There is a spirit of rebellion that inhabits our culture. This spirit is a spirit of independence, not just from God but from everyone else too, except of course those who validate everything about them.
Luke 18:9-14 "18:9 Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else.
10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’
13 The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’
14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
There are Bibles in nearly every home in this country, sometimes more than one, but there remains a famine in the land, of the word of God.
Isaiah 30:1-2 "1"Woe to the rebellious children," declares the LORD, "Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; 2 Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! "
Egypt is a picture of the world with all it's sin, when we turn to the world for our counsel or to our own fallen minds, we end up with garbage and most often the opposite of God's meaning for us.
Most of the people who have Bibles in their homes tend to let them collect dust, never opening them, let alone actually reading to find answers.
Devils have bewitched people to think they can read the Bible using their own interpretations rather than asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.
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 about through human initiative, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.…"
The root of this rebellion of independence is false religion orchestrated by the devil to cause people to believe they are very wise by being able to come up with their own answers that contradict God's Words.
Emotionalism is a part of all this rebellion. The need for people to "feel" good about themselves overrides truth. So many people walk in pride about how good they think they are. They will even say "I'm a good person", something a humble and contrite heart would never dare to say.
Those who walk in this pride can never admit any failings, even becoming enraged when someone else points one out.
2 Timothy 2:21 "21 So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work. "
The all important key to all of this is to seek God through the Holy Spirit and to read the Bible for God's truth not our own understanding.
Proverbs 3:6-8 "…6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.…"
With love comes humility and with humility empathy. If there is no empathy then there is no love.
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. Who is perfect? Only Christ!
Who are we to elevate ourselves above others as though we deserved the grace of Christ.
Those who expect perfection from others, rarely see or admit their own imperfection.
Both husband and wife in this story demonstrated the pride that causes arguments and fights.
James 4:1-2 "1 What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? 2 You crave what you do not have. You kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.…"
Del Whaley
iately his wife interrupted, “Tell the boy the truth. It began because somebody was murdered.” The husband drew himself up with an air of superiority and snapped back, “”Are you answering the question, or am I?”
Turning her back on him in a huff, the wife walked out of the room and slammed the door as hard as she could. When the dishes stopped rattling in the cupboard, an uneasy silence followed, broken at length by the son. “Dad, you don’t have to tell me any more. I know now!”
To claim one day a week as the proper day of worship for the believer is not Biblical. Far too many people make an issue of something that is not even a command of God. The early believers chose to meet on the first day of the week, but it was not commanded of God, He gave them a choice as to the day.
God didn't even tell us to meet every week. In the beginning first century believers met every day, then they changed to once a week. No one can claim someone is a better or worse Christian based on the day of the week or even how many times they meet with others. It is a command not to forsake the gathering together, but that is not described in detail as to how often.
In this day of apostasy it may be better worship time to spend it alone with our families in our homes, rather than engage in the foolishness that goes on in most gatherings today. Much of what we see in the gatherings today is not Biblical and even offensive to God.
Romans 14:4-6 "…4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One man regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.…"
"Not being healed" is a benefit, it gives time to realize our helplessness and our need to pay more attention to God. It also brings glory to Him when others see our strength and devotion through the trials. Never think that illness is a bad thing, it is ordained of God for our own good.
Those who believe our faith is weak if we are not healed, have themselves a problem with faith. Faith is not about getting everything we want, it's about trusting Christ in all things.
Some of the godliest people I have met had life long illnesses and were never healed of them. Their strength and resolve in spite of their difficulties was a testimony to the provision of God.
Romans 5:1-5 "5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
It takes more faith to remain hopeful and steadfast in the face of adversity than it does to be well all the time. If our faith is dependent on miracles that we can see, then our faith is weak, it is based on evidence, rather than trusting the Words of Christ alone.
Galatians 3:6-9 "6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.
8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."
Abraham was not looking to miracles, he merely believed God. The evidence that we believe God is in how many Scriptures do we obey. Do we obey the ones we like or can prove, or do we believe every word seeking to obey every word?
Adrian Rogers;
"Do you think God would cripple a man and then blame him for limping. "
