Jeremiah 6:14-15
"…14 They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. 15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD. "
This is what is happening today in our world. The preachers coddle and pamper those in the pews so that anyone in the gathering walks out feeling happy in their sin. There should be weeping over sin as people become convicted and desire to be cleansed.
Not in our world today, if the sermon isn't short enough and the songs are not happy little ditties focused on self and blessings, the people don't want it.
The old hymns had theology in them that could lead someone to Christ in a deeper way. They also were focused on Christ not on self.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
This time in 2 Timothy has arrived, it has been there all along but is growing more intense with more frequency. We have an entire generation of people who do not know what respect looks like. They would even claim they know and have it while the argue with their elders. But they do not know and will not unless they seek God to discover what respect looks like.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Friday, November 15, 2019
Celebrity Conversions Highly Suspect
I am noticing more and more celebrities becoming Christians. I am suspect, perhaps they are preparing people for the anti-christ who will claim to be Jesus Christ.
I notice too that most of them are aligning themselves with the false teachers such as Osteen, Meyers and others who are heretics.
One of the clues is that they seem to become born again and immediately they begin parading themselves as authorities of Christianity. They have superficial messages and are placed in prominent positions to preach before they have had any time to grow. These are red flags and violations of Scripture.
1 Timothy 3:6-7 "6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.…"
It is almost a fad these days, so in an effort to be authentic, I will not endorse any of them, there is not yet fruit to evaluate. When already famous people remain famous after being born again I am always suspect of their brand of Christianity. God said in the last days there will be many false prophets and conversions.
Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
This warning is for those who love their celebrities. Never jump on the popularity band wagon it will always prove a mistake later. Just ignore them, keep moving on and you will see the fruit later to determine who is false and who is true. Promoting someone who may be false makes us partakers of their rotten fruit.
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
It is important that we not promote those who have not had time to show excellent fruit. Leading others to false prophets is very serious, we must not do that.
I notice too that most of them are aligning themselves with the false teachers such as Osteen, Meyers and others who are heretics.
One of the clues is that they seem to become born again and immediately they begin parading themselves as authorities of Christianity. They have superficial messages and are placed in prominent positions to preach before they have had any time to grow. These are red flags and violations of Scripture.
1 Timothy 3:6-7 "6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.…"
It is almost a fad these days, so in an effort to be authentic, I will not endorse any of them, there is not yet fruit to evaluate. When already famous people remain famous after being born again I am always suspect of their brand of Christianity. God said in the last days there will be many false prophets and conversions.
Matthew 10:21-23 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
This warning is for those who love their celebrities. Never jump on the popularity band wagon it will always prove a mistake later. Just ignore them, keep moving on and you will see the fruit later to determine who is false and who is true. Promoting someone who may be false makes us partakers of their rotten fruit.
Matthew 7:15-20
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
It is important that we not promote those who have not had time to show excellent fruit. Leading others to false prophets is very serious, we must not do that.
If You Believe in Christ You Believe and Obey His Word
Jesus Christ is the Word!
"18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil."
No One Good But God
There is no such thing as a "good person", only Christ is good.
Matthew 7:16-17 "…16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
The only way to have a good heart is for Christ to make us into a new creation, then it is He Who does it.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
There is a mantra circulating these days that just because someone does a bad thing does not make them a bad person. This is from the bowels of psychology. It presumes that a person who does bad things can still have a good heart, God teaches otherwise.
Luke 18:18-19 "18 Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone."
Jesus Christ is God, therefore He is good, but no man can call himself that! If no man can be good then all goodness that he does is done either for his own glory or because he has been changed into a new creation by Christ and he does good because Christ is good and working in them.
In short, Christ is the only One Who can be called good.
Beware of the many mantras and happy sayings floating around out there in the world, they are all wrong, they do not follow the Bible but they do follow psychology, evolution based, faithless psychology based on human feelings rather than on the Bible.
Matthew 7:16-17 "…16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
The only way to have a good heart is for Christ to make us into a new creation, then it is He Who does it.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
There is a mantra circulating these days that just because someone does a bad thing does not make them a bad person. This is from the bowels of psychology. It presumes that a person who does bad things can still have a good heart, God teaches otherwise.
Luke 18:18-19 "18 Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone."
Jesus Christ is God, therefore He is good, but no man can call himself that! If no man can be good then all goodness that he does is done either for his own glory or because he has been changed into a new creation by Christ and he does good because Christ is good and working in them.
In short, Christ is the only One Who can be called good.
Beware of the many mantras and happy sayings floating around out there in the world, they are all wrong, they do not follow the Bible but they do follow psychology, evolution based, faithless psychology based on human feelings rather than on the Bible.
Christ or the World?
In choosing a spouse!
There has to be more than just agreement on important subjects there must be a good understanding about the roles of men and women and the meaning of leadership.
I see more abuse in leadership than I do obedience to the word. God never told the men to control the wives, He told them to love, protect and guide them in the ways of God. A man who loves his wife will be pleased to see her blossom as she is able to express herself in the marriage and her calling as a homemaker.
I also see women being very independent outside the home when the home should be the job of the homemaker. The home has been seen as a place to live instead of the career of the woman. Managing the home, caring for children and husbands should be the career of the woman, any other wage earning has to be secondary to the home. Managing a home correctly is a lot of work it takes continual dedicated time making it the priority.
It is not wrong for a woman to earn money as long as it does not take most of her time away from the home. There are many things a homemaker can do to earn money that can be a portion of her time but not all of her time.
Matthew 20:25-26 " 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,…"
Proverbs 31 answers the job of the homemaker well, if any woman follows this she will have little time for another full time job outside the home.
In the Christian church today not very many people are diligent in seeking God for the roles He commanded. Most "Christians" in the church today pay little to no attention to God's ways.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
The reason for all this rebellion against the Word of God is shown in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
If you want to obey God the only way to know His will is to know His word. Praying, meditating on His truths and then obeying what we read will bring great peace and wisdom.
I see more abuse in leadership than I do obedience to the word. God never told the men to control the wives, He told them to love, protect and guide them in the ways of God. A man who loves his wife will be pleased to see her blossom as she is able to express herself in the marriage and her calling as a homemaker.
I also see women being very independent outside the home when the home should be the job of the homemaker. The home has been seen as a place to live instead of the career of the woman. Managing the home, caring for children and husbands should be the career of the woman, any other wage earning has to be secondary to the home. Managing a home correctly is a lot of work it takes continual dedicated time making it the priority.
It is not wrong for a woman to earn money as long as it does not take most of her time away from the home. There are many things a homemaker can do to earn money that can be a portion of her time but not all of her time.
Matthew 20:25-26 " 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,…"
Proverbs 31 answers the job of the homemaker well, if any woman follows this she will have little time for another full time job outside the home.
In the Christian church today not very many people are diligent in seeking God for the roles He commanded. Most "Christians" in the church today pay little to no attention to God's ways.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
The reason for all this rebellion against the Word of God is shown in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
If you want to obey God the only way to know His will is to know His word. Praying, meditating on His truths and then obeying what we read will bring great peace and wisdom.
Just Obey the Word
Husbands love your wives! How you treat your wife will be the way your children will treat her because of your example. The children will follow your example no matter what words you tell them.
"More is caught than taught" in the raising of children.
Ephesians 5:25-26 "25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,…"
Many men treat their wives as chattel to be bossed and dismissed because their misunderstanding of the Word causes them to see her as less intelligent and less capable.
If a man treats his wife with love and understanding she will follow him anywhere. Men who make it difficult to follow them are those who demean and mock her as inferior. Because of this the men are disobedient to the Word claiming their status as leader gives them license to be rude.
1 Peter 3:7-8 "7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble.…"
It is clear to see the arrogance of the men in the way they treat their wives and every other woman with whom they come in contact.
1 Peter 3:7
"7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."
Women are to be treated delicately and with honor by the men around them. When this does not occur the woman will assert herself because of the lack of respect shown her. The man who will not lovingly lead will be responsible for the frustration he causes in her.
The wife can be godly in spite of the rebellious husband but her struggle is greater. She must learn to love him in spite of how she is treated, standing by him even when he is ungrateful for her service to him. However, being the weaker vessel the woman will have scars because of the emotional and spiritual abuse of stubborn husbands.
Ladies remember we are called to walk with Christ even if our husbands will not. We will endure many things from the world because of our choice to follow Christ, even in our own homes.
Luke 12:52-53 "…52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”"
Unbelievers will be against us when we walk with Christ. If they cannot find a sin to criticize they will make one up to feel justified in their angst and contempt against us. Do not see this as anything strange God tells us, just expect it and keep seeking Christ to be as He wants us to be. Hallelujah
That's the good news, we do not have to become like those who come against us, we can be free from their influence and unaffected by their manipulations.
"More is caught than taught" in the raising of children.
Ephesians 5:25-26 "25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,…"
Many men treat their wives as chattel to be bossed and dismissed because their misunderstanding of the Word causes them to see her as less intelligent and less capable.
If a man treats his wife with love and understanding she will follow him anywhere. Men who make it difficult to follow them are those who demean and mock her as inferior. Because of this the men are disobedient to the Word claiming their status as leader gives them license to be rude.
1 Peter 3:7-8 "7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tender-hearted and humble.…"
It is clear to see the arrogance of the men in the way they treat their wives and every other woman with whom they come in contact.
1 Peter 3:7
"7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."
Women are to be treated delicately and with honor by the men around them. When this does not occur the woman will assert herself because of the lack of respect shown her. The man who will not lovingly lead will be responsible for the frustration he causes in her.
The wife can be godly in spite of the rebellious husband but her struggle is greater. She must learn to love him in spite of how she is treated, standing by him even when he is ungrateful for her service to him. However, being the weaker vessel the woman will have scars because of the emotional and spiritual abuse of stubborn husbands.
Ladies remember we are called to walk with Christ even if our husbands will not. We will endure many things from the world because of our choice to follow Christ, even in our own homes.
Luke 12:52-53 "…52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”"
Unbelievers will be against us when we walk with Christ. If they cannot find a sin to criticize they will make one up to feel justified in their angst and contempt against us. Do not see this as anything strange God tells us, just expect it and keep seeking Christ to be as He wants us to be. Hallelujah
That's the good news, we do not have to become like those who come against us, we can be free from their influence and unaffected by their manipulations.
Gaining Wisdom
The only way to gain wisdom is not through study but through seeking the Holy Spirit in prayer. We must study but we must seek God, continually to be able to properly understand what we read.
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
Far too many people study to learn facts but have no interest in gaining wisdom through confession and prayer to seek Christ. These people are guided by their desire to be elevated above others rather than to learn the heart of Christ.
We know who these people are when we challenge them to come with us to read the Word and they are offended at the suggestion when a disagreement or question arises.
They talk often about the facts they think they know without real understanding about the meaning of those facts.
I have met a few people in my life who love to search the truth in the Bible when a question or disagreement arises. They are not afraid to see that they may have misunderstood because they love truth and despise pride.
Colossians 3:12 "12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Ephesians 4:2 "2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
James 4:6 "6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 "5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Remember God will only bless us with wisdom if we want it and if we are humble to receive it.
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
Far too many people study to learn facts but have no interest in gaining wisdom through confession and prayer to seek Christ. These people are guided by their desire to be elevated above others rather than to learn the heart of Christ.
We know who these people are when we challenge them to come with us to read the Word and they are offended at the suggestion when a disagreement or question arises.
They talk often about the facts they think they know without real understanding about the meaning of those facts.
I have met a few people in my life who love to search the truth in the Bible when a question or disagreement arises. They are not afraid to see that they may have misunderstood because they love truth and despise pride.
Colossians 3:12 "12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Ephesians 4:2 "2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
James 4:6 "6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5 "5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Remember God will only bless us with wisdom if we want it and if we are humble to receive it.
Toughing it out is Worth It!
Any time two people who are a different gender, a different personality, raised in a different culture there will be challenges. Only those of us who have been married a long time will understand this if we are honest.
Those who say they have no problems in their marriage are in denial or deeply concerned more about appearances than truth.
It is not noble to pretend a marriage is perfect when its not. It is however noble to work out difficulties and if they cannot be worked out there are things that can be done to make the household peaceful in spite of difficulties.
When only one person is dedicated to Christ He will be the one Who helps His child maintain his/her spiritual strength in spite of the rebellious spouse.
When both are dedicated to Christ there are still problems but they go to the Lord together to seek solutions. Sadly this is rare in our day. Most "Christians" do not go to the Lord they seek the counsel of ungodly friends or family to hear what they want to hear in order to be free through divorce. When the divorce happens then family and friends encourage the divorced individual to remarry.
Both divorce and remarriage are sins according to God. The sad thing is that more people who say they are Christians have plenty of advice to divorce and remarry against God's commands, than who will encourage a marriage to remain steadfast through trials.
If the person with marriage problems will tough it out in prayer, God will bless one way or another and the retirement years are better than ever. But at least one party in the marriage must be seeking Christ. If no one is seeking Christ then the chances of divorce are much higher.
I appreciate what my friend Trudi said, here it is;
Trudi Gretsinger said this:
"I am married to the most difficult man in the universe.......
Yes, I am.........And I am married to him for 50 years.........
My Husband is married to the most difficult woman in the universe......
Yes, he is......Well, he says he is.......lol.......
So, if we are still married to these difficult people........
Then, you probably have no excuse to throw away your marriage......
Because, after all these years we would never destroy what we have, because we are each others best friend!......."
Those who say they have no problems in their marriage are in denial or deeply concerned more about appearances than truth.
It is not noble to pretend a marriage is perfect when its not. It is however noble to work out difficulties and if they cannot be worked out there are things that can be done to make the household peaceful in spite of difficulties.
When only one person is dedicated to Christ He will be the one Who helps His child maintain his/her spiritual strength in spite of the rebellious spouse.
When both are dedicated to Christ there are still problems but they go to the Lord together to seek solutions. Sadly this is rare in our day. Most "Christians" do not go to the Lord they seek the counsel of ungodly friends or family to hear what they want to hear in order to be free through divorce. When the divorce happens then family and friends encourage the divorced individual to remarry.
Both divorce and remarriage are sins according to God. The sad thing is that more people who say they are Christians have plenty of advice to divorce and remarry against God's commands, than who will encourage a marriage to remain steadfast through trials.
If the person with marriage problems will tough it out in prayer, God will bless one way or another and the retirement years are better than ever. But at least one party in the marriage must be seeking Christ. If no one is seeking Christ then the chances of divorce are much higher.
I appreciate what my friend Trudi said, here it is;
Trudi Gretsinger said this:
"I am married to the most difficult man in the universe.......
Yes, I am.........And I am married to him for 50 years.........
My Husband is married to the most difficult woman in the universe......
Yes, he is......Well, he says he is.......lol.......
So, if we are still married to these difficult people........
Then, you probably have no excuse to throw away your marriage......
Because, after all these years we would never destroy what we have, because we are each others best friend!......."
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