Saturday, June 22, 2019
Friday, June 21, 2019
Fleshly Christianity
Attempting to do our Christianity in the flesh based on what we interpret as good is an exercise in futility.
Judges 17:6
"6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
When we desire to be changed and guided by Christ He will bring about change in us that results in far different behavior than if we are working in the flesh.
We might be able to fool others for a time with our outward appearances and shallow words but eventually those who pretend grow weary of the hard work of that pretense and the real them sneaks out, sometimes without them realizing it at all.
Then there is also the problem of those who have discernment about the fleshly walk. They are able to see into the soul by Spiritual discernment that reveals things the pretender didn't' think anyone else could see. Ways of expressing themselves in their words, facial expressions, body language and tones of voice often give them away.
I have heard it said that only 7% of communication is actually words. Most of what one conveys to others comes through to us other than words.
And, we know that God sees everything all the time. Even if someone is able to fool man they will never fool God. Who is the most important?......of course it is God.
There is food gluttony that is a sin, but even worse than food gluttony is a glutton of self worship. When someone is fixated on self to such a degree that it is unthinkable that anyone would correct them then they are self worshiping.
We see this self worship emerging in many forms in our day. Those who attend church gatherings every week expecting to be entertained and comforted care little if anything about Christ. These people are coming to get what they can from God even though in their heart they hate Him.
Parents in our day can understand this concept when they are rejected by ungrateful children. So many adult children are never to be seen while the parents are living but will show up at the reading of the will and the memorial to find out what their parents left them. In other words they want their parents wealth and material possessions but they care nothing about the parents.
So many "Christians" do this with God. They are "naming and claiming" whatever they want from God but deny His principles in His word. They become angry when an authentic believer corrects them with Scripture because they do not love God, they only want what He has to offer. Sadly these same people will not have what He has to offer, that is salvation, nor will they have His protection or blessings in any other area.
When we encounter a "Christian" who hears the Word of God and fights and argues to defend their sin one minute and the next crying out to Him for something they want, they can expect nothing from God.
Psalm 66: 17:-19…17 I cried out to Him with my mouth, and His praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer.
Isaiah 1:14-16…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
Have you wondered why our country is in such a mess morally? As a country we claim to be Christian but negate and ignore more of Scripture than we obey as a nation.
Let me ask this: "Why have all the abortion clinics not been shut down, the houses of porn, the brothels, the taverns, the immoral clothing shops, the laws allowing divorce and remarriage, the movie houses, the television shows that depict evil as good?" Might I add, "where are the mothers who are not in the home caring for their families? " They are working outside the home to earn the all mighty buck when they should be fulfilling their role as keeper of the home.
The list is so long it would take a book to write about all of the violations of God's' word and even the hostility toward Him that we see every day.
Our country does the same thing as individuals do every day, it proclaims Christianity in words only, but actions are absent.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
The most disturbing thing of all to me is that so many "houses of God" are the worst in perverting His word and accepting sin as a normal course. I have heard of many cases in which pastors are divorced and remarried, shack ups are attending the services and every one greets and endorses their choice to mock God and most are attending these gatherings for the entertainment that was designed to entice them.
When we cater to the unsaved to bring them in then all we do is cater to them once they are in. Think about it, watering down the gospel message of repentance and confession of sinfulness will bring in those who are not serious about following Christ. Those who are not serious will dictate the goings on through their unrepentant attitude that will leave at the first sign of conviction. Take away all the entertainment and the houses of God will dwindle so much so the salary of the "pastor" will not be enough for him to live on.
Is it possible that a very good salary will cause many to market their church for a higher salary. This is one more thing to add to our book about the ills and problems in this nation that has rejected Christ.
WORDS are not enough, God proved that in Matthew 15:8! All we have to do is watch for a little while what people say and how they act to prove what God has said. Most people talk a good line and think that's enough.
Just Saying!
Judges 17:6
"6 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
When we desire to be changed and guided by Christ He will bring about change in us that results in far different behavior than if we are working in the flesh.
We might be able to fool others for a time with our outward appearances and shallow words but eventually those who pretend grow weary of the hard work of that pretense and the real them sneaks out, sometimes without them realizing it at all.
Then there is also the problem of those who have discernment about the fleshly walk. They are able to see into the soul by Spiritual discernment that reveals things the pretender didn't' think anyone else could see. Ways of expressing themselves in their words, facial expressions, body language and tones of voice often give them away.
I have heard it said that only 7% of communication is actually words. Most of what one conveys to others comes through to us other than words.
And, we know that God sees everything all the time. Even if someone is able to fool man they will never fool God. Who is the most important?......of course it is God.
There is food gluttony that is a sin, but even worse than food gluttony is a glutton of self worship. When someone is fixated on self to such a degree that it is unthinkable that anyone would correct them then they are self worshiping.
We see this self worship emerging in many forms in our day. Those who attend church gatherings every week expecting to be entertained and comforted care little if anything about Christ. These people are coming to get what they can from God even though in their heart they hate Him.
Parents in our day can understand this concept when they are rejected by ungrateful children. So many adult children are never to be seen while the parents are living but will show up at the reading of the will and the memorial to find out what their parents left them. In other words they want their parents wealth and material possessions but they care nothing about the parents.
So many "Christians" do this with God. They are "naming and claiming" whatever they want from God but deny His principles in His word. They become angry when an authentic believer corrects them with Scripture because they do not love God, they only want what He has to offer. Sadly these same people will not have what He has to offer, that is salvation, nor will they have His protection or blessings in any other area.
When we encounter a "Christian" who hears the Word of God and fights and argues to defend their sin one minute and the next crying out to Him for something they want, they can expect nothing from God.
Psalm 66: 17:-19…17 I cried out to Him with my mouth, and His praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer.
Isaiah 1:14-16…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
Have you wondered why our country is in such a mess morally? As a country we claim to be Christian but negate and ignore more of Scripture than we obey as a nation.
Let me ask this: "Why have all the abortion clinics not been shut down, the houses of porn, the brothels, the taverns, the immoral clothing shops, the laws allowing divorce and remarriage, the movie houses, the television shows that depict evil as good?" Might I add, "where are the mothers who are not in the home caring for their families? " They are working outside the home to earn the all mighty buck when they should be fulfilling their role as keeper of the home.
The list is so long it would take a book to write about all of the violations of God's' word and even the hostility toward Him that we see every day.
Our country does the same thing as individuals do every day, it proclaims Christianity in words only, but actions are absent.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
The most disturbing thing of all to me is that so many "houses of God" are the worst in perverting His word and accepting sin as a normal course. I have heard of many cases in which pastors are divorced and remarried, shack ups are attending the services and every one greets and endorses their choice to mock God and most are attending these gatherings for the entertainment that was designed to entice them.
When we cater to the unsaved to bring them in then all we do is cater to them once they are in. Think about it, watering down the gospel message of repentance and confession of sinfulness will bring in those who are not serious about following Christ. Those who are not serious will dictate the goings on through their unrepentant attitude that will leave at the first sign of conviction. Take away all the entertainment and the houses of God will dwindle so much so the salary of the "pastor" will not be enough for him to live on.
Is it possible that a very good salary will cause many to market their church for a higher salary. This is one more thing to add to our book about the ills and problems in this nation that has rejected Christ.
WORDS are not enough, God proved that in Matthew 15:8! All we have to do is watch for a little while what people say and how they act to prove what God has said. Most people talk a good line and think that's enough.
Just Saying!
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Bad People Hurt People
Hurt people do not hurt people. The narcissist is not hurt they are just evil.
God will never change the heart of someone who does not want to change. When God told Jeremiah to stop praying for his nation it was because the heart of the people have become so hardened that their heart could no longer be changed.
Jeremiah 11:14 " 14 As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not raise up a cry or a prayer on their behalf, for I will not be listening when they call out to Me at the time of their disaster. "
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. "
God will never change the heart of those who love their sin. All of us have been hurt from time to time, even a lifetime of hurt, but we do not continually hurt others because of what we have been through. In fact many of us who have been hurt can't stand the thought of hurting others because of how we felt when it was done to us.
We can never use the excuse that someone hurt us to justify hurting others. We ought never to minimize the bad behavior of others to their victims by declaring how hurt the perp is. Bad behavior should be treated with a rebuke not compassion.
It is unjust to pressure the victim to forgive while coddling the narcissist, enabling them to continue using excuses for their behavior.
The best way to help someone learn to stop bad behavior is to tell them it is bad and refuse to engage with them if they refuse to stop it.
Just saying!
God will never change the heart of someone who does not want to change. When God told Jeremiah to stop praying for his nation it was because the heart of the people have become so hardened that their heart could no longer be changed.
Jeremiah 11:14 " 14 As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not raise up a cry or a prayer on their behalf, for I will not be listening when they call out to Me at the time of their disaster. "
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. "
God will never change the heart of those who love their sin. All of us have been hurt from time to time, even a lifetime of hurt, but we do not continually hurt others because of what we have been through. In fact many of us who have been hurt can't stand the thought of hurting others because of how we felt when it was done to us.
We can never use the excuse that someone hurt us to justify hurting others. We ought never to minimize the bad behavior of others to their victims by declaring how hurt the perp is. Bad behavior should be treated with a rebuke not compassion.
It is unjust to pressure the victim to forgive while coddling the narcissist, enabling them to continue using excuses for their behavior.
The best way to help someone learn to stop bad behavior is to tell them it is bad and refuse to engage with them if they refuse to stop it.
Just saying!
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
The More We Learn the More We Need to Learn
The more we learn the more we realize just how much we do not know. Those who walk in humility are far more concerned about growing than merely knowing. Lots of people have knowledge who do not possess the basic elements of the Christians walk, such as empathy, kindness and truth.
When we learn something new that opens our eyes a little wider we will move a little differently. Gaining knowledge that just remains in the brain and goes no where else is useless.
Our learning ought to cause our steps to widen and lengthen.
1 Corinthians 8:1 "Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies."
When we are growing and changing people will notice without our every having to tell them. Those who don't want to see our growth will deny it, but the honest ones will.
Those who have to boast of their growth probably are relying on their words alone without a changed heart. In other words there probably has not been authentic growth but only words.
Words have no power except when they are accompanied by actions and attitudes.
James 2:17-19 "…17So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.…"
Faith is not just a word that emerges from mouths, if it is authentic faith there will always be actions. Those actions will not be forced or deliberate, they will roll off of the life like rolling off a log, without thought and without boasting.
Faith that is real comes naturally without working to prove it.
"One of the elements of holiness is the absence of self awareness." Author Unknown
When we learn something new that opens our eyes a little wider we will move a little differently. Gaining knowledge that just remains in the brain and goes no where else is useless.
Our learning ought to cause our steps to widen and lengthen.
1 Corinthians 8:1 "Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies."
When we are growing and changing people will notice without our every having to tell them. Those who don't want to see our growth will deny it, but the honest ones will.
Those who have to boast of their growth probably are relying on their words alone without a changed heart. In other words there probably has not been authentic growth but only words.
Words have no power except when they are accompanied by actions and attitudes.
James 2:17-19 "…17So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.…"
Faith is not just a word that emerges from mouths, if it is authentic faith there will always be actions. Those actions will not be forced or deliberate, they will roll off of the life like rolling off a log, without thought and without boasting.
Faith that is real comes naturally without working to prove it.
"One of the elements of holiness is the absence of self awareness." Author Unknown
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Responding to the Critical Person
Dr. Les Carter thoughts paraphrased:
Critical people enjoy being insulting!
Critical people will judge us as the problem.
Critical people don't want our input.
Critical people do not have an understanding spirit and their words are empty. A critic sees no need for understanding anyone else.
We are not required to play along with the critics insults or to engage with them at all when they are insulting.
Do not react to anything, do everything with reasoning and understanding.
My thoughts on this were:
When we pay little to no attention to our emotions and reason things out we most often will not react but will respond Biblically.
When we know the enemy, are deeply rooted in the Word of God and looking to Christ instead of to self we will not be very concerned about how we are treated, but more about how we are demonstrating the principles of God in our responses or lack of responses.
God has given us some very specific ways to respond to injustice all we have to do is read His Word and pray that the Holy Spirit give us the understanding.
James 1:5 "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Critical people enjoy being insulting!
Critical people will judge us as the problem.
Critical people don't want our input.
Critical people do not have an understanding spirit and their words are empty. A critic sees no need for understanding anyone else.
We are not required to play along with the critics insults or to engage with them at all when they are insulting.
Do not react to anything, do everything with reasoning and understanding.
My thoughts on this were:
When we pay little to no attention to our emotions and reason things out we most often will not react but will respond Biblically.
When we know the enemy, are deeply rooted in the Word of God and looking to Christ instead of to self we will not be very concerned about how we are treated, but more about how we are demonstrating the principles of God in our responses or lack of responses.
God has given us some very specific ways to respond to injustice all we have to do is read His Word and pray that the Holy Spirit give us the understanding.
James 1:5 "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
Hearing God's Voice
In recalling our visit to Israel a few years ago I am reminded of the encounter we had with a flock of sheep and goats. The animals were behind a large pen. As I walked up to the animals I could not resist petting them. They were walking away from me as I was calling out to them in English.
The shepherd who was standing near the pen, a very young man very middle eastern looking was watching me. I called to the sheep a few times but they ignored me. Then suddenly the shepherd called out to them in Hebrew and the sheep came running back to where we were.
The sheep knew his voice and came without hesitation. Later as the shepherd took them from the pen and walked them down the long path they were jumping all around him, bleating and running to keep up with him. You see, those sheep and goats knew their shepherd and loved to be with him.
It occurred to me then that God allowed me to see what it looked like to be a child of God, able to know the voice of the Great Shepherd when others in the sound of His voice do not hear or understand Him.
As I watched how excited the sheep and goats were to be with their shepherd when he called and ran after him when he walked away, I was struck with how our walk with Christ should be. We ought to be anxious and ready to search for Him, His heart, His will in the pages of His Book the Bible as well as in prayer to hear from Him.
We would never be confused about anything if we are patiently waiting for His answers. When we don't understand we know He has a purpose and eventually will reveal to us all that we need to know.
John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
The shepherd who was standing near the pen, a very young man very middle eastern looking was watching me. I called to the sheep a few times but they ignored me. Then suddenly the shepherd called out to them in Hebrew and the sheep came running back to where we were.
The sheep knew his voice and came without hesitation. Later as the shepherd took them from the pen and walked them down the long path they were jumping all around him, bleating and running to keep up with him. You see, those sheep and goats knew their shepherd and loved to be with him.
It occurred to me then that God allowed me to see what it looked like to be a child of God, able to know the voice of the Great Shepherd when others in the sound of His voice do not hear or understand Him.
As I watched how excited the sheep and goats were to be with their shepherd when he called and ran after him when he walked away, I was struck with how our walk with Christ should be. We ought to be anxious and ready to search for Him, His heart, His will in the pages of His Book the Bible as well as in prayer to hear from Him.
We would never be confused about anything if we are patiently waiting for His answers. When we don't understand we know He has a purpose and eventually will reveal to us all that we need to know.
John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Romans 2
The Impartiality of God
"2 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God."
"12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having [o]the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus."
The Jew Is Condemned by the Law
"17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written."
"25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
"2 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God."
"12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having [o]the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus."
The Jew Is Condemned by the Law
"17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written."
"25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
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