August 12, 2026

Shedding the World

Preface

Let me start by saying that God created this world, and everything He does is good. However, He also created evil! I know it’s hard to believe that our God, who is holy, just, righteous, and loving, is also the maker of the evil one, but I’m sure He has His reasons. It could be that the greatest test of our lives depends on our ability, with God’s help, of course, to reject evil and choose Him. 

Somewhere I crossed a line without knowing it, and likely because of the workings of the Holy Spirit, I started noticing that the things I’m drawn to, and love, turn out to be part of Satan’s evil plan of deception. As an example, start listening to the lyrics of your favorite musical artist from back in your day and the new music, and tell me if you think those came from the mouth of God; some Christian artists may be divinely inspired, but they are the few; sadly, we also need to be careful of those. Imagine belting out the lyrics of songs that were written solely to worship Satan. We might not mean to worship him, but he is smitten when a Christ-follower sings songs that are an anthem to him. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we begin to see the truth and realize that we are filthy beings and are only good because of Jesus. Fortunately, that’s a good place to be.

In this series, we will learn how to live in the world, but not be of the world.

Jesus said in John 17:15-16: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

August 11, 2026

3 John 1

The elder, believed to be the Apostle John, wrote to Gaius, commending him for treating others fairly, whether they were brethren or strangers. It seems that John’s point in writing was to tell him how nasty a man named Diotrephes treated him; he may have been part of Gaius’s church.

If you profess to be a Christ-follower, your temperament should be in the likeness of Jesus. If you don’t show a loving heart to others, do you truly have Jesus? Does the Holy Spirit reside in you? When we first started going to our church, we immediately faced opposition from someone who thought that I shouldn’t be using an electronic Bible. I get it; notifications can be distracting. However, what he didn’t know was that I was capable of verifying everything taught in real time, including looking up the Greek meanings and other things because I had my study tools right in front of me. He wanted the preacher to admonish me for using it. That didn’t happen, and I’m still there, and he’s gone. Not everyone who claims Jesus is saved, and you can tell who they are by their fruit. 

Don’t get so comfortable in your “Christianity” that you fail to reflect the likeness of Christ. People notice. John wasn’t going to put up with such nonsense from Diotrephes, and planned to handle the situation by reprimanding his evil deeds the next time he visited Gaius.

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 1:11

August 10, 2026

2 John 1

Did you know that John specifically tells the “elect lady” not to receive into her home anyone who doesn’t accept the doctrine of Christ? What does that tell us about the people we bring into our own homes? Have you ever had someone come into your home that you felt left behind something vile? I had a dream that something dark loomed over me inside my home. That dream came true when I let a women come into my home who was taller than me, had dark hair, and she was angry with me for some reason; I think she was a potential tenant, but it’s been so long ago, I don’t remember all the details other than I let someone that I didn’t know into my home and they carried a darkness. Anyone who doesn’t accept Jesus as God carries that darkness, and John tells us not to receive them or to wish them well because we become a partaker in their evil deeds! Look at these verses:

 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John 1:9-11

When she left, I prayed scripture over my home and anointed every window and door so that if she had left behind any of her demons, they would leave because the Word of God was read in their presence. 

August 9, 2026

1 John 5

When my husband’s father passed away, all of his businesses were dropped into his lap. However, he knew that line of work because he had been immersed in it for his entire life, though he wasn’t a part of it when he died. He had to jump in and handle all the situations that his dad was involved in, including a few lawsuits, which was daunting for him. Thankfully, he is good at juggling and focusing and still able to manage our businesses at the same time. He says it was the worst four years of his life, but he handled them quite well. There were a few business partners of his dad’s that my husband knew had rejected, belittled, or taken advantage of him, and they came out of nowhere to try and do business with my husband, now that his dad was gone. Because he and his dad were close, the stories of their betrayal were shared, so he knew who were good business partners and who were the crooks. When they rejected his dad, they ultimately rejected my husband, the son. 

Imagine the same situation only bigger, on a worldwide scale: God the Father and God the Son. Those people who rejected God and didn’t turn their lives over to Him, the Son, Jesus came and called them out, and they ultimately rejected him too, but not without the consequences. We sometimes forget that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are one. You can’t call on just one of them and reject the others; when you do that, you reject them all, similar to the situation with my husband and his dad. It will come back to bite you. We must acknowledge that they are three in one, and you can’t do business with one without doing business with the others. 

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7

August 8, 2026

1 John 4

We Love Him Because He First Loved Us

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Did you know that it is possible to love someone who hates you? I am here to testify to that truth. I know of several people who hate me, but their reasons for hating me are not justified. Their hatefulness is out of jealousy or resentment because I chose not to go along with their evil deeds or side with them. Did you know that if you hate your brother, like a sibling or fellow Christ-follower, whether they are literally your sibling or figuratively your sibling, that the love of God is not in you? However, because God lives in you, it is impossible to hate someone. Here is how I see it: I don’t hate them; they are the ones who are hateful. However, just because I can still love them doesn’t mean I have to put up with their shenanigans or include them in my life; far from that. I refuse to harbor hate for anyone. As a Christ-follower, you need a change of heart if you can’t find love for others, even those who despise you. I may not ever forget how they treated me, but I will be cautious if ever I am around them. They will never know the secrets of my life, but they will also not control my emotions because of their hate; that’s on them. 

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 1 John 4:20

August 7, 2026

1 John 3

Who are the Children of God?

This third chapter of 1 John should be broken down and gone through verse by verse. It is such a tasty morsel to the palate of my mind that it should be eaten slowly to taste each ingredient individually because it is that good. However, I will concentrate on the verses that stood out the most and made an impact. Here they are:

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:8-9

Those people who refrain from sinful behavior have the seed of God in them, but have you ever thought that if you were a habitual sinner, the seed of the devil was still in you? If God’s seed is not in you, then whose? We hear about NPC’s on social media, non-player characters. I believe these people may still have the seed of the devil in them because they take every narrative seen on television and repeated on social media as truth rather than use their minds and the Holy Spirit promptings to discern the truth. These are mindless individuals who believe everything they hear. The complete opposite can also be true of an NPC: they believe everything is a lie. That can get you in trouble if you start believing the Bible is a lie and that God isn’t real. 

How do we fix this? Get our hearts right and bent towards God. Help to pull these individuals from the fire that they’ve set with their sins. Tell them about Jesus and the love he has for us. Those of us who love Jesus are the few; too many people do not love him, and we need to change that. Do your part when prompted by the Holy Spirit, and God will bless you; I guarantee it!

August 6, 2026

1 John 2

Whoever Denies Jesus Denies the Father

Just like most people, I scroll through videos for entertainment. Lately, I've been following this woman whose content I like. However, recently, I heard her say that she doesn't follow Jesus, that she prays directly to God. I too pray directly to God, but only because of Jesus. It doesn't take discernment to see that she is a type of anti-Christ; she denied him out loud. I overlooked some things she said before her denial, because I enjoyed watching her. We do that sometimes, don't we? We can discern when people aren't good for us, yet we still watch them like watching a train wreck. She had said it one time before, but I thought I heard her wrong. When people tell you who they are, believe them the first time. Anyone who denies Jesus is a product of the devil, and they shouldn't be listened to, even if it's just for entertainment, because you don't know what kind of subliminal messaging the enemy might infuse in the message that you are receiving during your passive participation. I think that at some point she may have followed him, but because she is a weak person, she began listening to someone who led her away from him. She was never a part of the kingdom, because if she had been, she wouldn't be able to deny him. You may not know all the details of the Bible, but according to Scripture, the Holy Spirit gives you everything you need to know. 

The enemy's seduction is real, but the Holy Spirit will lead you to the truth. Like me, he may allow you to linger for a minute to help teach you a lesson, but he won't leave you there for very long before he gives you obvious clues. Keep your head on a swivel; the world is evil, but Jesus is good. 

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 1 John 2:19-23

August 5, 2026

1 John 1

Walking in the Light

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

You cannot and will not continue living a life full of sinfulness if you have Jesus. However, you will sin unintentionally on occasion, but God is forgiving, and if you confess, He is faithful to forgive you.

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 justto forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9

Did you know that God didn’t create the sun and moon until the fourth day, but created light on the first day? Where is our light coming from if it’s not coming from the sun? This light is not the light emitted by God because He created it, and He is not a created being, even though He is light. I want to know where that light is coming from. That’s a glimpse into how my mind works. However, in 1 John 1, I believe that John is referring to God’s sinlessness as light because there is no darkness in Him at all. We are to strive to be like Jesus, full of light, knowing that it is impossible, but we should try anyway because Jesus cleanses us and forgives us of our sins if we trust in him. 

August 4, 2026

Jude

Grace Without Holiness

The Book of Jude is a warning against false teachers. Now, more than ever, we need to be cautious, because ravenous wolves are seething to devour us. What’s bad is they can creep in unexpectedly and deceive us by only slightly perverting the scriptures. 

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4

These same false teachers will lead you to believe that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can go on sinning without the consequences, but that is a lie. It is very tempting to follow a teacher who promotes grace without holiness because that teaching allows you to behave as you please and fulfill your lustful desires. However, God expects us to avoid sin, but sometimes we miss the cues of the Holy Spirit or completely ignore his promptings and venture into sin. I’m not saying you will not be forgiven, but how can you continue in a lifestyle of debauchery without shame and still believe you are saved? Salvation is a complete change of direction, turning away from sinful behavior toward holiness. The world is a scary place, but Jesus is our salvation from it; listen carefully to the Holy Spirit as he guides you to all truth. 

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:17-21

August 3, 2026

The Weapon of Prayer

Modern Examples of Prayer Continued

Out of the example in this last chapter of The Weapon of Prayer, I found the following quote to be the most eye-opening:

“When God has specially promised the thing,” said Charles G. Finney, “we are bound to believe we shall receive it when we pray for it. You have no right to put in an ‘if,’ and say, ‘Lord, if it be Thy will, give me Thy Holy Spirit.’ This is to insult God. To put an ‘if’ in God’s promise when God has put none there, is tantamount to charging God with being insincere. It is like saying, ‘O God, if Thou art in earnest in making these promises, grant us the blessing we pray for.’”

I am guilty of using the word “if” on occasion when praying for mundane things. Instead, we should know that if God brings it to our mind, He intends to bring it to fruition.

Another person of prayer that I admire is a woman named Lady Maxwell. She prayed to be able to pray more. Who would have thought of that, but it’s a good idea. A woman asked her if she knew of anyone looking for a job as a maid because she needed one, and Lady Maxwell told her she would pray for one. We think we should only go to God with special requests, but He’s looking to hear from us about everything. 

A good reminder from Paul:

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

August 2, 2026

The Weapon of Prayer 

Modern Examples of Prayer

Though we wouldn’t consider any of the men mentioned in this book modern, I guess, considering they were not from the time of Jesus, they are still modern examples, and we can glean much from them.

There were many examples of praying men in this chapter, but the one who stood out to me the most was William Carvosso, who lived until 1834. His prayers were full of spirit and life, leading to his being filled with the Holy Spirit to the point of becoming undone. This man was a Methodist preacher, not a holy roller, and God showed up when he was praying. Such an encounter is something we all long for, and I hope someday we will be describing our own out-of-body experience in a similar meeting with God. Here is the thing, though, which is a lesson for all of us: we have to be away from people, alone in our prayers to God, because such an encounter is unlikely if you don’t spend time alone with Him. What he describes is something that happened to him when he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Most of us won’t have such an encounter, but God was calling him out as one of His own; this wasn’t the only time he encountered an overflowing and infilling of the Holy Spirit. Here he describes his conversion:

“Man years before I was sealed by the Spirit in a somewhat similar manner. While walking out one day, I was drawn to turn aside on the public road, and under the canopy of the skies, I was moved to kneel down to pray. I had not long been praying with God before I was so visited from Him that I was overpowered by the divine glory, and I shouted till I could be heard at a distance. It was a weight of glory that I seemed incapable of bearing in the body, and therefore I cried out, perhaps unwisely, Lord, stay Thy hand. In this glorious baptism these words came to my heart with indescribable power: ‘I have sealed thee unto the day of redemption.’ 

August 1, 2026

The Weapon of Prayer 

The Preacher's Cry -- Pray for Us! 

Part of our commitment as Christians is praying not only for ourselves and our families, but also for our preacher and those spreading the gospel of Jesus. Much like Aaron and Hur holding up the arms of Moses during the war with Amalek, we need to stand with our pastor and hold him up with our prayers as he faces the daily challenges of the enemy who comes after him hard, trying to impede the word of the gospel from being preached. What if God holds us responsible for the problems our pastor faces merely for not holding him up in prayer? 

Many people are compelled to ask, “What is God’s purpose for me?” Until you figure that out, your purpose is to stay fervent in prayer for those involved in the ministry of the gospel. However, praying doesn’t end, and it’s something you can do even if all of your abilities are diminished; as long as your mind is still strong, you can pray. You don’t have to use fancy words, and sometimes there aren’t even words to express our heart, but seeking God and crying to Him without utterance of intelligible words is still prayer. Sometimes it feels we aren’t making a difference; however, when our prayers are met with the prayers of others, the impact is stronger in the spiritual realm. The more people that pray, the stronger the fight against the realm of darkness.

“That the true apostolic preacher must have the prayers of others-good people to give to his ministry its full quota of success, Paul is a preeminent example. He asks, he covets, he pleads in an impassionate way for the help of all God’s saints, He knew that in the spiritual realm as elsewhere, in union there is strength; that the consecration and aggregation of faith, desire, and prayer increased the volume of spiritual force until it became overwhelming and irresistible in its power. Units of prayer combined, like drops of water, make an ocean that defies resistance”—E. M. Bounds.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; Romans 15:30

July 31, 2026

The Weapon of Prayer 

Prayer-Equipment for Preachers

When you read the heading of this chapter, you get the impression that it is only for preachers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Two very important things came from this chapter that got to my heart: 

1. Not praying tells God you do not need Him! “Not to pray is not only to declare there is nothing needed, but to admit to a non-realization of that need. This is what aggravates the sin of prayerlessness. It represents an attempt at instituting an independence of God, a self-sufficient ruling of God out of the life. It is a declaration made to God that we do not need Him, and hence do not pray to Him.” E.M. Bounds
2. If you don’t pray for your preacher, you become a stumbling block to his message reaching the heart of the unsaved. “Non-praying officials stood in the way of the Word preached, and became veritable stumbling blocks in the way of the Word, definitely preventing its reaching the hearts of the unsaved.” E.M. Bounds 

The Holy Spirit and prayers of the people are what equip your preacher. If a preacher is not prayerful and anointed by the Holy Spirit, he binds himself and his message will fall flat. However, if the people in the pews aren’t praying for the message, then they become part of the reason his message has no life. If you are sitting in church and think being there is all about you, then you misunderstand your power and need to confess. Even though you are in training, we all are; others are sitting in the same congregation who need the Savior, and not praying for the anointing on your preacher makes you part of the problem rather than part of the solution for the truth being delivered. 

If you feel like this message is harsh, remember: Jesus didn’t hold back or handle people delicately; he gave them the truth whether it hurt their feelings or not.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 Thessalonians 3:1

July 30, 2026

The Weapon of Prayer 

Prayerlessness in the Pulpit 

"Talking to men for God may be a great thing, and may be very commendable. But talking to God for men is far more valuable and commendable." E.M. Bounds

Most of us don't have a pulpit to spread the word of God, but one thing you can be sure of is that a preacher who prays will have an anointing on his sermon. It took my husband and me nearly 25 years to find a church that we fit in; we finally found our family and are happily settled there. At the time, we didn't know what we were looking for, but after nearly four years there, we've figured it out: they pray. The church is open for prayer every Wednesday. People come and share their thankfulness and then unburden themselves by asking for help praying for their needs. When Sunday service rolls around, and people's hearts have been offering prayers all week for their fellow believers, they are tender and ready to receive a good word from the pulpit. It doesn't stop there; our pastor will share the most needful prayers with the congregation so we can continue reaching out to God on their behalf. 

Our church went through a rough time for several months, and if we hadn't been a praying church, the people may have fallen away as many did. When the enemy comes in, the sheep scatter, except for the ones protected by the enclosure. The people remaining are those whose hearts are truly bent towards Jesus. It wasn't the preaching that scattered the sheep; it was an enemy within, sent to cause discourse and division. However, the weak were culled, and now our congregation is stronger than ever and adding to our numbers weakly; it's like the enemy was never there. That's how God separates the wheat from the tares and those who pray from those who don't. What's left is the cream of the crop!

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3

If you haven't found your church and are looking, consider attending one that prays; you won't be sorry. If you happen to live in the Tampa area, you might consider attending my church; it feels like home. I'll leave a link in the comments to our YouTube channel so you can watch a few sermons. 

If you are a weirdo stalker, just know that my husband and I, and many of our parishioners, are not only dressed in the armor of God, but also with physical armament.

Click on the live tab to watch previous sermons.

https://youtube.com/@brandonbaptisttabernacle?si=jpQdiqaEgEyZygvU