WHY I DECIDED TO DENOUNCE MY MEMBERSHIP IN ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.

As I look back on my life, I can see clearly how God has guided and protected me DESPITE my walking in disobedience for so many years.  Any person who is truly looking for that 'NARROW' road that FEW find can understand part of my journey and this fundamental absolute Truth:  "There is nothing more important, or worth all your time, all your money, all your talents/resources, all your attention, all of your energies than the Glorification of Jesus Christ!" Trip Lee-2016 Cross 2016.
Many people mistakenly believe that once you decide to become a Christian, that 'instantly' your life is changed and everything will be good, that your life will be prosperous, you can get rich, and have no problems (this is unfortunately taught by many false prophets/preachers today). This is partly true. Yes, when we make the conscious, willful decision to follow Christ we are a "new creation" as stated in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 verse 17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." But this verse has to be correctly understood within its context.

Now I don't want to spend too much time on the concept of sanctification, which is a very lengthy topic, but just want to establish the foundation of this post. Sanctification in simple terms means being made into the image of Christ; it's a life long process. As we walk in the light, it's like changing clothes; at first we take off our shoes-we change some friends we used to hang with; then we take off our old socks-we stop watching some TV shows we used to enjoy; we take off our shirt-we start reading the bible more and more...this process is normal for all believers, but each believer goes through the process differently.  Some people are still wearing those old dirty underwear-our old sins- because they are comfortable, they are habits, some are addictions. As a Christian, we are to willfully allow God to do His perfect work in us, Jesus prayed to His Father for us, "Sanctify them by Your Truth, You word is Truth." John 17:17.

God will not force us to change; He gives everyone free will to follow Him completely. We don't understand, we deceive ourselves believing that we can compromise, divide our hearts between God and our selfish interests and still call ourselves "Christian".

It is with this verse that my willful membership in the Black Greek Letter Organization- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) came into question.  Again, becoming a Christian is not "instant holiness", it's a process. Since being baptized into the kingdom of God, He has been working on me, I started the process of letting the works of Satan go and putting on the works of righteousness, but that does not mean I have not continued to sin at times. I have read the bible completely numerous times, but one aspect that true believers understand and experience is that the Bible is alive, it's not just ink and paper, it is the living/breathing/active presence of the Most Holy God. Many Christians can testify to the point that they can read and re-read the same passage and get a different application/different understanding from it without changing its true meaning, but there is a serious problem in the body today: the misinterpretation of scripture.  God's word is not incorrect, it is perfect, it's our own twisted, misinterpretations of His word that are incorrect. It is true that anyone can make the scriptures say what they want it to say, that is how we have all these thousands of different denominations, sects, and many other religions. "Well I think that baptism means just sprinkling water on a person's head" "Jesus never preached against homosexuality, so it must be okay with God" "Jesus was Satan's brother"  "God hardens men's hearts so He can't blame me for sinning" "If I work really hard, God has to accept me".  "There is no good or evil man is in charge of their own destiny." "I can live any way I want, the grace of God covers me." These are a few examples of some the heretical beliefs many people hold.

Many will and have questioned why I decided to renounce my membership in AKA. "What's wrong with being in a sorority? They do community service, they have sisterhood." or "Why can't you be an AKA (or other Greek/Mason) and a Christian?"  For many years, 22 years to be exact, I rationalized why I stayed an active member with these very rationalizations, "What's wrong with being in a sorority, they do so many 'good' activities in the community;  I have 'sisters' all over the world."  Like many, I enjoyed the special status; when you wear the 'pink and green' jacket with the superiority with the secret meetings, selective criteria. For years, I spent nonredeemable amounts of time, money, talents to support and promote the ideals of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. On the outside it looks like being an AKA is part of the good life, it's all glitter and gold, that is the facade they want you to believe.
symbols "AKA", people instantly know and identify you as being a member of this particular sorority.  They don't see you or God, they see only the sorority and what the sorority represents. I had the pride of being a part of a selective group of women with supposed high standards. They promote the feelings of superiority with the secret meetings, selective criteria. For years, I spent nonredeemable amounts of time, money, talents to support and promote the ideals of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.  On the outside it looks like being an AKA is part of the good life, it's all glitter and gold, that is the facade they want you to believe.

"It's about service to all mankind", they even throw in "Jesus" in some of their rituals and prayers. To a Christian being deceived, it's like novocaine, "They talk about Christ so it must be a Christian organization".  But what does the Bible say?  Jesus said that you will know His TRUE followers by their fruits.  Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Matthew 7:16-18. What is so sad today is how many compromise the gospel, blatant clear commandments ignored, twisted to support every kind of immoral lifestyle. Many believe they can follow God and still engage in wicked activities. I have seen these posts on social media/the internet: "Open, practicing Gay Pastor" "Christian Lesbian" "Christian Witch"  "Christian Muslim-Hindu-Buddhist"; Single's ministries are used to hook up and commit fornication then are in church every Wednesday and Sunday 'praising' God. Many think there are many ways to God, everyone's belief is correct, that is okay to combine Christian concepts with Satanic concepts and that is okay with God. What is CRYSTAL CLEAR is that God does NOT support any compromise or combining His word with works of darkness. We get a clear picture of what God thinks about alternative worship activities in Leviticus Chapter 10 verses 1-2, "Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them, and they died before the LORD."  Nadab and Abihu tried to approach God in the way they thought was OKAY but their wrong belief cost them their very lives. There is a way that seems right to man but it only leads to death. The truth is so clear if a person is willing to see it. A verse that should 'terrify' those who say they are Christians, is given by Jesus:

 Jesus warns us that not everyone who calls them self a Christian is going to get into heaven; and the even scarier part is it some of the 'working' ones Jesus says He "never knew them"! So a very serious question must be asked when we are doing things that we 'think' are truly for God. Yes, sororities and fraternities do a lot of community service but that does NOT mean they are godly. Jesus says that even evil people love other people and do 'good' works too. That means that evil people take care of their family, give money, donate their time, volunteer, etc.

Now I am not saying that every member of these organizations is evil, only God knows the true standing of individuals; but, I am proclaiming that the umbrella organizations-the sororities/fraternity entities are works of Satan. Satan loves to deceive people into believing that God is okay with compromising His Word. Satan loves to get us performing his works of darkness thinking we are doing them for God. Jesus saved His most condemning statements for the religious folks in His day. The Pharisees thought that all the money and time and sacrifices they made put them in right standing before God, but Jesus revealed the truth about those 'pretenders' those 'hypocrites' in the whole book of Matthew Chapter 23. A summation of this entire chapter is: the Pharisees on the outside 'appeared' to very 'godly' doing many different activities but inside they were "blind guides" "hypocrites" "fools" "ravenous wolves" "whitewashed tombs 'which appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness."

ON THE OUTSIDE THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL BUT ON THE INSIDE THEY ARE FULL OF DEAD MEN'S BONES

They appear beautiful on the outside; This is the epitome of an AKA. The chants proclaim this false belief:

Many "Christians" today are ignorant of God's Word. The words we speak have power. We will have to give an account for EVERY idle word we have said. Life and death are in the tongue.  These are not just simple sayings, they are profound truths! When we take oaths and make chants we are speaking either life or death into the spirit world. And Christians are not to make any oaths at all, just let our Yes be Yes or our No be No because EVERYTHING ELSE IS FROM THE DEVIL (Matthew 5:37).

I'm not here to air dirty laundry, but what I can say is this, people on the outside do not know what is really going on in the inside of these sororities/fraternities. Some of the heinous acts are known to the public like the illegal/underground hazing/partying/drinking, but there are many other kinds of wickedness evident throughout the divine 9 and other secret society organizations.

Jesus says, "Come to me ALL who are weary and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28;  The sororities and fraternities call only those who are worthy-on the surface-they claim they invite those of high ethical/moral/scholastic standards, behind the scenes you have to look a certain way, dress a certain way, and have lots of money. They are very selective and once you sign on the dotted line, THERE IS NO REST; if you are an active member of one of these Greek organizations-first, in order for you to be real you must agree to be subjected to an underground illegal and ungodly hazing/pledge process. On the surface-all fraternities/sororities have anti-hazing laws, but behind the cold doors, hazing is still actively done throughout most of these Greek organizations. The activities women and men will do to join one of these programs is mind-boggling; so many deaths, injuries to pledges have been reported, but many self-professed Christians can't be bothered to do anything for God's kingdom.  Jesus Christ took our stripes upon His Own body for our sins so we would not have to.  But countless men and women willingly allow themselves to be physically beaten, bodies branded with heated objects, humiliated, shamed, engage in unsafe sex , eat/drink alcohol or water or other strange/bizarre types of food/no food like feces/urine in excess to point of bodily harm-all to join their particular Greek frat/sorority. Once you cross you will spend thousands of dollars in assessments/conferences/events/paraphernalia; you will spend countless hours in meetings, volunteering; if you hold an officer position it is almost like having a second full-time job.


God has been working on me for the past few years, I had been letting some things go, but I was still holding onto AKA but I was not fully connected to AKA, I felt like an outsider.  The closer I got to God, really reading and studying His Word, my eyes started to be open about my involvement in this sorority. It is very chilling to learn how easily we can deceive ourselves. For years I blindly served AKA when I should have been severing God. Yes, we serve God by serving other people but the key difference is the work I did for AKA promoted AKA, not God. Jesus tells us what the greatest commandment is in Mark 12 verse 30.

And you shall love the LORD your God with all of your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 

This verse is crystal clear, we are to love God with ALL /TOTAL/COMPLETE/100% of our heart. I knew this Scripture but was not really applying in my life. How could I say I love God with all of my heart and then turn around and proclaim that I love AKA with all my heart, mind, strength? God does not share. He wants us all or nothing. Jesus says this plainly in Revelations Chapter 4 verse 15-17, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot, I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth." and He tells the truth about being 'rich and having no need of anything, "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing-and do you not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." and believers are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers; and idol worship is a sin. What does it mean to be 'conceited'? It's all about Me, Myself, and I; The idol of my worship was myself and AKA.  As a Christian,  I am to 'deny' myself and seek the kingdom of God above all else. When people see me, I don't want them to see AKA or me, I want them to see Christ, Glorify God.

I started to search for others who have made this same decision and it has further opened my eyes to the truth that I needed to leave AKA. I learned of the Satanic origins of the sororities/fraternities.   Once my eyes were opened, I could not close them. To stay in AKA with what I KNOW now, would be like Lot's wife looking back toward Sodom and being turned into salt. The Holy Spirit led me to this final verse that describes this thought:

FOR WHEN THEY SPEAK GREAT SWELLING WORDS OF EMPTINESS, THEY ALLURE THROUGH THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH, THOUGH LEWDNESS, THE ONE WHO HAVE ESCAPED FROM THOSE WHO LIVE IN ERROR. WHILE THEY PROMISED THEM LIBERTY, THEY THEMSELVES ARE SLAVES OF CORRUPTION; FOR BY WHOM A PERSON IS OVERCOME, BY HIM ALSO HE IS BROUGHT INTO BONDAGE. FOR IF THEY HAVE ESCAPED THE POLLUTION'S OF THE WORLD THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, THEY ARE AGAIN ENTANGLED IN THEM AND OVERCOME, THE LATTER END IS WORSE FOR THEM THAN THE BEGINNING. FOR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE KNOW IT, TO TURN FROM THE HOLY COMMANDMENT DELIVERED TO THEM. BUT IT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM ACCORDING TO THE TRUE PROVERB: "A DOG RETURNS TO HIS OWN VOMIT' AND "A SOW, HAVING WASHED, TO HER WALLOWING IN THE MUD." 2 PETER 2:18-22 

The actions of many today show these seven sad truths are crystal 'clear' :
A. They don't read the word of God- "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6.
B. They don't believe the word of God-  "Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" Isaiah 53:1
C. They don't understand the word of God or misinterpret the word of God- Jesus answered and said to them," You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God." Matthew 22:29
D.  They don't care about the word of God- "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Matthew 3:19;
E. They twist the word of God to support their wicked lifestyle- "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be be turned aside to fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
F. They don't believe that God cares about what they do or say because "He is a forgiving 'god'.- "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Revelation 21:8
G. They believe that everyone gets to heaven no matter what they believe or do- "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13

Once I made the decision to denounce my membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc, not half way but completely-I mailed back their pin with a letter of decision to leave the sorority; and gave away/threw away all of my AKA paraphernalia; this post was my final step in proclaiming to the world, WHO I serve this day, it The Great I am, the One and only True God, Jesus Christ My Lord and Savior; this opened up new doors that I had no idea what God had in store for me.  I will talk about this on my next post about "What are you doing to block God's blessings for your life". I have come to this decision with a clear conscience and a pure heart. I tell my testimony to help those who are seeking truth. The truth can be found if you are willing to look for it and the truth will set you free.

**Update 3/23/2018-  I have received my official letter from the sorority that I am no longer identified as an AKA, HALLELUJAH! Do I regret my decision, ABSOLUTELY NOT! There is no question or doubt in my mind of the truth about this and other secret societies. God has honored my faithfulness by opening doors I would never have imagined. No one can serve two masters, you are either serving God or the devil. The devil deceives so many when the truth is readily available for all who have the courage and faith to believe and receive it.

**Update 8/23/2018- God is still confirming that He is calling His people out of these Greek/masonic wicked organizations,  He led me to become a member of a ministry called "Out From Among Them" which is comprised of brothers and sisters in Christ who have renounced their membership in the various organizations.  God is opening doors for this message to get out to the people.  We had our first "Truth Tour" July 28th 2018, 
we have been invited to other churches around the US to bring this message to their cities as well.  Men and women who find our blogs/messages are deciding to denounce, some are considering what God is telling them. 

If you are a member or considering being a member of a Greek or Masonic or any other organization that is questionable click on this link for more information and guidance to get out or encouragement to not get in:   

https://www.outfromamongthem.com/ 
whyIdenouncedAKAtherituals
whyIdenouncedAKAthepledge
IdolatryinBlackGreekFraternitieandSororities

Other Sister's In Christ's own Testimonies of Renouncing AKA:

Denouncing AKA Denouncing Greek Life
WhyIDenouncedAKA
WhyIDenouncedAlphaKappaAlpha
SeriesontheidolatryofmembershipinAKA

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to pour out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth.  The Good News is Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, born of a virgin; Jesus lived and died but He rose from Dead and now offers anyone who will believe in Him Salvation.  Salvation is a free gift from God, anyone who will believe will know and have a real relationship with the true God.  You can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ and  Believing in Jesus gets us into the Kingdom of God and saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessings from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.

1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.

2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.

3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God

4. Find a local Bible-preaching, not twisting or adding/deleting from the Word of God, a church that does not pacify sin, a church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ and preaches about the kingdom of God.

This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post:  John 17:16-17; Philippians 2:13; Hosea 4:6; Exodus 20:3;  Isaiah 53:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 22:29; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 7:15-20;  Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 4:29; John 8:7; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 3: 4-10; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Matthew 11:28; Revelations 4:15-17; Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 12:36; Mark 12:30; Revelation 21:8; Matthew 5:33-34; 2 Peter 18-22; Matthew 7:13; Leviticus Chapter 10 verses 1-2

References: Cross 2016-You Were Built to Brag-Trip Lee: https://youtu.be/PCvggFCzkKY ; https://newsone.com/1677445/hazing-deaths-rituals-colleges-famu/

God Did Not Bring You This Far To Leave You

God's mercies and compassions are new every morning.

Life is hard.  To those without a saving faith in Jesus Christ, there is one saying that sums up the total of their purpose on this earth, "Life sucks and then you die".  But the belief of the true Christian should be completely opposite of a hopeless life and then hopeless death. Jesus did not come to earth so that His followers could continue to live as if they have no hope.  Jesus came and died to give all His people life and not just a hum-drum, pessimistic, 'oh woo is me' kind of life; no Jesus came to give us an abundant,  joyful, peaceful, secure, and blessed kind of life. Now His idea of joy and a worldly view of joy is drastically different.  The world's joy is "eat, meet, and be merry", they get their joy from material things, from artificial and temporary things.  The problem with worldly things is they don't last.  You eat that delicious meal with all the fixings, but as it goes down into the digestive track it turns into dirty nasty refuse; that double meat cheese burger with all the extra fixings with a side of extra large chili fries and a large chocolate milk shake, it all goes down well, but the going out of all that food is a different story. That is how sin is.  It's good going down, but what comes out is broken down feces.  Sorry to use such an illustration, but I want to bring home the sharp contrast of holiness versus worldliness. The temporary things are just that, temporary, they don't last, you eat one meal but you will have eat another, even if it was the best tasting most expensive meal, it still goes and comes out the same, regardless if you spent $5 dollars or $1000 a plate. That points to the absolute silliness of depending on worldly things knowing that at the end of day, they don't matter; when you die, it won't matter that you lived in a 50 bed room mansion and had 10 cars in the garage, or had millions of fans or that you were homeless with the sky for your ceiling and the dirt and a rock for your bed and pillow.  If your name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life, it does not matter whether you were rich or poor,  the life you spend on 'dining' and 'living' in the world's system will come out in the end to total destruction, your soul will be 'flushed' down the eternal 'toilet' of hell. 

Here is what survey takers say that a majority of people think about 'Christians' today: "Christians are bigots" "Christians are hypocrites" "Christians are self righteous"  "Christians are racists"  "Christians are out of touch with reality" "Christians are stupid"  "Why should I follow Christians, they can't even get along within themselves"
Numerous studies are done on human behavior, one study that really stood out to me was a study I heard about from a sermon on Bible School Radio, the pastor talked about this survey and it was pretty disheartening.  The study was on customer service in restaurants from the worker's point of view.  One of the questions asked of the waiters, 'what was the worst part of their job?', the common answer was the waiters hated Sundays, that the 'church' people were the worst customers, the most rude, and were the cheapest tippers.  What kind of sermon did these 'church' people listen to?  Where in the Bible does it say that God's people are to act this way?  Well the Bible does talk about 'unsaved' people who act like this:

• Brother against brother
• They lie and cheat
• They are thieves and murderers 
• They are fornicators and adulterers and homosexuals and sodomites
• They are covetous, jealous
• They are drunkards and revilers
• They are extortioners
• The are witches, and those who consort with all occult practices
• They are fearful and cowardly
• They are hateful, selfish, and prideful
• They think they are serving 'God' but they are really serving devils.

Jesus said that real Christians will be known by their love, not their hate.  Jesus also said that the world will hate and persecute His true followers.  

ALL WHO DESIRE TO LIVE GODLY, IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.

Why I am talking about being a real Christian?  Because it needs it needs to be crystal clear, the promises of God are for His people and His people alone. God says that if we will diligently obey His voice, to observe carefully all His commandments, He promises to bestow all of His blessings on those who will believe and obey. Now there are some differences between the old testament blessings under the Mosaic covenant and the New Covenant established in Jesus's blood, but the issue of receiving God's blessings are way greater than anything the world has to offer no matter if it's the old or new.  Some things did not change in the New Covenant, like, God will never leave us or forsake us;  that with God ANYTHING is possible; that with God we have NOTHING to fear.  "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear, What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6; that we are not to trust in ourselves but completely in the Lord- "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and trust not in your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 and Matthew 6:33. Christians can have 'the peace that passes all understanding' NOW, not in some future state.  The blessings of God are not for those who reject Him and His laws, period.  The wages of sin is death, that means if you are an unrepentant sinner, the work you do in the flesh-sin- what you get paid back with is death/curses, not life and blessings. "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous...but the way of the ungodly shall perish." Psalm 1: 4-6.   That is why it is so ridiculous to think that God will bless us when we are living contrary to His word. Now, we can't 'earn' our blessings from God, they are His gift to us, we have to have faith to take what He is giving us. We are to obey God's commands because we want to, not because we have to, and God's gives us the ability to obey as we should because it is impossible to live the holy and totally opposite way of the world without the help of the Holy Spirit. It is God who makes us complete "in every good work to do His will, working in us what is well pleasing in His sight, though Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever, Amen." Hebrews 13:21; 

So, if you have the Holy Spirit of God, we don't despair like the lost thinking, "life sucks and then we die". "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God"-Psalm 41:1, It is foolish to disbelieve. Christians have a better promise that we can depend and live on and base our very life on. Jesus tells us, instructs us, "we do not live on bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4.   "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance."Psalm 42:5.  Jesus promises His people that, "...I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" and "Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb" and "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain...HE WHO OVERCOMES SHALL INHERIT ALL THINGS AND I WILL BE HIS GOD AND HE SHALL BE MY SON." Revelation 19:6-9 & Revelation 21:4-7.

I will end with God's call to all those who will pick up their cross and follow His Son, Jesus Christ:

Mary Mary's Song "Can't Give Up Now"

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth.  The Good News  is Salvation is a free gift from God, you can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ. and  Believing in Jesus saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.
2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.
3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God
4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.
This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post: 1 Corinthians Chapter 6, Revelation 12:11,  Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy Chapter 28; Psalm 42:5; 2 Timothy 3:2-4; Romans 1:29; Psalm 14:1; Matthew 19:26; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 30:5; Philippians 4:12-13; 1 Corinthians 4:8-12; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 2 Corinthians 6:5-6; Job 13:15; Romans 8:38-39; Matthew 5:10; Psalm 118:8-9; Hebrews 13:5-6; Romans 6:23; Matthew 6:33 & Proverb 3:5; Psalm 1: 4-6;Hebrews 13:21; John 15:18; 2 Timothy 3:12; John 14:3; Revelation 19:6-9 & Revelation 21:4-7; Philippians 4:7
references: unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks of Christianity by David Kinnaman.;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/10/sundays-are-the-worst-christian-tipping_n_4934418.html

Get Out of The Boat

A rope 1,300 feet long, two inches in diameter and made entirely of hemp would be the sole thing separating him from the roiling waters below.

In 1858, at 35 years old, Charles Blondin became the first man to walk on a tight rope across Niagara Falls. He was fearless and performed many daring acts on a tight rope; one to include rolling a wheel barrow along a two inch wire suspended miles above the the river. The crowds would cheer, and some would bet on him falling to his death because Blondin did not use any kind of safety apparatus at all. When he brought up the wheelbarrow, he asked the crowd, "Do you think I can make it?"  Some in the crowd cheered for him, "Yes, we believe in you, you can do it!" They believed this because they had seen him perform other amazing acts on the tight rope. He crossed over the river on the tight rope with the wheelbarrow and the crowd roared, cheering loudly.  Then he asked, "Who will get in the wheelbarrow and cross the river with me?"  The sound from the crowd was silence.

In 2011, Nik Wallenda, a descendant of famous tight ropers, was approved to attempt the same feet as Blondin, except, Nik was going to do it with all kinds of safety nets in place, to include having a helicopter near by to help him, "Just in case".  Blondin had no such assurances, yet he bravely performed many acts on the tight rope.

There is another story of a daring act to defy nature. It happened one night thousands of years ago. It happened when 12 men were instructed to get on a boat and cross a sea to get to the other side.  Before this new instruction, they had witnessed many great miraculous feats, greater than a man walking on a tightrope.  The man walked on water, not on ski's or in a boat or some other floating device.  No this man defied the very laws of gravity. That man was Jesus; the 12 men His chosen apostles. This particular story is very popular in the world. "Walkin' on water" is a common saying for someone doing something amazing in human eyes. But what Jesus did was just like any other day.  His trust and faith were completely secure in His Father, God, which empowered Him-Jesus, to do the impossible.

Now, the main point to this post is not to discuss the amazing feats of Jesus and man.  The focus of this post is about the bystanders/crowd, the 12 men. It is about their response to witnessing the great miraculous feat that I want to talk about here today. For the purpose of brevity, I will sum up what happened in Matthew Chapter 14.  Jesus had just performed another miracle in feeding 5,000 starting with just 5 loaves of bread and two fish.  Now historical records would indicate that it was probably more than 5,000 as more than just men would have following Him, the men would have their wives, children, and servants with them as well. After this, Jesus told His disciples to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee and go before Him to the other side. This sea is about 13 miles long.
Let's stop here for a moment.  It is Jesus, not some unreliable, good for nothing person, telling them to go; and, before this, besides the food miracle, the disciples had witnessed many other miracles as well.  Jesus told them to go. *side bar that is the same instruction He gave to the disciples before He ascended back into heaven after sacrificing His body to the Cross of Calvary and rose from the dead.  Jesus said"GO therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you; and lo, I am always with you, even to end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20. Simple instructions, go, why do we make it so complicated?*** OK, back to the focus of post*** Jesus tells them to get to the other side of sea in the boat, Jesus went off by Himself to pray.  

So, at the beginning, when everything was copacetic, the multitude/disciples had their fill of food, it is a nice warm day, the Sea of Galilee is calm and pristine, they get on the boat and set sail.  I can imagine their conversations, they may have been talking about the miracles Jesus was doing, or they may have been arguing among themselves who was best.

Some hours pass until it is night time, the disciples are in the boat and in the middle of the sea which becomes tossed by waves. It did not long before the calm waters turned to raging waves, knocking the boat and men around, the winds were violent and: "In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them walking on the sea, and when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying ,"It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, " Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Matthew 14: 25-27. Now, we are not told that the sea had calmed down at this point.

When Jesus called out to the disciples, Peter, the only one brave enough said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  I love Jesus's responses, He doesn't use a lot of words and oratory dispensations, many times, He simply says, "Come", "Go" , "Stay".  In this instance, all Jesus said was, "Come".  Now Peter starts out great, he believes it is Jesus and he gets out of the boat and actually is defying nature himself, walking on the sea towards Jesus. But now Peter proves the principle, "It's not how you start, it's how you finish that wins the game".  Peter made the number one mistake we who are followers of Christ tend to make when faced with difficult circumstances, he took his eyes off of Jesus.  Now when taking his eyes off Jesus, he did not close them, no he looked at the storm, the raging waves, and fierce winds and he believed at that moment that his life was in danger, where was his belief in Jesus?  Where is our faith when trouble comes?  Like the crowds at the Blondin's tight rope act with the wheelbarrow, even though the crowd had seen him cross over the tight rope with the wheel barrow just fine, where did the crowds faith in him go when challenged with getting in the wheelbarrow and crossing the raging river over the tiny tight rope?  One word that describes both reasons to for not putting their fate in another's hands, FEAR. Another word is DOUBT.


When face to face with the 'monster' our natural instincts tend to kick in, to either fight or flee. But when a person puts on Christ, they are not supposed to operate under the natural anymore.  "I have been crucified (my flesh) with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20.  and "God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of loved and of sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7.  It is the Spirit of God that empowers His followers to operate in the spiritual realm. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. But Peter walking in the flesh, took his eyes off of the One Who Can save and strengthen him, and allowed fear and doubt to rein in his heart and he began to sink into the sea. Peter came to his senses and cried out to the only One who could save him. Peter did not cry out to the other disciples in the boat, or cry for them to put down a rope. No he called to the One true Savior, his Lord and King, Jesus; and Jesus did not hesitate to rescue him. Jesus stretched out His hand and said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

This particular passage in the Bible is talking to us now in our present time.  Many self professing Christians are like the other 11 disciples and Peter.  Some are still in the boat, cowering, afraid, doubting, trusting more in the boat than anything else.  Some are like Peter, they see Christ, but then they take their eyes off of Him and instead are like the seed that fell in the thorns, their cares/troubles are for the things of this world. Many are like the crowds at Blondin's shows, just standing on the side lines, cheering, but not willing to risk it all by participating in the stunt with him. Some are like Nik Wallenda, they only do things as long as they have a safety net in place.  Many are not wanting or willing to risk it all for Christ. Think that staying in the boat or the side line is just fine.  Not according to the written Word. Jesus Himself said in Luke 14:26-27 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his father and mother, wife, and children, brothers and sisters, and yes his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." and at verse 33 in the same chapter, "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

So what is keeping you, me from getting out of the boat, stepping out of the side line in climbing into the wheelbarrow? Let us all examine ourselves, asking God to help us remove all forms of doubt and fear. His perfect love casts out fear.  We have no need to worry about any trouble in this world as Jesus overcame it all with His blood.  Trust in His blood, Trust in Him, Trust in the Father and Holy Spirit.  They are all we need.

There is going to be a Day of Judgment, and God will judge everyone who has ever lived, His wrath is going to poured out on all the wicked and ungodly. The eyes of the unrepentant wicked need to be opened and the ears unplugged so they can see and hear the truth.  The Good News  is Salvation is a free gift from God, you can't work for it or buy because the price has already been paid with the Blood of Jesus Christ. and  Believing in Jesus saves us from the righteous wrath of God. But that is not all, He gives us a new heart and mind NOW, and we receive some of His blessing from heaven NOW and are equipped to be able to live a life that is holy and acceptable to Him NOW.
1. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is real, He lived and died and rose from the grave.
2. Believe that you are a sinner, repent-turn from your sins and realize and accept you need Jesus.
3. Confess that Jesus is your Lord and God
4. Find a local Bible preaching church that does obey the commandment for water baptism for the remission of your sins and to identify yourself with Christ.
This is just the first step to a lifelong journey of growing in truth and love with the God who created this earth and everything in it, including every human being that has ever lived.

Bible verses related to this post: Matthew Chapter 14;  Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 14: 25-27;Galatians 2:20; 2 Timothy 1:7;  Luke 14:26-27 and verse 33; Philippians 4:13; 1 John 4:18
references: http://www.keepbelieving.com/2012/06/15/the-great-blondin-and-true-saving-faith/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-daredevil-of-niagara-falls-110492884/?no-ist