Blessing of Heaven - Blog

How to Overcome Worry

9/4/2021

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6).
We as Christians are commanded by God through the apostle Paul in such passages as Philippians 4:6 to “be careful for nothing” or to not worry. In times like these, with the Delta variant of the Covid-19 pandemic on the rise, it is a temptation for many to become worrisome about contracting this serious virus and/or spreading this virus to their loved ones and others. There are many who have already had this virus and who are dealing with the effects of having Covid-19 now. No matter what category you fall in, this past year and a half has been like nothing we have every seen in our lifetimes. That is why it is important to try to remember what Philippians 4:6 says, and not worry. For some, this is easier said than done. For those of you who are reading this and who might be struggling with worry and anxiety over the pandemic, or over any other challenge you are facing in life, here are some ways to overcome the temptation to worry.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). We should be so focused on God and serving Him that we do not have time to worry. Dealing with the challenges of life are easier when our main focus is on God. Praying often to God for help gives us peace, and serving Him during trying times gives us hope, which helps to keep us motivated to push through the many challenges that we face in life. Failing to pray and serve God as we need to, opens us up to temptation to sin, and causes us to lose that security we have in knowing that He will always take care of us. The things that are first in our lives must be spiritual things.
Take one day at a time. Jesus tells us to do this in Matthew 6:34, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” We do not know what the future holds, so we should take each day as it comes and not worry about tomorrow.
Give it to God. Do what you can do about a situation that is concerning to you, and then leave the rest to God. If we are faithful and obedient, then He will answer our prayers in such a way that is best for us. “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” (I John 3:22). Whenever we are tempted to worry, we should start praying to God right away, and cast all of our cares upon Him. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7).

These are some things to consider when it comes to overcoming worry. As Christians, we are to rely on God to help us rather than trying to take care of things on our own. By doing so, we can lead more peaceful and happier lives. We can also influence others to do the same, and lead others more closely to Christ.

New Episode on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!!!

7/30/2021

A new episode on "Obeying God, Even in the Face of Adversity" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann. Click the link here, or click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this blog page!

New Episode "Staying Motivated As A Christian" On 5 Minutes Of Faith on Friday Podcast!!

7/16/2021

A new episode on "Staying Motivated As A Christian" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann. Click the link here, or click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this blog page!

Baby Dedication Ceremonies in the church of Christ

7/14/2021

    There is a growing trend among some churches of Christ to have what is known as “Baby Dedication Ceremonies.” In these ceremonies, a baby is brought forward before the church assembly by his or her parents, and the parents promise to raise the child in the Lord. I have heard of one congregation of the church of Christ do this in a town close to my hometown, and I wonder how many more are having these ceremonies also. No doubt the parents of these babies have very good intentions in “dedicating” their child to Christ before their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, but it is important to look at this from a Biblical standpoint.
Everything we do must be done with all authority from God. These baby dedication ceremonies where parents come forward and “dedicate” their children to the Lord have many similarities to the practice of “infant baptism” that the Roman Catholic Church performs. The practice of infant baptism is unscriptural because babies are completely innocent and without sin. They do not inherit “original sin” which is the false doctrine that the Roman Catholics have that we are all born with sin, since that time that Adam and Even sinned against God. This is simply not true. Babies have no capability to follow the Plan of Salvation which would lead to a scriptural baptism. Babies cannot hear and believe the Word of God (Romans 10:17;Mark 16:16), and they cannot repent of their sins, because they do not have any (Acts 2:38). Also, they are not able to talk and confess that Jesus is the Son of God, which is another step to the Plan of Salvation (Matthew 10:32). Since babies cannot follow the first four steps to the Plan of Salvation, then they are certainly not qualified to be baptized (Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:17-22).
Of course, “baby dedication ceremonies’ do not require the infant to be sprinkled with water like the Catholic ceremony, which is not actually baptism at all, however, both ceremonies require that the parents come forward with their babies and profess their belief in Christ and “dedicate” them to the Lord.
In an article from Simply Catholic called “Why Baptize Babies,” John Salza says, “Parents bring their babies to the waters of baptism by professing a belief in Christ on behalf of the child, and promising to raise him or her in the faith.” Besides the actual act of sprinkling the baby with water, both the church of Christ ceremony and the Catholic ceremony are identical. Not only that, but various Baptist churches have baby dedication ceremonies which are identical to the ones that some churches of Christ are having. According to an essay written by R. Scott Clark called “A Contemporary Reformed Defense of Infant Baptism,” the author talks about these “baby dedication ceremonies” held in the Baptist church. Regarding these ceremonies, Clark says;
“Many Baptistic churches also allow the practice of baby dedication. It would appear that this rite substitutes for baptism of the children of believers. Why? Because believers instinctively know that they need to present their children to God. Like the altar call this is a human substitute for divinely instituted covenant signs and seals of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is the sign of entrance or initiation into the visible Covenant assembly (church). Baby dedication fulfills this function.”
If members of the church of Christ still want to set themselves apart from the denominational world, then participating in baby dedication ceremonies is a step in the wrong direction!
But a person might say “If the baby isn’t baptized, then what is wrong with having the dedication ceremony.” One thing we must consider is why are churches of Christ having “baby dedication ceremonies” in the first place? Everyone who becomes a Christian is required to raise their current or future children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). No ceremony is needed for parents to raise their children in the Lord, it is a commandment from God. Secondly, a person cannot “dedicate” any other person to the Lord, especially babies who are completely innocent. “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3).” Baby dedication ceremonies are just one tiny step away from the infant baptism ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church, and that is a step too close!
If we want the youth in our congregations to be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, parents, and all members of the church of Christ can pray for the youth to be trained as they should and become faithful Christians. This can be done in private, and it can also be done during the worship services of the church. Our youth are the future of the church, and we need as many faithful members of the church as we can to carry on the service of the Lord’s church!
By looking at these points, it appears that “baby dedication ceremonies” are foreign to the New Testament, and they show how some congregations of the church of Christ want to infiltrate some denominational ideas into the church while still wanting to appear separate and apart from denominations at the same time. Fellow Christians, we cannot do both! “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
  We have to either stand with God and only do what the Bible commands us to do, or we stand with mammon (the world) and follow any “popular” trend that some brethren in the church try to implement without Biblical authority. In cases like these we need to make sure that we are studying our Bibles enough to know when wrong is being done, and have the courage to stand against it!

A New Episode "Attributes of God" on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!

7/9/2021

A new episode on "Attributes of God" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! God to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann, or clicke the "Play" button in the upper right-hand corner of this page!

God Doesn't Care How Much Money You Have

7/2/2021

One of my great grandfathers on my father’s side was a very poor man. He worked cutting timber most of his life, and he and his wife and children lived in what my grandmother would call a “tar paper shack.” The shack did not even have a door when my grandmother was small, just some tar paper and quilts placed over the entrance. Later on, when my father was a child, my great grandparents lived in a house owned by the company my great grandfather worked for, and it was located in the middle of a lumber yard. In his later life, my great grandfather managed to gather enough money together to buy a few burial plots for his family at a local cemetery in our town.
After he had bought these plots, a very wealthy business owner came to my great grandfather saying that he was going to move all of my great grandfather’s burial plots to another part of the cemetery because the section in which my great grandfather chose to buy plots “wasn’t meant for poor people.” Obviously this made my great grandfather very angry, and to this day, that side of my family does not patronize that man’s business, even though both he and my great grandfather have been dead for many years.
We, as human beings, cannot imagine what it would be like to exist outside of this physical body and this physical world. That is why it is so easy for some people to focus too much on the money and material possessions that they have. This can be at the expense of their souls. “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25). This verse does not say that it is impossible for a rich person to go to Heaven, but it can be more challenging, because the more money a person has, the more that he or she is focused on making money rather than on God. Money can also change how some people treat others, such as in the example I gave in the beginning of this article. We are to treat everyone with love and respect, no matter what their social status is in life. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). God is the One who gives us what we have, and it is only through Him that the rich acquire their riches. “The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up” (I Samuel 2:7).
Being poor also does not mean that a person is automatically going to Heaven. Sometimes those who are poor are so focused on improving their financial situation that they forget God. Too much focus on making money and acquiring luxuries in this life at the expense of spiritual salvation can cause anyone from any economic status to be lost. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:10). God does not care how much money we have. Thankfully, God only sees us for who we really are rather than what we have. He is not going to treat some people who have more money better than those who have little money, as some people are prone to do.
We must avoid making earthly possessions our idols before God. We can do this by focusing more on spiritual matters than the temporary cares of this world.“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. (Matthew 6:19-21).
By the way, the story that I told at the beginning of this article has a happy ending. It turned out that my great grandfather was able to keep the burial plots that he had already purchased, and he, my great grandmother, and other members of their family are buried there today.

Are Psychics For Real?

6/26/2021

When I was a teenager, I remember always enjoying watching the self-proclaimed “psychic,” Sylvia Browne, when she would make frequent appearances on The Montel Williams Show. I did not watch The Montel Williams Show, but whenever I would flip through the T.V. channels and see Sylvia sitting there, I just had to see what she was up to!
On these shows, there would be several people from the audience who would ask Sylvia questions about their future. Some would ask about who they would marry, others would ask about possible career paths in the future. The saddest situations would be when guests would ask about whether their missing loved ones were still alive or not. Sylvia Browne would give these guests her thoughts about what their future would look like, and where their missing loved ones might be.
I remember one episode in particular, where two parents from the audience were asking Sylvia to give them the identity of the person who murdered their teenage daughter. The parents did not reveal how their daughter died. Instead of giving them an exact description of the perpetrator, Browne began talking about how she believed their daughter had been murdered. She began talking about how the young girl who was murdered was drowned by the perpetrator and how she could see water in the young girl’s lungs. After hearing this, the mother began shaking her head. The father then revealed that their daughter did not die by drowning, but from a gunshot wound to the head. Browne has also been reported to have told parents that their abducted children were dead, only to find out later that these children were alive.
Cases like this show how fraudulent so-called “psychics” really are. God condemns anyone who practices this form of witchcraft. Witchcraft is spoken against in the Old Testament in such verses as Exodus 22:18; “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,” and Deuteronomy 18:10-12; “There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” Clearly, professing psychic abilities is a sin.
There are so-called “psychics” out there who claim to “talk to the dead.” I remember a famous man by the name of John Edwards who claimed to do this, and even had his own show Crossing Over with John Edwards. Souls of those who have died do not connect with those who are living. “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).
Another example of how talking to the dead is really not possible is in I Samuel chapter 28. When asked by King Saul to bring up the spirit of Samuel (v. 11), the witch of Endor, who claimed to be able to conjure up the dead, “cried with a loud voice” when she saw the spirit of Samuel before her (v. 12). If the witch of Endor really could bring up souls of the dead before her paying customers, then she would not have cried out in fear when the spirit of Samuel really did show up! That is because it was only through the Power of God that Samuel appeared and not by the witch of Endor. These verses show that “talking to the dead” cannot be done, so anyone who claims to do this in exchange for money is a fraud!
What about astrology, numerology, and the like? These things can be classified as witchcraft as well because they have to do with foretelling of the future. No one knows the future except God. By basing our daily living on what our horoscopes say, we are trusting in something else besides God, thus making these things our idols. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:19-21).
We are to seek God First in all aspects of our lives. We are to trust Him to take care of us today, tomorrow, and every day. If we do this, we will not feel the need to seek reassurance about our future from mortal men and women who have no control over it. We should seek the assurance and peace that only God can give us, because, just as the spiritual hymn says, He Holds the future in His Hands!

New Episode on "Pride" on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!!

6/25/2021

Check out the new episode on "Pride" that is now available to listen on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page. Hope you all enjoy!

The 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast is BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6/20/2021

The 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast is BACK!!! New episodes will begin this Friday, June 25th at 6 A.M. I have spent the past 10 week focusing on other spiritual works, and I am now ready to continue teaching the Bible through this podcast! Thanks to all of you who have reached out to me with your encouragement and kind words! As always, this podcast is for the ladies, so please share this podcast with any female friend or loved one that you know. See you all Friday!!!

The Difference Between Righteous and Unrighteous Anger

6/17/2021

In the book of Micah, God shows His Anger towards those Jews who have sinned against Him. These Jews have sinned against God by marrying into neighboring pagan nations, and practicing idolatry themselves. “

“For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot. Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls. For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem” (Micah 1:5-9).

Some people in the world today would think that God was being “too harsh” on the Jews in His Punishment. This is certainly not the case. God is exacting what is known as righteous judgment against the Jews. This means that the Jews who sin are getting what they deserve through God’s Anger because God has a right to be angry! Just like our earthly fathers, God is angered by our wrongdoing and has the right to punish us when we commit sin. “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9).
It is OK for us to feel anger, so long as it is “righteous” anger. Righteous anger occurs when we become angry at sin. Jesus showed righteous anger when He came into the temple and saw the moneychangers selling items to use in animal sacrifices. “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:15-17).
Jesus showed righteous anger because He became angry with sin. It is acceptable by God to show righteous anger as long as we do it in a way that we do not sin ourselves. For instance, we cannot become angry at sin and use profanity or mistreat the person who is committing the sin. On the contrary, we must treat everyone with respect and love, even when we are rebuking them regarding their sins. “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” (Leviticus 19:17).
We commit sin when we have unrighteous anger. Unrighteous anger occurs when we become angry over matters of opinion rather than matters of biblical right and wrong. Responding to matters of opinion with unrighteous anger is a sin, and it can become a habit that can be a challenge for some to break. For example, when I was a practicing mental health counselor, I saw many clients who were required to attend “anger management” therapy sessions. These sessions were often ineffective because the person who was under state probation often did not want to really change his or her pattern of behavior. The person merely wanted to attend the required number of therapy sessions necessary to please the probation officer and let that be it. These types of people do not really want to change. If a person wants to stop having unrighteous anger, he or she must want to change their behavior first. This is imperative to living a faithful Christian life!
The book of Micah shows God’s righteous anger against the Jews. We are God’s Children, and He has every right to punish and correct us when we do wrong, so that we will repent and turn from our sinful ways. Our very souls are at stake if we refuse to repent of sins. We are all sinners, so it is important to remember to follow God’s Word and pray daily, many times a day for our own forgiveness of sins! “Pray without ceasing” ( I Thessalonians 5:17).
We must all examine ourselves daily to make sure that we are staying on the straight and narrow path to Heaven! We cannot let the temporary cares of this world distract us from our main duty in life, which is to obey God (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Let us all be sure to do as the apostle Paul did and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

The False Doctrine of 'Once Baptized, Always Saved'

5/20/2021

The book of Zephaniah is a continuation of the story of Babylonian captivity for the Jews. In this book, the prophet Zephaniah, like Isaiah, Micah, and others like them, are warning the Jews of their impending punishment from God if they do not turn away from worshipping false gods. Zephaniah brings out the point that the Jews are unwilling to repent, and they act as if they do not know God. Zephaniah 3:1-2 shows this by saying; “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God." Due to their stubbornness, God is punishing the Israelites for their sins. Before this time, the Jews were faithful unto God and His Chosen People. However, they were being punished due to their sins.
This is similar today for Christians, who are now the chosen people of God under the New Covenant. What happens to a Christian who was once a faithful child of God, but has fallen into sin? Some very prominent members of the church believe that a Christian who is trying their best to be faithful but who stumbles from time to time will not have their sins held against them. Is this true? Or, is this a case of a false doctrine similar to the Baptist false doctrine of “once saved, always saved?
Those in the church who believe that a Christiancannot fall from grace, after baptism use 1 John 1:7 as their source. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Those who use this verse to prove their point against Christians having their sins held against them believe that God cleanses Christians of their sins continuously without them having to do anything to obtain that cleansing, such as repentance. Those who believe this false doctrine believe that it is wrong to believe, for example, that a Christian can wake up one morning in a saved state, but then have a bad thought and be lost, then pray for repentance and be saved, then do something else inappropriate and be lost, and so on and so forth. These people say that those who believe that a Christian can be saved/lost over and over in one day believe that whether a person goes to Heaven or Hell is really a “luck of the draw,” depending on which state they happen to die in. These people, who basically believe in a “once baptized, always saved” false doctrine, believe that a Christian cannot have the joy and peace that passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7) if they are constantly worried about whether they are saved or lost every moment of the day.
When looking at how to live the best Christian life possible, we cannot follow the words of men. Instead we have to follow the Word of God. In I John 1:7, “walking in the light” refers to living the faithful Christian life. In order for a person to live as a faithful Christian, he or she cannot commit sin, or else that person will be spiritually lost. Also, the “continual cleansing” referred to in this verse comes from a Christian repenting and asking forgiveness for the sin committed. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). .
We have already seen from the book of Zephaniah and other Old Testament books, how those who were once faithful to God can fall away and be punished. Today, the Jews are no longer the chosen people of God, because the Old Testament has been nailed to the Cross (Colossians 2:14), and we are now under a New Covenant. What does God say about Christians who commit sin? The Bible has many examples of faithful Christians who fell due to their sins. The church at Ephesus was once faithful, but had fallen away from God.
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”(Revelation 2:1-5)
The apostle Paul, who was one of the most faithful men to ever walk the face of the earth after his conversion, spoke about the need of watching ourselves lest we fall away from God. He also speaks about the importance of using the Old Testament as an example of what to do/not to do in our own lives. "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (I Corinthians 10:11-12). If a Christian’s sins are not held against him, then why would Paul be so concerned about telling the church at Corinth to “take heed” lest they fall?
The apostle Peter also talk about the ability for Christians to fall away from God. “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:5-11).
Another example from the Bible to consider comes from Revelation 2:10; “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Notice that this verse does not say “be thou faithful unto baptism.” A person enters into a faithful state upon baptism (I Peter 3:21), but a person must remain faithful unto death. If we cannot have our sins held against us after we are baptized, then why would this verse say “be thou faithful unto death?” It says this because the “once baptized, always saved” doctrine that some members of the church of Christ believe, is false! We have to repent of our sins in order to be forgiven them. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). I John 1:9 teaches that sins committed by faithful Christians must be confessed, also. This verse says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We also have to show the “fruits meet for repentance”(Matthew 3:8).
I remember that a preacher who teaches this false doctrine said in his sermon that he used to drive from one state to another when he worked in a certain location, and before he would start his drive, he would be concerned about whether he would be saved or lost if something happened to him on the way. He said that now that he believes that a Christian cannot fall away from Christ due to the “continual cleansing,” he does not have those worries anymore. This false doctrine makes him feel good, just like the “once saved, always saved” doctrine no doubt makes a lot of Baptists feel good, too. It is all a doctrine of convenience. We have to study the Bible and learn for ourselves about all of the things we have to do in order to remain faithful throughout our lives. We certainly cannot follow the words of men, no matter how nice they are or how well-esteemed they are in the brotherhood. I hope that this lesson has shed some more light on the false doctrine of “Once baptized, always saved,” so that we may not fall into the trap of believing that baptism is all that we need to do in order to go to Heaven.

Why Teens Should Say 'No' To the Prom

5/1/2021

Since the Prom is coming up soon, I thought I would dedicate this article to what the Bible says about such events as this and other social dances. I know that the Prom is a very popular event to attend for high school seniors, however, a Christian teen and any other young Christian must first think about what is most important to God, rather than what is important to the world.
I am glad to say that I did not attend the Prom or any other social dance growing up, even though I had opportunity to do so. I was asked twice by a young man who was also a senior in high school,to attend the Prom with him, but I declined the invitation both times. I did not want to hurt my influence in front of others by causing them to think that I danced at an event such as this. I am also glad that my husband did not attend the Prom as well. We can teach our children from our example about not attending the Prom, and we do not intend on allowing our children to attend these events.
The main issue with the Prom and other social dances is just that, dancing. Dancing in and of itself is not wrong, as long as it is done in the privacy of your own home between those who are married. The issue of dancing in public, especially dancing between members of the opposite sex, however, is that activities such as this may tempt a person to lust. Dancing usually involves either making sensuous movements or touching of some sort between males and females, and these actions could cause lustful thoughts. I John 2:16 speaks against lust by saying: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Even dancing on your own in front of others can cause others to have lustful thoughts toward you. Even though we cannot control what others do or think, we, as Christians, should never be a stumbling block to others, and we must show ourselves to be in the world but not of the world in front of others. This is shown in Galatians 5:16-21; "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." "Lasciviousness" involves indecent physical movements and unchaste handling of males and females. Clearly, the prom fits under the definition of the word lasciviousness. Knowing the meaning of lasciviousness and knowing for a fact that such occurs at the prom, I am very thankful that there are congregations and families that determine to have prom-alternative trips.
We should never participate in activities that can cause ourselves or others to sin. I know that there are many at the prom who dance without the intent of inciting lust in themselves or others, but there is always a risk that this may happen.
Another issue with the Prom and other social dances is immodesty. Usually on the night of the Prom, I see many pictures on Facebook of teens in their prom attire. Many of the dresses that the ladies wear are either too low or too short. What is modest is exemplified by how God clothed Adam and Eve after they realized they were naked. Genesis 3:21 says, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” He clothed them in coats of skins that covered them from their shoulders to their knees, according to the Hebrew word for “coat” as used here, which means “tunic.” A tunic in the Bible was a garment that reached from the shoulders to at least the knees. Since this is the ONLY example given in the Bible of how God wants us to dress, then wearing anything less today would be immodest. The Bible speaks against exposing our chest, loins, and thighs, and showing any of these body parts is considered “naked” in the Bible. We would be considered naked if we exposed any of these parts while either standing or sitting. Since the Prom promotes lustful actions such as dancing, it is no wonder that there is such a prevalence of young ladies who are also dressing in a lustful manner. It all seems to tie together.
What about younger Christians who are too young for the Prom? Should they be able to attend school formals, and dances in middle school and high school? Would these events teach them that it is acceptable to dance in public and dress immodestly? Do these events teach young Christians that it is acceptable to attend the Prom? A dance in middle school or high school is the same as a Prom. Anywhere that dancing is taking place can cause a Christian young person to place a stumbling block before themselves or before others. Therefore it is best that parents teach their children that being a good influence to others is more important than following the crowd. I John 2:15 says, “Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
What if a Christian attends a social dance but doesn’t dress immodestly or dance? It is good that a Christian young person chooses to dress modestly and chooses not to dance at such an event. However, attending an event that involves dancing can harm a Christian’s influence in front of others. We must always guard our influence in front of others, because it is our job as Christians to lead others to Christ. I Timothy 4:12 says, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” How can we lead others to Christ if we do not show ourselves to be Christ-like? Would Jesus go to the Prom or any other social dance? If He did, He would speak against the activities taking place. It would be acceptable if a Christian youth went to the Prom or any other social dance to teach against these activities, but how many young Christians do this?
Our goal should be achieving the gift of Heaven, and not being pleasing to men. Matthew 5:13 says, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

New Episode "Lack of Knowledge" Can Be Heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!!

4/2/2021

A new episode called "Lack of Knowledge" can be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!! Click the "Play" button in the upper right corner of this page to listen!!

The Dangers of Impulsivity

3/30/2021

Being impulsive is something that many people have a problem with today. The word “impulsive” comes from the word “impulse” which means “a sudden spontaneous inclination or incitement to some usually unpremeditated action” according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary.[1] The practice of speaking or doing things “before we think” is a common thing among some people. They choose to say or do certain things without thinking of the consequences of their actions. This habit is not viewed favorably by God, and it can cause us a lot of problems if we go through life acting on impulse. In this article, I would like to discuss some ways that a Christian can act on impulse, and the dangers that an impulsive mindset can provide.
First of all, some Christians can have the negative habit of saying hurtful things to others before they think through all of the possible outcomes and consequences that their words will have on themselves and others. James 1:19 is a handy verse to have memorized in such a situation where a person may be tempted to speak negatively on impulse. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:” It is often in times of anger that a person will “spout off at the mouth” so to speak and say things he or she will most likely regret later. The tongue is the one part of the body that cannot be tamed. “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:8). We can cause a lot of hurt and permanent damage to relationships when we impulsively use our tongue to hurt others. We can also hurt our influence by using our tongues to curse and to take God’s Name in vain. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. “(Exodus 20:7).[2] We should also not use our tongues to speak about perverted things. “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:6).
God tells us to use our tongue wisely, and to not be impulsive in our speech. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:” (I Peter 3:10). We are to think about what we are going to say before we say them. Anything that we say is a thought before we say it, so we must be sure to guard our thoughts as well. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8). We must guard our thoughts and guard our tongues against any corrupt or evil thing in order to be faithful Christians. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29). If we fail to do so, we will have to answer for our sinful words one day. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36).
Unrighteous anger is another way that some people can act on impulse and commit sin. Just as we should monitor our speech, we can also learn from James 1:19 that we should be “slow to wrath.” By being “slow to wrath” we must make sure that we do not have unrighteous anger. We can, however, have righteous anger and not sin. What is the difference between righteous and unrighteous anger? Righteous anger occurs when we become angry at sin. Jesus showed righteous anger when He came into the temple and saw the moneychangers selling items to use in animal sacrifices. “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:15-17).
Jesus showed righteous anger because He became angry with sin. It is acceptable by God to show righteous anger as long as we do it in a way that we do not sin ourselves. For instance, we cannot become angry at sin and use profanity or mistreat the person who is committing the sin. On the contrary, we must treat everyone with respect and love, even when we are rebuking them regarding their sins. “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” (Leviticus 19:17).
We commit sin when we have unrighteous anger. Unrighteous anger occurs when we become angry over matters of opinion rather than matters of biblical right and wrong in which we become angry about sinful things. For example, when I was a practicing mental health counselor, I saw many clients who were required to attend “anger management” therapy sessions. These sessions were often ineffective because the person who was under state probation often did not want to really change his or her pattern of behavior. The person merely wanted to attend the required number of therapy sessions necessary to please the probation officer and let that be it.
Anyways, I remember one client in particular who was already on state probation for offences that I cannot remember at the moment. He came to me for a certain number of therapy sessions that were centered on “anger management.” His probation officer made attending anger management therapy sessions with me a requirement in order to continue to be on probation and to not have to finish his sentence in jail. Why did this client have to see me for anger management? Because he had thrown an empty, plastic soda bottle at his girlfriend while they were arguing over something to do with the girlfriend’s dog, and she called the police. As you can imagine, the girlfriend was unharmed by the plastic soda bottle, but this client could have avoided the 5 or 6 sessions with me if he had just learned to control his anger. At first, I thought the story could have been made up by the client to cover up what he actually did to his girlfriend, but he brought me a copy of the police report to prove that his story was true. I tried to teach him ways to cope with his anger without doing something wrong, but he was one of those people who did not think he had a problem. This client would have done well to read Ephesians 4:26; “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
Finally, some people can do things on impulse that are wrong, when they actually meant to do something good. They mean to do something good, but they do not fully think through the process by which they will do the good as they should, and they end up doing wrong. For instance, I had a client that I had one therapy session with which was comprised of taking down information about him to give to the Nurse Practitioner that would be handling his medications. He was an elderly gentleman who was a member of the church of Christ. He was happy to see me because I was one of two therapists there that was a member of the church of Christ. Prior to seeing me, he had spent a couple of days in jail for breaking into cars that he found parked in the street near the apartment in which he lived. This man did not talk much, so I had to get most of my information from his son-in-law who was present during this session. The son-in-law told me that the reason the elderly man was breaking into cars was because he wanted to leave religious tracts which taught about the churches of Christ on the car’s windshield in hopes of converting the owner, but since it was windy and raining on that particular day, the man was breaking the driver side window and leaving the tracts in the seats on the inside of each of the vehicles. This example shows a person who meant to do something good, but went about it the wrong way
We should always think things through before we say or do anything. We should always work to be more like Christ and less like the world in which we live every day. We can do this by praying every day, many times a day, and studying our Bibles every day.
With a good knowledge of the Bible, we can help ourselves be faithful Christians, as well as teach others to do the same. We can use the Bible to rebuke others as well, in a loving manner. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (II Timothy 3:16). Saying sinful things and having unrighteous anger will cause us to suffer punishment for eternity if we do not repent of these sins before we either die, or the Day of Judgment comes. Acting in an impulsive manner, no matter the motive, is not worth losing our souls over. “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” (Colossians 3:8). If Christ would not say or do it, then we should not say or do it as well. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” (Ephesians 4:31). I hope that this lesson shows the importance of thinking things through and not acting out impulsively. We must all be sure to take time to think before we speak or act, so that we can let our Christian light shine before the world. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

A New Episode on "The Seed Principle" Is On the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!!

3/26/2021

A new episode on "The Seed Principle" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to the Podcast page here to listen! https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann, OR click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this blog page to listen!

God Matters!

3/20/2021

It is wonderful to hear a little child talk about God. A few days ago, my family and I were riding home from Wednesday night Bible study. On the way, my 6 year old daughter began talking about how wonderful God is. “God is Humble, and God is Love,” she would say. After she had said a few more complimentary things about God, she finished what I call her “Bible lesson” by saying that not only do all lives matter, but God matters the most of all.
This statement really hit home with me because that is exactly what more people in this world need to realize; that God matters most of all. There are many people out there who are so focused on acquiring worldly possessions, worldly praise, fame, fortune, and so forth, that they forget Who matters most: God! “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37). If we seek God First in our lives, then everything else will fall into place (Matthew 6:33).
Here are some ways that we can show that God matters most in our lives;

Study our Bibles every day. We have to know God’s Word in order to live how He wants us to live, as well as to teach others. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2:15).
Be willing to teach others! Along with daily Bible study, we must be willing to teach others about God, as well as the need to become faithful Christians. By teaching others, we are showing them the path that will lead them to Heaven. It is then up to them to follow your teachings from God’s Word for themselves. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (I Peter 3:15).
Pray without ceasing! (I Thessalonians 5:17). In order for us to show that God matters most in our lives, we need to make sure that we spend plenty of time talking to God each day! Like most earthly fathers, God wants to hear from His children every day, and he commands us to pray often throughout the day, in good times and challenging ones. We cannot grow closer to God without a healthy prayer life! “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16).
Assemble for the worship services of the church of Christ regularly! Assembling for worship is a requirement in order to be a faithful Christian. Hebrews 10:25 states, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” If we are “laying out” of worship services on Sunday, or even “laying out” of Bible Study during the week, then we are showing that we care more about ourselves than God, and that He does not matter the most in our lives!

I am so proud of my daughter for already having the wisdom to know that God matters the most in our lives, which is something that some adults do not even realize. I hope that she continues to have the love of God that she already possesses, and I know that my husband and I will do everything we can to teach all of our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! In order to do so, we have to make sure that we, ourselves, are setting the best example possible for them to follow! I encourage you to set the best example possible as Christians for your children, friends, family members and the world, so that they will know that God matters the most in your life!

New episode "How Do You Want to Be Remembered?" can be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!!

3/12/2021

A new episode on "How Do You Want to Be Remembered"" can be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page to listen!!

Does the Church Have Biblical Authority to Withdraw from Unrepentant Members?

2/26/2021

There is so much sinfulness in today’s world, just as it has been since Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden. The amount of sin in this world is so prevalent that some people tend to look the other way when it comes to certain sins. For example, homosexuality, which is specifically condemned in Romans chapter 1, is applauded and commended in today’s society. With so much wrongdoing going on in the world today, and this trend is affecting more and more Christians, what authority do the elders in any given congregation of the church of Christ have to discipline Christian members who are persistently living in a spiritually lost state? Can members of the Lord’s church socially distance themselves from unrepentant members of their congregation and still be considered faithful?
CHURCH DISCIPLINE IS ACTUALLY COMMANDED.
Every person who has studied the Word of God and who is strong in his or her faith knows that there are plenty of examples in the Bible which authorize church discipline, namely, the withdrawing of a congregation from an unrepentant sinner. Here are some of these examples:

Jesus speaks of what Christians should do in the case of an erring brother or sister in Christ in Matthew Chapter 18:15-17; “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

At the time that Jesus walked on the Earth, publicans and heathens were people that the general society avoided socially. Looking at this passage in this light, we can see that Jesus is telling us that Christians should withdraw themselves from those who are persistent and unchanging in their wrongdoing.
2.In I Corinthians 5, Paul uses this whole chapter to speak against the church at Corinth for not withdrawing from an erring member who has committed fornication and is unwilling to repent. Here is what God says through Paul to the church at Corinth:
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” (I Corinthians 5:1-13).

Paul is telling the church at Corinth something that we are to observe, even if this involves co-workers, family members, etc. He is saying that in order for the church to stand strong, the leadership of a congregation must withdraw from members who are persistent in living sinful lives and who show no signs of repentance. By allowing these erring members of the church to stay as members of the congregation without consequence is taking a big risk. The risk involves that erring member influencing other members of the congregation to sin, thus weakening the entire flock. Elders are overseers of their flock (I Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:17), and it is their job to separate those who are unapologetically living in open sin from the other members of that flock in order to protect it. They work to protect the purity of the church.
We can see from verse 2 of I Corinthians Chapter 5 that some of the members of that congregation were unwilling to withdraw from the erring member in question. They even seemed upset that they were asked to do such a thing. Sadly, there are many members of the Lord’s church today who profess to be spiritually strong, but who act in the same way as the spiritually weak Christians did at Corinth. Just as the apostle Paul who was inspired by God rebuked those weak members at Corinth who were against the authorized command to withdraw, I Corinthians 5 is also a rebuke to anyone today who goes against the biblically authorized act of withdrawing from persistently unfaithful members.
The two examples that I have just mentioned should be enough to convince any Christian that the act of an eldership commanding the withdrawing of the congregation which they oversee from an unrepentant erring member is fully authorized by the Bible. Both Jesus, the Son of God, and Paul, who was inspired by God, specifically command this act. Paul also speaks in favor of the Lord’s church withdrawing from unfaithful and unrepentant members. The word “withdraw” is actually used by the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3:6; “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” Now, if these words do not make it clear that the act of withdrawing from an unrepentant erring member of the church is authorized by God, then the person reading this article is not facing reality!
WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE WITHDRAW FROM A FELLOW CHRISTIAN?
Now that the subject of the church withdrawing from unrepentant members has been established to be biblically sound, we will now look at what is required of the faithful members of the church when it comes to the treatment of the member that has been formally withdrawn from.
Paul instructs the faithful members at Corinth not to “keep company” with the person being withdrawn from, nor to even eat with that person. Let’s look at I Corinthians 5:11 again; “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” These instructions are very clear, and even though this may seem “unloving” by the world, it is not unloving at all.
So, what is the purpose of a congregation withdrawing from an erring member?The purpose of withdrawal is to, hopefully “wake up” that erring member into repentance. This may bring one back to repentance, but if not, it still works to ensure that the church's purity is protected, sometimes it does not, but that is entirely up to the sinning party. The eldership and the other faithful members of a congregation are only accountable for their part, which is to fully withdraw from the sinful party in every way until that person or persons repent.
As Christians, we must make sure that we are judging others in a righteous manner.Christ says in John 7:24, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." This means that we must look at every person’s actions and compare it to the Bible. If a person is committing sin, then we must rebuke them in hopes that they will repent. Galatians 6:1 declares, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Rebuking those who are not committing sin, and who have all authority from the Bible to do what they do, is unrighteous judgment, and we must avoid this. We must also analyze our own lives and make sure that we are faithful in the Lord in all things before we try to help another person improve their spiritual state. Others will be more likely to listen to us if we do not have anything amiss in our lives. All righteous judgment is done out of love. (Matthew 7:1-5).
SATAN WOULD RATHER THE COMMAND TO WITHDRAW BE A COMMAND "FORGOTTEN" BY ALL.
Christians must also remember that Satan does not want anyone to go to Heaven, and he will try to stop any erring member from repenting at all costs, and he will often get other Christians to help him. Whenever I see a Christian speak against an eldership who has withdrawn from an unrepentant member, I know that the devil is truly at work and has influenced that weak Christian to try to place a stumblingblock before the unrepentant person and others in an attempt to keep them from going to Heaven. Some Christians really show how spiritually weak they are when things like this happens.
Just after admonishing Elders on how to feed the flock and in how to take care of the flock, I Peter 5:8-9 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." Remember, they watch for our souls. May we live in such a way that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for us (Hebrews 13:17).
We must all make sure to stand on God’s Side in this matter and every other matter, and to not let Satan skew our view on this topic and everything else in this life. We have to be able to put God in the forefront of our minds and face the Truth without being concerned about what others will think of us. We will be blessed so much more by God by doing so! “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:38-39).

New Episode "The Plan of Salvation" On 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday" Pocast!

2/26/2021

A new Bible lesson on "The Plan of Salvation" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or you can click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page to listen to this podcast!!

Listen to "Angels" on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!!!

2/19/2021

A new Bible lesson on "Angels" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or you can click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page to listen to this podcast!!

Why Do Some Prayers Go "Unanswered"?

2/13/2021

Prayer is essential in the life of every Christian. The apostle Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). I cannot think of how many times a simple prayer has helped me in my times of need. Not only has prayer helped me with what most would consider “big” situations, praying to God has also helped me with small matters as well.
For example, one winter we had a bit of a mouse issue in our house. We had set several traps in the house and had caught at least 6 mice overnight, which is highly unusual at our home. In times past, we would set out a mouse trap and only catch one mouse and then our mouse problem would be gone. However, this time was different. I was becoming concerned about the fact that we were catching so many mice in our house in such a short amount of time, namely because I know how quickly mice reproduce, and that this could become a major issue in the long run. I prayed unto God to help us get rid of these mice before more came and possibly caused an infestation in our home. After that prayer, we went on a vacation for about a week, and I had my mother check the traps periodically while we were gone. When we returned from our trip, not one mouse had been caught, and we never saw another mouse that year. Since that time, we have rarely seen a mouse in the house. It appeared that God heard my prayer and fixed the mouse problem for us before things got out of hand! Of course, this is just a small matter to deal with, but it is a reminder that we should pray to God for everything, no matter how big or small of a matter it may seem to us.
We, as Christians should have a very prayerful attitude at all times, and make time to pray to God many times in a day. With that said, does God hear all of our prayers, and if so, why do some prayers seem to go unanswered?

1. Before we pray, we have to have faith in God that He will give us what we are praying for. A lack of faith in God when we pray, may keep God from answering our prayers. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”(James 1:6).

2. We must be faithful to God before He will answer our prayers. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (I Peter 3:12). God hears everything, including everyone’s prayers. To say that God does not hear everyone’s prayers would mean that the person giving the unheard prayer knows something that God does not know, and that is impossible. What this verse means, however, is that God only hears the prayers of those who are righteous with the intent to answer those prayers! He does not have the intention to answer the prayers of those who are unfaithful and unrighteous. Being able to have your prayers heard by God, and for God to answer those prayers is one of the many perks of being a faithful child of God!

3. We must monitor what we are praying for. God’s thoughts are much greater than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). If we are praying for something superficial (such as a brand new cherry red sports car), God may not answer this request in the way we expect. We must not ask for anything that would be wrong to obtain, such as winning the 1 million dollar lottery! “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” (I John 5:14). Our prayers often go in the direction that our thoughts are in, so we must make sure that our thoughts are on spiritual things rather than worldly things. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2).

4. Sometimes the answer is “No.” Whenever we feel like God is not giving us what we have asked Him for in a prayer, it may be the case that He has answered our prayer with a “No.” God knows everything about us, and He knows all of our past, present, and future. He knows when we will die, how we will die, and what the rest of our life will be like. Based on that information, God will only give us what He knows is best for us, despite how much we want it or think that we need the thing for which we are praying for. Just because we have certain plans for ourselves and for others, this does not mean that God has the same plans. If we suspect that God has answered “No” to a request we have made to Him in prayer, we must always remember that He knows what is best for us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Please take all of the things mentioned in this article in consideration before asking God for something in prayer. Of course, it is always important to take time to pray and just thank God for all of your blessings. Also, remember to be patient. Not every prayer has to have a request in it. God loves to hear from His children at all times, and like our physical parents, He loves to hear how thankful and appreciative His children are for all that He has done for us. We can be at peace knowing that our Heavenly Father will take care of us no matter what situations this temporal world places us in!

New Episode on "Love" on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!

2/12/2021

A new episode called "Love" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen, or you can click the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page to listen to this podcast!!

Are You A Lazy Christian?

2/2/2021

   There is much talk in the world today about living a life of “privilege” here in the United States of America. It is true, that those of us who have grown up in the U. S. live a life of position and privilege compared to the rest of the world. This sense of “privilege” can also carry over into our spiritual lives. How many of us were born and have grown up attending the services of the the church of Christ? How many of us were raised in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) to attend worship services of the church of Christ and to become Christians when we reached the age of accountability? How many of us are blessed to have grown up and live in what is commonly referred to as the “Bible belt” of the U. S.? All of these factors give Christians a privileged status compared to the rest of the world, however, Christians should not fall into the trap of feeling entitled, especially when it comes to salvation. These feelings may cause some Christians to become apathetic and lazy in living the Christian life.
Just because you are a Christian and a member of the church of Christ, this does not mean that you are going to heaven. Sometimes there is an attitude among members of the church that all Christians are going to heaven. We may have heard many sermons against the denominational belief of “once saved, always saved,” but how many Christians believe the false doctrine of “once baptized always saved?” Those Christians who believe this have a sense of privilege and entitlement that will lead them to eternal punishment if they are not cautious.
Now, let me be clear. Baptism is essential to salvation. I Peter 3:21 says, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:". A person must hear the Word of God (Romans 10:17), believe the Gospel that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 10:32), and then be baptized in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Upon baptism, a person is a Christian, a member of the church of Christ, and a person must remain faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). When a child of God stumbles into sin, he or she must repent and confess sins, and through prayer have forgiveness (Acts 8:22, I John 1:9). Having said this, let me focus with you on the being faithful part of God's Plan to save.
John the Baptist, an inspired man of God, spoke against this attitude of entitlement among the Jews, who were at the time considered the children of God. In Luke 3:7-8, he says, “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” In these verses, John the Baptist is warning the Jewish sects known as the Sadducees who were false teachers, and also the Pharisees who bound traditions of men upon people, false claiming that these traditions were equal to God's Word that their connection to Abraham alone did not mean they were going to heaven. He goes onto tell them that they needed to repent of their sins and bring forth the fruits of repentance.
Those Christians who believe the false doctrine of “once baptized always saved” will conduct themselves in such a way that they become complacent, or lazy in their Christian living. They are not zealous in living the Christina life. If you cannot see it at other times, this attitude of stagnation and laziness among Christians can most easily be seen when a congregation of the Lord’s church has an extra assembly, such as a Gospel meeting, lectureship, or Vacation Bible School that the Elders have deemed that the members attend. How many Christians will only attend one of these events being hosted by their home congregation on Sunday morning, but choose to just sit at home or do some other secular activity the rest of the week? These types of Christians are showing themselves to have an apathetic attitude towards worshipping the Lord which is not congruent with the life of a faithful Christian. We should have the attitude that King David had in Psalm 122:1,“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Friends, it is important to put God First (Matthew 6:33), and support your home congregation and proclamation of the Gospel (Titus 2:14). It is even worthwhile to accept those personal invitations given to attend a Gospel meeting, lectureship, or Vacation Bible School at a nearby congregation.
Christians who follow the false doctrine of “once baptized, always saved” may not study the Bible every day as II Timothy 2:15 commands. They may not attend the assembling of the church of Christ regularly as Hebrews 10:25 tells us to do. They may not be willing to participate in the various works of the church. Also, they may do others things that harm their influence, such as dress immodestly, participate in social drinking, be reluctant to help others as well as behave un-Christ-like in other aspects of their lives, all the while believing that their name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life because they were baptized in the past (I Timothy 2:9-10, I Peter 4:3-5, Matthew 5:41). Those who live their lives in this way must repent just as John the Baptist told the Jewish false teachers to do.
In the past, whenever I would look at the obituaries in the newspaper, I was always glad to read when a deceased person was listed as a member of the church of Christ. Like so many, whenever I saw those words printed in the obituary, I felt a wave of relief, thinking that the deceased person who was listed as a member of the church of Christ in their obituary was already in Paradise. I am still glad to read that a person who has passed away was a member of the Lord’s church, however, the more I study God’s Word, the more I see the importance of being a faithful Christian unto death (Revelation 2:10).
            In order to go to Heaven, we are to be Christians who are fruitful and abound in good works (II Corinthians 9:8). We are to present ourselves as a light unto the world, and others should see more of Christ in us than they see ourselves. If we just “blend” in with the rest of the world in our choice of attire or our actions, then we not living the fruitful life of a Christian and we have bought into the false doctrine of “once baptized always saved.” I hope that we Christians will always have an attitude of gratefulness and appreciation toward God for all that He has done for us, and that we show this gratitude in our words and in our actions. Only then can we be the best Christians that we can be, and have the hope of reaching a home in Heaven one day!

Listen to a New Lesson on "Modesty" on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast!

1/29/2021

A new episode on "Modesty" can now be heard on the 5 Minutes of Faith on Friday Podcast! Go to https://anchor.fm/brandi-gann to listen to the podcast, or hit the "Play" button in the upper right hand corner of this page (just above the "How to Be Saved" section). You can also listen to a 5 minute episode about how to purchase my books on the above link!

Say 'No-No' to JoJo!

1/24/2021

^ Photo courtesy the JoJo Siwa Facebook page ^
  The apostle John definitely spoke the Truth when he said that “the whole world lieth in wickedness” (I John 5:19). The world has always been wicked, and this wickedness is only growing more and more prevalent as time goes by. The saddest part about this is that this wickedness is not aimed at just adults anymore, but is being exposed to young children via the media. Our society, which once protected young children from sin, is now attempting to “brainwash” our children in believing that certain sinful behavior is “normal” and “acceptable.” This makes our jobs as parents even more important in that we must make sure our children grow up knowing what is normal and what is in actuality, sin.
Most of my little girls love JoJo Siwa. My oldest daughter even classifies JoJo as her favorite singer, and she has even written letters to JoJo in her “diary” that are really sweet. My daughter watches JoJo on television, and loved wearing JoJo hair bows, tennis shoes, and her JoJo backpack to school. It breaks my heart to have to make my little daughter stop wearing her JoJo bows and backpack due to the wrong decisions of someone who she looks up to so much.
Over the weekend, speculations have come out regarding as to whether or not JoJo Siwa was making the choice to become a homosexual due to some posts she made on Instagram. In one post, she is seen wearing a T-shirt with the words “Best Gay Cousin Ever” which she claims was given to her by her cousin. In another post, she is seen in a video lip synching to the song “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga which has a line in it which mentions people who call themselves a part of the “LGBTQ” movement.
When I heard about these posts, I had already thought in my mind that this is her way of “coming out” as a homosexual. I was already upset by the thought that JoJo would choose this lifestyle, but hoped that it was not true. Sadly, she confirmed these rumors on Instagram Live, in which she gushes about how “happy” she is now that she has made her decision to be “gay” public. Here is some of what she said in this video;
  “I wanted to come on here and just talk to y'all for a second and say thank you,… For the last 48 hours...72 hours, I have gotten the most endless amount of love and support. I am really, really, I'm really happy. Now that the world gets to see this side of my life... it makes me really, really, really happy” (Source: NBC Today)
Homosexuality is a sin. Moses said in Leviticus 18:22,” Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Also, in Leviticus 20:13, we see that, under the Old Law, homosexuals were punished by death. Homosexuality was also condemned in the New Testament;

“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:26-32).

Seeing how serious of a sin that homosexuality is, how can JoJo profess to be so “happy” about her choice to partake in this sin? By the way, contrary to the Lady Gaga song “Born This Way,” no one is born being homosexual! It is a choice-and a bad one at that! I believe that JoJo is so “happy” to be “coming out” as a homosexual for two reasons. One reason is that she has been taught to put herself first above God, and to partake in whatever makes her “happy”-even if it is wrong! In the Instagram Live video that she participated in, JoJo talked about her parents’ reaction to her telling them she was homosexual;
“My parents have known," she responded. "My mom said she's known for the last two years. She's like, 'I just know with you!' She's like around two years ago, she was like, 'I don't think you only like boys, that's totally OK.'” (Source: NBC Today)
This quote should make it clear to all parents that we have to teach our kids about God’s Word and make sure that they learn to follow it rather than those who have fallen for the devil’s trickery. Satan has tricked JoJo Siwa into thinking that she is happier being a homosexual.
   The second reason that JoJo is so "happy" be be living the sinful life of a homosexual is that the thought of committing sin is making JoJo feel “happy” because sin is pleasurable for a while, but after that is punishment for all eternity. (Hebrews 11:25).
Of course, Satan is never satisfied with just having JoJo Siwa in his grasp, he wants to use her to influence others to commit this same sin and fall into the devil’s trap, also! In her Instagram Live video, JoJo goes on to encourage her young fans to do as she has done, and fall into the trap of Satan by choosing homosexuality;
"But right now what matters is that you guys know that no matter who you love, that it's OK and that it's awesome and the world is there for you," she said. "There are so many people that are there for you. I know that everyone's situation is different and it might be harder for some people and it might be easier for some people to come out or to be themselves but I think coming out has this stigma around it — that it's a really, really scary thing, but it's not anymore."
JoJo was correct when she said that “the world would be there for you” if a person decides to follow her example and become a homosexual, because the world lies in wickedness of the devil, and the devil wants us to follow him rather than God. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (II Corinthians 4:4). That is why we must make sure that we are following God rather than the world, because we cannot enter into Heaven by following Satan.
Homosexuality is a choice. I Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” We see from these verses that it is possible for people to leave homosexuality for homosexuality is completely against nature, and must be left by those who are of that persuasion. There is a difference between love and lust, and God is Love, and He has defined love for us. Those who are homosexuals are urged out of love to give up this sin. It is possible to change as some at Corinth had done in the First Century.
Parents, I encourage you to not support JoJo Siwa. This means that I encourage you to do what I am doing with my own children in that I will no longer purchase her products for them, or allow them to attend her concerts, or allow them to watch her videos and shows. I know this can be a challenge because many young girls are like my little girls, and look to JoJo Siwa as a role model. Parents, we cannot allow JoJo Siwa to remain a role model for our little ones because she is not a good role model for children. She is only concerned about gaining fame and attention for herself, and she does not care about how her sinful actions affect her young fans. We must also teach our children the importance of following God rather than other people, no matter how much they like that person or how famous that person is. We, as parents, are the biggest role models our children will have, and we have to show them how to deal with sin in the world. If we teach them that supporting people like JoJo Siwa is OK while they are young, they will grow up to think that certain sinful behaviors are acceptable. May we work every day to teach our children the right path to Heaven, and a simple step in doing this is to say “No-No” to JoJo Siwa!