Even In The Darkest of Times
The temperature of the Church has increasingly grown colder and colder throughout the generations. Why? The lack of sound teaching that has taken over the Church. Without the sound teaching of the Word of God, the Church cannot sustain itself, let alone grow. We are nothing without the Word of God, for we are nothing without Christ. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the present darkness covering our world in his message, A Time Is Coming.
The enemy doesn’t come as an evil man dressed in all black; the enemy comes as our deepest desires. Temptation seduces us with empty words and promises until we give in temptation and are lulled asleep by the enemy as Delilah did to Samson so many years ago. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the signs of the enemy trying to lull us into a spiritual death in his message Sleeping with the Enemy Pt. 2: Samson.
The enemy lulls us to sleep so that we don’t even realize that we’ve spiritually died and the LORD has left us. Don’t succumb to your Delilah as Samson did. Don’t allow the temptation of the enemy to overcome you so that you are lulled asleep.
1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.
4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
Judges 16:1-6, 18-22
Today in the Church, there are several denominations, each claiming that they are right. That they have the best interpretation of Scripture, but how can someone tell what church doctrine is the most accurate? Or how can someone tell who’s message is Biblically accurate or sound? Is there a way to make sure that what your pastor or denomination is teaching you is actually Biblical and True? How do you spot false teachings or doctrine? Are there teachings all Christians should believe? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the Truth behind picking the right kind of fruit before you eat it in his message, False Teachings Pt. 2: Beware of the Fruit.
The problem with false teachings or false doctrine is that it gives people a false sense of security. Thus, the real reason we correct false doctrine. You cannot do whatever you want or live however you feel like with no consequences. This is the kind of fruit you must beware of.
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15
Beware of false teachings of the enemy that condemn what the LORD has called us to do and embrace.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw Him they worshiped Him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
Beware of false teachings that claim you no longer have to preach, teach, or baptize because all will one day be redeemed with Christ. According to Christ, unless you do these things, you cannot be saved.
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And He will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:31-40
There are teachings all Christians should and must believe, as well as things all Christians should and must do. Don’t allow anyone to lead you astray with false teachings. Flee from them, lest you be disqualified from the race set before you.
In the Church today, there is a lot of division on different theologies. Many people, in fact, believe that these different divisions are not right. They believe that the body of Christ should be united as one body instead of separate bodies. Now, while this is a true statement, the body of Christ should be united as one body in Christ Jesus, at the same time, we, as the body of Christ, cannot accept teachings into the body of Christ that are contrary to that of the teachings of Christ. This then begs the question, what theological doctrine is considered to be too contrary for the body of Christ to accept? And what exactly are the dangers of accepting these teachings that some claim to be false doctrine? Isn’t everyone’s walk with Christ Jesus unique? So, shouldn’t each person’s perspective of the Bible be unique? Is there room for more than one interpretation of Scripture? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the Truth about Church Doctrine in his message series, False Teachings Pt. 1: The Dangers of Universalism.
According to Jesus Himself, He is the only way to the Father. In other words, no one can receive salvation, enter Heaven, or have eternal life without Him.
1 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:1, 7-10
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
These aren’t the only instance of this in the Bible either. Throughout Scripture, we see time and time again that without Jesus, there is no salvation.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:16-18
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:11-12
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:8-9
The danger of false doctrine is that it teaches a different doctrine than that of Jesus. If it was Jesus who took the sin of mankind upon Himself, died, and rose again, then should it not then only be through Jesus that we can be saved?
From the very beginning, the Devil has been tempting humanity with the same ways he still tempts us with today. He entices us with the lie that sin won’t lead to death. That sin isn’t a big deal. The Devil evil twists Scripture in order to get us to fall prey to his schemes. Many believe that as long as our sin isn’t too great, then we can still make it into Heaven. Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he opens our eyes to the dangers of playing with sin regardless of how small we think it is in his message, Playing With Sin.
28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Matthew 5:28-30
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Galatians 5:7-9
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:16-18
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”
Acts 2:37-39
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:9-14
Many Christians believe and teach that all you have to do is repent, and life will be easier because once you are saved, you are always saved. In fact, some go as far as to believe that Christians no longer can even sin because they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. Could this be why we Christians are held to a higher standard than the world? We’re supposed to be Christ to the world, so are we perfect as Jesus is perfect? So then are they right, and Christians are saved from sinning because Jesus said, ‘whom the Son sets free is free indeed’? Or is there something more to it? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture for the answers in her video, Can Christians Sin?
Because Jesus said that you will be free if He sets you free, does that mean Christians can’t sin?
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36
Jesus didn’t say that you would no longer struggle with sin; He said that you would be free from the bondage of sin. In other words, you would now have the tools you need in order to overcome whatever sin comes your way. But look at what Jesus tells Peter, His best friend, after finding him asleep instead of praying.
41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41
Both of these Scriptures were spoken by Jesus before His death and resurrection; therefore, none can argue that this verse isn’t for us. Either all of Jesus’ teachings and words were for us, or none of them were. We can’t cherry-pick the Gospel.
In fact, just to prove to you nothing has changed, let’s take a look at the Church after the death and resurrection of Christ.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Galatians 6:1
According to Paul, the greatest apostle who ever lived, we are going to stumble and fall. We, the Church (Christians), are going to make mistakes and therefore fall into temptation and sin. But he also gave us hope that our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will help pick us back up when we fall down, just as Jesus told Peter to do.
31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22:31-32
When we sin, we have to get back up and then go on and help others. We bear each other’s burdens because we can’t carry the weight on our own. We help each other through our struggles and trials. Iron sharpens iron.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:5-14
We fight temptation through the help of the Holy Spirit that has been given to us through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ that washes us clean. We have to remember we’re a work in progress, but we also have to remember to never settle for less than perfect. We are to strive for perfection so that if we miss it, we may land amongst excellence, for there is no verse to confirm the false comforts of ‘once saved always saved’.
Back to Not For The Weak of Heart?
What does the Bible say about Hell? Is Hell even in the Bible? Well, the Bible says Hell was created for the Devil and his angels, not for humans. Death and Hades are both thrown into the Lake of Fire, as are the False Prophet and the Beast, but are humans? If Hell wasn’t made humans, does that mean that humans go to Hell? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the answer to the question, Do Humans Go To Hell?
27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Matthew 5:27-30
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:12-15
Humans will be sentenced to Hell if they do not follow God’s laws. If a person seeks to live a life of sin and unrighteousness, then God is not a part of that person. And if God is not a part of that person, then their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. If your name isn’t written in the Lambs Book of Life, you will be sentenced to Hell at the Final Judgment.
41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:41-42
11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 8:11-12
According to Jesus, Hell is a place of extreme darkness and torment. It’s a place where there is no rest or peace. It’s a place where there is no joy, only pain and suffering. Hell is the exact opposite of Heaven because Hell was created as a punishment away from God and all of His attributes, so there can be nothing good in Hell.
9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of His anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
Revelation 14:9-11
According to the book of Revelation, in the last of the last days, the Mark of the Beast will be upon the earth, and if anyone takes that mark, their souls will be damned to Hell. So, in other words, you could’ve lived a righteous life your entire life, but if you give into the Mark of the Beast in the Last Days, then you will be one of the humans that are sentenced to Hell because of your sin.
And because of your sin, regardless of what it is, you will be tormented day and night forever and ever. It will be your eternal death because you did not choose eternal life.
Back to Not For The Weak of Heart?
We’ve often heard the phrase, “God understands.” But does He? Does God let certain sins slide because He knows that we’re only human? Does He let it go because at least we wanted to do good? Join ArieRashelle as she answers the question, “Does God Understand?”
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Does God understand? God understands that we are dust. He understands that we will fall into temptation and give into sin. God understands that sinners sin, but that doesn’t mean that God overlooks sin. On the contrary, God, in fact, expects us to be perfect as He is perfect. Why? Because if we strive for mediocrity, the most we can be is mediocre. Why would we strive for anything less than perfect?
The purpose of Jesus becoming a baby and dying a man was so that He could take our sin upon Him. It was so that one day we would live with Him forever in Eternity. If we don’t strive for perfection and settle for mediocrity, we deem Jesus’ sacrifice pointless. We can be mediocre on our own. We don’t need help with that; this why we have to strive for perfection. The only way that we can become better is to strive for better. Jesus first overcame, and therefore we will overcome. If you have been saved, then you have been set free, so why would you return to slavery when Christ set you free?
So much does God really understand? Well, Jesus understands that sin is hard to overcome. He understands what it’s like to be tempted in every way, so never feel as though you can’t go to Him. You can go before the Throne of Grace no matter what sins you are ashamed of. Christ died for you. He died for you knowing exactly what you have done and will do in the future. Christ died so that you could live. Repent, and He shall save you. Once you repent, you are freed in Jesus’ name. So, live your life as one who has been freed, not as a slave.
Back to Not For The Weak of Heart?
At some point in time, we all will have a battle with AI (Adultery and Idolatry). For some of us, this is a battle we have to face every single day. For others, it will only be once or twice; nevertheless, the battle at AI is an important one. Most people don’t believe that you can overcome adultery and/or idolatry, but is that true? How do you overcome idolatry and adultery? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings this fiery message opening our eyes to the Do’s and Don’ts when fighting AI.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Reverend Kenny Yates does not believe that only men struggle with AI, nor does he believe that only men read into things and turn them sexual. He was simply speaking, at that time, from a man’s point of view to those type of men, since he is a man. We, as The HoldToHope Family, believe that Adultery and Idolatry see no gender, but leech on to any unsuspecting, unshielded person that they can.
Do you know who you are in Christ? That’s a question I feel we no longer know the answer to in today’s society. We are too busy classifying ourselves according to what the world says instead of what the Word of God says. The case of missing identity has become very prevalent in our society. There is definitely an Identity Thief on the loose out there. So once again I ask, do you know who you are in Christ?
In our culture today, we have no idea who we are anymore. Every day we push more and more to take away our identities. We pushed to remove God from our schools. We’re currently pushing to remove gender altogether. But why? The enemy knows that if we don’t have an identity, we are lost. He also knows that if we will believe that we are our sin, then we will reject the Truth.
See, the Truth sets us free, but if we believe that the Truth is trying to destroy our identity then we will never accept it. The enemy didn’t sneak and take our identity and our children’s identities one night while we were sleeping. No, in fact, he walked in through the front door and slowly began to change the way we think through movements of ’empowerment’. From the very beginning the Devil has been good at getting us to willingly accept poison as he convinces us that we like it.
The Devil, in the Garden of Eden, convinced Eve that the forbidden fruit wouldn’t cause death, but instead, it would make you wise like God. He convinced the people of Israel that God was their Baal. The Devil attacks the mind before anything else. Why? Because you are what you think. If you want your identity back, change the way you think. Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Study your Bible so you know who you are in Christ Jesus, then put it into action by casting down any thought contrary to your identity in Christ Jesus.
Always remember, you are not your sin. You are not your past. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus.
