There are three kinds of "Christians."
The first kind of "Christian are those who come to church because they are hoping for help to obtain a better life, cleaning themselves up while acquiring friends, are many in our culture today. These people like to be in the company of those who will be there for them when their life is a mess. They like to have their bills paid, expecting help for themselves from church members, however, they have little help to give to anyone else. Demanding that others pay their bills when they have lived a life of indulgence rather than a life of diligence with their money, these people do not want to work or develop good habits, begging is easier. When we refuse to manage our money in a way that honors God and then expect others to pick up the slack, we are stealing from the body of Christ.
James 4:3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures."
Ephesians 4:28 "He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need."
1 Thessalonians 4:11 "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,"
The second kind of "Christian" are those who need to "see and touch" something to have faith in Someone they cannot see with their physical eyes. These people come to find miracles to make them feel protected and even powerful, while at the same time, have little power in their lives to overcome the sin that remains. They make lying excuses for their sin, argue and fight with those who would direct them to a course of true salvation and never seem to grow spiritually, usually they are moving backward after attempting to "play the game" of Christian. They can only hold up pretense for a time, and then the burden of fooling people becomes too great and they give up, reverting to their old lifestyle, because they never had the power of the Holy Spirit. They were pretenders all along. No one has the strength to keep up the sham of their superficial and shallow existence forever.
Matthew 16:4 ""An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them and went away."
3. And, finally, the third kind of Christian, are those who have confessed their sinfulness before God, hate the sin they are in and desire to be cleansed by God. These people have been broken over the evil they have done and are ashamed before a Holy God. They do not come to get something for themselves except to be forgiven. When they have trusted Christ, they sense the release of bondage from all the things they used to love, but now hate. The chains of sin have fallen off, now they see only Christ and what He did for them. These people grow spiritually, becoming stronger in their walk while boldly declaring to others their faith. The more they are reviled, the greater their strength. Nothing moves them from their dedication to Christ.
Psalm 51:17 "17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise"
It is likely that the first two kinds of "Christians" have never been born again. They have selfish ulterior motives for attending a gathering of believers, it is not that they want to worship Christ.
John 9:31 "Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.".
A test that tells a lot, is to confront, in a loving way, the lifestyle of these "in name only" Christians, and watch what emerges. A deceiver will use anger and manipulative language to accuse while playing the victim through the whole encounter.
The true believer when confronted with sin will show deep remorse and shame without argument.
Sadly in the churches today we find many who are of the first two Christian varieties. They prey upon unsuspecting kind and loving people who are easily guilted into things they sense are not right, but are too weak to confront.
We must let the Holy Spirit guide us in our desire to be a giver. Giving is not always good, it can actually be against God's will to give. We can never go wrong when we ask the Lord and wait for His answer before giving.
Another response to the first two kinds of "Christians" is to live the Christian life as we should and continually bring the gospel message to them. To assume that the first two kinds of "Christians" are believers, is to make a grave mistake. We have to remember that by validating them in their rebellion, is to influence weaker believers and deceive the youth.
If we do things Biblically, seeking the Lord in prayer, we may find the first two kinds of "Christians", either leaving the church or becoming born again. Our culture fears "driving someone away" by preaching at them. This is almost funny if it weren't so sad. If someone is driven away by the truth, then God doesn't want them there anyway. They are "leaven", they will infect the rest of the apples in the barrel, if only to weaken their witness by tolerating worldliness and rebellion in the church.
Galatians 5:9 "A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough."
1 Corinthians 5:6 "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?"
If we were to deal Biblically with the first to brands of Christianity in the church, we might find many people leaving, but in return, those who remain, would be the faithful ones, the called out ones. Our society is more into numbers than holiness in our gatherings, causing our churches to be impotent, ineffective and sinful.
We are not called to bring hordes of non-believers into our gatherings, we are called to go out to them and only bring them in when they have responded to the gospel, becoming born again.
One only has to look at the mess the apostate church is in, to know that all the attempts to bring in non-believers has destroyed the holiness of the gatherings to such a degree that few true believers remain in them.
True, sold out blood bought believers in Christ are leaving these sinful and impotent gatherings. They would rather be alone or in a house with two others than participate in the mess of the large organized church.
Remember when we do witness to the non-believer in the world, we have a model of the response that we can expect, in the Bible;
Matthew 13:1-9
"1 That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.
2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach.
3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear."
Matthew 13:18-23
"18 “Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
Matthew 13:24-30
"24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.
26 But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.
27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’
29 But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.
30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’
NO where in these scriptures does God say to bring the people to the temple or gatherings of believers. These Scripture represent the believers going out to the world to bring the gospel and bringing into the gathering of believers, those who have trusted Christ.
He does however tell us to preach the truth, those who remain, do not throw out, God will take care of them later. If we preach the truth, strong and boldly, many will leave by themselves, those that remain will have no effect on the others because as they sin, it will be handled in the presence of others.
1 Timothy 5:20 "Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning."
The apostate church protects and coddles the sinner who is a pretender, causing the leaven of sin to grow out of control. Now in the apostate gatherings even the leadership is living willfully and sinfully as well as their congregations.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
The Laodicean Church, Here We Are!
The last days church of "laodicea", is the church of opinions.
Does this sound familiar to those who want to evaluate everything according to the Bible.
The Pharisees added to the Word to incorporate their human traditions and claimed they were from God.
In our modern age we are doing the same thing in the modern apostate church.
Everything is based on circumstances and outcomes, rather than truth of the Word of God.
Does this sound familiar to those who want to evaluate everything according to the Bible.
The Pharisees added to the Word to incorporate their human traditions and claimed they were from God.
In our modern age we are doing the same thing in the modern apostate church.
Everything is based on circumstances and outcomes, rather than truth of the Word of God.
Walk Away When God Says To!
Very very good!!!! So many people will try to guilt us into maintaining contact with rebellious people, when God is telling us to walk away.
Brenda Zaleski-Lopez said this;
"Shaking the dust from their feet was the Lord's way of saying, "Rid yourself of any trace of them, as if the encounter never happened."
Jesus was telling the disciples not to waste any time or energy on people who refused to listen to the Gospel. We can't debate, persuade, argue, or coerce anyone into ac...See More
Shaking the dust from their feet was the Lord's way of saying, "Rid yourself of any trace of them, as if the encounter never happened."
Jesus was telling the disciples not to waste any time or energy on people who refused to listen to the Gospel. We can't debate, persuade, argue, or coerce anyone into accepting God's Word. They are either open to it or they're not.
Arguing the point with people who disagree only hardens their own position and makes it more difficult for them to change their mind in the future.
Once we lay out the Gospel for someone we've done what the Lord has asked of us. If they are curious and want to know more, great. We should continue the discussion for as long as they like.
But if they aren't interested, all the talk in the world won't help. and it's better for everyone if we don't force the issue.
Remember, we're called to confront people with the truth, but it's the Holy Spirit's job to convert them.
From:gracethrufaith.com
Brenda Zaleski-Lopez said this;
"Shaking the dust from their feet was the Lord's way of saying, "Rid yourself of any trace of them, as if the encounter never happened."
Jesus was telling the disciples not to waste any time or energy on people who refused to listen to the Gospel. We can't debate, persuade, argue, or coerce anyone into ac...See More
Shaking the dust from their feet was the Lord's way of saying, "Rid yourself of any trace of them, as if the encounter never happened."
Jesus was telling the disciples not to waste any time or energy on people who refused to listen to the Gospel. We can't debate, persuade, argue, or coerce anyone into accepting God's Word. They are either open to it or they're not.
Arguing the point with people who disagree only hardens their own position and makes it more difficult for them to change their mind in the future.
Once we lay out the Gospel for someone we've done what the Lord has asked of us. If they are curious and want to know more, great. We should continue the discussion for as long as they like.
But if they aren't interested, all the talk in the world won't help. and it's better for everyone if we don't force the issue.
Remember, we're called to confront people with the truth, but it's the Holy Spirit's job to convert them.
From:gracethrufaith.com
The Law Lives in the Believer
Christ has written His law on our hearts when we became saved. Does a lion have to work to be a lion, NO! A lion will be a lion because it is his nature. We don't have to try to keep the Law, the Law is a part of our nature, we love the Law, because the Law giver lives in us, He is apart of our being.
The Law was given to convict and condemn those who are under it, that they might see their sinfulness and become born again.
Galatians 3
"1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”
12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
The very Law that condemned us before we were born again, became our constant companion after we were born again. It no longer condemns us, because we are no longer under it, but because it dwells in us, it condemns others of their sin if they are not born again.
How many times have we been friendly and open with non-believers, only to feel a sense of uncomfortableness on their part, even hostility. They think there is something about us that thy don't like, they don't realize it is "Christ the Law Giver" that they are sensing through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We will be hated even when we say or do nothing, even when we do kind acts they will despise us, through dismissiveness or criticism to negate what we have done.
Thank the Lord, we never know where He will take our submission to Him. When we ignore an insult, or walk away to avoid further conflict, we can rest in Christ, that He will do in our heart special growth and work in the heart of others involved.
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,"
1 Timothy 1:9
"realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers."
The Law was given to convict and condemn those who are under it, that they might see their sinfulness and become born again.
Galatians 3
"1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”
12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
The very Law that condemned us before we were born again, became our constant companion after we were born again. It no longer condemns us, because we are no longer under it, but because it dwells in us, it condemns others of their sin if they are not born again.
How many times have we been friendly and open with non-believers, only to feel a sense of uncomfortableness on their part, even hostility. They think there is something about us that thy don't like, they don't realize it is "Christ the Law Giver" that they are sensing through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We will be hated even when we say or do nothing, even when we do kind acts they will despise us, through dismissiveness or criticism to negate what we have done.
Thank the Lord, we never know where He will take our submission to Him. When we ignore an insult, or walk away to avoid further conflict, we can rest in Christ, that He will do in our heart special growth and work in the heart of others involved.
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,"
1 Timothy 1:9
"realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers."
Friday, January 16, 2015
All Life Is God's Work
I just listened to a short quip on a young man being interviewed as to what makes a person someone of value. The young man was asked, "if a mother is depressed and can't take care of her baby, decides to kill it, did that mother do something wrong?"
The answer from the young man was that the child could not contribute anything to anyone, he was not worth saving, but the mother could still be helped. The conclusion was that the mother was of value but the baby was not, it was alright to kill that baby.
If you are not deeply concerned by now about our culture, you must be fairly commatos. When we devalue any human life based on their inability to contribute to society, we become as barbaric as it is possible to be.
Life has value because God made it and only He has a right to determine who lives or dies. Have we lost sight of the fact that even the infirmed contribute to the growth of others by being the subject of service for someone else.
When we have to serve others we develop compassion. We learn to see life from someone else's perspective when we take our minds off of ourselves and place them on the needs of others.
Selfishness in our culture has been elevated to the status of virtue, the opposite of what God told us in His Word.
Deuteronomy 15:11 - For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Proverbs 19:17 - He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Acts 20:35 - I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
1 John 3:17 "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Ephesians 4:28 - Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Isaiah 58:6-7 "6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"
Proverbs 14:31 - He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
1 John 3:17 - But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Luke 14:12-14 "12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor [thy] rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."
Isaiah 25:4 " For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall."
Proverbs 22:9 - "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor."
Wow, it seems that all those who think that they have value because they are young and financially prosperous, are above anyone else who is poor, ill or helpless, are valuing things more than people and even worse, things are valued above God's principles. God is so devalued to these up and comers that they even lie against Him.
Islam is a good example of demonic oppression based on the perverted idea that men are valued and women and children are not. God taught the opposite, He place the men in charge of protecting the women and children.
We have crossed the line from disobedience to God into demonic doctrines paraded about as righteous. I have been on this earth for 62 years, I have never seen things as bad as they are right now, with no letting up.
This sounds like doom and gloom, yes it is! There is only one hope for mankind, that is to turn to Christ before He comes and destroys all this mess. For the believer this is good news and our hope, but for the unbeliever it is frightening.
The answer from the young man was that the child could not contribute anything to anyone, he was not worth saving, but the mother could still be helped. The conclusion was that the mother was of value but the baby was not, it was alright to kill that baby.
If you are not deeply concerned by now about our culture, you must be fairly commatos. When we devalue any human life based on their inability to contribute to society, we become as barbaric as it is possible to be.
Life has value because God made it and only He has a right to determine who lives or dies. Have we lost sight of the fact that even the infirmed contribute to the growth of others by being the subject of service for someone else.
When we have to serve others we develop compassion. We learn to see life from someone else's perspective when we take our minds off of ourselves and place them on the needs of others.
Selfishness in our culture has been elevated to the status of virtue, the opposite of what God told us in His Word.
Deuteronomy 15:11 - For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Proverbs 19:17 - He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Acts 20:35 - I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
1 John 3:17 "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
1 Timothy 5:8 - But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Ephesians 4:28 - Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Isaiah 58:6-7 "6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"
Proverbs 14:31 - He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
1 John 3:17 - But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Luke 14:12-14 "12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor [thy] rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."
Isaiah 25:4 " For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall."
Proverbs 22:9 - "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor."
Wow, it seems that all those who think that they have value because they are young and financially prosperous, are above anyone else who is poor, ill or helpless, are valuing things more than people and even worse, things are valued above God's principles. God is so devalued to these up and comers that they even lie against Him.
Islam is a good example of demonic oppression based on the perverted idea that men are valued and women and children are not. God taught the opposite, He place the men in charge of protecting the women and children.
We have crossed the line from disobedience to God into demonic doctrines paraded about as righteous. I have been on this earth for 62 years, I have never seen things as bad as they are right now, with no letting up.
This sounds like doom and gloom, yes it is! There is only one hope for mankind, that is to turn to Christ before He comes and destroys all this mess. For the believer this is good news and our hope, but for the unbeliever it is frightening.
Take the Focus off the Physical and Place it on the Spiritual
God is much more concerned about our spiritual growth than what is going on physically. The physical affords us the lessons necessary for the spiritual.
When we focus almost entirely on being healed, we miss the wonderful lessons that come from the trials of life.
We don't enjoy the trials, but when we go through them with Christ, we can look back and see what amazing things happened in our soul as we submitted to Christ.
When we focus almost entirely on being healed, we miss the wonderful lessons that come from the trials of life.
We don't enjoy the trials, but when we go through them with Christ, we can look back and see what amazing things happened in our soul as we submitted to Christ.
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