Cults begin when someone decides they want to believe something. So they make up their minds to pretend a thing and add some of the word of God to it to make is seem alright, then they begin to intimidate others into believing it.
It takes a weak and beggarly mind to fall into the trap of cults, when all we have to do is seek Christ for ourselves, then Christ will reveal Himself and bring truth to anyone who wants it.
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
It will make others angry when we begin to ask many questions, seek many answers and refuse to follow those who wish to control us.
Do not be controlled by people, rather be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Denominationalism is also not Biblical, it is divisive in favor of one special doctrine over another. When we elevate one principle as better than other principles it sends a wrong message to the unsaved world.
ALL of the Bible should be honored. Also the churches in the NT were not named after pet doctrine, they were named according to the city they were in, example; "the church at Ephasus."
The "way this culture does church" is not at all Biblical, not only in the leadership but also the structure. When we see how every man can speak in the gathering with a leader as a guide, then error can be handled immediately or adding to support a leader is valuable, but only one man always preaching without interaction of the congregation is not Biblical.
The gatherings that don't allow a man to stand and correct or add to the sermon are indulging in unBiblical tradition.
1 Corinthians 14:29 "29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should hold his peace.…"
When is the last time you saw this much congregation interaction in the gathering? It is forbidden in almost all churches these days with the rare exception of the "Brethren Assemblies", which are in the model of the first century church. They do not have a salaried pastor and a man may be the main speaker but every man interacts and the speaker is different each weak. The men as a whole are participating in the speaking and interaction in the gatherings.
Denominationalism is also not Biblical, it is divisive in favor of one special doctrine over another. When we elevate one principle as better than other principles it sends a wrong message to the unsaved world.
ALL of the Bible should be honored. Also the churches in the NT were not named after pet doctrine, they were named according to the city they were in, example; "the church at Ephasus."
As a new believer, I wanted to be seen as good, but as I grew in the Lord it was more about "being" Christlike rather than "appearing" so.
In the attempt to "appear" good to other people I thought were strong believers, I found myself falling into error. I thought they were right because they had been believers much longer than I and had not sinned as "big" as I had. Although I don't remember a time when they told me how they became born again, or ever admitted that they needed to repent from a wicked heart.
It was later, as I grew in the Lord that I realized the size of sin was not important, it was the brokenness over it and the working of Christ in our lives.
I began my Christian walk thinking I had to be like other "more seasoned" Christians, only to fall into the trap of following Christians instead of following Christ.
So many pressures came upon me to be like them, that I became over burdened with superficial and nonsensical rules and standards, that I broke under the strain, falling to my knees in repentance, I began seeking Christ on my own. Such joy and freedom entered my soul that I began to question everything the apostate church taught, forcing me to delve into the Scriptures on my own, alone with the Holy Spirit.
When our focus is what people think of us, then we will seek to please them or be angry if they don't elevate us.
When our focus is Christ we will seek to please Him. In this frame of mind, He will work in us, we do not depend on ourselves to accomplish growth. The more we listen to the Holy Spirit and obey what He tells us, the greater will be our growth.
Ephesians 2:9-10
"…9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life."
We cannot please both men and people, men will ask us to be what they like, rather than what Christ wants.
Galatians 1:10
"10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Bottom Line: Stop watching people for the answers and turn to the Holy Spirit. Elevate no one equal to or above God. Only Christ has all the answers, we have no excuses to not learn because Christ said this:
James 1:4-6
"…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
Remember this passage, it does not say ask people, it says ask God.
15 Years ago today we moved into our home on the hill, it feels like only a mere year ago to me. Soon after that, a short three days later our nation was attacked by Islam, on 9/11.
This life is a vapor, here and gone quickly. It may not seem like it to those who are young, but as we get older, it is really true, that time seems to pass more quickly.
It is best to live each day to serve the Lord, forget about the past and carry on toward holiness. Playing and entertainment has only as much happiness associated with it during the time we are indulging. After it is over, the memory and feelings pass quickly and the playing has to begin again to revive those senses.
However, the joy of the Lord never leaves, contentment in blessing our Lord is something that lasts, never dissipating but rather increasing as we remember His Word, His ways and His purposes. There is great joy daily in knowing to Whom we belong and what is coming for us.
We have far more to look forward to in the future when the Lord will come for His bride, than any pleasure, half forgotten, that remains in the past.
James 4:13-15
"13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” 14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”…"
The following story is a good one, because figuratively speaking, the man could only be set free if he would admit his sin. I meet many people who are sadly lacking joy because they refuse to take a long look at themselves. In fact these days, it is encouraged by the culture to make excuses by secular psychology, which teaches that everyone's past experiences shapes them.
When I have held onto my stance of blaming I never had peace, it was when I could honestly say, "I was wrong", that my joy would return. Truth telling about everything is the only way to find solutions and to be set free from the bondage of pride.
MORE LIKELY WE ARE SHAPED BY OUR RESPONSES TO EXPERIENCES NOT BY THE EXPERIENCES THEMSELVES.
Here is the story by Spurgeon:
Ladybird Bee sent this to me, it is very good!
"One of the greatest preachers who ever lived, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, called the "prince of preachers," loved to tell this story:
"It seems there was a Duke who once boarded a galley ship and went below to talk to the convicts manning the oars. When he asked several of them what their crimes were, almost every man claimed that he was innocent, blaming someone else, or even accused the judge of taking a bribe.
"There was one young man whose reply was different. He said. "I deserve to be here, sir. I stole some money. No one is at fault but me. I am guilty."
"When the Duke heard this he shouted, "You scoundrel, you! What are you doing here among all these honest men? Get out of their company at once!" The Duke ordered the young prisoner to be released.
"So, the young man was set free, while the rest of the prisoners were left to continue to tug at the oars. The key to his freedom was his admission of guilt.
"This is a picture of salvation. Until one is willing to admit, "I am a sinner in need of salvation," one cannot experience freedom from guilt and condemnation.
"God, have mercy on me, a sinner." (Luke 18:13)
"Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)"
