Grace is given to be able to obey, not freedom to disobey. Sin is so serious that no amount of sin at all can come into the presence of God, that's why Christ paid our debt that God would see Him instead of our sin.
Why on earth would God wink at sin when it was so terrible in the slightest degree that Christ had to die to pay the price for it. When we are flippant about sin it is the same as slapping God in the face.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Begin Building Your House by Choosing the Right Man
For Christian Women Desiring to Marry
Feelings are only good if they reflect an action that was in obedience to God. Often our feelings cause us to disobey, because we like them so much, we ignore the inklings in our soul that tell us the attitude is not righteous. The devil loves to make us euphoric, so that we are controlled by our feelings.
Many young ladies "fall in love", mostly because of outward appearance or a kindred spirit in terms of enjoyment of the same activities. Often the character is ignored completely in favor of the good feelings that come from having fun together.
My advice to young ladies who are wanting to get married in the Lord, would be this, watch the man who pursues you, in all situations evaluate what a godly man would have done. The Bible will show you what a godly man looks like.
2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
Does your young man pray over everything, seeking God even in the small things, or does he wait until something is too big for him and then turns to prayer. The matter of prayer doesn't even come up in the minds of many Christian men. They are almost embarrassed to suggest prayer as a solution to problems.
If a man is not interested in reading the Bible with you or praying with you, he is not for you. A man who leads will love to share his relationship in the Lord with the one he will marry.
A man who neglects prayer and scripture study will be a man who will neglect the training and teaching of his children. Often these men will not do it themselves nor will they support their wife when she wants to instruct the children.
A godly man will love to read the word, seek it when problems come up and consult with his wife on many things, that they might make major decisions together. When a man will not discuss important matters with his wife, then he is operating as a single, without regard to the wisdom of the wife, this will cause the children to disregard their mother too.
The children will often do what they see the father doing even more than what they hear him saying. "More is caught than taught."
When you get married you will not agree on everything, but you should at least be able to discuss everything.
Above all, seek the Lord will all your heart for your spouse, HE can see into a man's heart, we can only see what the man wants to show us on the outside, unless we have discernment from the Holy Spirit. There are always clues as to someone's character, do not ignore the clues. Even confront them head on, with a potential spouse, watch his reaction to a challenge, whatever comes out will show you whether he is humble or prideful.
Proverbs 29:23 "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."
Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."
If your young man considers things before reacting, seeks to please God in his ways, even though not perfect, he will be a good leader in your home, a wonderful father to your children and he will never leave you.
If you marry a man who builds his life on Christ, then when difficulties come he will know Who to turn to and be given wisdom to resolve matters.
Matthew 7:24 ""Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu5bBDRpzPM
Feelings are only good if they reflect an action that was in obedience to God. Often our feelings cause us to disobey, because we like them so much, we ignore the inklings in our soul that tell us the attitude is not righteous. The devil loves to make us euphoric, so that we are controlled by our feelings.
Many young ladies "fall in love", mostly because of outward appearance or a kindred spirit in terms of enjoyment of the same activities. Often the character is ignored completely in favor of the good feelings that come from having fun together.
My advice to young ladies who are wanting to get married in the Lord, would be this, watch the man who pursues you, in all situations evaluate what a godly man would have done. The Bible will show you what a godly man looks like.
2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?"
Does your young man pray over everything, seeking God even in the small things, or does he wait until something is too big for him and then turns to prayer. The matter of prayer doesn't even come up in the minds of many Christian men. They are almost embarrassed to suggest prayer as a solution to problems.
If a man is not interested in reading the Bible with you or praying with you, he is not for you. A man who leads will love to share his relationship in the Lord with the one he will marry.
A man who neglects prayer and scripture study will be a man who will neglect the training and teaching of his children. Often these men will not do it themselves nor will they support their wife when she wants to instruct the children.
A godly man will love to read the word, seek it when problems come up and consult with his wife on many things, that they might make major decisions together. When a man will not discuss important matters with his wife, then he is operating as a single, without regard to the wisdom of the wife, this will cause the children to disregard their mother too.
The children will often do what they see the father doing even more than what they hear him saying. "More is caught than taught."
When you get married you will not agree on everything, but you should at least be able to discuss everything.
Above all, seek the Lord will all your heart for your spouse, HE can see into a man's heart, we can only see what the man wants to show us on the outside, unless we have discernment from the Holy Spirit. There are always clues as to someone's character, do not ignore the clues. Even confront them head on, with a potential spouse, watch his reaction to a challenge, whatever comes out will show you whether he is humble or prideful.
Proverbs 29:23 "One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor."
Proverbs 11:2 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."
If your young man considers things before reacting, seeks to please God in his ways, even though not perfect, he will be a good leader in your home, a wonderful father to your children and he will never leave you.
If you marry a man who builds his life on Christ, then when difficulties come he will know Who to turn to and be given wisdom to resolve matters.
Matthew 7:24 ""Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu5bBDRpzPM
The Fold or the Flock, Where are You?
I heard an analogy that blessed me recently. In the old testament we see the sheep are in the "fold", protected by the enclosure of the fold, which is a picture of the "Law." The protection was from the wolves and other predators that would be dangerous to the sheep.
However, in the new testament we see a different picture, one that does not require the "fold." The word "fold" used in the old testament was not the same word used in the new testament to depict the protection of the sheep. The new testament refers to the "flock." There is no "protecting fold", because the protection is now that of the Shepherd. Through Christ we are protected by His grace.
Just a thought!
However, in the new testament we see a different picture, one that does not require the "fold." The word "fold" used in the old testament was not the same word used in the new testament to depict the protection of the sheep. The new testament refers to the "flock." There is no "protecting fold", because the protection is now that of the Shepherd. Through Christ we are protected by His grace.
Just a thought!
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
The Joy is Gone for Most
Even with all our toys and prosperity the people of America lack joy because they are so self absorbed. The more we have the more we want, we become picky. dissatisfied and ungrateful, not to mention petty over the silliest things. All this love of self is causing divorce and remarriage, angry lonely children and disrespectful attitudes on the part of everyone.
We are a prosperous nation, but increasingly miserable. Our "stuff" has not brought us the peace that we thought it would, it only made us more selfish. Teen suicide is up, something that was almost unheard of when I was a teen. Why are young people who have everything killing themselves? This ought to be a clue that getting our way does not satisfy, it only makes us dull and unsure of what is right and what is wrong.
Locked into our cell phones, slaves to its rings, we have no real friends, only words on a device that we can turn on and off at will. Our families are disintegrating while our level of education is dumbing us down. We are getting ready for third world status.
The solution to all this mess, is for individuals to turn from their sin to Christ, desiring to be changed into a new creation by Him, cleansing us from the indoctrination with which the culture has brain washed us. Only then will we be able to change anything, we start with ourselves.
We are a prosperous nation, but increasingly miserable. Our "stuff" has not brought us the peace that we thought it would, it only made us more selfish. Teen suicide is up, something that was almost unheard of when I was a teen. Why are young people who have everything killing themselves? This ought to be a clue that getting our way does not satisfy, it only makes us dull and unsure of what is right and what is wrong.
Locked into our cell phones, slaves to its rings, we have no real friends, only words on a device that we can turn on and off at will. Our families are disintegrating while our level of education is dumbing us down. We are getting ready for third world status.
The solution to all this mess, is for individuals to turn from their sin to Christ, desiring to be changed into a new creation by Him, cleansing us from the indoctrination with which the culture has brain washed us. Only then will we be able to change anything, we start with ourselves.
Does the Law Condemn Us or Bless Us?
There is so much confusion about the Law of God, arguing abounds. One side says we have to obey the Law to be born again and the other extreme says we don't need the Law any more and can sin all we want.
The truth is the Law never goes away, either for convicting the unsaved or blessing the saved.
There is a difference in the way the Law is applied before salvation than after salvation. Before salvation the Law was there to convict us of our sin to lead us to Christ and repentance.
After salvation the Law Giver lives in us, we don't have to "follow" the Law, it abides in us as a very real part of our being, we love it.
Before we had to try to obey and could not, even with fear in our hearts. After salvation we don't have to try to follow it, we enjoy obeying it, we don't want to violate God's Laws.
After we become born again, the Law in us convicts others who are not born again.
Before salvation we feared the Law and its' condemnation, after salvation we are grateful for where it brought us.
Romans 8:3 "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,"
Psalm 119:97 "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well."
James 2:8 "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well."
Seems impossible that someone would dwell on God's Law day and night and still defy it. The more time we spend contemplating His Principles, the less we will violate them. We terry a long time on the things we love, whether it be the world or the things of God.
1 Timothy 4:15 "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."
Want to know God intimately, read His word often, remember His principles and speak them to others, let Him permeate our being in every thing all the time.
The truth is the Law never goes away, either for convicting the unsaved or blessing the saved.
There is a difference in the way the Law is applied before salvation than after salvation. Before salvation the Law was there to convict us of our sin to lead us to Christ and repentance.
After salvation the Law Giver lives in us, we don't have to "follow" the Law, it abides in us as a very real part of our being, we love it.
Before we had to try to obey and could not, even with fear in our hearts. After salvation we don't have to try to follow it, we enjoy obeying it, we don't want to violate God's Laws.
After we become born again, the Law in us convicts others who are not born again.
Before salvation we feared the Law and its' condemnation, after salvation we are grateful for where it brought us.
Romans 8:3 "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,"
Psalm 119:97 "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well."
James 2:8 "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well."
Seems impossible that someone would dwell on God's Law day and night and still defy it. The more time we spend contemplating His Principles, the less we will violate them. We terry a long time on the things we love, whether it be the world or the things of God.
1 Timothy 4:15 "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."
Want to know God intimately, read His word often, remember His principles and speak them to others, let Him permeate our being in every thing all the time.
Words Are Not Enough
Our culture places far too much emphasis on words. We tend to think if we say something that makes it true. Or if we say something, our words will make things happen. This could not be farther from the truth. Our "WORDS" have no power. They are easier than action. It is actually a cultic concept to believe words have power. Only God's Words have power.
Action takes effort, words can be said while we rest or sleep, but action must be done with effort, time and sacrifice.
James 2:14-26
"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also"
Action takes effort, words can be said while we rest or sleep, but action must be done with effort, time and sacrifice.
James 2:14-26
"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also"
We Are Not Accepted "As We Are."
I was once told that I "should accept people for who
they are", whatever that means.
I asked the person are you accepting me for who I am, a
person who does not accept someone else for who they are?"
Christ does not accept us as we are, He takes us and cleans
us up. We don't come to Christ to be ourselves, we come to Christ to become a
new creation, completely changed.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness."
Titus 3:5 "He saved us, not because of works done by us
in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of
regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,"
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."
Galatians 5:24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
1 Corinthians 6:9 "Or do you not know that the
unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom
of God
So all that you have heard over the years about God
accepting you as you are is not only false but dangerous.
God cannot accept any sin in His presence, the only way that
we can be acceptable to God is by the sacrifice of Christ. That is just how
wicked we are, God cannot even look upon us unless we have the Holy Spirit for
Him to see in us.
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