When someone is easily offended by suggestions or correction they have a problem with pride.
All of us make mistakes from time to time, how we respond to correction shows our inner heart. If we are easily offended then prideful, if gracious in acknowledging the correction to improve then there is a humble spirit.
Proverbs 12:1 "1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid."
Those who refuse to be corrected will not grow in Christlikeness.
Proverbs 15:31-33 "…31 He who listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. 32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.…"
When someone easily corrects others but cannot stand to be corrected themselves we are watching pride in action.
Philippians 2:3-4
"3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."
Hypersensitivity to correction or instruction is sinful and foolish, it causes those who are plagued with it to remain infants in their spiritual growth. It also could be a sign that someone was never born again.
God disciplines His children when they are stubborn and unreachable.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
If you find yourself bristling at that sound of correction it is time to go to prayer for cleansing.
1 John 1:9 "
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
If you find it too difficult or unthinkable to say sorry to someone when they have pointed out a flaw, then there is pride that needs to be confessed to be cleansed.
It is only through confession of flaws and sins on a regular basis that will grow the born again believer. Stagnation is not an option for those who claim to be in Christ.
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Our Christian Mindset
What should a believer be putting into their minds? The more we focus on Christ the less we are concerned about what is going on in the world. We see it, we speak the truth about it but it does not consume our hearts.
The end times are here, we live in apostasy, anger, and all the attitudes mentioned in 2 Timothy 3. However, this does not deter us from our hope or joy as we endure this wicked world for a little longer.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come” (Perilous times: meaning "ragingly insane" times.)
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."
Knowing these things should not upset us, the more we know of the Word of God and His principles the less concerned we are with what is happening around us. Knowing these things should increase our joy as we realize Jesus return is sooner than ever.
Yes, we have a burden for souls that have not yet trusted Christ. We are concerned about many who say they are Christians but have no fruit of the Spirit. However, none of this frightens or deters us from speaking the truth boldly.
We are not here in this world to make any country "great", we are here to bring the truth to everyone. Even if they don't hear us we are to speak anyway.
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."
Our hope is not in a better world, a better country, a free country, or a wealthy country, our hope is in Christ and His promises to us.
Just recently I placed a video of a believer who said he was bringing the end times prophetic events. I had watched his videos before and they seemed good so I shared this one without watching it.
Sadly I was disappointed that his talk was not about Christ but mostly about all the evils that are happening in the end times. We know the world is evil, it always has been, seeing all the wicked details of the work of the devil does nothing to encourage the believer or anyone else. I waited to the end to see if this man was going to bring hope and joy in the promises of God but it never came.
When our focus is more on the evils around us than on Christ we have gotten off the path into horizontal thinking. God clearly told us to be looking up, that is to heaven, to Him for our focus. When we do this nothing that happens on this earth will shake us.
Ephesians 6:12
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
The end times are here, we live in apostasy, anger, and all the attitudes mentioned in 2 Timothy 3. However, this does not deter us from our hope or joy as we endure this wicked world for a little longer.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come” (Perilous times: meaning "ragingly insane" times.)
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."
Knowing these things should not upset us, the more we know of the Word of God and His principles the less concerned we are with what is happening around us. Knowing these things should increase our joy as we realize Jesus return is sooner than ever.
Yes, we have a burden for souls that have not yet trusted Christ. We are concerned about many who say they are Christians but have no fruit of the Spirit. However, none of this frightens or deters us from speaking the truth boldly.
We are not here in this world to make any country "great", we are here to bring the truth to everyone. Even if they don't hear us we are to speak anyway.
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."
Our hope is not in a better world, a better country, a free country, or a wealthy country, our hope is in Christ and His promises to us.
Just recently I placed a video of a believer who said he was bringing the end times prophetic events. I had watched his videos before and they seemed good so I shared this one without watching it.
Sadly I was disappointed that his talk was not about Christ but mostly about all the evils that are happening in the end times. We know the world is evil, it always has been, seeing all the wicked details of the work of the devil does nothing to encourage the believer or anyone else. I waited to the end to see if this man was going to bring hope and joy in the promises of God but it never came.
When our focus is more on the evils around us than on Christ we have gotten off the path into horizontal thinking. God clearly told us to be looking up, that is to heaven, to Him for our focus. When we do this nothing that happens on this earth will shake us.
Ephesians 6:12
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Could The Rapture Be In 2020?
Brothers and Sisters we must get back to focusing on Christ and His return instead of all the specifics of what is going on in the world. We can get so caught up in the negative events of our age we end up wringing our hands in fear rather than what we should be doing, that is glorying in the soon return of Christ. While the world is in chaos and fear the believers are full of joy and hope because of what we know about Christ and His rapture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)