I am so blessed, very blessed by an exchange on another thread. A humble young man was describing his belief, I commented, he took it as a rebuke and humbly accepted it as a rebuke, but it was not, it was a misunderstanding.
I am blessed because he took what he thought was a rebuke in a very humble and accepting way. I don't run into that very often.
We straightened it all out, no fighting, no anger, just explaining and a big "I love you", at the end of it.
Hallelujah!!!! May God put this humility in all of us.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Actions Must be Deeply Connected
It is vitally important that our actions match our words or we will be seen as a hypocrite and those listening will not believe us.
They might not anyway but we will be true to our words and our God if we say what we mean and live what we say.
They might not anyway but we will be true to our words and our God if we say what we mean and live what we say.
Words Are Not Enough
So many people think their words are enough, they don't actually have to mean them as long as they say them. I experience this all the time. Since we live in a culture that is more about immediate feelings than substance, there is no commitment to carry out what has been said.
Words without action is lying!
Revelation 3:8 "8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. "
James 2:14-26 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
Words without action is lying!
Revelation 3:8 "8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. "
James 2:14-26 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
Disrespectful Treatment of our Enemies is Sin
It is alright to remove ourselves from our enemies if possible, but we are never to exact revenge against them, nor are we to withhold blessing when in their presence.
Those who choose to treat with disrespect those they perceive to be their enemies are in disobedience to the Word of God.
Psalm 109:2-5
"For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love."
Romans 12:14
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."
Proverbs 24:17
"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,"
Those who choose to treat with disrespect those they perceive to be their enemies are in disobedience to the Word of God.
Psalm 109:2-5
"For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love."
Romans 12:14
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them."
Proverbs 24:17
"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,"
Leaders Must Be Accountable
There are bullies in the church. Those who expect us to do what they say but what they say is not Biblical.
Measure everything with the Word of God and refuse to adhere to the false doctrines just because of the human pressure.
Do not place "leaders" above God. When the leader disobey's God's Word, respectfully tell them. Often a leader will call it disrespect to question him at all, ignore that and continue to warn them.
No leader is above Christ, every leader is the servant of Christ and of the church. If they are not willing to hear truth or a disagreement, then they should not be leading. If they continue in the rebellion against hearing from those they lead, then they must be removed, they are too arrogant to be a servant of Christ.
Matthew 20:25-27 "…25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—…"
1 Peter 5:2-4 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.…"
We are subject to Christ alone, a leader is a teacher and helper, he is not a god to be followed unconditionally. He accountable to the people he helps, but above all he is accountable to Christ.
Measure everything with the Word of God and refuse to adhere to the false doctrines just because of the human pressure.
Do not place "leaders" above God. When the leader disobey's God's Word, respectfully tell them. Often a leader will call it disrespect to question him at all, ignore that and continue to warn them.
No leader is above Christ, every leader is the servant of Christ and of the church. If they are not willing to hear truth or a disagreement, then they should not be leading. If they continue in the rebellion against hearing from those they lead, then they must be removed, they are too arrogant to be a servant of Christ.
Matthew 20:25-27 "…25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—…"
1 Peter 5:2-4 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.…"
We are subject to Christ alone, a leader is a teacher and helper, he is not a god to be followed unconditionally. He accountable to the people he helps, but above all he is accountable to Christ.
Bullies Have No Power Over One Who is Christ Filled
Allow no one to bully you into thinking the way they think. We have the freedom to consider what others say, even go to prayer about it, but we must measure everything by the standards of the Bible.
There are many things that others will tell us that sound very good and reasonable, but are not Biblical. If we believe what others tell us without examination, we will end up allowing others to do our thinking for us, rather than thinking with the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "…15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
We will run across those who think their way is right, when we do not accept their way, they will bully us in an attempt to make us look bad or mean by not adhering to the standards of others that are not in the Bible.
Proverbs 21:2 "2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts."
God is the authority over us, He has the final say as to what we should believe and how we should act.
1 John 2:26-28 "…26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. 28 And now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.…"
The world is working to convince us that their way is best and kinder, when often it is not only not kinder but damaging and disobedient to Christ.
Romans 15:7 "7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
We do not do what we do to be accepted by men, but rather to be acceptable to God. We build an amazing relationship with Christ in us when He always comes first.
Those who want to control you but cannot, will isolate you from them and others, even gossiping to gain the support of others against you. Be glad when these people are gone, they bring nothing of value to the table, only continual contempt and conflict.
We do not have to live under the expectations of others continually. We desire to please those we love when we can, but we are not obligated to follow their unBiblical standards. And, we are never expected to facilitate or accept their disobedience against God.
We are living in a rebellious world right now, not only in the world but in the church. We can expect to be alone often, but we are never completely alone because we have Christ living in us, the One Who created us, the One Who is Truth. What could be more wonderful than that? Nothing, nothing is better than Christ as our Guide.
There are many things that others will tell us that sound very good and reasonable, but are not Biblical. If we believe what others tell us without examination, we will end up allowing others to do our thinking for us, rather than thinking with the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "…15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
We will run across those who think their way is right, when we do not accept their way, they will bully us in an attempt to make us look bad or mean by not adhering to the standards of others that are not in the Bible.
Proverbs 21:2 "2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts."
God is the authority over us, He has the final say as to what we should believe and how we should act.
1 John 2:26-28 "…26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. 28 And now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.…"
The world is working to convince us that their way is best and kinder, when often it is not only not kinder but damaging and disobedient to Christ.
Romans 15:7 "7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
We do not do what we do to be accepted by men, but rather to be acceptable to God. We build an amazing relationship with Christ in us when He always comes first.
Those who want to control you but cannot, will isolate you from them and others, even gossiping to gain the support of others against you. Be glad when these people are gone, they bring nothing of value to the table, only continual contempt and conflict.
We do not have to live under the expectations of others continually. We desire to please those we love when we can, but we are not obligated to follow their unBiblical standards. And, we are never expected to facilitate or accept their disobedience against God.
We are living in a rebellious world right now, not only in the world but in the church. We can expect to be alone often, but we are never completely alone because we have Christ living in us, the One Who created us, the One Who is Truth. What could be more wonderful than that? Nothing, nothing is better than Christ as our Guide.
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