It's Called Empathy

It's called empathy, when everyone cares about everyone else, then everyone feels what everyone else is feeling!

1 Corinthians 12:25-26
"25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

Growing Up Takes Confession

Narcissists cannot admit their mistakes, they can only relay their successes, but often they are not even successes but embellished accounts to appear superior.

When someone cannot admit mistakes, it is not possible for them to come to Christ. The only way to come to Christ is in brokenness over sin, no one can do this who is obsessed with appearing perfect.

Those who are humble rejoice over successes but give the glory to God while completely comfortable with admitting when they have failed.

Pretending to be perfect is abhorrent to a humble person. They have no need to be seen as perfect because they know where they came from and that it was Christ Who had to change them in order for them to saved from their sin and hell.

The saddest person is the one who inwardly knows their imperfections but can never let anyone discover them. There is a continual hiding their lives in order to demonstrate a perfect persona. These are very insecure people because they know what they are on the inside and live in fear of others discovering them.

A secure confident person has no need to be seen as perfect or elevated above anyone else. They are comfortable in their own skin, knowing that only Christ is good.

The only way to grow in holiness is to continually be confessing our sins to God and those we have offended. When this does not happen, those who hide remain spiritual and emotional children all their lives.

Maturity is based on growth spurts from confessing and moving forward. Without confession there is no progress toward holiness or maturity.

James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."

I have met many people in the church and in the world who seem spiritually and emotionally immature even though they have lived a long life, they seem to have learned very little in terms of wisdom.

We want to continue to grow, we do not want to be in our aged years acting and thinking the way we did when we were six years old.

You Won't Get Away With Sin

Do you think you will get away with sin just because you have become born again? Do you think God winks at and over looks our sin just because we have His blood to cover our sin? Think again!

God removes His fellowship and will not hear the prayers of believers who are in sin. They retain their salvation, but God will not help them and He will bring trials to bring them back to obedience.

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

Even though someone may be saved while in sin, they may experience life long consequences, even severe ones because of their disobedience. If we do not confess and turn, then we will miss many blessings in this life and the next.

1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"

No Promises for America

It is important to remember that God has no promises for America, only for Israel.

We are a nation in rebellion against God like all the other nations at this time.

We may think we are a "Christian" nation but I don't see it. I see a form of religion that pretends to be Christian but it is an illusion.

2 Timothy 3:4 "…4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power."

Christ is a Jew

Jesus Christ will rule from Israel in Jerusalem in the Millennium, because He is a Jew and the Jews have a special place in His heart.

Replacement theology is a tool of the devil to turn "Christians", if they really are Christians, against the Jews!

The devil hates Christ and He hates what Christ loves.....the Jews.

The Gag Order It's Sin

Quenching the Holy Spirit is Sin

So, there are others who are being abused in the church through gag orders!!! I have been experiencing this for years, even though I do not advocate women preachers or elders, I do believe in women teaching women and speaking in conversation with men.

Jennifer Creameans says:

the Temple of Jerusalem.
- Athaliah – Queen of Judah during the reign of King Jehoram, and later became sole ruler of Judah for five years.
- Deborah #2 - Prophetess and the fourth, and the only female, Judge of pre–monarchicIsrael in the Old Testament.
- Esther (also known as Hadassah) – Queen of the Persian Empire in the Hebrew Bible, the queen of Ahasuerus.
- Hannah – A prophetess and citizen ofJerusalem. Mother of Samuel.
- Jael – Heroine who killed Sisera to deliverIsrael from the troops of king Jabin. She was the wife of Heber the Kenite.
- Junia (or Junias) - Called "outstanding among the apostles" by Paul.
- Mary Magdalene – Disciple.
- Miriam - The sister of Moses and Aaron. A Prophetess.
- Noadiah - prophetess.
- Phoebe – A deaconess of the church of Cenchrea.
- Priscilla – wife of Aquila, and missionary partner to Paul the Apostle.
- Sheerah – founded three towns. Descendant of Ephraim.
- Phillips 4 daughter's all Prophesied.

Dreams and Visions are not Necessary

Yep, the devil will get us distracted with dreams and visions when all we need is what God gave us in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 1:22-23 "22 Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,…"

Sealed Means Promised

Yes, this is a wonderful truth, we are His forever, for those who are born again!

Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."

Seal: A promise of our inheritance.

God keeps all His promises!

Never Trust Any Man Completely

Never trust another person for your spirituality,

never emulate a person,

never believe everything another person may say no matter how good it sounds.

Discussing Scripture with someone who is profoundly and genuinely invested in the Word of God and depending on the Holy Spirit, can be a great help to us, however, asking the opinion of others who have used Scripture to validate their wrong doctrine, are not people we want to consult with, they will not be able to give us true answers based on the Word.

Test everything through the Scriptures and prayer that the Holy Spirit would show you truth.

John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"

You see, God promised us that if we seek Him, the Holy Spirit Who lives in us will tell us what we need to know. If we know His Word and we know Him, then we will have the answer to anything and everything.

Christ in us may delay the answer for a time, so that we can learn more before we get the answer. Then when the answer comes it will be intensely clear!!!

Degrees Don't Make Us Born Again

A college degree in theology cannot make anyone born again, nor can it make them wise or holy!

Often a degree like this merely enhances an already prideful view of the recipients own importance.

The day we realize we are not capable of understanding anything no matter how educated we are, is the day the Holy Spirit can begin His work in us.

When someone is degreed, often they believe they have arrived and can begin the process of impressing others with their level of knowledge. There is no need to seek the Holy Spirit for the small things, only the big ones and only if they cannot figure them out for themselves based on their education.

This thinking will lead to arrogance and destruction for them and everyone else they influence.

How quickly Christians forget their need to trust Christ not only for their salvation but also for everything else after that.

Proverbs 3:5-6 "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.…"

This verse is quoted a lot by educated people, but ignored in practice. It's nice to know the words, but actually trusting Christ for everything all the time is the real discipline.

So many false practices and doctrines have permeated the churches today that there is little faith and even less practice of God's principles.

We live in a culture that thinks it's enough to just know and say things, they don't have to be real in our lives as long as we know and say them. WHY?, you might ask, is this so? It is because our culture is more about appearances than substance. Most Christians are Christians in "knowing and saying" only, the substance of trusting Christ is just not there.

We know this because when they are challenged to evaluate their lives they become enraged, angry that anyone would even suggest they need to evaluate their lives. A humble person will be happy to answer calmly when challenged or will be ashamed and admit their need to rethink their life.

It's All About Christ

Many people who go to Bible school come out with more knowledge that produces pride in them, but does not make them better Christians, it only enhances their already high opinion of themselves.

1 Corinthians 8:1-2 "1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.…"

When we depend on knowledge rather than Christ, it only brings us lower not higher. Some of the least educated people who are on fire for Christ, are that way because they depended on Him instead of status through knowledge.

It is the Holy Spirit that teaches and makes wise!

2 Timothy 3:12-17 " 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

Notice none of these verses tells us to seek out "good schools" or "teachers" but through Christ we learn. Teachers may teach us, but everything they say must be evaluated through Scripture and consulting the Holy Spirit.

It is foolish to believe someone just because they got an education or a degree from an institution. Some of the wisest people I have ever met never attended any formal training, they had the Holy Spirit. A college or university cannot possibly know more than the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is by faith that we trust the Holy Spirit to train us. If we trust in formal human training then our trust is not in the Holy Spirit, but rather a trust in man.

Psalm 118:8-9 " 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.…"

There is also pride in those who will not listen to anyone who is not educated or degreed. When we love to elevate self through rubbing elbows with those who are elevated by men, we have pride, that must be expunged before any spiritual growth can occur.

Often many people don't bother praying or trusting Christ because they feel they already have everything they need by the advice of man. They follow human traditions and mandates that God never gave, in order to feel special and superior. Becoming appreciated by man is more important to them than Christ and His truth.

Proverbs 29:25-26 "25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. 26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.…"