Books
Jesus Didn’t Need a Pulpit
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Did you ever stop to think about how Jesus never had to have a pulpit in order to preach or teach? He preached from a boat (Mark 4:38), on a hillside (Matthew 5:1), in the plain (Luke 6:17), or wherever he went. This makes me think that maybe we put too much pomp and circumstance into the preaching and teaching. Maybe it’s time we get back to the basics and get down in the crowd with the people to speak with the people not to them.
I have heard a lot of men lately state that God has called them to preach. That is awesome and I thank God for calling more to preach. I pray that they all remember that a preacher is just a teacher and they should make sure they fellowship with all the people. Don’t worry about a pulpit to stand behind. Get out into the world and teach the people like Jesus did. Then, you will really be following in Jesus’ footsteps.
Victory Over Death, Hell, and the Grave – He is Alive!
by Linda S. Pearson
Many religions worship saviors, but Christians are the only followers that have a Savior that is alive! His name is Jesus and when the disciples went to his tomb on that first Easter morning, they found it empty. Why? Because while his dead body (he died for all of the sins of all people) – an empty shell – lay in that tomb, Jesus Christ traveled to the very depths of hell. He had to experience everything that mankind experiences so that we could all accept and receive his death on the cross as payment for all of our sins.
While in hell, he walked up to Satan and, with the devil humbled, that old serpent crawled up to Jesus and handed over the keys of death and hell. Jesus turned and walked away.
Returning to his empty shell (his body), he put it on one more time. The stone rolled away and Jesus prepared to meet with his disciples and many witnesses once again. There were approximately 515 witnesses that saw Jesus once he was resurrected.
After He gave them their last instructions, the Father called his Son home. A few witnesses saw him ascend into heaven. The angels gave the promise that he will return again. This time he comes to take his rightful place as King of all (not just the Jews).
Are you ready for his return? If not, accept him today!
The Healing River
Linda Sedrick Pearson
Ezekiel 47:9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
When I look at this verse in Ezekiel it makes me understand better why Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” Look at this verse in Ezekiel. It says that there will be a great multitude of fish because of the waters and they shall be healed. I think God was talking about the healing of people through the Living Water – Jesus Christ. Revelations 21:6 states, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” In John 4:14 Jesus said, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Finally, in Revelations 22:17 he says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
The more I study about the river, especially a healing river, the more it points me to Jesus Christ. After all, when you come to the Living River (Jesus), you shall live! How great is that?
Thank you God for the Living Water and for the River that heals all our sins and sicknesses. Amen
Thou Shalt Be Called Sought Out
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Isaiah 62:11-12 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
I don’t know about you, but for me to read that the Lord is calling me, ‘Sought out,’ it is amazing. It makes my heart jump for joy. Imagine the Lord God sitting in his heaven on his beautiful throne and seeking the earth for us! To know that someone loves me enough to search for me is the most wonderful love I can ever hope for. God himself – the Lord God Almighty – has sought me out. What else could I want but that? There is nothing else.
Not only am I sought out, but I am a city not forsaken. God has not forsaken me. No matter how alone I ever feel, I can remember these words and know that I am not alone. I am not forsaken. My God loves me and is with me. He has not forsaken me. He seeks me out and does not give up until he finds me!
How do you feel knowing that God seeks you out? Does it make you feel wanted? It does me. I hope you can find peace in these words as I have. You see, it doesn’t matter who rejects you and casts you aside. The Lord God Almighty has not thrown you away. No matter what, he wants you. He loves you enough to search for you. He has sought you out. He calls you a city not forsaken. He wants you! He loves you! Jesus Christ gave his life for you. What else can you want but that?
If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, what are you waiting on? Our reward is in him. He calls us ‘the holy people.’ Join us in the family of God. God is looking for you and waiting for you. All you have to do is call out his name. Ask him to forgive you of all of your sins. Accept and receive his love, peace, and joy. Let him call you, ‘a city not forsaken.’
Don’t Curse the Deaf or Put a Stumblingblock Before the Blind
By Linda Sedrick Pearson
I was reading through some of the Levitical laws today and found and interesting verse I had not noticed before. The verse is Leviticus 19:14. It reads:
“Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shall fear thy God: I am the LORD.”
Thinking about what this verse says, I wondered about these things. Take for instance the part that says, “Thou shalt not curse the deaf.” Now, if a person is deaf, she would not be able to hear any curses said against her. What does it matter if you curse that person? It matters because this is one of God’s creations. It makes no difference whether the person hears you speak matters against him or not. God hears it. It’s not about doing things against someone that cannot hear you. It is about the speaker and God. The one speaking the cursing is really uttering cursing upon herself. God hears it and is displeased. This makes me think that this part of this verse could go along with the verse about backbiting (2 Corinthians 12:20).
When you are backbiting you are uttering things against a person that cannot hear you. You are talking to others about a person and behind the subject’s back. Is that any different than cursing someone who is deaf? No, it is the same thing. You are hurting your own soul when you backbite or curse the deaf (Romans 1:28-32).
Now, back to Leviticus 19:14. It also says we are not supposed to put a stumblingblock before the blind. Imagine that you cannot see. Think about your daily living conditions, how everything is arranged in your home. Close your eyes and walk through a room where you know the exact placement of all the objects in that room. Next, you are going to do this a second time only this time someone is going to place an object in your path. It will cause you to stumble over it. You may even fall down to the floor. You are blessed because you have a choice to open your eyes and see or keep your eyes closed and stumble.
We can associate “nor put a stumblingblock before the blind” with a spiritual blindness. People that are spiritually blind are those who have never accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. We are not to put a stumblingblock in front of those who are spiritually blind either. These types of stumblingblocks are lying, gossiping, backbiting, cheating, or anything else that is against God. Sometimes as Christians we stretch our freedoms too far by thinking we don’t have to obey speed limit laws, or maybe we think we can cheat on our taxes. These are not showing a Christlike nature to those who are spiritually blind. These things become stumblingblocks to the unsaved people.
When the unsaved see Christians committing un-Godlike behavior, they wonder why they should accept Jesus Christ as Savior because we Christians are doing the same things they are doing. Where is the difference? Can people see a difference in you? How are your ethics and integrity? Double check yourself to see if there is anything that can be a stumblingblock to the blind (spiritually or physically).
Fight the Accuser
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
There is an accuser who points his bony fingers at the children of God. Day and night he stalks the earth (Job 1:6-7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), tempting and tormenting those who are not prepared for battle. He is our enemy. The accuser is Satan and he hates God’s children. He wants to destroy us.
He lies about us and tells us lies to get us to turn our backs on God. It is up to us to be prepared for these tactics of the devil. He hinders us with deceit (1 Thessalonians 2:18) and causes division and contrary beliefs. These beliefs are contrary to God and God’s words.
He weakens our nations through the sin of pride – prideful men stand and proclaim “I will do things my way!” Our widows and orphans go without help while others get lost in addictions. These are people searching for a better way who have never found Jesus Christ.
Take heart, children of God. We do have defenses against these tactics of the devil. Against the accusing and stalking tormentor we only need to be aware that he is seeking us out to destroy us. If we are aware of these tactics, then we can prepare before he catches us. Close any doors of weakness. If you have played around with occult objects or read books on witchcraft out of curiousity or maybe with an intent to try them out, ask God’s forgiveness. Burn any objects you have in your possession that promotes these things. Don’t pass them on to others. Burn them, destroy them. This is the only way to close these doors of weakness. Slam the doors in the face of Satan.
Another way to defend yourself against the accuser is to stand up to him in the authority and power of Jesus Christ. If you are a child of God, meaning you have accepted Jesus Christ as payment for all of your sin, you do have the authority and power of Jesus Christ and can stand up to the accuser. Cast out any demonic or bad spirit that may have attached to you through touching things that are not Godly. Rebuke Satan in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask God to show you the truth. Ask Him to open your spiritual eyes so you can see the real truth that is lurking in the darkness.
Resist the devil with your faith in God. Stand strong in your faith. Pray for our government officials and for the healing of our nation. Realize that Satan has no real power unless we give it to him. We give him power when we dabble in things that are not Godly. The truth is one of the biggest defenses against the devil and his lies.
Stand strong, Christian. Stand up and fight the accuser. Do not back down and do not give in. Whatever you do, do not run away. Stand up in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came in the flesh. Stand and fight!
In God’s Eye Sight
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
2 Samuel 22:25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
I am measured not by man, but by God. What man counts as unrighteous, God counts as righteousness (John 7:18). My cleanness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) according to man’s standards and measuring stick. Not so according to God’s eye sight.
People expect us to do things the way they expect us to do them. It is when we step out as individuals that others begin to get upset with us. God likes individuality. In fact, He created us that way. Be an individual. Be the way God created you and stop trying to please people. As long as you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, accepted that He paid all of your sin debt, you are righteous. You can stand up and say, “According to my cleanness in His (God’s) eye sight.”
It is God who is the judge and His judgment that matters. Who cares what others think of you? There is nothing they can do to you or for you that begins to compare with what God has for you – he recompenses you with His rewards. This is a great relief to my mind, soul, and spirit. That takes the pressures of the world off my shoulders. It is much easier to please one than tens, hundreds, or thousands.
Thank you, God, for Your eye sight!
Lost Soul – Importance of Discipleship
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
There is a battle for lost souls and nothing shows that better than the parable of the sower in Mark 4. In this study we will take a journey as a lost soul who comes to salvation through the stages of the sower’s parable. Through this journey, hopefully you will see the importance of discipleship.
Stage 1 – Mark 4:3-4
“Listen! A farmer went out to sow seed. While he was scattering the seed, some of it fell by the road. The birds came and ate all that seed.”
This is before salvation and before the soul is ready to listen to the word of God. The seeds are the Words of God. The sower is anyone who is a Christian that witnesses to others. Before a person is ready and willing to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, the seeds (Words of God) fall by the wayside (an unaccepting soul). The fowls of the air that devour the seeds are pieces of everyday living – things of life that get in the way of the seed taking hold within the lost soul. This is that stage that everyone is at one time or another. These are people (lost souls) that have never accepted and do not want to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
Stage 2 – Mark 4:5-6
“Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was not enough dirt. It grew quickly there because the soil was not deep. But then the sun rose and the plants were burned. They died because they did not have deep roots.”
In this stage the Word of God falls on rocky ground (a hardened heart) but it does grow a little. The lost soul has realized there has to be more than worldly things. The soul has started to search and found some words that comforted her. The soil (background of Christian learning) is not deep. There is nothing for the lost soul to draw from to nourish the Word that started to grow. The seeds die within her because she has nothing to help the seeds grow. She does not know how. She doesn’t know enough to keep it from dying within herself.
Stage 3 – Mark 4:7
“Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. The weeds grew and stopped the good plants from growing. So they did not make grain. “
Here the lost soul tries hard to hold onto the Word of God, but the thorny weeds (family and friends living a lost life and cares of this world) do not support her. Instead, they grab hold of the seeds that have started to grow and pull it up by the root. Since there is not enough knowledge to keep this from happening, the lost soul fails again. At this point, the devil has realized he is losing ground with this lost soul and may soon lose her if he doesn’t join in this battle. He plants his evil thoughts in her mind and since she does not know how to defend herself, she loses the battle. She flounders until every good Word that was planted within her is choked out. She begins to lose hope that she can ever be saved. After all, she is unworthy (a lie of Satan).
Stage 4 – Mark 4:8
“But some of the seed fell on good ground. There it began to grow, and it made grain. Some plants made 30 times more grain, some 60 times more, and some 100 times more.”
The lost soul comes to the final stage of this journey. She has gathered up enough strength and hope to try one more time. This time the Word of God takes root, a foundation is laid, and fruit begins to appear. She is determined to not give up this time. She jumps in and starts reading her Bible. She attends church and Bible studies. She grabs onto a mature Christian who takes her under her wing and she nourishes her and teaches her. She disciples her like Paul did with Timothy and many others. The lost soul is no longer lost! She is the found sheep. She learns and grows and produces fruit (begins to witness and lead others to Jesus).
This parable shows us how important it is that we disciple others. Maybe if someone had discipled her at the first stage, she would not have gone through so much to finally get to salvation. Reach out, mentor someone. Help them learn. Spend time with others who are new to the Christian life. Teach them, lead them, and guide them. It is rewarding to do this. Try it and see for yourself. As you lead and teach others, you end up also teaching yourself and growing more in your faith and love for Jesus.
Christians – What are you watching?
By Linda Sedrick Pearson
As Christians we have to guard our minds and spirits against the evil influences of our world. Well, there are a set of movies in the world that Christians are flocking to see by hoards. These movies are tricking Christians and obtaining an evil foothold within them. A spirit of antichrist has dragged Christians into a trap because they did not have their spiritual eyes and ears open to the truth.
These movies I am talking about have tricked people by using the concept of a great love story. Christians that have watched these movies see nothing but this love story because of the blinding of their spiritual eyes. If these Christians would take a look at what is really happening in these movies, they may awaken and see the truth – these are pure evil and wickedness. It parades this love story in front of the viewers and while the mind is concentrating on that aspect, the evilness grabs the subconscious mind and plants thoughts and actions that are against all Godly principles and teachings.
Think about it. In these movies, these are dead people walking around as if they are alive while they all live in darkness. They suck the life’s blood out of anyone that crosses their paths so they can stay alive. Notice how it uses the blood to keep them alive. Jesus Christ came in the flesh and shed his blood on the cross for our sins to keep us out of this darkness and wickedness. Now, these movies promote darkness and blood sucking as well as sexual sins and perversions.
Christians, can you see how this is trying to copy God’s principles and turn them around to be evil? Satan has tricked you, that old devil, the accuser and deceiver! Did you ever consider the fact that these creatures in these movies cannot even stand to look into daylight much less stand out in it? This tells us that this is of darkness and is evil. Evil cannot stand light. They must live in darkness forever!
God has something to say about living in darkness. Matthew 6:23 says, “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. Therefore if the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is thy darkness.” Christian, did you hear that? Think about those evil movies you watch and the things you purchase that are associated with these evils (posters, stickers, jewelry, and clothing). Whenever you have anything to do with these things, you are taking part of the evil associated with them. You are spending your money and promoting the evil and wickedness of what they are teaching.
Think about how these creatures overtake those they want to kill so they can live. How do they do that? Through the eyes. They penetrate the mind through the eyes. Are the eyes evil as it says in Matthew 6:23? Yes! What happens next? The whole body becomes full of darkness and it extinguishes any piece of light in the body. Isn’t that what God said would happen in that verse?
1 John 4:1-4 tells us not to believe every spirit, but instead to test the spirits. Look up those verses. It tells you how to test the spirits. Run that test over those movies you are watching and all of those items you bought associated with them. See what you learn – or what God will teach you.
You were tricked by being drawn in by a “love story.” It is not a love story. It is a story about evil, wickedness, sexual sin, darkness, killing, and people who are dead and living in darkness. If you are a Christian, meaning you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, you were no longer in darkness. You had been rescued out of that. So why are you trying to go back to where Jesus brought you out?
Christians, stop doing these things. Stop soothing your conscious by saying, “I know it’s not real, it’s just a story, it’s entertainment, it’s just a love story.” Those excuses will no longer be accepted by God now that I have told you the truth. Ecclesiastes 2:14 presents us with a wise scripture, “The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness and I myself perceived also that one event happened to them all.”
All must face judgment. You have no more excuses for doing these things. How do you want to face God’s judgment? You choose. I have told you the truth here today. Accept it or reject it. It’s on your head now!
Don’t Blame God
If you got yourself into a relationship and that relationship turned bad – don’t blame God. People are free to make choices. God made us that way. It was 1) your choice to get into that relationship or situation and 2) the other person’s choice to get into that relationship or situation. Whatever went bad with that is on the two of you – not on God.
If you became a drug addict, alcoholic, or abuser of others – that was your choice. Stop blaming God for your mistakes and errors of life.
God is standing by waiting to heal you, love you, comfort you, lead and teach you. It is your fault if you continue to turn your back on God. Don’t blame God.
Whenever you die (or if Jesus comes back for us before that time), if you have not accepted and received that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, came in the flesh, died on the cross to pay for all the sins of everyone, and now sits on the right hand of the Father in heaven – if you do not accept these facts and receive Jesus into your heart and life, don’t blame me and don’t blame God. I am free from being blamed because I have told you the truth. I just gave you the answer to your problems.
God sent me through this writing to tell you that His Son Jesus Christ is an option for you. You can escape eternal hell and torment. God is free from blame if you reject and refuse to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
It is your choice! If you get left out of heaven and the peace, mercy, and love of God – don’t blame God. Choose now!
