In these last days we are seeing antagonism on the part of superficial believers who place their trust in the physical world, while neglecting the inner spirit.
They go through the rituals of their culture, hoping to appear more spiritual while neglecting to focus on the need for a deeper walk, all is about appearance, superiority and control over others, rather than submission to Christ in their heart.
I am seeing a greater polarization between the sheep and the goats and between those who desire a deeper walk and those who live in the plain of superficiality.
When asked to go and pray about a matter, the superficial Christian, suddenly have nothing to say and will not commit to pray.
I believe the Lord is showing me what I have known for some time but is much more dramatic now than ever before, and that is that most who claim to be believers are not born again. They lack two things, compassion for the lost and empathy and love for fellow believers.
A good test is to challenge someone to greater holiness, leaving Scripture in context to prove a point and to discuss a matter fully before making judgments. Most "Christians" now do not want to discuss anything in depth, they want quick answers, manipulation and easy judgment, not based on truth but on feelings.
Sometimes it seems impossible to resolve most things, because of the continual stonewalling and animosity that emerges when we try. No one will listen long enough to fully understand a matter, only long enough to decide what to be mad at.
I have no solution to this problem except to move on to others who might be interested in digging deeply into the Word for understanding and who are willing to pray over a matter for God's guidance.
I have been saddened by those I desired a relationship with, but know it is impossible and my only recourse is to move on. Most people will not listen, nor love anyone enough to resolve anything.
When God is not the center of the relationship, humility driving a prayer life and desire to learn truth, then we can not have a relationship, without that, there can not be closeness.
Be encouraged by all this mess, God said it would happen in these last days of apostasy, we can expect it and know that everyone else who loves the Lord is going through the same thing.
Notice too that the apostate age will produce people who "have a form of godliness", they are in the church, but they are not born again.
2 Timothy 3:1-15
"3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
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