there is a consequence.  May the examples of such men like Lot and David…Teach us the importance of making Wise Choices!

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Pretentious people: Ugh…  Always want to be seen to show out; can’t function unless they stand out. Always got to be on the program; can’t serve in the background. Always got to be about them.  Then want to have the audacity to get mad when you say something.  Listen, Jesus warned against this type of hypocrisy in Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. You know in the parable Matt 13:26 no one noticed the problem until the wheat began to reproduce, forming heads prior to the harvest. I want you to know that the key difference between wheat and weeds is not in what they do, but in what they are? Who am I talking too? Because pretentious people, act saved but are active sinners. How can you hold a position in God’s houses (the church) and yet the devil runs rapid in your own house? Paul says in Acts 17:22-23…..You need a word that is revelatory and relevant.   Real people don’t come to church to be confused. Real people come to church to get a practical word and to come to understand what they don’t’ understand. I want you to know that the days of coming to church and not understanding the Word is over. Why sit in church just to die on the vine? This thing is personal.

Everything we are is because of God. Get over yourself! It’s not about you! Phil 2:3 says, “don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble…” Attitude is everything.  As 1Peter 5:6 says, “… humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.”  I bet your Pastor would just assume you not tell anyone where you went to church! It brings a reproach upon every saint of God who does try to live for Jesus.  Yet, I thank God that there is a place of repentance for those of us who are guilty of the backward look today. If you are just pretending to be saved, please be aware that you are not fooling the Lord! He knows your heart and will judge you. This was condemned by Jesus in Luke 9:62. This trend in the church today, professing Christians that want to dress, act, walk and talk like the world. People who say they know Jesus, but act like the unsaved around them. What you are doing is playing around with sin and treating sin too lightly! My friend, sin is a deceiver, it is a killer and it is dangerous! It must be dealt with early and radically. Do not let it get a foothold in your life, but root it out, whatever the cost or the pain, Eph. 4:27; Matt. 5:27-30.

Until we meet again…  Jesus’ last public message before He dies on the cross.  It is stunning…a scathing denunciation of false religion and hypocrisy.  Jesus is speaking to three groups of people…  a multitude; the disciples and the scribes and Pharisees. Talk about name calling, Jesus holds nothing back!  Bold and courageous, He calls them fools, snakes, vipers, blind guides, and 7 different times He calls them hypocrites.  They are wearing masks, and He pulls them off.  They come to church appearing to be one thing, but at home they are entirely different.  They are religious play actors.  Jesus demanded sincerity and reality.  I want you to know that you may walk in sin for years, but one day judgment will surely come. One day, time will run out! There will be no more opportunities and no more calls to repentance, Gen. 6:3. There will be nothing but judgment swift and sure! I challenge you to flee the wrath of God! There is but one shelter for the soul, Romans 5:6-9… Get Over Yourself! It’s not about you!

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

Jesus was mistreated by Roman soldiers, Matthew 26:27-31. He was ridiculed by the Jewish leaders, Matt. 27:39-43. He was even ridiculed by the two thieves who were crucified with Him, Matthew 27:44. He endured all of this so that He might make a lavish purchase and redeem you from the slavery of your sins. If you stop and think about the price God paid to redeem you, how can you turn a deaf ear to His call? When you consider the price He paid, the shame He bore, and the lengths He went to, to make salvation possible, how can you not bow before Him in love, in obedience, and in gratitude? Oh I know… because you are selfish…. You are just like those who was in the days of Noah Matthew 24:37-39 eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage… selfishly going about life as usual, while ignoring the truth in the face of impending doom and judgment. How unfortunate! Wrapped up in you and not caring. Lost and on your way to Hell! You’ve forgotten your history. You’ve forgotten where you came from; you forgotten the blessings you have received along the way. And when that happens, you forget to be grateful to the One who has blessed you along the way. What tragedy!  Psalms 81 tells that story and the results for Israel. There is a history lesson and a warning in this psalm for us. If we forget our history with God, we will forget God. We will forget the good things He has done for us, chief of which is saving us from sin. Why want you choose to remember!

Listen, sometimes, you only get one chance. And if you miss it, you never get the chance to do it again. God says, “Behold.” “Pay attention!” “Listen up!” Hear what is being said!” There will be no reprieve. There will be no second chances…” Amos 8:11-14. I want you to know that if you are going to survive and thrive, you must be able to get a word from the Lord. When you refuse to hear the Word of God, God will give you His silence in Judgment. That is a judgment greater than any other. Jesus said in Matthew 11:15, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” I want you to know that those who turned a deaf ear to the Gospel of Christ, they all went to Hell Psalm 9:17. It is interested that the Bible says those who perished in the flood knew not until destruction was upon them. They sincerely didn’t believe Noah’s message of coming judgment and doom. The rich man knew not until he awoke in the fires of Hell. I know that many people alive today will not wake up until they are burning in Hell with the rich man, because they refused to listen.  While we are facing impending doom and destruction in this world, most people couldn’t care less. Just as the world didn’t care before the flood came and swept them away. Just as Sodom didn’t care before God reigned down fire and brimstone to consume them. Just as Jerusalem didn’t care before Babylon utterly destroyed them. Just as the rich man didn’t care before God cast him into the flames of Hell, so also is the wicked, who don’t care about the truth; but I want you to know… eternal judgment is coming!

I will leave you with food for thought…. the message in Hebrews 3:8-18 “Do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God, as they were that day in the desert when they put him to the test. There they put me to the test and tried me, says God, although they had seen what I did for forty years. And so I was angry with those people and said, “they are always disloyal and refuse to obey my commands.’ I was angry and made a solemn promise: “They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest! My friends, be careful that none of you have a heart so evil and unbelieving that you will turn away from the living God. Instead, in order that none of you be deceived by sin and become stubborn, you must help one another every day, as long as the word “Today” in the scripture applies to us. For we are all partners with Christ if we hold firmly to the end the confidence we had at the beginning. This is what the scripture says: “If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were when they rebelled against God.” Who were the people who heard God’s voice and rebelled against him? All those who were led out of Egypt by Moses. With whom was God angry for forty years? With the people who sinned, who fell down dead in the desert. When God made his solemn promise, “They will never enter the land where I would have given them rest” – of whom was he speaking? Of those who rebelled.

To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear?

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” [Matthew 7:4].  I want you to know that in my years of ministry I have seen church folks judging each other, criticizing each other, running each other down, talking on the phone about each other and the list could go on and on. Just because you say you know the Lord, dress up on Sunday, go to church, read Scripture, sing and shout does not mean you are totally right with God. You do all of these activities on Sunday then turn right around on Monday and judge and criticize one another. That should not be! We are to have judgment that only comes through the Spirit of God. We have wrongly judged another person and have sinned in the process. In our rush to judgment, in our haste to make sure someone else takes the blame, in our zeal to find the guilty party, we have violated the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” The words are simple and clear. They are plain and unambiguous. But because they are familiar we tend to forget about them. Listen, we are not to be faultfinders.  Proverbs 11:12 tells us, “It is foolish to belittle a neighbor; a person with good sense remains silent.”  The Message is even more pointed: “Mean-spirited slander is heartless; quiet discretion accompanies good sense.” Don’t you know that faultfinding is the “venom of the soul?” It destroys your joy, drains your happiness, and prevents you from having close friendships. Truth be told, you criticize others in order to bring them down to your level. Or worse, you try to tear them down to prove they are really beneath you. What a spiritual vulture you are. Like the vultures of the air that live off dead, rotting flesh, you thrive on the mistakes and sins of others. You ought to repent!

Jesus said, “Judge not!” But oh, how we break this command: Blowing small things all out of proportion; Maximizing the sins of others—their faults, foibles and their petty ways. Coming to quick, hasty, negative conclusions; Making mountains out of molehills. Getting involved in situations where you should not be involved. Passing along critical stories to others; having a strong bias to find others guilty; adding aggravating remarks when telling a story. Dismissing an unkind remark by saying, “I was only joking.” Saying something critical and then trying to cover it up. Being unkind and then quickly changing the subject. Telling too many people about what others have done to us; Taking pleasure in condemning others; Telling the truth in order to hurt, not to help; Putting others down in order to make yourself look better; Minimizing your sins while magnifying the sins of others. That’s why Jesus said in verse 5, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Judge not lest you shall be Judge!”

Hey, who can argue with Jesus—right? The verse is taken to mean nobody has the right to judge anybody for anything at any time. The problem… The verse has a context. When Jesus spoke these words on the slopes surrounding the Sea of Galilee, He wasn’t saying never to judge. He simply warned about doing it the wrong way—by telling us how to make judgments the right way. And believe me, it ain’t easy. Christian love is not blind. God never says, “Ignore the faults of others.” But He does say, “Take care of your own faults first.” Look in the mirror! Ask God to show you your own sins. The familiar words of Psalm 139:23-24 come to mind: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” If we would pray that way and mean it, we would do a lot more confessing and a lot less judging. And that my friend is God’s message for us today!

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

And don’t nobody know better than you which you are. So what you need to do is be honest with yourself and stop playing; and stop thinking that you are fooling everybody else; because you know what they say… “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” So do yourself a favor and just admit that you like what you are doing. You like the way sin makes you feel.  Don’t worry we all are to some extent a hypocrite. Everyone has their own little treasure box… guilty as charged; and if you say that you are without sin, then you are unsaved and calling God a liar [1 John 1:8-10]. God calls all men sinners [Romans 3:10, 19-23]. Let God be true and every man a liar! Listen, as I told you before,  God has called me to teach against sin, not people. I teach against sin, many times stepping on my own toes as well.  It is “Woe is me! For I am undone” as [Isaiah 6:5] said, and as Paul said “Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” [1Tim 1:15] so as [Ephesian 4:15] encourages us “Express the truth in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, and living truly.”  Refuse to wear a mask and play games. Set yourself free!  Be honest; because if you don’t live authentically, you live a lie. You live phony. You try to be somebody you’re not. And that becomes comical. [2Cor 4:2]. Tell the truth and make the devil mad! You or either a Saint or an Ain’t! I’m talking to the almost Christians. “Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian” [Acts 26:28]

I tell you it is a tragedy that the church is as carnal as can be. But then again, there is nothing new under the sun. In [1 Corinthians 3:1-3] they were just as carnal back in New Testament times; yet the world has never witnessed apostasy as we are seeing it today everywhere. I want you to know; God is not pleased! “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” [James 4:4].  How sad; the same mentality that drive the world today has invaded the church. We live in a day of half-hearted service, when people serve the gods of self, materialism, recreation and pleasure more than they serve the God of Heaven. Shame on us! Listen, it’s time to get right with God and have a pure heart. It’s Time to Stop Playing Church!  God wants you to know today that He is still Lord of Lords and King of Kings; and one day He is coming back for a church without spot or blemish and like He called Israel back to Himself on Mount Carmel, He is calling you back to Him today.

You know in [1King 18:21] Elijah Challenged the People – A Question – Simply put, “How long are you going to waiver or vacillate between two ways of life?” These people were guilty of trying to hold hands with God and Baal. They wanted the best of both worlds! My friend that will never work! You might as well come to understand right now that divided allegiance is as wicked as open idolatry! This is proven by Christ’s condemnation of the church at Laodicea, [Rev. 3:14-22]. A person is either for Christ as he is against Him! You cannot be neutral! You cannot occupy the middle of the road! Jesus said it this way, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathered not with me scattered abroad.” [Matt. 12:30].  I ask you…. Where do you stand in regard to Christ?

I want you to know that Elijah presented the people with the problem. He told them that they were being contradictory. If God is Lord, then Baal cannot be. If Baal is Lord then God cannot be. Elijah told them there was room in the universe for only one Lord and one God! They were challenged to choose who they will follow. This is the same challenge before you right now. Many who claim to love the Lord are also holding hands with the world, the flesh, material possessions or whatever. This is a contradiction! Either God is Lord or He isn’t. If He isn’t, then those other things you hold to must be. The bottom line is this: you have to make a choice! Who will you serve? Who is really the Lord of your life? You can’t have it both ways! If you say you love the Lord and deny Him by your life, you actions and your activities, then you really don’t love Him at all! Be honest with yourself!

I leave you with a divine and profound paradox.  We are all sinners who miss the mark and who are in need of God’s lavish grace to forgive us and save us.  And the other side of the paradox is this:  “I beg you, I plead with you, and I implore you:  Lead a life worthy of the high calling that you have received in Jesus Christ.” As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

I want you to know that, that is the explicit meaning of the words of Jesus in [Matthew 7:21-23] “…Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity…”  I tell you multitude of people who expect to go to Heaven will go to Hell. Thousands of “good” people, “moral” people, church members, teachers, prophets, apostles, priests and preachers will find themselves lost when they expected to be saved; condemned when they expected approval; cast out of Heaven when they expected to be received into eternal bliss. They are professors without possession. They are church members, perhaps, but not Christians. They are reformed but not reborn. They have lamps but no oil. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. Dangerous Deception!  Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.” [Jeremiah 14:14] [Matthew 24:24]. This is precisely the nature of deception Paul referred to in [2Cor. 11:13-15] “You put up with it easily enough. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.”  I tell you their end will be what their actions deserve.

Take Heed…. Do not be deceived… Spend time studying God’s Word; know and understand what it says. Remember what God said in [Hosea 4:6] “My people perish for lack of knowledge. That’s why [Proverbs 4:5] encourages us to, “Get wisdom and get understanding… for we cannot rely on just listening to sermons and teachings from Bible teachers and pastors.  We must let the Scriptures speak to us directly; and the only way to do that is to study them for ourselves. Listen don’t take my word for anything… don’t believe anything I say… “Test everything.” Check it out for yourself and see if it aligns with what the Bible teaches [1John 4:1] [1Thess 5:19-22] because as Jesus drew near to the end of the Sermon on the Mount, He took the time to remind us of the seriousness of our salvation. He wanted all who heard Him to be sure that they were genuinely converted. See the Bible clearly warns that in the last days strange doctrines will come forth – introducing another Jesus, another Spirit, another Gospel [Matt. 24:4-5] [2 Tim. 3:1-5] [1Thess 2:9-10]. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves [Matt 7:15].

It is my prayer that you will allow the Spirit of God to speak to your hearts today. It may be that there is some reading this that has never been truly saved. Perhaps this is the day when you will meet Jesus as your Savior. Maybe there are those who think they are saved, but in truth, you’re not. I am praying that God will speak to your heart today! Perhaps there are those who know you have never been converted. There is no better time than right now to get that taken care of….  If what you believe to be true turned out not to be true, wouldn’t you like to know about it?  Do Not Be Deceived… Give all you have to get true knowledge.