Trust Christ Alone, Not in any Human

Place your trust in Christ alone, if you place that trust in any person, you will be easily defeated in your walk. Every human being is fallen the same, only Christ can be all that we need all the time.

Proverbs 3:5-8
"5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths....
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."

If It Walks Like A Duck

Empathy is a gift, we hurt with others, not because we understand their situation, but because we understand their pain from our own situations. Circumstances are different, but the pain is the same.

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

When we love Christ, because we love Him, we love the brethren, then we feel what they feel. We don't have to work up these feelings, they are natural to anyone who walks closely with our Lord.

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death."
Those who have empathy and love, share deeply in the plight of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

When our brother or sister is rejoicing over a blessing, we feel that joy too. If there is any envy, then we need to go back to God and confess our sin of pride and jealousy to begin to love our brother or sister in the Lord.

When we encounter someone who lacks empathy when someone is hurting or demonstrates jealousy when someone is blessed, we may be looking at an unsaved person. Believers will have battles with this, but a non-believer will embrace it, enjoy it and live a lifestyle of these ungodly attitudes.

I remember the story of Job and his friends. Even though his friends came to the wrong conclusion that Job must be going through his difficulty because of sin, they were deeply grieving with him. They sat with him for days, silently enduring with him before they spoke. Their desire was to help him anyway they could.

A friend cares about everything in our lives as we care about everything in their lives. The Christian life is one of a family, each person concerned about one another. There is no privacy or individualism among Christian brothers and sisters. We do have to be careful who we share things with, because many who say they are Christians are not and will harm us further by their ugly responses. It is best to share only with those who have had proven lifestyle of kindness and empathy.

When we have love, we respect the convictions of our friend, we don't try to mold them to fit our desired idea of them. When our friend is not sinning, but does things differently from us, we can enjoy those differences, love them just the way they are and even see that the differences enhance the friendship.

Since we know that no one is perfect, that includes each of us, we can be tolerant of the irritating things that are not sin, even finding a sense of humor in them.

A friend who loves God's way will not judge someone by how clean their house is, or whether or not they wear the latest styles. When we are connected to the soul of another human being we don't notice their house, unless it is extreme, nor do we notice cloths unless they are extreme. We are looking into their heart, a heart that loves the Lord.

Sadly there are those who judge every little thing, much of the judgments are wrong because they are watching to see what they can dislike about us. All their judgements are based on what they want to believe about us rather than what is true and often very little information. They will not speak to us to work anything out or learn truth, they love their wrong idea of us.

These people cannot be trusted, they will twist things into their desired idea to elevate themselves, even repeating their "findings" to others to ruin relationships. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 describes these people and God instructs us to get away from them, they are dangerous to our walk with God.

I know what a godly loving person looks like and I know what a pretender looks like. Have you been confused by all the nonsense drama around you, in families and even in the church? I can tell you that these drama queens do what they do because they do not know the Lord.

Those who love the Lord, have been changed into a new creation by Christ and seek Him for daily life, are those who have empathy, kindness and goodness. They are not perfect, they even have to confess sin on occasion, but they live a lifestyle of love, kindness, joy and empathy regularly. You will find no phoniness in them, they are genuine!

Galatians 5:16-26
"16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, then it's probably a duck!

"Honor" is Bigger Than We Thought

Husband and wife who love the Lord, both enjoy serving and helping one another. The leader husband, takes special effort to protect his "delicate china cup" the way the original language describes "weaker vessel."

Women are not less they are valued as a precious vessel to be cherished and protected.

Men are to be honored as the spiritual leaders. When a man does not spiritually lead his delicate vessel, she withers through neglect. Her heart aches at the lack of concern, empathy or spiritual help.

A woman is weaker physically and more tender spiritually. Things that a man can shrug off, even ignore, will damage a woman.

Men should stop trying to make a woman be like a man by mocking her concerns. A woman should stop trying to make a man a woman by expecting him have the make up she has. Each gender was given to us to help one another. The man holds up the woman when she lacks strength, while the woman encourages the man in his calling before God.

If each gender would just learn to appreciate the differences, embrace the needs, even enjoying them in the other, rather than changing them, there would be great help and great peace.

1 Peter 3:7 "…6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. 7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."

The word honor: Highest respect, regard with great respect!

Ignoring Sin In The body Is Sin

If we love those believers who are sinning, we follow the Biblical mandate to discipline them by putting them out until they confess. When they do that, then they can be restored as though they never sinned. However, if they confess and continue in sin then they are not repentant and must remain out of fellowship. Remaining in sin makes a confession meaningless and trite. Only through brokenness can someone be restored to fellowship and only through brokenness will they turn from their sin to not repeat it again.

Hebrews 12:6 "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 REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 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?…"

Matthew 18:15-17 "15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and [p]a tax collector."

God clearly instructs us not to have fellowship with those who claim to be Christians and live in sin continually. It is possible that the one who fights to defend their sin, will not stop and exact revenge against those who confront them, have never been born again. They are to be treated as an unbeliever, avoid them because they claim their sin is acceptable. Remember that our actions reveal who we are inside. When there is no shame for sin, then we know the Holy Spirit is not living in someone who is not ashamed of their sin. These people are pretenders and they are in gatherings everywhere.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

Just recently I was told about people who were attending a local church, a pedophile with two women and a child. The pedophile is divorced and living in sin with one of the women. He uses filthy language, demands complete obedience while acting perversely. My question is this; "why is that man not being put out of the gathering." He is an abomination and sadly a wicked example to others in that body. How can godly people sit in the pews not saying a word, while that man is there? How can that man go week after week, feel comfortable while others show kindness to him?

This is the wicked state of our churches today, at least in this area. Somewhere the parishioners got the idea that demonstrating grace and mercy had to do with tolerating sin with a big smile on ones face, as though it is not happening.

Grace is not extended to those who refuse to confess their sin! Mercy is not extended to the unrepentant. The state of things in our churches shows that we have perverted the meaning of grace and mercy. These terms are being used to overlook and wink at sin in the body.

Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, that is grace, but we have to want to be cleansed to receive it. No one will be offered grace unless we desire to be changed into a new creation by Christ.

No one will be offered mercy unless they trust Christ.

What mercy and grace are not!!!!

MERCY AND GRACE ARE NOT ACCEPTING SIN, WINKING AT SIN OR ENDORSING SIN IN THE BODY.

Galatians 5:19-21 "19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Colossians 3:5-6 "5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming."

God does not overlook and wink at sin and neither should we. If we love our brother, if we love the unbeliever, we point out the sin, explain the consequences of it and remove ourselves if the parties involved will not repent.

The "just forgive them" mantra is a lazy way of dealing with offenses. It is easier to ignore sin than to deal with it. There is a good chance others in the gathering will be angry with us for dealing with sin. We may be ignored, left out of things, demeaned in gossip, because we called out those who are in sin to repentance. Most people who ignore sin, do it because they fear the wrath of man. We have more fear of man's wrath in the body of Christ than we have fear of God. We have placed men, feelings and happiness above God and His righteousness.

When we do things out of fear of man rather than fear of God, we partake in the sin, even if we are not going the sin ourselves, we are approving, through our silence, the sin that others do.

Proverbs 29:24-26 "…24 He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the oath but tells nothing. 25 The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. 26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.…"

Leviticus 5:1 "Now if a person sins after he hears a public adjuration to testify when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt."

Ephesians 5:11-12 "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret."

Titus 1:10-13 "For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."

James 5:20 "let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

Ezekiel 3:18-19 "If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul."

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."

11. James 4:4 "You adulterers! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility with God? So whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God."

The "just love them" mantra is paganistic and unBiblical. It cares nothing about the spiritual or eternal state of another human being. Let's be diligent to obey God, put away any fear of man, while concerning ourselves with what pleases our God. 

Pretending Will Lead One To Hell

I am convinced that many who say they are Christians have never been born again. They joined a cultural club to feel good about themselves and to look good in the eyes of those they wish to impress, but hide their real condition of lostness. In other words they know what they are because they hide. If they didn't know their lost condition they would not hide. The also come to God to use Him like a fairy godmother, that He might be available to them when they need Him, but have no interest in becoming cleansed or holy. These pretenders are their own gods, the True God is set aside to be used as needed.

Matthew 7:21-23

"21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Pretending is a very big part of the life of someone who joins the "Christian club", but has no desire to be changed by Christ. They think they are wonderful all by themselves, they add Christ to their elevated status to fit into what they think is the "special crowd." They love their knowledge, they love their specialness, at least in their own minds they are special and above others.

Sadly many who are pretending have fooled themselves into believing they are going to heaven but when they arrive before the throne of God, they will be faced with their evil heart, their pretense will no longer be of use to them.

Regarding the sin of laziness!

Regarding the sin of laziness!

"It's the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die."
Dorothy Sayers

Emotionally Healthy People Welcome Correction and Instruction

From the book "The Emotionally Destructive Relationships"
by Leslie Vernick

"Healthy mature people allow reality and truth to teach them. Unhealthy individuals blame life or others instead of learning the laws of God's world; for example, you can't put your hand on a hot stove and not get burned. Healthy mature people look into God's truth to shape their ideas. (see Psalm 119, expecially verse 29, for the psalmists's commitment to this process.) Destructive people twist or distort God's Word to prove they are right or get their own way."

Psalm 119:17-29
7 Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law.
19 I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
20 My soul is crushed with longing
After Your ordinances at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,
Who wander from Your commandments.
22 Take away reproach and contempt from me,
For I observe Your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit and talk against me,
Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
24 Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.
Daleth.
25 My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts,
So I will meditate on Your wonders.
28 My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Your law."