Sopp Ministries Blog

This week as I was in my quiet time with my heavenly Father, I read: 2 Peter 1:5-11: “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless (ineffective) nor unfruitful (unproductive) in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” (NASB)

Just a thought: My heart began to weep within me as I considered the state of God’s Church at-large. It is undeniable that in every foundational way – in every meaningful way, the professing Christian Church is statistically identical to this fallen world.

That being the case, and in view of the above Holy Scripture, the questions which came upon my heart were profoundly bone-chilling to me: 1) Is the majority within the professing Church at-large spiritually blind? 2) Is the majority within the professing Church at-large both ineffective and unproductive in the true and intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ? 3) Is the majority within the professing Church at-large even born-again with God’s Holy Spirit unto salvation?

How can I answer such eternal – such ponderous questions? Actually, I don’t want to, because I fear – no, I dread the evitable answer. Yet, I can fervently pray: God forbid!

Prayer: Father, every day help me to have – to see Your divine qualities within me in ever increasing amounts in my daily life; for I wish to be both effective and productive in the true knowledge of You; for I wish not to stumble; for I wish my entry into Your eternal kingdom to be abundantly supplied unto me. Amen and Amen!

Website: www.SoppMinistries.org

We Are Not Blind Too, Are We?:

www.SoppMinistries.org/index30.htm

Matthew 10:38-39: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.” Luke 14:27-30: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” (NASB)

Just a thought: The above verses of Holy Scripture make it very clear that we need to count the cost of becoming a Christian, but are we? Have we transformed Christianity into a feel good – a self-seeking – a seeker sensitive religion? If we have, then all we have is just another religion. Yet, true biblical Christianity is so much more than religion.

I know the above Scriptures are hard to understand, but if your eternity depends on understanding the above apparent paradox that’s found within Matthew 10:38-39, as Jesus declares to all that it does, should you not invest a little of your time to seek understanding?

Indeed, be very diligent not to become one of the many who are ridiculed by this world, because they did not finish well!

Prayer: Lord, my God, may Your Holy Spirit allow my heart to hear – to understand Your warning so I may fully count the cost of being a Christian. Holy Spirit, please help me to finish well! Amen and Amen!

Website: www.SoppMinistries.org

Burn the Plow to Cook the Oxen:

www.SoppMinistries.org/index26.htm

2 Timothy 3:1-5: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.” (NASB)

Just a thought: Late last night, seemingly out of nowhere, I began to weep over the concern I had for persecuted Christians worldwide, mainly overseas, but not only overseas. I felt a real dread within for what’s coming upon this world.

Whether my weeping was for us just before God’s rapture, or those converted after, I’m not sure. All I know is, this feeling of dread within me goes very deep – indeed, the burden I feel within is very great. God, please forbid what I’m feeling within to be true. I so pray I’m wrong.

At first, I thought it was just me after spending so much time in both religious and Christian Internet forums the past four weeks. Truly, I witnessed 2 Timothy 3:1-5 come alive. Therefore, I decided not to mention my experience to anyone, but I changed my mind this morning when I opened my Email. Within was an Email prayer request for persecuted Christians. Believe me when I say this is not the normal prayer request that I receive through this particular channel. Coincidence? I think not!

Prayer: Father, Your Word warns us of a last days scenario which looks, even to the casual observer, like the world we live in today. Although, it’s written that no one knows the day or hour, it’s also written that day will not come upon Your children completely without warning, as it will to those who live in darkness. Father, grant us the humility to examine ourselves before that day so we are sure we are indeed born-again – grant Your children the strength they will need in times of persecution – grant Your children the strength they need so the flames of persecution will cause Your light to burn bright, i.e., bring glory to Your name despite our weaknesses. For as it is with You, we also wish for none to perish. Therefore, help us all to be Your light in these most troubling times. Amen and Amen!

Website: www.SoppMinistries.org

The Portrait of a Christian:

www.SoppMinistries.org/index37.htm