Sometimes people avoid you because they know all the mean things they did to you. Their pride is too great to come and confess their sin to rebuild what was lost.
Until their pride is dealt with resuming the relationship just removes the necessary guilt that drives them to Christ.
When sin is superficially relieved with happy times as though nothing happened, nothing changes in ones character and nothing changes in the relationship.
God commanded confession to help one cleanse from the guilt. Even those who choose to justify their bad behavior rather than confess it, will live their entire lives under a cloud of guilt that they must continually fight with justification.
They may not think they feel guilty but their lack of courage in boldness shows they are harboring sin in the heart that could easily be expunged with a sincere confession of wrong and the desire to make things right.
The most miserable people in the world are those who attempt to cover up their mean actions by pretending to be kind in the next meeting.
Confession is the only means of complete removal of guilt.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
The Confusion of Transgender
I am waiting for the first report of someone who unknowingly marries a transgender person. Now there is a reason for divorce.
A man who changes to a woman and marries a man will be committing homosexuality.
And, it might be possible that the real man in the matter will be arrested for hate crimes by wanting to get away from his new wife who is a man. See how confusing this can become? WOW
When the world turns irrational it also turns chaotic and produces more problems than one can count.
1 Corinthians 14:33
"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,"
Isaiah 32:17-18
"And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
Philippians 4:8-9
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
When we step out of God's order we bring wretched misery upon ourselves.
Hebrews 11:3
"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Genesis 1:27
"27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
A man who changes to a woman and marries a man will be committing homosexuality.
And, it might be possible that the real man in the matter will be arrested for hate crimes by wanting to get away from his new wife who is a man. See how confusing this can become? WOW
When the world turns irrational it also turns chaotic and produces more problems than one can count.
1 Corinthians 14:33
"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,"
Isaiah 32:17-18
"And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."
Philippians 4:8-9
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
When we step out of God's order we bring wretched misery upon ourselves.
Hebrews 11:3
"By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."
Genesis 1:27
"27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Is Disrespect Sinful?
Deuteronomy
"50 a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young."
Hebrews 12:9
"9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?"
I am reminded of the small child who pretended to respect his parent by sitting down when he was told to sit down. OH but wait, there's more.
When the child was told to sit down he did as he was told but then retorted, "I am sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside."
This is the manner of some who claim they respected their parents while all the time resenting them on the inside for having to obey.
If someone sends a gift out of, what they call respect, and the rest of the year snark and snarl at the receiver, we know the gift was not given out of respect in the heart. It was given as a show for others to see. In other words it was sort of a trick to appear respectful without actually having respect in the heart.
Appearances can be very deceiving!
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 they worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
We can imagine how God must feel when we put on a show of respect, pretending to be godly, all the while making sure it is a demonstration for others to see.
Those who say they are Bible believing while negating God's principles and ignoring His commands, are not in obedience, do not care if they honor God but want others to think they do.
Do you want to be an authentic Bible believer or a phony superficial one who only cares about appearances.
How do we become an authentic follower of Christ? Its quite simple really, just pray for understanding as you read His Word and then obey what He tells you. Seek Christ with all your heart and you will be authentic.
"50 a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young."
Hebrews 12:9
"9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?"
I am reminded of the small child who pretended to respect his parent by sitting down when he was told to sit down. OH but wait, there's more.
When the child was told to sit down he did as he was told but then retorted, "I am sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside."
This is the manner of some who claim they respected their parents while all the time resenting them on the inside for having to obey.
If someone sends a gift out of, what they call respect, and the rest of the year snark and snarl at the receiver, we know the gift was not given out of respect in the heart. It was given as a show for others to see. In other words it was sort of a trick to appear respectful without actually having respect in the heart.
Appearances can be very deceiving!
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 they worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
We can imagine how God must feel when we put on a show of respect, pretending to be godly, all the while making sure it is a demonstration for others to see.
Those who say they are Bible believing while negating God's principles and ignoring His commands, are not in obedience, do not care if they honor God but want others to think they do.
Do you want to be an authentic Bible believer or a phony superficial one who only cares about appearances.
How do we become an authentic follower of Christ? Its quite simple really, just pray for understanding as you read His Word and then obey what He tells you. Seek Christ with all your heart and you will be authentic.
One Cannot Hate Sin and at the same time Defend it!
Do not make provision for the flesh!
Romans 13:13-14 "…13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh."
If we are under grace so that we can sin all we like without worry, then God never would have said the words in Romans 13. God never died on the cross to allow us to sin impunity, He died there to give us a way of coming out of sin and avoiding it.
Those who use grace as an excuse to dismiss sin as unimportant have perverted the gospel.
Someone, Jesus Christ, had to shed all His precious blood to pay for sin, it makes no sense that it would not be important.
One of the worst and most disrespectful doctrines today is that of "hyper-grace", in which people flaunt their sin as if it were pleasing to God.
God hates sin and so should we!
Psalm 97:10-12
10 Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks [a]to His holy name."
Psalm 139:17-24 "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
God hates sin and commands us to hate it too! How can a born again believer hate sin and defend it at the same time?
Romans 13:13-14 "…13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh."
If we are under grace so that we can sin all we like without worry, then God never would have said the words in Romans 13. God never died on the cross to allow us to sin impunity, He died there to give us a way of coming out of sin and avoiding it.
Those who use grace as an excuse to dismiss sin as unimportant have perverted the gospel.
Someone, Jesus Christ, had to shed all His precious blood to pay for sin, it makes no sense that it would not be important.
One of the worst and most disrespectful doctrines today is that of "hyper-grace", in which people flaunt their sin as if it were pleasing to God.
God hates sin and so should we!
Psalm 97:10-12
10 Hate evil, you who love the Lord,
Who preserves the souls of His godly ones;
He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks [a]to His holy name."
Psalm 139:17-24 "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
God hates sin and commands us to hate it too! How can a born again believer hate sin and defend it at the same time?
The Covenant of the Heart
"The old covenant was in the flesh; the new is in the heart, by the Spirit. If your circumcision is only in the flesh, you are yet carnal. But if your circumcision is of the heart, you are spiritual. "
Larry Kiser from "The Circumcision of the Church"
Next time someone uses the excuse that we are under grace to justify remaining in sin, remind them that when we become born again our heart is changed.
We now walk by the Spirit Who lives in us because our heart desires righteousness. When there is an excuse made to be able to sin in this age of grace, it is a sure sign that the one making the excuse remains fleshly, rebellious and determined to have their own way. Many of these people are not born again, the reason we see little to no fruit in their lives.
The outer shell exhibits some decent qualities but the inner man is still full of sin and self.
To reject God's commands in favor or our own mind and our own ways, is to reject Christ Himself. To claim to be a Bible believer while defending sin as a normal course of life is to blaspheme God. Christi is the Word, His Words of the Bible are the very essence of Him. When we demean, reject or twist to suit ourselves, His words, we are devaluing Him.
It is possible for a believer to sin, even act stubborn at times, but it is not possible for the born again believer to remain in sin without a conscience toward it. Born again believers can be in error about what is sin, but the Holy Spirit will speak loudly to them or go into silence if they continue to ignore Him. If a born again believer can no longer hear the Holy Spirit then the Holy Spirit will bring life experiences of discipline to get the attention of the one who is stubborn.
God circumcises our hearts to bring us back into obedience to Him.
Romans 2:25-29
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
Pretending to love God while blatantly and rebelliously remaining in sin is evidence that one may not have been born again. I do not say that all those who are in sin are unsaved, some are feeling the consequences of that sin right now but have not yet confessed to be cleansed.
However, many who are in sin while claiming to be Christian have never been born again, they remain lost and on their way to hell. Each person must ask God which of these is their camp. Then each one must repent or confess their sin and ask to be changed by Christ. One must be changed into a new creation to be saved and the other must confess their sin to be cleansed for further growth in holiness.
As believers we grow in direct proportions to how often we self reflect to be pleasing to God. Those who keep close accounts of their heart attitudes and ask to be cleansed will grow in holiness. Those who refuse to confess their sin will remain spiritual and emotional babies, sometimes all of their lives.
When we love Jesus Christ it is harder to disobey than to obey because we love the ways of God. There is always a question when someone loves their sin and even become angry defending it, when someone dares to expose the sin as sin.
I lose facebook friends all the time who become angry when I write about some favored sin they love. They even become enraged at the suggestion that their sin is a sin at all.
We are living in apostate times when many will say Lord, Lord, but were never of Him.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
In fact, We are living in the times of the remnant. A remnant in quilting vernacular is very small often referred to as the "residue." What is left over when most of the fabric is gone.
Does anyone else feel as I do?
Ezra 9:8
"But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage."
Deuteronomy 4:27 This happened to the Jews but we can glean from it a feeling that is present in those of us who want to honor and obey Christ.
"The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left FEW IN NUMBER among the nations where the LORD drives you."
Larry Kiser from "The Circumcision of the Church"
Next time someone uses the excuse that we are under grace to justify remaining in sin, remind them that when we become born again our heart is changed.
We now walk by the Spirit Who lives in us because our heart desires righteousness. When there is an excuse made to be able to sin in this age of grace, it is a sure sign that the one making the excuse remains fleshly, rebellious and determined to have their own way. Many of these people are not born again, the reason we see little to no fruit in their lives.
The outer shell exhibits some decent qualities but the inner man is still full of sin and self.
To reject God's commands in favor or our own mind and our own ways, is to reject Christ Himself. To claim to be a Bible believer while defending sin as a normal course of life is to blaspheme God. Christi is the Word, His Words of the Bible are the very essence of Him. When we demean, reject or twist to suit ourselves, His words, we are devaluing Him.
It is possible for a believer to sin, even act stubborn at times, but it is not possible for the born again believer to remain in sin without a conscience toward it. Born again believers can be in error about what is sin, but the Holy Spirit will speak loudly to them or go into silence if they continue to ignore Him. If a born again believer can no longer hear the Holy Spirit then the Holy Spirit will bring life experiences of discipline to get the attention of the one who is stubborn.
God circumcises our hearts to bring us back into obedience to Him.
Romans 2:25-29
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
Pretending to love God while blatantly and rebelliously remaining in sin is evidence that one may not have been born again. I do not say that all those who are in sin are unsaved, some are feeling the consequences of that sin right now but have not yet confessed to be cleansed.
However, many who are in sin while claiming to be Christian have never been born again, they remain lost and on their way to hell. Each person must ask God which of these is their camp. Then each one must repent or confess their sin and ask to be changed by Christ. One must be changed into a new creation to be saved and the other must confess their sin to be cleansed for further growth in holiness.
As believers we grow in direct proportions to how often we self reflect to be pleasing to God. Those who keep close accounts of their heart attitudes and ask to be cleansed will grow in holiness. Those who refuse to confess their sin will remain spiritual and emotional babies, sometimes all of their lives.
When we love Jesus Christ it is harder to disobey than to obey because we love the ways of God. There is always a question when someone loves their sin and even become angry defending it, when someone dares to expose the sin as sin.
I lose facebook friends all the time who become angry when I write about some favored sin they love. They even become enraged at the suggestion that their sin is a sin at all.
We are living in apostate times when many will say Lord, Lord, but were never of Him.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
In fact, We are living in the times of the remnant. A remnant in quilting vernacular is very small often referred to as the "residue." What is left over when most of the fabric is gone.
Does anyone else feel as I do?
Ezra 9:8
"But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage."
Deuteronomy 4:27 This happened to the Jews but we can glean from it a feeling that is present in those of us who want to honor and obey Christ.
"The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left FEW IN NUMBER among the nations where the LORD drives you."
Worship only God not People
When a narcissist rages over a calm response, you know you have injured their fragile ego. Those who are strong without need for the approval of others, there will be no vitriolic reaction to anything. The calm confident person remains under control without even trying. calmness and reason are a natural outpouring of a heart that is steadfastly confident in the Holy Spirit.
What people think of the confident Spirit led person is of no consequences at all. These people cannot be whipped around by emotion or the reactions of others.
When Christ is our continual focus and His principles well known to us, we have no need whatever to be accepted by others.
John 12:42-43 "42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.…"
If anyone takes more space in our mind than Christ does then we must consider that we might have an idol. One loves people but not more than they love God. God must come first always above any person on earth.
Matthew 22:36-38 "…36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.…"
What people think of the confident Spirit led person is of no consequences at all. These people cannot be whipped around by emotion or the reactions of others.
When Christ is our continual focus and His principles well known to us, we have no need whatever to be accepted by others.
John 12:42-43 "42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me.…"
If anyone takes more space in our mind than Christ does then we must consider that we might have an idol. One loves people but not more than they love God. God must come first always above any person on earth.
Matthew 22:36-38 "…36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.…"
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