Where there is envy, strife and division there is ungratefulness. The more grateful to God we are, the more we love Him and seek Him.
Psalms 118:24 - This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Psalms 127:1 - (A Song of degrees for Solomon.) Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
It's Not the Messengers Delivery, It's the Heart of the Hearer
Exactly, it is not the delivery of the messenger, but it is the heart of the hearer.
Helping the Wicked Remain Wicked
Romans 1:29-32
"29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, [a]haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
If we embrace those who are living wickedly, then we are sending the message that we approve of their lifestyle and their rejection of God. We need to be warning those who walk in evil, then removing ourselves when they will not listen.
Isaiah 26:9-11 "…9 At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.…"
An evil man who rejects the Word of God and goes away from us, knows where to find us if he changes his mind. In the mean time we can pray and keep ourselves from being touched by the evil through abstinence from their lives. God can do a better job of reaching them than we. When they are ready, God can bring us back into their lives or He can send someone else in our place.
When we cannot let go of someone because of emotional ties, then we have an idol and we have elevated ourselves to god status by thinking that we have to be there, no one else nor God can help this person.
When we have done what the Holy Spirit told us to do, even walking away at the ordained time, then we can depend on Him as our guide. The freest person on the planet is one whose mind is stayed so completely on Christ that lose of a person or rejection by someone does not altar our obedience to Christ.
James 4:8-10 "…8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.…"
"29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, [a]haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
If we embrace those who are living wickedly, then we are sending the message that we approve of their lifestyle and their rejection of God. We need to be warning those who walk in evil, then removing ourselves when they will not listen.
Isaiah 26:9-11 "…9 At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. 10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.…"
An evil man who rejects the Word of God and goes away from us, knows where to find us if he changes his mind. In the mean time we can pray and keep ourselves from being touched by the evil through abstinence from their lives. God can do a better job of reaching them than we. When they are ready, God can bring us back into their lives or He can send someone else in our place.
When we cannot let go of someone because of emotional ties, then we have an idol and we have elevated ourselves to god status by thinking that we have to be there, no one else nor God can help this person.
When we have done what the Holy Spirit told us to do, even walking away at the ordained time, then we can depend on Him as our guide. The freest person on the planet is one whose mind is stayed so completely on Christ that lose of a person or rejection by someone does not altar our obedience to Christ.
James 4:8-10 "…8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.…"
Do We Really Care?
Let me describe what I have seen many believers are feeling;
They are full of joy and boldness, continually rejected by rebellious hears, accused of "negative" attitude as they are compelled by the Holy Spirit to expose evil because of their love for Christ first and then their love of those to whom they speak.
Believers have a deep concern for the spiritual growth of their brothers and sisters in Christ as well as an even deeper concern for those who are unsaved and on their way to the fires of hell.
Our hearts leap with joy over our hope of going home, when all this mess we live with every day torments our souls as it tormented the soul of Lot.
We rejoice at what God has made us, where we are going and the joy of our love for Christ, while simultaneously grieving over the dying and evil world all around us.
2 Peter 2:6-8 "6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; 7 and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—…"
Those who would accuse a believer being too negative, perhaps does not understand the world they live in, the working of the Holy Spirit or the depth of depravity he or she is surrounded by.
These same people hate correction and instruction themselves, so they interpret these necessary elements of Christian life as saddening, rather than things that could bring joy to anyone who heeds the warnings and become born again because of it.
Anyone who cannot face truth, will never lead anyone to the Lord. Should we make people feel comfortable in their wickedness, or would it be better to warn them and watch them seek God because of the conviction they have toward their sin?
Romans 1:21-22 "21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,…"
Anyone who hears the "negative" truth of hell and damnation and heeds its' warning will be excited and blessed that they have been saved out of it and on their way to heaven.
2 Corinthians 7:8-9 "8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time. 9 And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.…"
The reality is this, those who avoid sounding negative while living in the dilution that everyone should be happy happy all the time are negating the Word of God and the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit to show us our sinful nature after which we become joyful that Christ provided a way out of sin and hell.
Would we rather a person go to hell for eternity, so that others will like us, or do we grief over evil and attempt to convince others to turn to Christ for their salvation?
"Romans 1:26-27
"26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is [a]unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing [b]indecent acts and receiving in [c]their own persons the due penalty of their error."
They are full of joy and boldness, continually rejected by rebellious hears, accused of "negative" attitude as they are compelled by the Holy Spirit to expose evil because of their love for Christ first and then their love of those to whom they speak.
Believers have a deep concern for the spiritual growth of their brothers and sisters in Christ as well as an even deeper concern for those who are unsaved and on their way to the fires of hell.
Our hearts leap with joy over our hope of going home, when all this mess we live with every day torments our souls as it tormented the soul of Lot.
We rejoice at what God has made us, where we are going and the joy of our love for Christ, while simultaneously grieving over the dying and evil world all around us.
2 Peter 2:6-8 "6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; 7 and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—…"
Those who would accuse a believer being too negative, perhaps does not understand the world they live in, the working of the Holy Spirit or the depth of depravity he or she is surrounded by.
These same people hate correction and instruction themselves, so they interpret these necessary elements of Christian life as saddening, rather than things that could bring joy to anyone who heeds the warnings and become born again because of it.
Anyone who cannot face truth, will never lead anyone to the Lord. Should we make people feel comfortable in their wickedness, or would it be better to warn them and watch them seek God because of the conviction they have toward their sin?
Romans 1:21-22 "21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,…"
Anyone who hears the "negative" truth of hell and damnation and heeds its' warning will be excited and blessed that they have been saved out of it and on their way to heaven.
2 Corinthians 7:8-9 "8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time. 9 And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.…"
The reality is this, those who avoid sounding negative while living in the dilution that everyone should be happy happy all the time are negating the Word of God and the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit to show us our sinful nature after which we become joyful that Christ provided a way out of sin and hell.
Would we rather a person go to hell for eternity, so that others will like us, or do we grief over evil and attempt to convince others to turn to Christ for their salvation?
"Romans 1:26-27
"26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is [a]unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing [b]indecent acts and receiving in [c]their own persons the due penalty of their error."
The Subtle Things Reveal the Heart
If you think no one is noticing an attitude of disrespect and contempt, remember that Even just the rolling of eyes and shifting of the head can be a sign of contempt.
Monday, December 19, 2016
He Told Us To Observe His Death and Resurrection
Christ gave us the Lord's supper, the only commanded observance and it was to be done every time believers came together to worship. Notice few are interested in this celebration of Christ!
I have met so many people who become angry over those who warn them about the secular holidays, while those who love these humanistic rituals, completely neglect the one observance Christ commanded.
Luke 22:19-20 " 19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.…"
The time is short, believers need to be asking God to reveal anything to them that is not pleasing to Him. When He opens their eyes they need to obey what they hear Him saying.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Psychology Has Taken This Culture Captive
If someone believes any of the following things, they have engaged in the modern psychological teachings, possibly without realizing it. We have lived with indoctrination in psychology so long now, many cannot wrap their minds around the idea that it is deeply entrenched in the church, much more than we realize.
Counting to three before a child has to obey: This teaches a child that he doesn't have to obey until we get to the number three, also causing flippancy toward sinfulness, not to mention weakening the authority of the parents. Children must be taught to obey immediately every time. Perhaps the child is running toward a busy street but does not take seriously the first time the parent tells them to stop. By the third command the child could be under the wheels of a vehicle. Not only for their own safety but also for their attitude toward respect for authority in the future they need to learn to obey immediately. Does a boss want an employee who does not move quickly to please his boss?
When a child is allowed to obey only when he wants to depending on the mood of the parent, then he will not take seriously obedience to anyone else when he grows older. He may even become contemptuous toward anyone who requires compliance.
Psalm 119:59 "59 I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60 I hastened and did not delay To keep Your commandments. 61 The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Your law.…"
Allowing a child to disobey three times before punishing them for disobedience is another false teaching. When this is practiced, the child understands that they can lie or disobey two times before they have to obey. This undermines the evilness of sin, causing the child to view sin as only bad if you can't get away with it. It weakens the authority of the parent, thereby weakening the authority in all situations, all other authority figures also.
Forgiveness without confession: Not only does the one who has sinned need to confess it to God and those they offend, they need to desire not to repeat the same offenses again. Those who will not confess, are not sorry nor admitting their sin, therefore their behavior will not change, they will have no progress in their maturity and many relationships in which they are involved will be ruined.
1 John 1:9-10 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
Forgiving ourselves; it is not Biblical, no scripture in the Bible speaks of our need to forgive ourselves. If we continue to act guilty after confessing and forsaking our sin, then the problem is not that we have not forgiven ourselves, but rather we have not believed God when He told us He would.
1 John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Man is basically good is another false teaching, causing man to become enraged at the suggestion that he needs change or even has a need for God. We know it is a teaching from the devil because God says the opposite.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 " 9" The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
One should never spank or physically discipline a child.
Proverbs 23:12-14 "…12 Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge. 13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. 14 You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol.…"
Children must express their feelings as they see fit.
Proverbs 25:28 - "He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls."
Children must be allowed to rebel, it's part of their learning.
1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king."
The more a child learns to think of others and obey authority the happier they are.
Feelings are far more important than anything else.
Proverbs 4:23-24 "…22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.…"
We shouldn't tell people they are wrong, just allow them to think what they like without challenge.
2 Timothy 4:2-3 " 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.…"
The destination isn't important, it's about the journey, another popular mantra we hear today. It matters to God where we are going, the journey matters as well as the destination.
John 14:4-6 "4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 “Lord, said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.…"
Judging is wrong according to many people who say they are Christians, however God says the opposite. Not only are we to judge righteously, we are to judge those in the body. Christ lives in us, we can discern if someone is sinning and must confront that sin. The only way we can be accurate in our judgments is if we are seeking Christ continually and through knowledge of what He tells us in His Word.
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 "…11 But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”…"
People do bad things because bad was done to them is a basic tenet of psychology, it has it's roots in evolution that man is nothing more than an animal reacting to stimuli. If this were true what excuse did Adam and Eve have, their Father was perfect.
Everyone must have self esteem; Philippians 2;3-4 "3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.…"
We automatically think of ourselves first, that's why we have to be trained and taught to think of others first.
We must love ourselves first before we can love someone else. This lie keeps people focused on self when God tells us we are born loving ourselves too much and must be taught to love others above ourselves.
Matthew 22:39 "22:39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."
If we love others as much as we love ourselves that will be a whole lot of love for others.
Children who turn out bad must be raised badly. This would negate the reality that some children from very bad homes turn out very good while some children from very good homes turn out evil. It is a general rule that parenting plays a part, but after a child is raised they still have a choice to be like their bad parents or to be like their good parents.
Ezekiel 18:20 " 20 "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. "
We need to be careful how we say thing so that they will be received by the hearer. The premise is that if someone got angry with us for what we said, then we must have said it badly. God never said this anywhere in the Word. He told us to be guided by the Holy Spirit, He will give us what we need when we need it.
Luke 12:11-12 "…11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. 12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
Jeremiah 7:26-28 "…26 "Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers. 27 "You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 "You shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.…"
We can claim things, causing God to have to give us what we want. God spoke the universe into existence, but He never gave us the power to do the same. We are in arrogance and rebellion if we think God has to obey us. There is a desire in the heart of a "Claimer" to be god, the same deception that the devil used with Eve, he said; "you can be like the Most High God."
James 4:6-8 "6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.…"
James 4:14-16 "…14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.…"
There are those who shame others by claiming they don't have enough faith if they don't get what they prayed for, when actually many trust Christ for His will and accept whatever He has chosen for them. I see nothing in the following verses that indicate we are to claim whatever we want without asking God for it.
Matthew 6:5-13 "5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day [e]our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]"
There are also those who don't really trust God as they claim things for themselves, while attempting to force an answer to their prayer by working hard to make their request happen, at the same time assigning the answer to God when it was really their own effort. They were not trusting God at all but claiming they were.
Speaking to the dead, which God calls divination. Many Christians today speak to dead relatives at funerals, memorials and grave sights believing their dead relatives hear them. These same people think that their dead relatives can see them from heaven. None of this is Scriptural but it is occultic.
Leviticus 19:31 (Necromancy: speaking or conjuring up the dead)
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
Having faith in faith, but not in God. There are many who think all they have to do is believe in their belief, the power of their own thoughts and words making whatever they want to believe alright with God.
Jeremiah 17:5 "Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD."
Contemplative prayer, if anyone practices this, they are engaging in occult activity. God told us to be discerning concerning false doctrine so as not to get caught up in evil.
Matthew 6:8-9 "…8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.…"
We must be encouraged and validated by others to be fulfilled and healthy. God says all we need is Christ. He alone can provide all our needs.
Philippians 4:19-20 "19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.…"
Doing good deeds in public to be seen by others, is against the Word of God.
Matthew 16:1 "1 Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Hebrews 6:1 "1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, "
Philippians 2:3 "3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. "
Matthew 23:5-6 " 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"
Don't judge mantra, the opposite of what God says:
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.…"
Experts must be consulted rather than trusting Christ. Egypt is a picture of sin and rebellion in many Bible passages.
Isaiah 30:1-3 "1 "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 3 "Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation."
Pictures of men depicting Christ is nothing more than art, it's not. Any time we wish that man in the picture were Him, we are forming an idol in our own heart.
Exodus 20:4
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
Would it make sense for me to go to lunch with my husband, sit across from him, pull out a picture from my wallet of another man claiming it is my husband? My husband would be hurt and maybe angry that I was looking at someone else wishing it were him. Remember Christ lives in us, we don't know what He looks like but we trust Him without seeing Him. If we must have a picture to pretend we are looking at Christ, then we lack faith and have an idol.
2 Corinthians 5:7 "7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.…"
John 20:29 "29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.”
"Christian Psychology" is a good thing. There is no such thing as "Christian Psychology", the term has been used to mask an ungodly doctrine within the church by adding the word "Christian" to ungodly and cultic practices that negate the word of God.
Next time we hear something that sounds right, but is popular by the secular community, assume that it is probably wrong and go to prayer and Biblical research to see if it fits with God's principles.
In these last days of deception these false and enticing belief systems will increase, becoming more cleaver and confusing for those who have not read their Bibles.
Counting to three before a child has to obey: This teaches a child that he doesn't have to obey until we get to the number three, also causing flippancy toward sinfulness, not to mention weakening the authority of the parents. Children must be taught to obey immediately every time. Perhaps the child is running toward a busy street but does not take seriously the first time the parent tells them to stop. By the third command the child could be under the wheels of a vehicle. Not only for their own safety but also for their attitude toward respect for authority in the future they need to learn to obey immediately. Does a boss want an employee who does not move quickly to please his boss?
When a child is allowed to obey only when he wants to depending on the mood of the parent, then he will not take seriously obedience to anyone else when he grows older. He may even become contemptuous toward anyone who requires compliance.
Psalm 119:59 "59 I considered my ways And turned my feet to Your testimonies. 60 I hastened and did not delay To keep Your commandments. 61 The cords of the wicked have encircled me, But I have not forgotten Your law.…"
Allowing a child to disobey three times before punishing them for disobedience is another false teaching. When this is practiced, the child understands that they can lie or disobey two times before they have to obey. This undermines the evilness of sin, causing the child to view sin as only bad if you can't get away with it. It weakens the authority of the parent, thereby weakening the authority in all situations, all other authority figures also.
Forgiveness without confession: Not only does the one who has sinned need to confess it to God and those they offend, they need to desire not to repeat the same offenses again. Those who will not confess, are not sorry nor admitting their sin, therefore their behavior will not change, they will have no progress in their maturity and many relationships in which they are involved will be ruined.
1 John 1:9-10 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
Forgiving ourselves; it is not Biblical, no scripture in the Bible speaks of our need to forgive ourselves. If we continue to act guilty after confessing and forsaking our sin, then the problem is not that we have not forgiven ourselves, but rather we have not believed God when He told us He would.
1 John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Man is basically good is another false teaching, causing man to become enraged at the suggestion that he needs change or even has a need for God. We know it is a teaching from the devil because God says the opposite.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 " 9" The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
One should never spank or physically discipline a child.
Proverbs 23:12-14 "…12 Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge. 13 Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. 14 You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol.…"
Children must express their feelings as they see fit.
Proverbs 25:28 - "He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls."
Children must be allowed to rebel, it's part of their learning.
1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king."
The more a child learns to think of others and obey authority the happier they are.
Feelings are far more important than anything else.
Proverbs 4:23-24 "…22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.…"
We shouldn't tell people they are wrong, just allow them to think what they like without challenge.
2 Timothy 4:2-3 " 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.…"
The destination isn't important, it's about the journey, another popular mantra we hear today. It matters to God where we are going, the journey matters as well as the destination.
John 14:4-6 "4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 “Lord, said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.…"
Judging is wrong according to many people who say they are Christians, however God says the opposite. Not only are we to judge righteously, we are to judge those in the body. Christ lives in us, we can discern if someone is sinning and must confront that sin. The only way we can be accurate in our judgments is if we are seeking Christ continually and through knowledge of what He tells us in His Word.
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 "…11 But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”…"
People do bad things because bad was done to them is a basic tenet of psychology, it has it's roots in evolution that man is nothing more than an animal reacting to stimuli. If this were true what excuse did Adam and Eve have, their Father was perfect.
Everyone must have self esteem; Philippians 2;3-4 "3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.…"
We automatically think of ourselves first, that's why we have to be trained and taught to think of others first.
We must love ourselves first before we can love someone else. This lie keeps people focused on self when God tells us we are born loving ourselves too much and must be taught to love others above ourselves.
Matthew 22:39 "22:39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself."
If we love others as much as we love ourselves that will be a whole lot of love for others.
Children who turn out bad must be raised badly. This would negate the reality that some children from very bad homes turn out very good while some children from very good homes turn out evil. It is a general rule that parenting plays a part, but after a child is raised they still have a choice to be like their bad parents or to be like their good parents.
Ezekiel 18:20 " 20 "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. "
We need to be careful how we say thing so that they will be received by the hearer. The premise is that if someone got angry with us for what we said, then we must have said it badly. God never said this anywhere in the Word. He told us to be guided by the Holy Spirit, He will give us what we need when we need it.
Luke 12:11-12 "…11 When you are brought before the synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. 12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”
Jeremiah 7:26-28 "…26 "Yet they did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers. 27 "You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you; and you shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 "You shall say to them, 'This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God or accept correction; truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.…"
We can claim things, causing God to have to give us what we want. God spoke the universe into existence, but He never gave us the power to do the same. We are in arrogance and rebellion if we think God has to obey us. There is a desire in the heart of a "Claimer" to be god, the same deception that the devil used with Eve, he said; "you can be like the Most High God."
James 4:6-8 "6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.…"
James 4:14-16 "…14 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.…"
There are those who shame others by claiming they don't have enough faith if they don't get what they prayed for, when actually many trust Christ for His will and accept whatever He has chosen for them. I see nothing in the following verses that indicate we are to claim whatever we want without asking God for it.
Matthew 6:5-13 "5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day [e]our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]"
There are also those who don't really trust God as they claim things for themselves, while attempting to force an answer to their prayer by working hard to make their request happen, at the same time assigning the answer to God when it was really their own effort. They were not trusting God at all but claiming they were.
Speaking to the dead, which God calls divination. Many Christians today speak to dead relatives at funerals, memorials and grave sights believing their dead relatives hear them. These same people think that their dead relatives can see them from heaven. None of this is Scriptural but it is occultic.
Leviticus 19:31 (Necromancy: speaking or conjuring up the dead)
“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
Having faith in faith, but not in God. There are many who think all they have to do is believe in their belief, the power of their own thoughts and words making whatever they want to believe alright with God.
Jeremiah 17:5 "Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD."
Contemplative prayer, if anyone practices this, they are engaging in occult activity. God told us to be discerning concerning false doctrine so as not to get caught up in evil.
Matthew 6:8-9 "…8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.…"
We must be encouraged and validated by others to be fulfilled and healthy. God says all we need is Christ. He alone can provide all our needs.
Philippians 4:19-20 "19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.…"
Doing good deeds in public to be seen by others, is against the Word of God.
Matthew 16:1 "1 Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Hebrews 6:1 "1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, "
Philippians 2:3 "3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. "
Matthew 23:5-6 " 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,…"
Don't judge mantra, the opposite of what God says:
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.…"
Experts must be consulted rather than trusting Christ. Egypt is a picture of sin and rebellion in many Bible passages.
Isaiah 30:1-3 "1 "Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! 3 "Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation."
Pictures of men depicting Christ is nothing more than art, it's not. Any time we wish that man in the picture were Him, we are forming an idol in our own heart.
Exodus 20:4
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
Would it make sense for me to go to lunch with my husband, sit across from him, pull out a picture from my wallet of another man claiming it is my husband? My husband would be hurt and maybe angry that I was looking at someone else wishing it were him. Remember Christ lives in us, we don't know what He looks like but we trust Him without seeing Him. If we must have a picture to pretend we are looking at Christ, then we lack faith and have an idol.
2 Corinthians 5:7 "7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.…"
John 20:29 "29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.”
"Christian Psychology" is a good thing. There is no such thing as "Christian Psychology", the term has been used to mask an ungodly doctrine within the church by adding the word "Christian" to ungodly and cultic practices that negate the word of God.
Next time we hear something that sounds right, but is popular by the secular community, assume that it is probably wrong and go to prayer and Biblical research to see if it fits with God's principles.
In these last days of deception these false and enticing belief systems will increase, becoming more cleaver and confusing for those who have not read their Bibles.
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