Marriage is not Made by a Piece of Paper and a Vow

Accepting no disagreements on this subject, it is for contemplation only or confirmation. This is not up for debate here.

The same people who say that a remarried couple is a genuine marriage because of the government requires a piece of paper to acknowledge it and to dissolve it, would say that homosexual marriage was not a valid marriage.

This is a double standard, God spoke as much against the sins of divorce and remarriage as He did against homosexuality.

It won't be long before those who defend remarriages after divorce, will also be claiming that homosexual marriage is legitimate, because if the vow and the piece of paper make a marriage, then why would we exclude same sex marriage.

John 6:60
"Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"

Even the disciples had a hard time wrapping their mind around the idea that a man was sinning when they divorce and remarriage.

There need be no confusion on this subject, God is clear, but those who do not want to accept God's will, are refusing to go to prayer and ask God what the truth is.

Know the God of the Word

One can read the Word, study and repeat what it says, without knowing one lick what it means.

When we pay more attention to the writings of others than depending on the Holy Spirit, then we placing our trust in people we can see, rather than Christ who is unseen.

John 4:24

""God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Protect Your Marriage

Extended family members can be parasites who continually fight against your values, mocking what you believe and pressuring you to live like they do.

The weaker partner in a marriage often will follow those who pressure them to accept their ways, bringing frustration on the one who desires to obey God. You may be married to a believer like yourself, but if that believer is a baby in the Lord or weak when it comes to family, then it is best to spend little time with extended family, unless the extended family is strong in the Lord.

Those who are believers need to spend little time with extended family who are not born again, to avoid the constant pressure from ungodly attitudes and ways.

It is one thing to visit one on one, with an unsaved family member for the purpose of bringing them the gospel, it is quite another to make them close friends with whom you spend all the holidays, birthdays and picnics on a continual basis.

Extended family who feel they have an ally with the weaker spouse, continually working to undermine the relationship by flattering the baby believer while negating and ridiculing the stronger believer. This seriously weakens the marriage relationship and places pressure to bear on the one who is sold out to Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:17

"17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

1 Corinthians 15:33

"Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

It is clear that the more time we spend with unbelievers the more likely we are to become weaker in the Lord.  Those who do not love the Lord, have the ability to undermine all that we desire, making us feeble minded. 

Vacillating in our determination to walk with Christ, often is our response to extended family who hate our God. We become worried more about offending the family member than what God thinks of our behavior.

Proverbs 29:25

"The fear of man brings a snare: but whoso places his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

Matthew 10:37-39

"37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."

If we purpose to live for Christ, then extended family will shrink from us, if they do not, then it is probable that we are not living out our Christian life as boldly as we should. 

Luke 12:51-53

"51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Do we live to please men or do we live to please God?

If we want our marriages to be strong, make only Godly believers our best friends.

Where Is Our Fatih? In Our Own Efforts or in Christ?

Those who think one can lose their salvation are often also those who believe in divorce and remarriage.

When we operate as though we have to endure through our own strength to keep our salvation, then it would follow that we do not have faith to believe we can endure in a difficult situation, through the Holy Spirits help and direction, or that God makes us one in marriage.

Belief in the loss of ones' salvation and bailing out of marriage go hand in hand. Those who think you can lose your salvation do not believe Christ changed them, saved them and keeps them. Just as they do not believe Christ made two people one in marriage.

They think they are keeping their own salvation by their own efforts and they think they are making their own marriage by their own vows.

These same people do not believe that God made two people into one by His power outside the realm of human effort. They see everything from the perspective of human endeavor, rather than spiritual works of God.

Which men have made two people one in marriage or makes a believer into a new creation? Christ did that, man had no part in it.

Ephesians 2:10

"10 FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Mark 1:8-10

"8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, coming up from[a] the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove."

It is interesting to me that many, if not most people who believe one can lose their salvation and endorse divorce and remarriage also love outer miracles that everyone can see. They do not walk by faith in marriage, in salvation or miracles.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5: Assurance of the Resurrection

"1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,

3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.

4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has GIVEN US THE SPIRIT AS A GUARANTEE.

6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

So, in summary, those who are not confident in the works of God are feverishly working to keep their own salvation, depending on human effort for their marriage and requiring miracles everyone can see to maintain their faith, which is really lack of faith.

I have faith that God made my husband and I into new creations when Christ answered our call of repentance to become born again.

I have faith that when we went before God to become married, He made us into one flesh, no outer signs of that union were necessary for me to know what God did.

I have faith that God is working even when I don't witness a miracle with my eyes. I know that God is working all the time on our behalf, whether I can see the results or not.

Romans 10:17

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

2 Corinthians 5:7

"7 For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Which one of these verses tell us to make sure we can see with our eyes to have faith?

Worldly Meditation or Godly Meditation

The word meditation means different things to the non-believing world than to the believer in Christ Jesus.

A facebook friend brought to my attention that some are saying that meditation is closing our minds to allow God to speak to us. That could not be farther from the truth.

God told us to "meditate on these things", meaning we are to think about them, ponder their meaning prayerfully, while seeking the Holy Spirit for understanding.

Worldly meditation is the opposite of Godly meditation. Worldly meditation is emptying of the mind and God's meditation is deeply thinking on His principles and meaning.

Philippians 4:8
"8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

1 Timothy 4:15
"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."

"MEDITA'TION, n. L.meditatio. Close or continued thought; the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind; serious contemplation."

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." Ps.19.
The King James Bible Page http://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/meditate.html
MEDITATE - Definition from the KJV Dictionary

Are You Going To Obey God

For those Christian parents who have been accused by their children of bad parenting, even though they provided all of their children's needs and did the best they thought they could, as they grew in wisdom, I offer this;

Also for the adult children who want to use their parents as an excuse for bitter attitudes and sinful behavior, I offer this;

One day when I was reflecting on my parenting skills or lack of them in raising our children, the Lord spoke loudly and clearly to me that I suffered from parental pride.

He told me that I was prideful because I thought that I could do an excellent job raising the children because of what I know. My focus was what I could do.

After that I prayed that the Lord would work in my children in spite of me.

The Lord once showed me that there is no perfect parent because we are all fallen human beings who need a Savior.

While we can take responsibility for our own wrong attitudes and actions at times, we cannot take responsibility for the choices our children make, those belong to them alone.

Any adult child that blames their parent for their own sins, is arrogant and self willed, because we know the they would not be the perfect parent any more than we can.

God the Father was a perfect God to Adam and Eve, who had no earthly parents, and look what they did.

They walked with God in the Garden every day, they began perfect and ended badly.

They had the perfect influence, God Himself, and still chose to sin.

Ultimately our choices to obey or disobey God are ours alone, they belong to no one else. Nothing anyone else does can make us sin.

We always have the option to turn to God for our instruction and lessons for the answers to all of the issues of life.

Every thing we need to know to obey God and keep from sin is in God's Word, no other book is needed.

And, the answers to all we need to know dwell in us in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ who can teach us all things.

Next time your child accuses you of failing in your parenting, agree with them, and then ask them one question...."are you going to obey God now"?

Godly Unity Vs Man Made Unity

Godly unity is not a man made unity concocted to make everyone happy and avoiding arguments, but a Holy Spirit unity by seeking the Word of God for the truth.

God's unity comes by pouring over the Word for His answers to come to an agreement on what God is saying and what He means.

Philippians 2:2 "make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose."

1 Peter 3:8
"8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:"

1 Corinthians 1:10 "10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Romans 15:6 "6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 15:6 "6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Pride and Arrogance Has No Place in the Believers Life

Often, especially on facebook we meet those who are comfortable with bullying because they can "hit and run" without any consequences.

Proverbs 14:7 "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge."

Proverbs 22:24 "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:"

Titus 3:10 "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;"

Often the rantings of a manipulator can deter others from the Word of God causing great distraction.

The devil sends argumentative people to frustrate those who are truly seeking.

When someone has an honest disagreement, for purposes of growing and blessing others, then that is welcomed. After all, isn't that what the Christian life is about, challenging oneWhen we perceive that someone is fighting to win an argument rather than honestly humble in discerning truth, then it is time to make our departure.
another to greater holiness and sharing truth with non-believers?

Proverbs 27:17
"17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

Romans 15:13
"13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

We are also challenged to desire humility. Pride has to go and one way that happens is to be shown we are wrong from time to time and being able to admit it. There cannot be arrogance when we know Who God is and what we are.

Job 10:9
"9 Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again?"

Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."

We are nothing more than clay and God is our potter, we have nothing to offer, but Christ is everything. When we remember this, we have no reason to feel pride or generate arrogance.

Proverbs 8:13 "13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."

Proverbs 11:2 " When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom."

Proverbs 13:10 "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom."

What Daughters to their Moms

What's the old saying?

"What goes around comes around."

What children do to their Moms, grandchildren are watching and learning how to do it to theirs.

Food for thought! LOL

What Will Your Old Age Look Like?

I see clearly that our old age drops all it's guard to appear good, when we get too old to control all those inner feelings, the real us emerges in all its fullness, for everyone to see.


If we were crabby inside, but calm on the outside, our crabby will emerge in our old age. People do not become something they are not, all their lives, they just stop trying to impress others and the real self comes out.




Whatever you have developed in your inner being all your life, that is what others will see when we become too weary to keep up pretenses any more.


Take care to inventory your inner attitude, because one day it will expose you, not only in this life but in eternity.


If we think we can get away with pretending, remember that one day when we are too old and tired to care if anyone likes us, then we will be utterly exposed.


And, remember that God already knows, there is no fooling Him.

Our Speech Matter a Little But ONLY IF

Our speech matters only in so much as it reflects our lifestyle.

I found just recently that the word "conversation" in the old English meant your life example through attitudes and actions.

This is why I like to go back to the original text. If we are to read only the English translation we might think that it is our speech that needs to "becometh the gospel of Christ", but the actual meaning is that our entire life must reflect the gospel of Christ.

That is huge, if we speak only, but our lifestyle and attitude does not match our speech, then we are in disobedience and a reproach to the gospel of Christ.

America Has Lost the Battle

What had been the pattern with God, in the disciplining of the nation of Israel, when she would not obey Him?

2 Chronicles 12 tells us that God allowed wicked nations to conquer those who would not bow the knee to Him.  

In the case of the United States, I can see the Lord destroying our country from within rather than from without.  We have no enemies with twelve hundred chariots coming against our armies.  

What we have are wicked men taking over the government making unjust laws that oppress the people, through excessive taxes and laws that attempt to force us to accept evil.

We are punished through our taxes to accept the actions of those who take our personal funds to live in a slothful and sinful manner.

We are punished through our taxes to accept the murdering of millions of unborn babies.

We are now being told that we must accept same sex marriage, that any expression against this act is hate speech and punishable. 

For those of you who think we are still free, to a great extent we are, but we are slowly and methodically losing that freedom through the mismanagement of our monies, the weakening of our armies and most of all the ruination of our families through public education and apostate churches. 

We don't need armies to infiltrate and conquer us. The enemy of our soul has captured the hearts of the Americans and we are falling of our own doing. 

Unless we repent, and I don't think we will, we will see a dictatorship in our lifetime.  When we abandon all sense of righteousness to be accepted by our culture, then we have lost the battle, and every future battle. 

Divorce and Remarriage Has Ruined the Church

Those of you who think that remarriage after adultery is a valid marriage, don't realize that God called it an ongoing state of adultery in the original languages.

No where in the Word of God will you see any statements like "if you have remarried with a piece of paper by the law of the land it is now a real marriage."

First lets establish that it is commanded by God that we tell one another the truth when it comes to sin.

There are those who would say that God is the judge and we should let Him tell them. That is true only in part, God gave us the responsibility toward our fellow believers to be His spokesman. We are to tell others the truth of His principles as surely as we are to tell others the gospel, the bad news first that they are sinful and on their way to hell, and the good news that they can be saved from that by believing in Christ.

The church is rampant with divorce and remarriage because it has been widely accepted without real Biblical grounds. All excuses for divorce and remarriage have come about by twisting and misunderstanding Scripture.

I will probably lose friends over this, but I have remained silent on this subject too long lately. May the Lord spare those who are young and have not yet committed this sin, that they may begin their married life the correct way in obedience to Christ. And, may this knowledge prevent the legitimate young marriages from falling into the trap of divorce and remarriage.

It is likely that the young marrieds will not have encouragement to stay together from the older set, who have violated this and accepted it, based on whether or not the sins of the spouses are bad enough. They will not help you stay strong in your marriage most of the time.

It is best to go to God in prayer and those who have been committed to marriage, one man, one woman for life for wisdom on this subject. All others will help you wallow and take away your hope that God can work in your marriage. They will focus on our troubles rather than God's Power. They will twist scripture to discourage you from persevering through all kinds of injustice.

The world is full of injustice, we are not called to bail out when things get rough, we are admonished to go through with Christ.

First rule that God established is that we have a responsibility to our fellow believers to rebuke, admonish, correct and discipline those who are walking sinfully.

1 Timothy 5:20
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Titus 1:13 "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;"

Secondly, we are to speak the truth that others may avoid sin against God. If we love our brothers and sister in the Lord, then we warn from the Word, of pitfalls that may hinder their prayers.

1 Peter 3:7
"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

Christ said this, in Mark 10:11-12
"11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. 12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery."

Christ intended that two people are more than just living together sharing life in marriage, they have actually become one person, the connotation in the original languages is "glued together" with a spiritual glue that no man can separate.

Mark 10:8
"and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh."

Matthew 19:6
"Therefore they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."

Divorce and remarriage has caused many family problems and children who live a superficial Christianity, believing that God's mandates and principles don't matter, since Mom and Dad have violated this very foundational matter of marriage.

Why would a child learn to persevere in persecution for Christ when he has been taught to bail out of anything that makes him uncomfortable?

We have taught our culture to abandon and kill anyone who gets in the way of our happiness. We kill babies that inconvenience us, we throw away spouses that frustrate us, we dishonor authorities that require things of us.

We are a nation that takes only one thing seriously, our freedom to do as we please, no matter who it hurts.

Chivalry is dead! The willingness to be hurt for the sake of another is now considered foolish in our apostate and selfish culture.

Those who would defend their divorce and remarriage on the basis of "grace", does not understand God's grace.

Grace was extended to give us the ability to avoid sin. Grace was not extended so that we can be absolved of it, while still living in it.

1 Peter 5:10
"10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."

2 Peter 3:18
"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

Romans 6
"1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

No where in the bible does God say that it is alright to sin as long as you are born again.

When we continue in sin, we are an example to others, especially the younger more impressionable people.

Luke 17:2
"It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

The passage in Luke is speaking of children, our influence over young minds by our actions is much greater than we realize.

Our lifestyle teaches children even more than our words do. When we take God's Word lightly, so will our children. Why are our modern apostate churches filled with superficial and flippant entertainment seeking youth? The answer is in the lifestyles of their adult influences.

May those who justify their sin remember they will be accountable to those they lead astray. May they repent, now before they have to face Christ on judgement day.

My Personal Testimony

This morning another sister asked for testimonies of our salvation experiences. As I was writing mine it occurred to me that I had never really done that here and that perhaps it was time to do that. Here is my story, in a nutshell, feel free to ask questions after reading it. Blessings to all of you!

I had been living a lifestyle of sin in my twenties. One day I decided to read the Bible I had at age 12. I began to sense deep sorrow over the way I was living and sought God for forgiveness.

I was raised in a home that had little love in it but all the family members attended church every Sunday. The teachers at church, in Sunday School, showed me the love I didn't get at home.

At age 12 I repented from my sinfulness at day camp, but I didn't live for the Lord then. I was convicted about my sin, but allowed my emotional state to keep me in it.

I married a Catholic man, and became Catholic at age 16 to marry him when I was 18.

While in that church I began to be prompted to read the Bible that I received as a confirmation gift from the church I grew up in. when I was 12. The Lord began to show me all the things in the Catholic church that were wrong.

I believe I was saved at 12, but was too immature to live for Christ, while under the oppression of my family. They all claimed to be Christians, but didn't follow the Bible in many ways.

After the Lord got hold of me in my twenties, I began to run hard after Him. I lost the companionship of all family members on both sides. But continued to follow Him.

Then along the way God sent me friends to help me, one at a time, never more than one. Those friends have moved on and some have followed after false doctrine and we drifted away.

For one year after discovering the heresies in the Catholic church, I was completely alone, no friends, no family who loved me. Even my husband was angry at me all the time. I praise God to this day for that time. I can stand alone now, and not feel anything but joy to be with my Savior. After ten years of marriage my husband became born again too.

I know now, more than ever, that being alone is preferable to being with superficial believers who detract from our walk. I also know that all that rejection I experienced in my life trained me for the road ahead.

If we cannot boldly speak the truth without being devastated by the cruelty of others, then we will be continually beaten down and useless for the kingdom.

When I began to be rejected early on, I was frequently emotionally ravaged. It made me shrink from telling the truth at times, and even backing down when there was blasphemy spoken.

As I grew in strength through Bible reading and prayer, I acquired a kind of emotional vigor that sustained me through the rejection of others. Of course I prefer not to be rejected, but the possibility of it does not deter or rule me.

The Lord has been growing me ever since that day that He got hold of me at children's camp. I remained in sin for awhile before realizing that Christ could be all I needed and He could cleanse me.

Then is when He began to work in me in an immense way, showing me things I had never heard, even things most believers wouldn't admit to. As I grew I realized how little of the Word most believers follow and how much they ignore from God's Word.

I am no scholar, but I do desire to know Him and to follow what He tells me. When I fail, I want to know it, to correct the wrong and proceed to grow.

One thing for sure, if we desire to know Him above all else, then we will have to set aside our desire to be loved by others, and to be satisfied in being loved by Christ.

Our goal should not be to get others to like or love us, our goal is to love others so much, through Christ, that we are willing to be hated by the entire world to lead one soul out of hell and into glory.

Privacy is not an Option for the Believer

I have had believers tell me that their Christianity is a personal thing, that we should not correct others, God will do that.

The devil loves this! The Bible is replete with Scriptures that tell us to love our brothers and the way to do that, of which is to correct, rebuke, exhort and admonish in all longsuffering.

Why would God say "in all longsuffering"? Perhaps it is because there will be much correction and many people do not like correction, and even their friends will not accept those who correct others.

Two of my previous posts explain what real love looks like and it is nothing like all the things we have been taught in public school and even in most churches now.

No where in the Word does God say that our Christian walk is a personal thing. God makes us a family when we become born again and we should be deeply involved with and caring about the lives of our brothers and sisters.

I realize that is very hard these days because there are so few in the church who understand this and love to keep their lives private.

1 John 3:14
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

Seek God's Word for His kind of love!

God's Kind of Love

Thessalonians 4:1-12

"For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain."

"6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord."

"9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?"

"11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."

1 John 5:2

"2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments."

Acts 20:28

"28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

Titus 3:10-11

"10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

2 Thessalonians 3:15

"15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

2 Timothy 4:2

"2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine."

1 Timothy 5:20

"20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."

Romans 16:17

"17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

James 5:20

"20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul[a] from death and cover a multitude of sins."

All our attempts at sparing the feelings of those who live in sin, has caused the apostasy that dwells in the organized church today. The most damaging mantra that has taken hold in the church is; "just love them." As though; if we show enough friendliness the person will like us and Jesus Christ too. This couldn't be farther from the truth.

Many people are hurting because they have not sought God for His ways and truth. When we do not speak the truth boldly, these people are left to feel comfortable in their sin.

Hebrews 4:12

"12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

We are not called to spare someone's feelings, we are called to tell the truth, loving God and His truth more than we love to be loved.

The modern church flatters people to gain the advantage over them, hoping the flattery will make them do what is right, but the opposite is the result, more sin and guilt relieved.

Do not seek to avoid bad feelings, seek to honor God through the spreading of His truth. The feelings are an indication that there is guilt, let the guilt do it's work, then is when we can reach someone with truth.

Sloppy Christianity

There are so many people who have been brain washed into the sloppy modern Christianity that they think they would be mean to someone for chastising them.

The devil has managed to convince the church to adhere to principles opposite of what God said, mostly because they avoid those "hard" scriptures" that place us at risk of emotional persecution.

God calls us to keep believers in line, through the truth of His Word for the good of the whole body and for the good of the person who sins.

James 5:20
"20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul[a] from death and cover a multitude of sins."

Hebrews 4:12
"12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

1 Corinthians 5:6
"6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?"

We can see what flippancy has done to the church, it has caused the entire lump to become leavened.

The church in America used to discipline the sinning brother and more of society acted properly, even those who were not born again, knew right from wrong.

Now, the church doesn't know right from wrong and will persecute those who attempt to bring back the principles of Christ that foster holiness in the body.

Many believers do and say the opposite of what God says. They have been so greatly impacted by the world that they no longer understand God's standards. And, they do not read their Bibles or ask the Holy Spirit for understanding, so they remain ignorant of God's principles and mandates.

The church needs to repent before they can properly impact the world for Christ.

Luke 11:22-30
"22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils."

"23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth."

"24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out."

"25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished."

"26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

"27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked."

"28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."

"29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet."

"30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation"

Let's stop saying things like "I think" and begin saying "What does God say?"