Friday, November 24, 2017
The Addictions of Divorce and Remarriage
Sometimes I think that divorce and remarriage has become an addiction in our culture, it's the first "go to " solution for many.
Endorsing Divorce and Remarriage
Why do so many endorse and defend divorce and remarriage? The answer is simple, they love their sin.
Pray for the Pretenders
Bitterness of Heart:
"A bitter person might spew their inner hurt and anger by saying and doing things that hurt the feelings of others, exhibiting ruthless verbal and emotional cruelty. Somehow, it makes the bitter individual feel better for a minute to see someone else suffer as they perceive themselves to be unfairly suffering. May 19, 2015" (from people also ask)
It is not bitterness to watch the world around us and sense a spirit of evil surrounding us, hating it and speaking against it. Sometimes people will say we are bitter because we choose our companions carefully and desire to have love, joy and kindness as our companions. This is not bitterness but Scriptural:
Proverbs 13:20-21 "20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. 21 Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.…"
1 Corinthians 15:33 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
A righteous person prays for those who have harmed and are unrepentant, but they do not have a relationship with them.
Those who say they are angry at God, are demonstrating bitterness, they wanted their own way, refuse to consult or worship Him and even blame Him for not having what they want from life.
Proverbs 16:28
"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
Those who do not love God as we love Him, will cause division and contention continually. Nothing we say or do that honors God will be acceptable to them.
Amos 3:3 "Two cannot walk together if they are not in agreement."
Yes, we pray for those who do not love God, that they will one day become born again. However, constant companionship with them will not cause them to want God, only God can bring to them circumstances that make them see their need for Him.
Isaiah 26:10-11 " 10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.…"
Proverbs 14:7
"Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge."
Psalm 26:4-5
"I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked."
Many Christians today remain spiritual babies because they do not read their Bibles, they do not obey it if they do and their constant companions are those who are in the world, even those who despise the ways of God.
It is interesting that it is human nature to lean into whomever or whatever is around us, out of fear of being alone.
2 Corinthians 6:14
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
Those who love Christ prefer being alone with Christ to being surrounded by those who have no interest in Him. The truth of the matter is this; when we love Christ more than life itself we will be alone a lot. The peace of the Lord sustains us to a much greater measure than the companionship of those who are contemptuous toward us and toward God.
If we are in desperate need of human companionship, so much so that we would rather deny Christ, remain silent about His principles in order to have people around us, then we know that we worship and honor our own desires more than we do Christ. We lose our desire to be loved and adored by people when we have Christ living in us. We do desire the companionship of others who love Him, but if there are none in our community, then it is Christ we hang on to.
The more times we spend with Christ the less time we want to spend with the unsaved except to give them the gospel. It is not pleasurable to be with ungodly people, it is a mission to show them Christ.
Our pleasure as truly Bible believing Christians is to see someone come to Christ. Their accomplishments, their desires and their goals are nothing compared to their potential salvation. If losing everything brings them to the Lord, then that is the greater thing. The possessions and comfort is nothing in this life compared to the glory to come for those who have trusted Christ and walk with Him daily. Hallelujah!
Romans 8:17-18 "17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.…"
Notice that this passage is quite clear about our walk with Christ! We will be persecuted, mocked, demeaned, even by those who claim to be Christians because of the proliferation of pretenders that fill our churches. Many unbelievers attend church, but they do not know the Lord, so they will work against the one who loves Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 "…16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”…"
Pray for those who are lost to become saved, even those who are pretenders.
"A bitter person might spew their inner hurt and anger by saying and doing things that hurt the feelings of others, exhibiting ruthless verbal and emotional cruelty. Somehow, it makes the bitter individual feel better for a minute to see someone else suffer as they perceive themselves to be unfairly suffering. May 19, 2015" (from people also ask)
It is not bitterness to watch the world around us and sense a spirit of evil surrounding us, hating it and speaking against it. Sometimes people will say we are bitter because we choose our companions carefully and desire to have love, joy and kindness as our companions. This is not bitterness but Scriptural:
Proverbs 13:20-21 "20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm. 21 Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.…"
1 Corinthians 15:33 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
A righteous person prays for those who have harmed and are unrepentant, but they do not have a relationship with them.
Those who say they are angry at God, are demonstrating bitterness, they wanted their own way, refuse to consult or worship Him and even blame Him for not having what they want from life.
Proverbs 16:28
"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
Those who do not love God as we love Him, will cause division and contention continually. Nothing we say or do that honors God will be acceptable to them.
Amos 3:3 "Two cannot walk together if they are not in agreement."
Yes, we pray for those who do not love God, that they will one day become born again. However, constant companionship with them will not cause them to want God, only God can bring to them circumstances that make them see their need for Him.
Isaiah 26:10-11 " 10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.…"
Proverbs 14:7
"Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge."
Psalm 26:4-5
"I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked."
Many Christians today remain spiritual babies because they do not read their Bibles, they do not obey it if they do and their constant companions are those who are in the world, even those who despise the ways of God.
It is interesting that it is human nature to lean into whomever or whatever is around us, out of fear of being alone.
2 Corinthians 6:14
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
Those who love Christ prefer being alone with Christ to being surrounded by those who have no interest in Him. The truth of the matter is this; when we love Christ more than life itself we will be alone a lot. The peace of the Lord sustains us to a much greater measure than the companionship of those who are contemptuous toward us and toward God.
If we are in desperate need of human companionship, so much so that we would rather deny Christ, remain silent about His principles in order to have people around us, then we know that we worship and honor our own desires more than we do Christ. We lose our desire to be loved and adored by people when we have Christ living in us. We do desire the companionship of others who love Him, but if there are none in our community, then it is Christ we hang on to.
The more times we spend with Christ the less time we want to spend with the unsaved except to give them the gospel. It is not pleasurable to be with ungodly people, it is a mission to show them Christ.
Our pleasure as truly Bible believing Christians is to see someone come to Christ. Their accomplishments, their desires and their goals are nothing compared to their potential salvation. If losing everything brings them to the Lord, then that is the greater thing. The possessions and comfort is nothing in this life compared to the glory to come for those who have trusted Christ and walk with Him daily. Hallelujah!
Romans 8:17-18 "17 And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.…"
Notice that this passage is quite clear about our walk with Christ! We will be persecuted, mocked, demeaned, even by those who claim to be Christians because of the proliferation of pretenders that fill our churches. Many unbelievers attend church, but they do not know the Lord, so they will work against the one who loves Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 "…16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”…"
Pray for those who are lost to become saved, even those who are pretenders.
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