Its alright to admit we are fearful, the key is to never allow those feelings to dominate our actions.
By the way, courage is not the absence of fear, its carrying on in spite of our fears. I am comforted by this many times.
Fear is only feelings, the key is to ignore them and keep going anyway.
All of us have fear but we do not abide by our fears. Remember feelings don't count, they deceive us.
When we are fearful we can trust God while ignoring the feeling.
The less we obey our feelings the more strength we have as the fear diminishes.
Saturday, July 6, 2019
Holidays and the Lord's Supper
How often do your friends speak of the holidays? How often do your friends speak of the Lord's Supper?
Fallen man brought the holidays and Christ brought the Lord's Supper!
Interesting that the things brought by man are celebrations on steroids and the observance brought by God is ignored almost entirely by most.
You will find no command in the Word of God for any of the other holidays. There is a command from God to observe the Lord's Supper, the fulfillment of the Passover.
Mark 14:22-25
The Lord’s Supper
22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.”
23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
25 Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Just saying, interesting!
Fallen man brought the holidays and Christ brought the Lord's Supper!
Interesting that the things brought by man are celebrations on steroids and the observance brought by God is ignored almost entirely by most.
You will find no command in the Word of God for any of the other holidays. There is a command from God to observe the Lord's Supper, the fulfillment of the Passover.
Mark 14:22-25
The Lord’s Supper
22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.”
23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
25 Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Just saying, interesting!
Pluckers are to be Avoided
Out of Context Pluckers
Beware of those who pluck verses out of context to make the Bible say what they want it to say.
2 Peter 1:20-21 " 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.…"\
If you are depending on teachers to lead you along by the nose then you are not trusting Christ. We all speak we all teach but only the Holy Spirit has the right answer perfectly.
1 John 2:26-28 "…26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His TRUE and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. 28 And now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.…"
"so remain in Him as you have been taught. " keep learning from Christ. Every preacher must be evaluated and corrected if needed. No preacher should be followed, only Christ is followed.
2 Peter 1:20-21 " 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.…"\
If you are depending on teachers to lead you along by the nose then you are not trusting Christ. We all speak we all teach but only the Holy Spirit has the right answer perfectly.
1 John 2:26-28 "…26 I have written these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His TRUE and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. 28 And now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.…"
"so remain in Him as you have been taught. " keep learning from Christ. Every preacher must be evaluated and corrected if needed. No preacher should be followed, only Christ is followed.
Delaying the Decay?
We were listening to a talk show today that we listen to every Saturday while we enjoy our morning coffee. I appreciate this show very much because it is an encouragement to believers that we are in the end times and Christ is coming soon. Today I had a minor disagreement with something that was said, that is that we could or should "delay the decay." I will address that later in this article.
There is an Israeli coin called the Shekel that has the face of Trump on one side and Cyrus on the other. That coin is the evidence of how highly the unbelieving Israelis think of our president.
We might want to ask why these religious leaders in Israel love our president so much? The answer is simple, he is promoting the building of the third temple in Jerusalem and has been on the side of Israel from the beginning. While I am excited that he defends Israel I felt a need to look a little deeper to discern what is going on right now.
Is a born again believer excited about the new temple being built? The answer to this is quite simple! The born again believer has no interest in supporting the building of this temple. Why?
The born again believer knows that the building of this temple is for the unsaved Jews to resume animal sacrifices, a denial that Christ already paid the price for sin. These unsaved Jews believe they must still do animal sacrifices to appease God when we know Christ finished the work of sacrifice when He died on the cross.
Any born again believer knows that sacrificing animals would be an expression of a denial of Jesus Christ as God Who died to pay for the sin of the world. In other words, the Jews who want to sacrifice are still waiting for their messiah, they deny that Christ was that Messiah.
Also lets remember that the temple is for the anti-christ who will cause the Jews believe he is the messiah they have waited for. He will defile the temple of the Jews with his abominations and he will have the support of two thirds of the Jews.
One third of the Jews in the tribulation will not bow to the anti-christ, they will become born again and follow Christ.
The temple is not to be supported or celebrated by Christians. We are excited about the temple because it is one of the major signs that we are nearing the end of the church age and will be meeting Christ in the air very soon.
Luke 21:30-32 "…30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened."
I have no interest in "delaying the decay", because the timing of everything has already been decided by God. Any effort we would exude to stop these end times events will have no effect.
That does not mean I have no interest in affecting things in whatever small way God has for me. I must keep doing whatever He has for me even if there are no results. He is looking to my obedience and spiritual growth more than anything I could accomplish. He is the One Who accomplishes things through us, He should be our focus, not how much we think we are personally accomplishing.
I understand the mentality behind "delaying the decay", perhaps to make sure more people are warned and become born again before the tribulation. I am convinced that we must do what God has commanded to do as long as we are still here and that is to encourage the saints and to bring the gospel to the lost.
God will not change the time frame based on any effort of ours to delay anything. The last believer will come in and we will be gone. God knows when that is! Our job is to obey Him until He takes us out, that's it, just obey without worrying about delaying anything.
If "delay the decay" has to do with reaching more people for Christ then I could go with that. However if "delay the decay" has to do with delaying the fall of America and its freedom, I personally have no interest in that. The focus of saving America has more to do with personal comfort, prosperity and freedom than it is about God for most people.
I understand that believers want to preserve America because we were instrumental for years bringing the gospel to the rest of the world but that is not the case anymore. We now lead the world in every form of debauchery. Perhaps the demise of America will bring more people to their knees in repentance because of lost freedom, lost prosperity and lost comfort. If they have nothing left they might turn to God.
America has been far too comfortable far too long. We have basked in wealth and pleasure the last 50 years, so much so that we have been indoctrinated to believing being wealthy and healthy is a right that we demand.
Gratefulness is not in the heart of most Americans anymore. Men have been feminized and women have been masculinized. Roles are becoming reversed and promotion of every kind of perversion is being celebrated and taught. Anyone coming against the filth is mocked and punished for expressing the truth.
America deserves to be punished by God for all of its sins.
We are in the end times, everything happening now including the election of our president is preparing the world for the anti-christ, the third temple and his terrible tribulation rule.
Bottom line: Seek Christ for your task as you wait for His return and pray that many will become born again before the rapture. Lastly, place no trust in ANY man, keep your eyes fixated on Christ for everything all the time.
The born again believers HOPE:
Luke 21:27-29 "…27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.…"
There is an Israeli coin called the Shekel that has the face of Trump on one side and Cyrus on the other. That coin is the evidence of how highly the unbelieving Israelis think of our president.
We might want to ask why these religious leaders in Israel love our president so much? The answer is simple, he is promoting the building of the third temple in Jerusalem and has been on the side of Israel from the beginning. While I am excited that he defends Israel I felt a need to look a little deeper to discern what is going on right now.
Is a born again believer excited about the new temple being built? The answer to this is quite simple! The born again believer has no interest in supporting the building of this temple. Why?
The born again believer knows that the building of this temple is for the unsaved Jews to resume animal sacrifices, a denial that Christ already paid the price for sin. These unsaved Jews believe they must still do animal sacrifices to appease God when we know Christ finished the work of sacrifice when He died on the cross.
Any born again believer knows that sacrificing animals would be an expression of a denial of Jesus Christ as God Who died to pay for the sin of the world. In other words, the Jews who want to sacrifice are still waiting for their messiah, they deny that Christ was that Messiah.
Also lets remember that the temple is for the anti-christ who will cause the Jews believe he is the messiah they have waited for. He will defile the temple of the Jews with his abominations and he will have the support of two thirds of the Jews.
One third of the Jews in the tribulation will not bow to the anti-christ, they will become born again and follow Christ.
The temple is not to be supported or celebrated by Christians. We are excited about the temple because it is one of the major signs that we are nearing the end of the church age and will be meeting Christ in the air very soon.
Luke 21:30-32 "…30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened."
I have no interest in "delaying the decay", because the timing of everything has already been decided by God. Any effort we would exude to stop these end times events will have no effect.
That does not mean I have no interest in affecting things in whatever small way God has for me. I must keep doing whatever He has for me even if there are no results. He is looking to my obedience and spiritual growth more than anything I could accomplish. He is the One Who accomplishes things through us, He should be our focus, not how much we think we are personally accomplishing.
I understand the mentality behind "delaying the decay", perhaps to make sure more people are warned and become born again before the tribulation. I am convinced that we must do what God has commanded to do as long as we are still here and that is to encourage the saints and to bring the gospel to the lost.
God will not change the time frame based on any effort of ours to delay anything. The last believer will come in and we will be gone. God knows when that is! Our job is to obey Him until He takes us out, that's it, just obey without worrying about delaying anything.
If "delay the decay" has to do with reaching more people for Christ then I could go with that. However if "delay the decay" has to do with delaying the fall of America and its freedom, I personally have no interest in that. The focus of saving America has more to do with personal comfort, prosperity and freedom than it is about God for most people.
I understand that believers want to preserve America because we were instrumental for years bringing the gospel to the rest of the world but that is not the case anymore. We now lead the world in every form of debauchery. Perhaps the demise of America will bring more people to their knees in repentance because of lost freedom, lost prosperity and lost comfort. If they have nothing left they might turn to God.
America has been far too comfortable far too long. We have basked in wealth and pleasure the last 50 years, so much so that we have been indoctrinated to believing being wealthy and healthy is a right that we demand.
Gratefulness is not in the heart of most Americans anymore. Men have been feminized and women have been masculinized. Roles are becoming reversed and promotion of every kind of perversion is being celebrated and taught. Anyone coming against the filth is mocked and punished for expressing the truth.
America deserves to be punished by God for all of its sins.
We are in the end times, everything happening now including the election of our president is preparing the world for the anti-christ, the third temple and his terrible tribulation rule.
Bottom line: Seek Christ for your task as you wait for His return and pray that many will become born again before the rapture. Lastly, place no trust in ANY man, keep your eyes fixated on Christ for everything all the time.
The born again believers HOPE:
Luke 21:27-29 "…27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.…"
It is Important How We Interpret the Word of God
We are not "little gods" as the Pentecostals like to say. Here is an explanation from "Got Questions" that clears it all up.
Answer: Let’s start with a look at Psalm 82, the psalm that Jesus quotes in John 10:34. The Hebrew word translated “gods” in Psalm 82:6 is Elohim. It usually refers to the one true God, but it does have other uses. Psalm 82:1 says, “God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the gods.” It is clear from the next three verses that the word “gods” refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule. Calling a human magistrate a “god” indicates three things: 1) he has authority over other human beings, 2) the power he wields as a civil authority is to be feared, and 3) he derives his power and authority from God Himself, who is pictured as judging the whole earth in verse 8."
Answer: Let’s start with a look at Psalm 82, the psalm that Jesus quotes in John 10:34. The Hebrew word translated “gods” in Psalm 82:6 is Elohim. It usually refers to the one true God, but it does have other uses. Psalm 82:1 says, “God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the gods.” It is clear from the next three verses that the word “gods” refers to magistrates, judges, and other people who hold positions of authority and rule. Calling a human magistrate a “god” indicates three things: 1) he has authority over other human beings, 2) the power he wields as a civil authority is to be feared, and 3) he derives his power and authority from God Himself, who is pictured as judging the whole earth in verse 8."
Friday, July 5, 2019
Honoring the Aging Process
We live in an age when growing older is unthinkable to many. Their desire to remain youthful has caused them to also be unwise.
Leviticus 19:32 "32 You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD. "
When someone is pursuing youthfulness above wisdom it makes sense that they would not notice, with the quest to remain youthful, they are leaving behind the lessons of life that bring great wisdom. Proverbs 4
Teaching young adults to have their fun because once they stop having their fun its all about real life for them, it sends the message that real life is something terrible and to be avoided. It also teaches them that hard work and seeking wisdom are something undesirable or unimportant.
Proverbs 12:11
"11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."
1 Corinthians 13:11
"11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [a]became a man, I did away with childish things."
I never thought of all the "adventurous" things as something to be sought after. We were raised in a culture that lived life in work, school and rest on Sunday. We didn't play every weekend as so many do today. Life was our adventure, the small things of everyday life satisfied us.
Our joy came from the work activities that brought productivity. Yes we had picnics, took walks, played with the animals and other things after the work was done, but money was not involved because there was little of it.
Our joy came from jobs well done, people we encountered, the flowers that grew and the animals antics as we watched them.
Because we had little money our adventures took the form of small things that were every day activities after the work was done, that anyone can do.
I notice the mentality of today to negate the condition of growing older. Because many people hate the idea of growing older or looking old they worship the youth by attempting to remain in it. I once heard someone say that "dying ones gray hair was just good grooming." This is the opposite of what God says in his word.
Proverbs 6:31 "31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness. "
The saying, "we should let the children be children as long as possible" has created 30 year olds who do nothing else except act like children.
Our job as parents is to allow children to be themselves while they are young but also teach them how to grow up into adult hood by interjecting responsibility as well as enjoyment of the small things of everyday life. Our culture has elevated youth to god like status by all the continual playing that so many people do.
When someone says to me; "you are not old", I feel as though I have just been insulted.
Lets examine this phrase and the reason for telling someone who is old that they are not old.
First lets examine what "old" is before we go any further. Its pretty simple, God said this:
Psalm 90:10 "10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. "
In Psalm God acknowledges our days are only 70 and 80 if we have the strength. I have known many people who have passed in their 50's. Some people live longer and some shorter but this is God's bench mark. We call middle age about 40, when our bodies begin to have ailments and our strength diminishes, our half way point.
Yes there are exceptions to this rule of thumb but the exceptions are not the rule. Most people begin with medical problems and diminished strength in their mid 40's.
We all try to take care of ourselves, it is monstrous for others to make judgments that someone must be doing something wrong or sinful because their body is deteriorating. We are all born dying and we have an appointed day of our death, therefore to attempt to live longer than God's plan is to defy God.
Psalm 139:16
"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
Job 14:5
"Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,"
The mantra "you are not old" comes from a mentality that will not face old age with grace and dignity. Those who deny ailments, deny the need for the younger to take care of the older. After all if the older person doesn't need them they are relieved of the responsibility of caring for them. These people convince themselves that their aging parents do not need them to avoid having to help them by claiming they are not old.
The "you are not old" mantra denies old age as something to be demeaned and avoided. This mentality also makes physical beauty and health far more important than wisdom.
Pretending something is not so when it is so is lying!
There is a lack of good sense when someone denies the elderly the grace of being what they are naturally. It presumes that the elderly are doing something wrong by not engaging in youthful activities as vigorously as they did when they were young.
Telling an older person they are not old is denying the truth, expecting them to act in ways the youth would want them to act and devaluing those who are aging.
The wise and kind thing to do around an elder is to refrain from mentioning their age unless they bring it up. If the elder mentions their old age then the polite thing to do is respect their age as a source of wisdom for those who are younger.
Our culture does not respect their elders nor anyone else, unless the people they choose to respect do what they do, think the way they want them to think and like the things they like. In other words this generation of younger folks will only show loving kindness to those who say nothing, do nothing and have no opinion other than to validate the youth in whatever their desire.
In our culture old age is treated as a malady to be avoided. The amusing thing is aging cannot be avoided by anyone. The quest to remain youthful has robbed the culture of wisdom keeping many people immature far longer than they should be.
Treating your elders with disrespect and as an equal it a monstrous sin.
Leviticus
“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
"1 Timothy 5:1
"Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,"
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."
1 Timothy 5:2 "Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity."
Proverbs 1:7-9
"7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck."
We have seen what happens to a culture when the children do not respect their parents. We see the ruination of a country in which the children are preferred over the elderly.
Isaiah 3:11-13 "…11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done. 12 Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths. 13 The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people"
We live in a country where the men will not lead their families, the women won't honor their place in the home and children are being taught to indulge themselves continually.
Most of the small children I know today are growing into indulgent, self absorbed monsters without good conscience, nor thought of others. They are clueless to the needs of anyone else.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
What is the solution in these last days? Simple, love people in spite of who they are and expect nothing from anyone but God. When we have no expectations we can leave everything to God. Even the hard stuff we know has a purpose for us, that's where we can leave it.
James 1:2-4 "2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
When we walk closely with Christ knowing His principles we will have no reason to take anything anyone else does to us personally. We can chalk it up to God's purposes and our training.
Hallelujah!
Leviticus 19:32 "32 You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD. "
When someone is pursuing youthfulness above wisdom it makes sense that they would not notice, with the quest to remain youthful, they are leaving behind the lessons of life that bring great wisdom. Proverbs 4
Teaching young adults to have their fun because once they stop having their fun its all about real life for them, it sends the message that real life is something terrible and to be avoided. It also teaches them that hard work and seeking wisdom are something undesirable or unimportant.
Proverbs 12:11
"11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."
1 Corinthians 13:11
"11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [a]became a man, I did away with childish things."
I never thought of all the "adventurous" things as something to be sought after. We were raised in a culture that lived life in work, school and rest on Sunday. We didn't play every weekend as so many do today. Life was our adventure, the small things of everyday life satisfied us.
Our joy came from the work activities that brought productivity. Yes we had picnics, took walks, played with the animals and other things after the work was done, but money was not involved because there was little of it.
Our joy came from jobs well done, people we encountered, the flowers that grew and the animals antics as we watched them.
Because we had little money our adventures took the form of small things that were every day activities after the work was done, that anyone can do.
I notice the mentality of today to negate the condition of growing older. Because many people hate the idea of growing older or looking old they worship the youth by attempting to remain in it. I once heard someone say that "dying ones gray hair was just good grooming." This is the opposite of what God says in his word.
Proverbs 6:31 "31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness. "
The saying, "we should let the children be children as long as possible" has created 30 year olds who do nothing else except act like children.
Our job as parents is to allow children to be themselves while they are young but also teach them how to grow up into adult hood by interjecting responsibility as well as enjoyment of the small things of everyday life. Our culture has elevated youth to god like status by all the continual playing that so many people do.
When someone says to me; "you are not old", I feel as though I have just been insulted.
Lets examine this phrase and the reason for telling someone who is old that they are not old.
First lets examine what "old" is before we go any further. Its pretty simple, God said this:
Psalm 90:10 "10 The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. "
In Psalm God acknowledges our days are only 70 and 80 if we have the strength. I have known many people who have passed in their 50's. Some people live longer and some shorter but this is God's bench mark. We call middle age about 40, when our bodies begin to have ailments and our strength diminishes, our half way point.
Yes there are exceptions to this rule of thumb but the exceptions are not the rule. Most people begin with medical problems and diminished strength in their mid 40's.
We all try to take care of ourselves, it is monstrous for others to make judgments that someone must be doing something wrong or sinful because their body is deteriorating. We are all born dying and we have an appointed day of our death, therefore to attempt to live longer than God's plan is to defy God.
Psalm 139:16
"Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
Job 14:5
"Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,"
The mantra "you are not old" comes from a mentality that will not face old age with grace and dignity. Those who deny ailments, deny the need for the younger to take care of the older. After all if the older person doesn't need them they are relieved of the responsibility of caring for them. These people convince themselves that their aging parents do not need them to avoid having to help them by claiming they are not old.
The "you are not old" mantra denies old age as something to be demeaned and avoided. This mentality also makes physical beauty and health far more important than wisdom.
Pretending something is not so when it is so is lying!
There is a lack of good sense when someone denies the elderly the grace of being what they are naturally. It presumes that the elderly are doing something wrong by not engaging in youthful activities as vigorously as they did when they were young.
Telling an older person they are not old is denying the truth, expecting them to act in ways the youth would want them to act and devaluing those who are aging.
The wise and kind thing to do around an elder is to refrain from mentioning their age unless they bring it up. If the elder mentions their old age then the polite thing to do is respect their age as a source of wisdom for those who are younger.
Our culture does not respect their elders nor anyone else, unless the people they choose to respect do what they do, think the way they want them to think and like the things they like. In other words this generation of younger folks will only show loving kindness to those who say nothing, do nothing and have no opinion other than to validate the youth in whatever their desire.
In our culture old age is treated as a malady to be avoided. The amusing thing is aging cannot be avoided by anyone. The quest to remain youthful has robbed the culture of wisdom keeping many people immature far longer than they should be.
Treating your elders with disrespect and as an equal it a monstrous sin.
Leviticus
“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
"1 Timothy 5:1
"Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,"
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."
1 Timothy 5:2 "Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity."
Proverbs 1:7-9
"7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction
And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head
And ornaments about your neck."
We have seen what happens to a culture when the children do not respect their parents. We see the ruination of a country in which the children are preferred over the elderly.
Isaiah 3:11-13 "…11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done. 12 Youths oppress My people, and women rule over them. O My people, your guides mislead you; they turn you from your paths. 13 The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people"
We live in a country where the men will not lead their families, the women won't honor their place in the home and children are being taught to indulge themselves continually.
Most of the small children I know today are growing into indulgent, self absorbed monsters without good conscience, nor thought of others. They are clueless to the needs of anyone else.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
What is the solution in these last days? Simple, love people in spite of who they are and expect nothing from anyone but God. When we have no expectations we can leave everything to God. Even the hard stuff we know has a purpose for us, that's where we can leave it.
James 1:2-4 "2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
When we walk closely with Christ knowing His principles we will have no reason to take anything anyone else does to us personally. We can chalk it up to God's purposes and our training.
Hallelujah!
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