Little Clay Men

We are the clay He is the potter. If I had made little clay people and they did to me what we did to Christ, I would smash them up in a little ball, and start over with new ones. Thankfully our God is not like us, His love gives chance after chance to these little arrogant, sneering, autocratic (desiring absolute power over ourselves), haughty, self willed clay pots with big attitudes. We actually think we deserve our salvation. When we see God for Who He is, and we see who we really are, how can we be anything but ashamed and humbled?

Help What Is That?

"Help is the offer of assistance we extend to those who truly need it and want it. Help is not chasing after someone to give them something we think is of value even when they haven't asked for it and show no appreciation for it. Help is not visiting the same issues with someone over and over again when they've already heard the same thing a million times and haven't displayed any motivation to change." From the book "Character Disturbance" by George Simon.

Why do believers continue to stay in the lives of those who have no interest in the things of the Lord, have spurned our wisdom and abused us emotionally? I don't see Christ or Paul remaining in the lives of those who have rejected His Truth, so why do we?

The Lord has shown me in recent years, that when I see that my wisdom is not respected or desired, it is time to walk away. When I interject into conversations and regularly are demeaned or ignored, then I allow this for a time, until I realize that it has become a regular pattern with certain people, then the Lord says to me, "walk away, leave them to Me."

Why do we allow unresponsive people to dominate our lives and intimidate us causing frustration, only to leave us ineffective for the Lord. When God said "come out from among them and be ye separate" I am convinced that He knew what He was talking about.

When we surround ourselves with rebellious people, eventually we begin to respond and act like they do. God said "bad company corrupts good character." Continual company with superficial unteachable believers and rebellious non-believers will impede our spiritual growth and even cause us to reverse in our walk.

If we desire to think and act like Christ, depending on Him, deeply devoted to His Word, then we must surround ourselves with loving mature believers who encourage our determination to obey God.

The day I realized this very important principle, was a day of emancipation from the Narcissist, the manipulator and the pretentious. There is no value in wallowing in the sewage over and over again, we need to come away from the dung and wash in the fresh water of the Word to be with others who are washed.

YES... go into the sewer to bring the Good News but do not stay there with the unwashed that refuse to follow us out to be cleansed.

For those who want to come out, we will see a ravenous hunger for Christ's Word, a teachable and humble Spirit that receives the wisdom we offer from the Word with joy and gladness. These folks will not fight to justify their sin, nor will they be encumbered with pride of appearance, they have come to the Lord in brokenness over their sin and are delighted with being made a new creation by our Lord.
They do not hide from God or their brothers and sisters; they are transparent and ready to grow.

Morals Without Christ

I have just revisited a movie I was introduced to a couple of years ago that demonstrated some very simple principles from the Word that have been ignored in our culture today and for many years.

The name of the movie is "Time Changers." We have attempted to create a cultural moral standard apart from the name of Christ Jesus. We have taught our children not to steal while at the same time too embarrassed to say that the rule was because Christ said not to steal.

We have done the same thing with our politics. We say it is wrong to murder babies, but we don't say that Christ said not to murder babies. As soon as the name of Christ rolls off our lips we are labeled a religious fanatic and left wide open to ridicule, so we carefully omit the name of Christ to spare ourselves embarrassment and rejection.

Rather than boldly proclaiming our Christianity we state our political views, thinking that we have proclaimed our faith when in reality we have not.

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

When we find every way we can to skirt around the clear Gospel message and speak boldly the name of Christ and His principles, then we have effectively denied Him. Those who hear us, can easily dismiss our views as just a political opinion, rather than authority from God.

I have noticed that non-believers are more tolerant of our differing political views than they are at the mention of Christ. We know it and that's why we choose to hide behind the effeminate skirt of politics. Sadly, it is also true of the church, believers often are more comfortable with conversation about politics than they are about Christ.

Is it any wonder why the church has little influence on our culture, we have removed Christ from our discussions and replaced Him with cultural norms. 1 Corinthians 3:19 in which God says, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their [own] craftiness";

The Lord told us in these last days we would see this, and over the years I made a mental list of attitudes and actions that prove this is true. Much of the time we like to name the big sins of abortion, homosexuality and drunk driving as those that are a depiction of the 2 Timothy 3 passage, but those are not what most believers are tempted to do, so they are safe in naming them. Modern Christianity deals more with arrogance and self will than it does with these "monster" sins we feel so free to quote, thinking they do not pertain to us.

The "big" sins of homosexuality, abortion and drunk driving are not what we are tempted to do, but we have the same mind in us that motivates the "big" sins of others. Pride comes to mind. Many young people lecture the older folks about things rather than asking questions, permeated with the dilution that they know more than those who have lived twice as long as they.

What is "this" that the Lord has told us?

2 Timothy 3
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themeselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

We see this everyday, the arrogance can be seen in the face, lack of response and lecturing the young people do to the older folks. But notice what they lecture about....healthy food, excuses for sin and tolerance toward all things. When the younger folks are corrected they react in snapish tones, manipulation and cold shoulders to show their preponderance to need to be in control of the conversation and others. If they can demean the older folks, they are nearly assured that they will silence them.

Unfortunately this tactic has worked in most families. The older folks have given up precious ground in meaningful conversations, in fear that they will be alone without help or companionship. Might I encourage the older folks to say their mind and trust that the Lord will take care of them when they are rejected.

May I also encourage the older folks that when we are set aside and abandoned for our stands for Christ, God will bless us with others who love us and value our wisdom. We need not ignore the last phrase of the passage in 2 Timothy 3 that says "from such turn away." God does not mandate that we keep in our lives those who dishonor Him and will not listen to counsel. This passage has been a comfort to me, during this time of leanness of respect and dishonor.

God can and does provide all our needs and lifts us up as we honor His Word. I know there are many older folks who encounter the meanness mentioned in 2 Timothy 3, because we are living in the last days and God warned us to encourage us. As we see the day approaching we can expect more of this, but know that Christ is our constant companion and when it is all over, we will enter the gates of heaven with a clear conscience and a blessing from our Lord, "well done good and faithful servant."

Blessings and thanks to all those young people who are not acting like this, you are rare and treasured, for your honor and attentiveness to the wisdom of those who have lived so much longer. May the Lord give you greater and greater wisdom as you honor Him and His principles.

Husbands Lead Always, It Is Natural!

One thing that we fail to remember often is that men lead always. When a man disobeys God and will not nurture his family in the Lord he is leading them away from God. He is still leading, but against the will of God. Some people have said "the men are not leading" but they are. Often the women will attempt to bring God's principles to her children while the husband leads away from God by his disobedience to Him. Man's leading is natural and automatic, it is just a matter of, in which direction is he leading. I have found it interesting that with pets in the house, the animals always follow the man while he is home, and the woman when the man is not home. Even the animals know the pecking order, it is not something a man has to try to do, it comes naturally just as with animals. Men can lead away from God by making no attempt to lead toward Him, in all cases he is still leading.

Liars Cannot Hide

The Lord has been showing me over the past several years how intensely entrenched, is the unsaved person and even believers can be in the practice of lying.  God said in His Word, "God is true and every man a liar."

I have begun to understand this principle much more after a little research and study on the act and attitude of liars. Very often I was quite sure someone was lying to me but could not prove it, and rarely I would confront someone on the lying and they would deny it. 

Now I understand what was happening in my observances. Every person lies several times during any given day.  It may be in varying degrees but nonetheless, it is still lying, from embellishing a fish story to add a few inches on a days catch, to making up completely untrue stories to gain friendships or ruin them. 

The science of "Facial Action Coding System" has revealed that facial, hand and head movements can and do reveal that someone may be lying.  There are many manipulative gestures and speech that can be evidence of lying.  

If people knew just how effective this science is they may feel more insecure about lying so freely.  It is a fascinating science and convinces me that our words mean very little, that what is really inside is what comes out in our actions.  God said that "faith without actions is a dead faith" because our actions prove our faith. 

We can say anything we want, that is easy, but our actions will prove if we are telling the truth.  Our lying can be seen in our facial expressions, hand motions and head movements, if one is trained in this science.  However, there are those who are born with the ability to tell if a person is lying without training.  They are astutely aware of the small details of the body language, sometimes without realizing it.  They know when someone is lying, even though they would not say they noticed the expressions, they were processing these actions in their brains instantly and could discern lying. 

The reason for this short essay is to demonstrate that when we lie, some people can see that we are and One who sees for sure is our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.  This mini study has given me more insight into the gravity of the problem of lying in all cultures.  It is only through Christ that we can overcome a habit of lying, even in the smallest matters.  When we seek the Lord for His Holiness, then He will give us hatred toward sin and the father of lies will no longer have a hold on us.

If we lie continually without restraint, then we will not be blessed by the Lord and His truth.  God will not give us truth if we are liars, we will only lie about His truth.  We may sound good in our words, and repeat His, but in our hearts we will not be living it. 

Our culture thinks that as long as we say something that makes it true and if no one can prove we are lying then it is acceptable to do so.  Lying is never acceptable, it is important to resolve to tell the truth always, when we fail we must repent.  If we are unteachable, then we are living a lie and the truth is not in us.

We must stop pretending to love the Lord and actually dedicate ourselves to rooting out of us every form of lying and evil, that we might be daily cleansed and moving forward in our walk. 

One day every lie that has not been dealt with will be open for all to see, we can only hide so long and then it will be exposed, whether we sought to live a holy life or a superficial one.

Politics, Who Invented It?

I hope that believers will remember to place their trust in Christ rather than man in the coming election. 

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  Psalm 118:8 

So often every election cycle I encounter believers who speak more about the candidates and politicians than they do about Christ, it seems backwards to me. 

When we place our emphasis on man's solutions, and usually they are fiscally focused, then we are trusting in the whiles of men to save us rather than the righteousness of Christ to direct us.

If we are to be honest we are more concerned about being financially safe and seek after our freedom more than any other matters. 

There is no one righteous in our political system; they have all bowed the knee to Baal figuratively speaking, time after time after time.  The powers that be, know how to manipulate the emotions and fears of the unthinking populous, and they are masters at their skill.

Those who claim to be conservative in the political machine are not righteous, nor do they care that they are, they have one goal and that is power over the people.  Since we do not live in a dictatorship, they must devise continual manipulations to deceive the people.  One way they do this is to find out how certain blocks of voters think, and target them with well written material that leads the voter to believe they have their best interest at heart. 

In the speeches and literature that is distributed, is contained vague and meaningless verbiage that causes the reader to interpret the message in terms of his own bent. For example, someone who is not happy with welfare will receive the same literature as someone who supports it, the language might look like this, “we know the system is broken and we are here to try to fix it.”  Anyone reading this sentence will interpret the message in terms of their own bias.  The welfare supporter will say, “Yes they will give us more money and freebees.”  The opponent of welfare will read it and say, “Yes, we need to have less welfare.” 

These political tricks in advertising are very effective because most people will not ask any questions to clarify the message.  We accept our fast food political messages as readily as we do the food from the local drive up restaurant.  As long as we remain a culture that likes to think in snippets of information and are lazy in their life experience, these kinds of manipulative messages will work. 

As believers we seem to feel it is easier and more acceptable with our friends, to speak in conservative terms about our favorite candidate rather than calling for prayer and speaking of Christ to those around us. 

When we speak in political terms we can maintain friendships and revel and glory in one anothers pride over a cause. But when we speak of our Lord continually, we are an embarrassment and are much more likely to lose the companionship of our friends and family.  Believers are embarrassed at the mention of Christ.  I can not count the number of times I entered into a conversation with a group of conservative believers, only to be snubbed for attempting to point our focus back to Christ.  

Could we please remember that no man will save us, that Christ may have other ideas to work in our country than the way we think and whoever is in power is there because Christ put Him there. 

Romans 13:1  God says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that existare appointed by God.”

Vote, if you must, but God will not be happy with those who whine about His decision over the outcome.  Our job on this earth is not to set up governments nor to tear them down, but to spread the Gospel.

If we were to go to a country as a missionary, we would not be expected, by our supporters, to involve ourselves in the politics of the people we serve in our host country. Our job is to preach the gospel and guide new believers into a walk of holiness and righteousness.  If we could understand that we are not citizens of this world, and that our objective is not to live free for our own pleasures, but to continue in the teaching of the Word of God day and night. If we do this, there will be little time for politics. 

We have been brain washed in our country from childhood, in the school class rooms, that we must have freedom at all costs, but I see no scriptural mandate for this.  I enjoy my freedom and thank the Lord for it, but if the Lord takes it away, I would have no right to be angry that it is gone, nor am I commanded by Christ to fight the government to retain it or retrieve it. 

This mentality of freedom at all costs has infected our thinking in marriage and child rearing.  We have been taught that we should live the way we desire, putting up with no hardships and fighting for our rights and desires as though they were paramount to all of life.  This is the reason for our rampant divorce, abortion, homosexuality, freedom of press to distribute any and all manner of filth in the market place and why we will no longer tolerate correction or rebuke. 

Modern American Christianity plays like a bad soap opera, with it’s people running to and fro like lemmings head to the sea to destruction, fooled and manipulated by every wind of ungodly doctrine to fulfill their lust for selfish freedom and pleasure.

There is only one hope for us now as a nation and that is repentance, and it must start in the house of God.  Perhaps we could start by speaking less of our political options and more about holiness in the sight of God.  Then the Lord will work.  God will not be second place to anyone or anything.  Unless He is first, He will not work on our behalf.

Thank You Roger Christian for a Most Crucial Message

http://truth459.blogspot.com/2011/06/salvation-confusion-101-blog.html