Our Choice of Friends Matter

Yes, God said that we are influenced by those with whom we spend lots of time.

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

" When you are around complaining spirits, you start to complain.
When you are around victim mentality, you start to become a victim.
When you are around prideful spirits, you start to become prideful.
When you are around liars, you start to become a liar.
Be evenly yoked." (By; Anna Hamblett)

Know the Truth, Turn Away from the Lies

When the treasury department is training people to spot counterfeit bills, they do not show them the counterfeits. They teach them everything about the authentic bills so well that when a counterfeit comes along they will immediately know it is not the real thing.

This is the principle we ought to be using in warning family and friends about counterfeit Christianity. We should know God's Word so well that when someone speaks things they have heard that are wrong we can immediately tell them the truth about what they heard.

The problem these days is that Christians are learning the lies so well they know them better than they know the Bible. It confuses them, causing them to believe things that are not true, with a little superficial conservatism thrown in to feel spiritual.

We need not worry about warning others if we know the truth from God's Word so well that any lie that we hear we will be able to answer with Scripture.

God told us in His word not to learn the things of the heathens or the details of evil. We are to know the truth so well anything that is off, will be clear when it waltzes by us.

Unfortunately, so many Christians confuse and mix the lies with the truth leaving their belief mostly lies. A half-truth is a whole lie.

If any part of what we speak is a lie it makes the whole thing a lie even if there is truth mixed in.

The purpose of mixing part truth with a part lie is to deceive, it is a sin. Any time there is a manipulation of the facts to bring about a particular belief, it's called "spin", it is what nearly all media sources do and sadly many Christians in our day.

Many people in our day believe it's alright to "spin" something to their own way of thinking because they believe the cause is the right cause.

Whenever someone adds a little lie to the truth to manipulate others into believing their viewpoint they have crossed the line into deception.

It is better not to learn the evil if you know it because it came walking past you, that is different from going out deliberately to learn the lies for knowledge's sake alone.

1 Corinthians 8b "

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know."

"Puffs up" means to have "pride" in what someone thinks they know.

Romans 1418-19 "…18 For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. 19 So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification. "

Filling one another's minds with filth and injustice from the world does nothing to edify and encourage someone in the way of the Lord. In fact, this idea that we should tell others all the filth we know about is merely a way of destroying the peace of God as well as confidence in Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:2

"Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."

Philippians 4:8

"8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

If you have been immersed in the garbage of the world you might find that obeying God in this principle of thinking on the things which are of good report will return your lost peace to you.

No one can tell me that learning all the filth and injustice going on in the world will bring any form of love, kindness, and peace. Learning the filth and injustice of the world just brings fear and dependence on self rather than on Christ.

I also notice that those who are continually searching for the evil "to expose it" as they say, are angry all the time. They bring division, and contention because their desire is to convince others to look at the evil with them. When someone will not look with them, they become angry, competitive, and almost never listen to rational and reasonable arguments to bring them back to the ways of God.

This has been my personal experience with those who are addicted to learning the wicked ways of the world, "to expose them" as they say. I don't believe they are wanting to expose the evil, I personally think they enjoy learning about evil the same way someone is addicted to porn or soap operas.

Because they think what they find on the internet in their searches is the truth, they become obsessed with it and must have followers.

I have heard of people who ruin relationships because they want others to follow them down the rabbit hole of filth searching, that they begin to demean the one who will not follow, even shun them for their stand to keep their minds free of worldly muck.

Colossians 3:1-2 "1Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

God said it, I believe it and that settles it for me. Mocking, demeaning, shunning or anything else used in attempting to manipulate me will have no effect at all on me, however, it may destroy any chances for a meaningful relationship.

May the Lord deliver the born-again Christian caught up in the internet lies. May He convict them of enjoying the knowledge of filth and injustice. My the Lord return their joy and peace to them as they turn away from worldly ways and angry hearts.

Confession, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation are the Keys to Quality Loving Relationships

Many people in our day believe love ignores sin because "the blood covers a multitude of sin" phrasing that is not accurate.

Love helps both the victim and the offender by resolving problems when there is a confession of sin and forgiveness extended. These are two sides of the same coin.

The blood of the Lamb cleanses not covers.

1 John 1:7

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

John 1:29

"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Romans 4:7

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;"

"Covered" means taken care of through the cleansing blood of Christ.

Hatred looks for a fight, but love desires peace through reconciliation.

"Got Questions" states it this way;

"“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4–7).

Another way that love covers over a multitude of sins is choosing not to take offense at everything. Some sins against us are not worth confronting. Personal slights, snide or ignorant remarks, and minor annoyances can be easily forgiven for the sake of love.

Proverbs 19:11 says, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

If we are patient, not envious or self-seeking, we are much less likely to even take offense. Acting in love means we put others before ourselves. Love can cover a multitude of sin in that, when we act in true love, we are prone to overlook minor offenses, tolerate the provocations, and forgive the sin."

Yes, I agree with the "Got Questions" writer, in that so many ways of relating are personality quirks that we all have. There is such happiness in allowing one another to be the personality God gave each of us.

Personal attacks, jealousy and competitiveness do not belong in Christian relationships. We all ought to bend over backward to please one another. Imagine if everyone acted this way according to scripture?

The Foolish Dividing Lies of the Devil

It is astonishing to me that so many families are being divided and even destroyed because of the "Qanon" anonymous conspiracies. It is positively outrageous.

Not only families but church gatherings are being ruined and divided while loving fellowship in Christ is diminished and even entirely eliminated.

It is no longer about Christ but rather it is about the latest horror that the government is doing. This paranoia about worldly matters is doing what the devil planned that it would do, that is to ruin the Christian witness and divide and devastate relationships.

Instead of an evangelistic mentality that drives the believer to share and defend Christ, we see an "us versus them" mentality as though unsaved human beings are the enemy, or even worse, Christians who don't think the same way about politics are being treated as the enemy.

Sadly, the enemy is not the believer who doesn't follow someone else's idea of good but does obey the Word of God. The unsaved are not our enemy either, they are lost souls to be shown the way of salvation.

Do you know who the real enemy is? The enemy of our soul and everyone's soul is the devil. He is bringing all this division and hatred, over things that have no ability to save anyone's soul. He is causing the unsaved to resist hearing the gospel because of the angst of the modern political Christian.

Distraction and lies are the biggest tools on the devil's belt and he is using them both on steroids. Christians are falling into his trap, brainwashing them into fighting for or against things that do not matter for eternity.

My heart grieves every time I hear a believer bringing up all the evils of the government that thwarts their personal freedoms. How much freedom will there be in hell?

As Americans, we have all we need all the time and yet so many are comparing instead of praising God for His provision. It sort of reminds me of our spoiled children who received no less than three gifts often more than that, at Christmas many years ago when we were still involved in the holidays.

Some of the children would open their final gift after all others had been opened and ask; "is this all." Perhaps if believers would spend their time praising God for all His provision they would see their joy returning.

OH, and by the way, the biggest provision of all was the cross and our ability to be saved from our sin and hell because of what Christ did on that cross. Nothing else matters in comparison to the sacrifice He made for us.

Hebrews 12:4-15 "4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;

5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

Nor faint when you are punished by Him;

6 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines,

And He punishes every son whom He accepts.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;"

The American church is under God's discipline right now, with the virus, and the removal from office of the man they began to treat as the savior of the nation. Some people even refuse to believe God removed this man, they believe the lies that he is going to return. They will not believe or support God's decision to remove him in order for believers to return to their first love, that is Jesus Chris.t

If the church does not repent, placing their freedom and leaders above God, then God is going to increase the discipline. With each act of discipline will come a worse chastisement than the one before if the church does not repent.

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."

Confession of the sin of idolatry, that is placing things and people above God must happen in order for the church to be cleansed.

We know in these last days most gatherings will not repent, their lampstand has been removed and they are carnal and apostate, however, there may be some left that wants to repent and begin again to place Christ first. May the Lord bless them with cleansing and joy as they move forward in their desires to follow their first love, Jesus Christ.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

I am convinced that we are to ignore what is going on in the world to spend our time encouraging believers and winning the lost in these last days right before Christ comes. We will be leaving all this mess behind when we go home, there is no profit for believers in keeping our eyes on the ugliness.

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full, in his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace"

Hallelujah Amen!!!

Ignoring the Events in the World for the Sake of the Gospel

I am convinced that we are to ignore what is going on in the world to spend our time encouraging believers and winning the lost in these last days right before Christ comes.

We will be leaving all this mess behind when we go home, there is no profit for believers in keeping our eyes on the ugliness. There is a great profit for the unsaved to hear the gospel, become saved and go up in the rapture with us and there is great profit for the believer to stay focused on our mission here before we are taken out. We have a two-fold mission, that is to encourage and edify the believers and secondly to bring the gospel to the lost that they may have an opportunity to become born again.

When I see believers spending most of their words on the horrors of this world I grieve deeply within me. Our hope of the coming of Christ is so immense and wonderful, how could we ever look around us and focus on the evil when we have this hope.

Luke 21:27-28 "…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.”

In other words, "keep looking up", our hope is not in anything in this world, it is is the return of Christ.

Perhaps those who are focused on the world have been distracted for a time, may the Lord bring their hearts back to their first love and that is Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:3-5 "…3 Without growing weary, you have persevered and endured many things for the sake of My name. 4 But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. 5 Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.…"

The lampstand has been removed from most churches today. They grow because of manipulative worldly tactics to cause bodies to come and sit in the pews, however, to maintain those bodies, keeping them coming the church leaders must compromise the gospel, watering down the messages devoting their admonition to "living right to have a better life."

Matthew 24:12

"Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."

Those who follow political celebrities and "conservative values" without Christ are as lost as those who have no profession of Christ at all, they are one and the same.

Sadly many people equate "conservatism" with salvation, but any "conservative" who is not searching for wisdom from God's Word, has not been born again through a heart changed by Christ and is even embarrassed at the name of Jesus Christ will find their hope in politics their road to hell.

Psalm 146:3-5

"3 Do not trust in noblemen,

In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.

4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;

On that very day his plans perish.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

Whose hope is in the Lord his God,"

Psalm 118:9

"9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Than to trust in noblemen."

Isaiah 2:22

"22 Take no account of man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;

For why should he be esteemed?"

When we place our trust in any president, any political system, or any "conservatism" we are not trusting in Christ but one's own human devices, in governments and in political entities.

God is likely to continue to and already has removed "conservative" leaders because the Christians were beginning to place more trust in those leaders than they were in God. In fact, many people were declaring a man as "God's man" when he was placed in power by God but not because he was God's man, but because God wanted to show us what happens when Christians begin to trust in a government and a leader more than in Christ.

We accomplish less than nothing by fighting with unbelievers about politics and viruses. I say less than nothing because it does great harm to the gospel for Christians to demand their rights while mocking and demeaning the unsaved only hardening their hearts further toward the important message of the gospel.

Even if "conservatives" managed to cause an unbeliever to come around to their way of conservative thinking, they will still go to hell because the gospel was not shared and made more important than anything going on in the world.

I see much pride in conservatives who think lambasting others for thinking differently merely to show their prowess against others.

Those who lambast and pridefully demean others over things that have no value in God's economy, want only to have their own followers, they desire power over others more than they are interested in loving the brethren.

John 13:34-35 "…34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples if you love one another.”

A desire to be superior to others, using mocking and demeaning, even shunning others is not love, nor is it Christlike.

May each one of us commit to searching the scriptures daily while praying for the deep deep love of Christ in our hearts toward our fellow believers, as well as a heart for lost souls, to the degree that we lose all fear of man in sharing the gospel.

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7000 Years Plan of God