Friday, December 8, 2017
Fear of Man Brings a Snare
The fear of man is what keeps us from broadening our horizons in terms of making new friends who might be better in our walk with Christ than those we have known all our lives.
Why do we keep company with people who are trouble makers simply because they are relatives? When God's Word tells us to "come out from among them"? The reason is because family takes priority over God's Word with most people. Our culture teaches us that family is everything, however when Christ is everything then we are free to choose our friends based on their love of Christ rather than on their blood line.
The fear of being alone is greater than devotion to Christ, in the hearts of many. I find that when we are willing to move on in our relationships when they are not honoring to God, we will be alone for a time, but alone with Christ. Then when we have had that alone time to restore our spirit, God begins to bring others into our lives who are more in line with the principles of God, those who desire to honor Him in all their ways.
Relatives are zealous for our presence merely because we are relatives, but not because we love Christ, they want us to be like them, even pressuring us through intimidation and mocking to back off from a determination to walk with Christ. It isn't that the relatives want us, it's because they want us to be like them. For most people it is rare to be a family following hard after Christ. Often the believer who loves Christ is the one who is rejected, mocked and demeaned by nearly all family members.
Have you ever been invited to a party by relatives, just so we can see them ignoring us. It is humorous if not also so tragic. Relatives often feel obligated to invite the believers but have no interest in them personally. Their aim is to cause the believer to feel left out or ignored so they will become jealous to be a part of things, giving in to the manipulations of the ungodly to fit in. Sadly in many instances this works, the believer comes, fits in and Christ in them is hidden.
Galatians 4:16-17 "…16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you will be zealous for them. "
Luke 12:51-53
"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Those who call you divisive for not coming to the family gatherings, are those who want you to follow them rather than Christ. They love their worldly ways and are deeply wounded when we disagree with them on any level. Their devotion is to the world, someone who loves Christ is the fly in their ointment.
Matthew 10:35
"For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Of course it is our desire that all relatives would love the Lord and enjoy hearing His Word, but it does not happen in most families, that's why the Lord said what He did in the gospels, the families for the most part will come against, rejecting and mocking the authentic believers to diminish their walk with Christ.
These worldly people will lie against us, making up stories to make us sound mean or evil, so as to discredit our witness. If the narcissist can get others to come against us, they count that as a victory.
Soon this world will come to an end, but before it does, before we are taken home in the rapture or through death, we will have to endure many things, the rejection and mocking is increasing as the devil pursues the believer in a feeble attempt to destroy them.
Acts 10:38
"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
Acts 5:40-42
"They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."
The apostles didn't allow the unsaved haters to dictate to them what they would do, they continued in the mission Christ gave them, joyful that they had been worthy to be persecuted. When we see this example it ought to strengthen us, knowing that Christ lives in us and sees all that is going on. Hallelujah!
Why do we keep company with people who are trouble makers simply because they are relatives? When God's Word tells us to "come out from among them"? The reason is because family takes priority over God's Word with most people. Our culture teaches us that family is everything, however when Christ is everything then we are free to choose our friends based on their love of Christ rather than on their blood line.
The fear of being alone is greater than devotion to Christ, in the hearts of many. I find that when we are willing to move on in our relationships when they are not honoring to God, we will be alone for a time, but alone with Christ. Then when we have had that alone time to restore our spirit, God begins to bring others into our lives who are more in line with the principles of God, those who desire to honor Him in all their ways.
Relatives are zealous for our presence merely because we are relatives, but not because we love Christ, they want us to be like them, even pressuring us through intimidation and mocking to back off from a determination to walk with Christ. It isn't that the relatives want us, it's because they want us to be like them. For most people it is rare to be a family following hard after Christ. Often the believer who loves Christ is the one who is rejected, mocked and demeaned by nearly all family members.
Have you ever been invited to a party by relatives, just so we can see them ignoring us. It is humorous if not also so tragic. Relatives often feel obligated to invite the believers but have no interest in them personally. Their aim is to cause the believer to feel left out or ignored so they will become jealous to be a part of things, giving in to the manipulations of the ungodly to fit in. Sadly in many instances this works, the believer comes, fits in and Christ in them is hidden.
Galatians 4:16-17 "…16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you will be zealous for them. "
Luke 12:51-53
"Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Those who call you divisive for not coming to the family gatherings, are those who want you to follow them rather than Christ. They love their worldly ways and are deeply wounded when we disagree with them on any level. Their devotion is to the world, someone who loves Christ is the fly in their ointment.
Matthew 10:35
"For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."
Of course it is our desire that all relatives would love the Lord and enjoy hearing His Word, but it does not happen in most families, that's why the Lord said what He did in the gospels, the families for the most part will come against, rejecting and mocking the authentic believers to diminish their walk with Christ.
These worldly people will lie against us, making up stories to make us sound mean or evil, so as to discredit our witness. If the narcissist can get others to come against us, they count that as a victory.
Soon this world will come to an end, but before it does, before we are taken home in the rapture or through death, we will have to endure many things, the rejection and mocking is increasing as the devil pursues the believer in a feeble attempt to destroy them.
Acts 10:38
"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
Acts 5:40-42
"They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."
The apostles didn't allow the unsaved haters to dictate to them what they would do, they continued in the mission Christ gave them, joyful that they had been worthy to be persecuted. When we see this example it ought to strengthen us, knowing that Christ lives in us and sees all that is going on. Hallelujah!
The Apostate Church Needs Repentance
For forgiveness to be extended there must be confession, without confession and sorrow over the offense, there will be no forgiveness nor will there be a change in behavior.
James 5:16 "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."
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
This is the criteria for relationships to be restored, with God and with our fellow man.
We do no revenge, we do not act rudely, but we have the option of refraining from fellowship with those who continue their sin without remorse toward it.
Romans 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
We cannot be transformed by the renewing of our mind if we are not reading the Word, living by it and confessing sin to be cleansed of it.
We confess to be cleansed and for relationships to be restored. Those who will not confess will not be cleansed nor will the relationships between people be restored without it.
People are changing and growing less and less as our culture removes all consequences for bad behavior and rudeness. If we are walking in the Spirit we will be controlled by the Spirit, then we will do no revenge, nor will we respond in kind to those who have no manners. However, we are called to remove ourselves and pray for them. We can also be praying that the Lord keep us from bad behavior and rudeness.
Those who are not walking in the Spirit will influence us if we are in their company too often.
1 Corinthians 15:33 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
If we want to walk in a Christlike manner, then we must read the Word, pray a lot and surround ourselves with those who love the Lord and are also walking uprightly. No one will be perfect, but there is a lifestyle of Spiritual walking that is not based on fleshly trying, but rather it is based on deep communion with Christ to become as He is. I know a few people who love Christ so much that being with ungodly people is a little like having a sand pebble in the eye, it is very irritating and hard to spot, if one were not discerning.
We can love people, speak of the Lord to those who do not know Him, however they cannot become our constant close companions. As we have seen in many churches today, the ungodly have come into the church, affected the worship in ungodly ways while intimidating people into softening the message of Christ so much that the gatherings are no longer obeying the Word of God to placate (avoid making them angry) those who do not love Him.
A false gospel of "happiness and pleasure" has entered most gatherings because of the unsaved who come and influence those who are weak and rebel against the stronger believer who speak truth.
We are now faced with more rebellion against God in the churches than there are devoted followers of Christ. This is also the reason so many authentic believers have left the formal church gatherings, God is calling them out.
There are some small gatherings that are obeying Christ, but so few they are hard to find.
Matthew 24:12
"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold."
2 Thessalonians 2:3
"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,"
1 Timothy 4:1-3
"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth."
2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
Revelation 3:14-22
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. read more.
'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
James 5:16 "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."
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
This is the criteria for relationships to be restored, with God and with our fellow man.
We do no revenge, we do not act rudely, but we have the option of refraining from fellowship with those who continue their sin without remorse toward it.
Romans 12:2
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
We cannot be transformed by the renewing of our mind if we are not reading the Word, living by it and confessing sin to be cleansed of it.
We confess to be cleansed and for relationships to be restored. Those who will not confess will not be cleansed nor will the relationships between people be restored without it.
People are changing and growing less and less as our culture removes all consequences for bad behavior and rudeness. If we are walking in the Spirit we will be controlled by the Spirit, then we will do no revenge, nor will we respond in kind to those who have no manners. However, we are called to remove ourselves and pray for them. We can also be praying that the Lord keep us from bad behavior and rudeness.
Those who are not walking in the Spirit will influence us if we are in their company too often.
1 Corinthians 15:33 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
If we want to walk in a Christlike manner, then we must read the Word, pray a lot and surround ourselves with those who love the Lord and are also walking uprightly. No one will be perfect, but there is a lifestyle of Spiritual walking that is not based on fleshly trying, but rather it is based on deep communion with Christ to become as He is. I know a few people who love Christ so much that being with ungodly people is a little like having a sand pebble in the eye, it is very irritating and hard to spot, if one were not discerning.
We can love people, speak of the Lord to those who do not know Him, however they cannot become our constant close companions. As we have seen in many churches today, the ungodly have come into the church, affected the worship in ungodly ways while intimidating people into softening the message of Christ so much that the gatherings are no longer obeying the Word of God to placate (avoid making them angry) those who do not love Him.
A false gospel of "happiness and pleasure" has entered most gatherings because of the unsaved who come and influence those who are weak and rebel against the stronger believer who speak truth.
We are now faced with more rebellion against God in the churches than there are devoted followers of Christ. This is also the reason so many authentic believers have left the formal church gatherings, God is calling them out.
There are some small gatherings that are obeying Christ, but so few they are hard to find.
Matthew 24:12
"Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold."
2 Thessalonians 2:3
"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,"
1 Timothy 4:1-3
"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth."
2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
Revelation 3:14-22
"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. read more.
'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
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