This was written to Israel a long time ago, we are dealing with it right now here at this time in history too.
1 Kings 22:23
23 "Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you."
Monday, January 16, 2017
God is With His Children
Isaiah 41:9-11 "…9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.
10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
11 "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.…"
10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
11 "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.…"
Soon We Will Disappear Brothers and Sisters
The time is so short, soon the believers in Christ will disappear from the planet to go home to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Fear will be in the hearts of those who refuse Christ, We will be back with Christ, to destroy evil on every level, after which we will reign with Christ for a thousand years.
Believers be encouraged, it won't be long now and all this mess will be over for us. May those whom we have loved trust Christ to be able to go with us so that they will escape God's wrath.
Luke 21:35-36 "…35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Fear will be in the hearts of those who refuse Christ, We will be back with Christ, to destroy evil on every level, after which we will reign with Christ for a thousand years.
Believers be encouraged, it won't be long now and all this mess will be over for us. May those whom we have loved trust Christ to be able to go with us so that they will escape God's wrath.
Luke 21:35-36 "…35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Gossip Destroys Relationships
Is there anyone who has been the victim of gossip?
Is there anyone who is the victim of those who believe the gossip?
Remember this:
Hebrews 4:12-14 "12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.…"
Even Paul the Apostle encountered gossip that threatened to destroy his ministry.
2 Corinthians 12:2 "20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."
Ephesians 4:29 "29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Exodus 23:1 "1 “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness."
James 1:26 "26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless."
James 4:11 "11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it."
Proverbs 11:9 "9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape."
When we speak behind another one's back without ever speaking to the person toward whom the gossip is directed, then we are willing participants in that gossip.
It has been my experience that gossipers and those who listen, never approach those who are the target of gossip because they love to hear and they love to share that which demeans the victim. They also love to keep secrets hoping that their target will know what is going on to be frustrated by it. It is evil on many levels.
It is a good idea if there are accusation about a brother or sister in the Lord, that we go to them to help clear up that which may not be true at all. If it is true then it is an opportunity to bring the Scripture to bare, that the offender may repent.
However, many times the things we hear are half truths based on the feelings of the gossiper rather than truth. Half truths are more dangerous than a full lie because a full lie can easily be refuted, but a half truth makes the lie more credible, causing the one who is confronted to seem as though they are making up excuses to clear themselves.
Half truths are diabolical and deliberate to create a perception of something that is not true at all, making a half truth a whole lie.
There was a man who explained the effects of gossip by saying that gossip is likened to taking a feather pillow to the top of a windy hill, slitting it open and letting the feathers fly, they are blown every which way and can never be regathered and put back into the pillow.
Once someone has heard gossip and worse acted on it by treating the victim with contempt because of what they heard, there is nothing that can undo the damage outside of full confession with a broken heart over the damage to the victim.
May we think twice about acting upon or spreading news that we have no real personal interactions with to know facts. One witness is not enough, God calls for two and then He calls for interaction with the victim to hear all sides of the story.
Do we love enough to find out truth before treating someone as "lesser than", because of what we heard or even the little we thought we saw.
Is there anyone who is the victim of those who believe the gossip?
Remember this:
Hebrews 4:12-14 "12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.…"
Even Paul the Apostle encountered gossip that threatened to destroy his ministry.
2 Corinthians 12:2 "20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."
Ephesians 4:29 "29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Exodus 23:1 "1 “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness."
James 1:26 "26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless."
James 4:11 "11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it."
Proverbs 11:9 "9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape."
When we speak behind another one's back without ever speaking to the person toward whom the gossip is directed, then we are willing participants in that gossip.
It has been my experience that gossipers and those who listen, never approach those who are the target of gossip because they love to hear and they love to share that which demeans the victim. They also love to keep secrets hoping that their target will know what is going on to be frustrated by it. It is evil on many levels.
It is a good idea if there are accusation about a brother or sister in the Lord, that we go to them to help clear up that which may not be true at all. If it is true then it is an opportunity to bring the Scripture to bare, that the offender may repent.
However, many times the things we hear are half truths based on the feelings of the gossiper rather than truth. Half truths are more dangerous than a full lie because a full lie can easily be refuted, but a half truth makes the lie more credible, causing the one who is confronted to seem as though they are making up excuses to clear themselves.
Half truths are diabolical and deliberate to create a perception of something that is not true at all, making a half truth a whole lie.
There was a man who explained the effects of gossip by saying that gossip is likened to taking a feather pillow to the top of a windy hill, slitting it open and letting the feathers fly, they are blown every which way and can never be regathered and put back into the pillow.
Once someone has heard gossip and worse acted on it by treating the victim with contempt because of what they heard, there is nothing that can undo the damage outside of full confession with a broken heart over the damage to the victim.
May we think twice about acting upon or spreading news that we have no real personal interactions with to know facts. One witness is not enough, God calls for two and then He calls for interaction with the victim to hear all sides of the story.
Do we love enough to find out truth before treating someone as "lesser than", because of what we heard or even the little we thought we saw.
Is Christ the Focus of EVERYTHING?
When we love Christ above all else, we will be at odds with most people, even other believers. We love Christ so much and the brethren that we want truth to be the focus of EVERYTHING!
Most people who call themselves Christian today are more interested in their fun and happy life, that they neglect almost entirely to obey the Word of God. Even becoming angry when we use the Word of God to correct them. More correction is needed than ever before because the church has neglected the things of God for the sake of worldly wisdom.
It seems that believers following hard after Christ are doing more correcting these days because of the wickedness in the world. Every time we turn around believers are acting like non-believers, indulging in many things even occult practices to fit into the world.
1 John 2:14-16 "14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.…"
Those who desire to follow hard after Christ will not be interested in much that is going on in the world, other than the end times that show us the prophetic implications of the events. We will not be deeply entrenched in anything worldly, even if we partake a little, it will not be a enormously important. All we can see is interpreted in terms of Christ and His Word.
Most people who call themselves Christian today are more interested in their fun and happy life, that they neglect almost entirely to obey the Word of God. Even becoming angry when we use the Word of God to correct them. More correction is needed than ever before because the church has neglected the things of God for the sake of worldly wisdom.
It seems that believers following hard after Christ are doing more correcting these days because of the wickedness in the world. Every time we turn around believers are acting like non-believers, indulging in many things even occult practices to fit into the world.
1 John 2:14-16 "14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.…"
Those who desire to follow hard after Christ will not be interested in much that is going on in the world, other than the end times that show us the prophetic implications of the events. We will not be deeply entrenched in anything worldly, even if we partake a little, it will not be a enormously important. All we can see is interpreted in terms of Christ and His Word.
Correct, Rebuke, Admonish
There may be some of you wondering why I am always correcting, rebuking and admonishing. It is because so much is wrong in the church today, much of what goes on is not Biblical, but tradition of men, while other things are patently satanic.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 "1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.…"
1 Timothy 4:1-2 "1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.…"
When Christ is Our Focus
When we love Christ above all else, we will be at odds with most people, even other believers. We love Christ so much and the brethren that we want truth to be the focus of EVERYTHING!
Most people who call themselves Christian today are more interested in their fun and happy life, that they neglect almost entirely to obey the Word of God. Even becoming angry when we use the Word of God to correct them. More correction is needed than ever before because the church has neglected the things of God for the sake of worldly wisdom.
It seems that believers following hard after Christ are doing more correcting these days because of the wickedness in the world. Every time we turn around believers are acting like non-believers, indulging in many things even occult practices to fit into the world.
1 John 2:14-16 "14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.…"
Those who desire to follow hard after Christ will not be interested in much that is going on in the world, other than the end times that show us the prophetic implications of the events. We will not be deeply entrenched in anything worldly, even if we partake a little, it will not be a enormously important. All we can see is interpreted in terms of Christ and His Word.
Most people who call themselves Christian today are more interested in their fun and happy life, that they neglect almost entirely to obey the Word of God. Even becoming angry when we use the Word of God to correct them. More correction is needed than ever before because the church has neglected the things of God for the sake of worldly wisdom.
It seems that believers following hard after Christ are doing more correcting these days because of the wickedness in the world. Every time we turn around believers are acting like non-believers, indulging in many things even occult practices to fit into the world.
1 John 2:14-16 "14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.…"
Those who desire to follow hard after Christ will not be interested in much that is going on in the world, other than the end times that show us the prophetic implications of the events. We will not be deeply entrenched in anything worldly, even if we partake a little, it will not be a enormously important. All we can see is interpreted in terms of Christ and His Word.
Idolatry of Sports Figures is Sin
I am shocked at how many believers are indulging in idolatry in the form of the idol worship of men, especially in sports. I don't know where so many get the idea that sports is a clean and wholesome profession.
There are many wicked things these ball players indulge in, they are often "party animals" with huge egos. Often those who go into sports are people who love to be superior to others, they have a problem with a need to be continually elevated, competition with others is the way they get their "fame fix."
Have we forgotten that they are performers the same as those on the screen who play a role?
Sure, enjoy your favorite ball team, but don't claim there is any higher moral standard in sports than there is in Hollywood.
Sports figures have become idols in our country! An obsession with anything is not good unless it is Christ. When we will speak often about a sports figure based on his talents as a ball player, but almost never mention Christ in conversation, then we have placed those sports moguls above Christ.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is one of the Ten Commandments found in the Hebrew Bible (לא יהיה־לך אלהים אחרים על־פני; Exodus 20:3 = Deuteronomy 5:7).
There are many wicked things these ball players indulge in, they are often "party animals" with huge egos. Often those who go into sports are people who love to be superior to others, they have a problem with a need to be continually elevated, competition with others is the way they get their "fame fix."
Have we forgotten that they are performers the same as those on the screen who play a role?
Sure, enjoy your favorite ball team, but don't claim there is any higher moral standard in sports than there is in Hollywood.
Sports figures have become idols in our country! An obsession with anything is not good unless it is Christ. When we will speak often about a sports figure based on his talents as a ball player, but almost never mention Christ in conversation, then we have placed those sports moguls above Christ.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is one of the Ten Commandments found in the Hebrew Bible (לא יהיה־לך אלהים אחרים על־פני; Exodus 20:3 = Deuteronomy 5:7).
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