Those Accusers Controlled by the Devil

Some people controlled by the devil want to accuse believers of things in their past that God has healed and forgiven. I call them "past forgiven sins." We all have them, there is no one person who is without past forgiven sins.

A few years ago an angry jealous person said to me; "remember how you used to be." Believe it or not this person was a "Christian."

My response was simply; "yes I have committed many sins in my life." That's all and that's it, no more explanation is necessary.

When we admit to our life before we were born again we completely disarm the narcissist controlled by the devil who wants to destroy our peace and joy by heaping false guilt from the past forgiven sins.

The devil wants us to never forget our sinfulness. He wants us to believe we have never been forgiven and that we can never change.

What devilish people don't understand is that every single person on the face of the earth is headed for hell until they confess their sinfulness and become cleansed by Jesus Christ to be saved.

What devilish people don't understand is that no one cleanses themselves, we all must be cleansed by Christ in response to our desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. We cannot change ourselves into a new creation, it must be His work in us after we have repented (changed our minds) and trusted in Him.

I have to wonder if someone has been born again when they do not understand that everyone has sinned including themselves and everyone must repent and be changed by Christ.

When someone operates as though they have never sinned, they are better than others because of how good they think they are, and continue to work to appear good to others, it is unlikely they have ever been born again.

God said we must have a "contrite" heart to be born again, the meaning is a "crushed" heart. When we come to the end of ourselves, and have no confidence in our own goodness and deeds, we see our filthiness and ask God to change us into a new creation.

Those who think they are special and have always been good will not be able to be changed by Christ because they are trusting in themselves and not Christ. Christ will not change someone who is not broken in an experience of a crushed spirit to submit to Him. He only saves those who know they are without the ability to be good enough and know they need Him to change them, to lead them and grow them until the day they die.

Matthew 5:48

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

We are not perfect therefore, it is Christ in us Who is perfect, He is our righteousness.

2 Corinthians 7:1

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God."

The way we cleanse ourselves is to ask the Lord for His cleansing as He shows us through consequences of our need for confession. We are only cleansed through Christ if we want to be cleansed.

1 John 1:9

"9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

God will cleanse us from any unrighteousness when we confess, then He acts to give us our desire to be cleansed.

If we justify our sin, refuse to confess it, by claiming we had a good reason, then we will not be cleansed. It is only through brokenness and confession that God will work. We must empty ourselves of ourselves to be changed by God.

Philippians 2:12-13

"12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to [a]desire and to work for His good pleasure."

We do not work for salvation, we work because we are saved. Those who are not saved do not admit their need for cleansing, they decide their own goodness and convince themselves they are good.

Only those who can say; "there is no good in me" can be cleansed by Christ.

Romans 7:18 "18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."

It is only Christ in us Who can be good and Who can work in us to become like Him. Anything we do in the flesh to make ourselves feel good is dung to God.

Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

When we have obeyed God He gets all the praise and credit. When we have worked in the flesh we are attempting to have the credit and we get the glory, it is filthiness to God that we glorify ourselves.

James 4:7-17

"7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Hallelujah, what a wonderful life for those who are not affected by the world but led by Christ. The more humble we become the more we can serve Christ, because we know only He is good and only His Works matter in us.

Revival vs Transformation

We do not need a "revival", we need a transformation of the souls of those who claim to be Christians but were never born again.

To revive something means it was alive, then died, and was brought back to life. When there was never life to begin with, there is nothing to "revive." Deadness has been in the church for many years now, no life ever existed among those who entered the church without a born-again experience.

We live in a culture that thinks just "saying" what others want to hear to be a member of a club is equal to salvation. It has nothing to do with salvation.

We are living as in the days of Noah in which people are going along comfortable with their false religion they call Christianity, tainted more with paganism and psychology than with Bible truth.

Many churches claim they are Bible-believing but in fact, do not follow the Bible, they follow their pastors, their psychologists, the cultural standard of our apostate day and argue against the Bible often.

Those who wish to bring the thinking back to the Bible, using Scripture to explain things are rejected by churchgoers, refusing to hear the truth, silencing anyone who does not say and do what the churchgoers like to hear.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Difficult Times Will Come

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times (ragingly insane) will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, 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 people as these."

We are told how terrible the attitudes of people will be in these last days, even in the church. God commands us in verse 5 to avoid them. Often this means it will be rare to find a church gathering that is obeying the scriptures even though they say they do, they do not.

Do not be discouraged by this, God warned us to help us place our trust even more fully in Christ and not in any man or system of man.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight."

People will attempt to silence you when you bring scripture to bear in a discussion. When they do this walk away and speak to those who will listen. If no one will listen then be content to be alone a lot.

What does Christian fellowship really look like according to the scriptures?

2 Timothy 4:2

"Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction."

We are to be discussing things openly, encouraging when things are spoken of in truth, and correct and rebuke those who are in error. We are to love as we do these things as well as not back down when treated shamefully for our dedication to God's Word.

A true friendship is an open one without secrets and love and enjoy honest discussions using the Scriptures. Those who resist the truth of the Bible while refusing to discuss things according to the Bible are in rebellion lacking good sense. All these people are interested in is their own opinions and pleasure. Often they care only about being seen as right or superior, not in being correct according to God's Word.

Sanctification is a Lifetime Experience

What so many Christians do not understand is that "sanctification is a lifetime" experience. The reason God allows what is in our hearts to come out of our mouths or in our actions during difficulties is to show us what still remains that needs cleansing.

The more we confess the more we can walk without guilt and the more we walk in holiness. Our Spiritual growth depends on confessing as the Holy Spirit warns us, always for our own cleansing and for His glory.

1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Bad Things for the Believer are not Bad, they are just Hard

Bad things that happen to the believer only seem bad because we don't like them. Every hard thing that happens to the believer is for our training, learning, and strengthening. That's why God says; "count it all joy when you endure various trials.

James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

James 1:2-4

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

2 Timothy 3:17

"That the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

Brothers and Sisters we are in Spiritual boot camp, all that we go through God uses for our benefit and His glory.

Jesus Warned Us About This - "The Days of Noah Have Come"

One Mediator, Only Christ Jesus

There is only one mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus!

If you are looking to anyone at all for truth and counsel other than Christ you have an idol. Even though we share with one another and teach one another, as well as correct, rebuke and admonish one another daily, we do not hold someone in such high regard that they are our "go-to person" for truth. Only Christ is the One we go to for truth.

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

When Jesus Christ lives in us He is the One we should consult before we consult with anyone else and only consult with another when Christ tells us to do so.

We are living in a world in which any person will be tainted by the culture and driven by emotions. There are those who are power-hungry, operating as narcissists enjoying power over others more than they serve Christ. We can consider what others say, while asking the Holy Spirit to expose what is not right and endorse what is from Him.

We must encourage others in the way of the Lord using Scripture. If someone is misusing scripture in false doctrine or advice we must discard it and continue obeying God.

Romans 3:3-4 "…3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Certainly not! Let God be TRUE and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that You may be proved right when You speak and victorious when You judge.”

No one is so "educated" they have all the answers, in fact, if someone is educated in the seminaries of our day they have a hindrance to their walk. Seminaries now are places where more psychology and marketing skills are taught than proper doctrine.

Preachers are taught in the seminaries to be arrogant, resisting correction from the brothers and sisters who are not "educated" in these places, to keep "their flock" under control.

Whenever there is a mentality of control over anyone there is no love and there will be false teaching. Nowhere in God's word does He teach anyone to control anyone else. We are to teach and preachers are to preach to help lead others to truth, not to control them.

We are to be Spirit-controlled, not man-controlled.

Romans 8:5-13

5 For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

13 for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

John 16:13-14 " 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"

I see no place in Scripture where God said any man will lead us into all truth. It is the Holy Spirit Who is our guide and help. Also, I see no place where God said that we should look to man as our guide. Leaders in the church should be pointing us to Christ, not to their own ideas of righteousness.

Stubborn hearts will not listen to truth from God's Word, they are influenced and controlled by their traditions of men as taught to them over the generations. It takes an Holy Spirit controlled person to break away from the traditions of men to follow Christ.

Luke 12:53-55

53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

When we expect the Scripture to be the standard for teaching we will find ourselves with few friends as well as being rejected by family. People, in general, are more dedicated to their comfort and traditions than they are to God.

Thank the Lord that we do not have to be intimidated by those who love their traditions. As we lose friends and family God brings others who are like-minded and will encourage and enhance our walk with Christ.

Philippians 2:2-8

"2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others."

What a blessing it is to find people who want to know God's mind as we walk with them. We seek the Lord together, because of this we are not easily offended by correction nor are we intimidated by those who wish to control others.

Hallelujah!!!!

Thoughts From God's Word

Some thoughts the Lord gave me this morning as I was pondering His Word.

A fool chases after pleasure only to find emptiness at the end of their life. The pleasure only has comfort while doing it, after it is over there remains emptiness.

Proverbs 10:23

Wealth and fame are like addictions, the more we get the more we want and the less satisfied we become.

1 John 2:15-16

We forfeit what God made us in order to become like others. John 15:19

At the beginning of our lives, we have a whole future ahead of us, but as we age we realize how short our lives have been and how fast the years fly.

James 4:14

Those given to pleasures of life think about how they will spend their time, those who seek God want to use their time wisely. Psalm 39:4-5

Each person can only be completely what God made him when He does not look to the culture around him to influence who he becomes. Isaiah 45:22

For the born-again believer seeking God is a continual adventure of spiritual and emotional growth through all the experiences of life. We must take hard and easy circumstances, both grow us into what God meant for us to be. James 1:12

It is better to spend more time with God in silence than we do with people in conversation.

Proverbs 2:1-5

He who does not enjoy Christ does not have freedom. Even those who think they are free by doing things their own way are actually in bondage to themselves. It is Christ Who frees us from ourselves. Galatians 5:1

Intellectualism creates pride making the one who chases it unsociable and unusable for Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:1

Seeking happiness destroys emotional and spiritual growth. The more we grow the less we seek the pleasures of the world. Joy comes but happiness is based on circumstances and is fleeting. Psalm 16:11

Those who walk with Christ are never bored, even in the pain of life we have joy and hope. We are not focused on this world but on Christ. Psalm 16:11

When we fear loneliness we will be caught up in the trap of seeking people rather than Christ for our companionship. Romans 12:2

Those who have compassion for people and animals can only be this way if they have an inner spirit of kindness. Proverbs 12:10

The kindness resides in us before the actions take place. A cruel person, if only cruel to those they dislike but kind to those they like is a cruel person. A kind person is kind to everyone all the time. They cannot be cruel to anyone because there is only kindness on the inside. Mark 7:20

When we see things from God's perspective we get a much more spiritual and wise view of life that helps us evaluate things as they arise. 1 Corinthians 2:16

Those who spend more time on the things of this world are less oriented toward evangelism and encouraging believers in the way of righteousness.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Every single principle of life and every single circumstance in life have principles from God's Word to guide us. When something is not specific to our encounters then we can ask the Holy Spirit to give us the specifics that prove the Biblical principle. We ought never to violate God's word to do something right. If it is right then it will have a principle or life story in the Bible. The Bible is our map, Christ is the One with the map.