1 Corinthians 3:15 " If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
People do sin after they are changed into a new creation. Their spirit has been changed but they are trapped in a sinful body.
That body will go away to be replaced by a new body for the spirit that is a new creation.
When we die and go to heaven, we go as the born again new creation of the spirit, but we leave behind the corrupted body. Later when Christ rises the dead bodies, they will be changed and no longer corrupted.
Philippians 3:20-21 "20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Everyone who is born again will endure to the end.
Ephesians 1:13-14 "
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
1 John 2:19 " They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us."
The evidence that someone was never born again is that they did not endure to the end.
Matthew 7:21-23 "
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many[a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
1 John 2:19 " They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us."
The evidence that someone was never born again is that they did not endure to the end.
Matthew 7:21-23 "
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many[a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Correction and Rebuke Are Necessary
Next time someone tells you we should not correct or rebuke others, it might be good to remind them of God's Word.
Proverbs 6:23
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"
Proverbs 3:12 "
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."
Proverbs 23:13 "
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."
Proverbs 29:17 "
17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."
Titus 1:13 "
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."
Titus 2:15 "
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."
1 Timothy 5:20 "
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."
Revelation 3:19 "
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Luke 17:3 "
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."
Proverbs 6:23
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"
Proverbs 3:12 "
12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."
Proverbs 23:13 "
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."
Proverbs 29:17 "
17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."
Titus 1:13 "
13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."
Titus 2:15 "
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."
1 Timothy 5:20 "
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."
Revelation 3:19 "
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Luke 17:3 "
3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."
1 John 4:1-6
1 John 4:1-6
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
4 You are from God,little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Those Who Love Christ
1 John 2:15-24
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father."
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father."
If We Say We Have Not Sinned We Call God A Liar
1 John 1:4-10
4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
We Can Count On His Promises
I hang onto the promises that Christ will do in me what is needed, even when I don't realize He is working.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."
John 14:18 ""I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
John 14:16-31
"16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."
John 14:18 ""I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
John 14:16-31
"16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here."
Friday, February 27, 2015
Spiritual Healing Is Better Than Physical Healing
So often we pray for healing for someone, thinking that God never wants anyone to be sick. The error of that thinking is that, if everyone who trusted Christ was never sick, they would never die and pass to their eternal home, they would just be on this wicked planet enduring the evil here. Why would we want to stay here when we can go home, to our Lord and the place He has prepared for us.
We only want to remain on earth as long as God is not finished using us yet.
We never know when our permanent healing will take place, that final journey to our heavenly home. My goal is to be where God wants me, whether it be "here, there or in the air."
One time I prayed for healing for an elderly godly woman, she died and others said my prayer was not answered... but it was, she was taken to her heavenly home and will never be ill again. When I prayed for healing, I was thinking of earthly healing, but after she passed, God showed me that His healing is sometimes to take us out of our earthly bodies to be one day replaced with a heavenly glorified body.
So often we think almost entirely of this world, as though we are not completely convinced of a place called heaven. There is no greater healing than fleshly healing, to die to this world and go home to heaven where we will never experience anything sad ever again is the greater gain.
Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
I have another "old person" story that blesses my heart. I knew of an elderly man a few years ago who had a heart attack. He was in his nineties so not much of a surprise. This godly man who spoke of the Lord often, didn't die from the heart attack but was unconscious in his hospital bed for a few hours. When he woke up he looked around with disappointment, he said to the nurses upon waking up, "oh no, I am still here." When he went into the hospital he had the expectation that he would probably be going home to the Lord, when that didn't happen he felt disappointed. He lived a couple of more years and then he got to go home.
Our prayers ought to always be, for God's will, we know it is best, how can we think any other way. And, if our perspective is Christ, then going home is something to be excited about.
Malachi 4:2 ""But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall."
Revelation 21:4 "and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
The prayer I say the most for others is that God will give them peace, bring strength to their spirit and give them great joy through everything. I also pray that if there is a spiritual need for their families, that God would use the circumstance to turn the hearts of people to Him. We can hardly go wrong praying spiritually for others.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord. 8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit."
We only want to remain on earth as long as God is not finished using us yet.
We never know when our permanent healing will take place, that final journey to our heavenly home. My goal is to be where God wants me, whether it be "here, there or in the air."
One time I prayed for healing for an elderly godly woman, she died and others said my prayer was not answered... but it was, she was taken to her heavenly home and will never be ill again. When I prayed for healing, I was thinking of earthly healing, but after she passed, God showed me that His healing is sometimes to take us out of our earthly bodies to be one day replaced with a heavenly glorified body.
So often we think almost entirely of this world, as though we are not completely convinced of a place called heaven. There is no greater healing than fleshly healing, to die to this world and go home to heaven where we will never experience anything sad ever again is the greater gain.
Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
I have another "old person" story that blesses my heart. I knew of an elderly man a few years ago who had a heart attack. He was in his nineties so not much of a surprise. This godly man who spoke of the Lord often, didn't die from the heart attack but was unconscious in his hospital bed for a few hours. When he woke up he looked around with disappointment, he said to the nurses upon waking up, "oh no, I am still here." When he went into the hospital he had the expectation that he would probably be going home to the Lord, when that didn't happen he felt disappointed. He lived a couple of more years and then he got to go home.
Our prayers ought to always be, for God's will, we know it is best, how can we think any other way. And, if our perspective is Christ, then going home is something to be excited about.
Malachi 4:2 ""But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall."
Revelation 21:4 "and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."
The prayer I say the most for others is that God will give them peace, bring strength to their spirit and give them great joy through everything. I also pray that if there is a spiritual need for their families, that God would use the circumstance to turn the hearts of people to Him. We can hardly go wrong praying spiritually for others.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord. 8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit."
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Prayers Answered
Hallelujah an Answer!
To all the brothers and sisters who were praying for me, I want to thank you! God has answered the prayer for clarification as to the problem. I am excited to report that there was a blockage found in a main artery with possibly more than one one artery with blockage. There is nothing worse than feeling terrible, having pain and no answer for it.
James 1:2-18
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived,my beloved brethren.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures."
To all the brothers and sisters who were praying for me, I want to thank you! God has answered the prayer for clarification as to the problem. I am excited to report that there was a blockage found in a main artery with possibly more than one one artery with blockage. There is nothing worse than feeling terrible, having pain and no answer for it.
James 1:2-18
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived,my beloved brethren.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures."
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
The Pretense Cannot Last Forever
It is interesting this matter of change. If a person who claims to be a "Christian" is moving backward instead of forward, it could be they were never born again and became weary of keeping up the pretense. No one can keep pretending forever, eventually their real self will emerge.
James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
Isaiah 29:13 "And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,"
Revelation 3:15-16 "“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
1 Corinthians 13:2 "And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
Matthew 16:23 "But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Proverbs 26:23-24 "Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;"
James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
Isaiah 29:13 "And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,"
Revelation 3:15-16 "“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth."
1 Corinthians 13:2 "And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."
Matthew 16:23 "But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Proverbs 26:23-24 "Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;"
He Who Dwells in the Shelter
Hallelujah! God Has Our Backs If We are Born Again!
Psalm 91:1-16
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I TRUST!”
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.
11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
Psalm 91:1-16
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I TRUST!”
3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7 A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you.
8 You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.
9 For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10 No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent.
11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.
12 They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16 “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”
No Answer Yet
Back from the stress test. They are going to have the cardiologist look at it and let me know the next thing to do. The tech found something, went to the cardiologist, but apparently it wasn't immediately life threatening so they will get back to me for a follow up appointment. I am hopeful that God will show us in His time. I went this morning feeling blessed that many of you were praying.
An interesting thing happened after the test. My blood pressure was high during the whole thing. 167 over 100. When I began to tell one of the techs about the left leg pain I was having at times, she told me after the story, that my blood pressure went up to 185/100.
That was interesting to me, I asked her why that happened and she said I was displaying stress just from telling the story, even though I didn't feel stressed. It is amazing that our bodies reflect our inner selves even when we don't realize it.
This fits very well with my studies on "micro-expressions", when we have facial expressions and twitches in our facial muscles when we are lying. Some people are gifted in discerning this and can see it in people, that's why they don't trust someone even when others looking on don't notice anything.
If you have ever had the feeling that something just wasn't right about a person you meet, but you have the sense that they are liars and deceivers. Even though you know nothing about them, there is an unsettledness in your spirit that this person is not who they claim to be, you may be seeing unconsciously a micro expression that reveals they are lying or pretending, using flattery in an attempt to disarm you, throwing you off the track to hide who they really are.
We are seeing an increase in pretenders and deceivers. They will claim things about themselves that are not true at all, but cannot be proven, unless we have been able to watch their lives. But interestingly, the Holy Spirit within us warns us of such people, they cannot be trusted as friends, they will not be loyal, compassionate or empathetic, everything they do is based on personal glory without concern for anyone but themselves. Sadly this is on the rise and will continue to grow as we move toward the very end of days.
2 Timothy 3 speaks about these people.
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
I am grateful that we do not have to stay with these deceitful people, no where in the word does God tell us to keep company with those who dishonor Him and use us. When we encounter them, we are to love them as a human being, but we are not mandated to maintain a friendship with them. Verse 5 of 2 Timothy 3 states clearly "from such people turn away." They will be destructive to us and those we love, because they will not interpret our life experiences properly, but in the darkness of their own perverted lines of thinking.
I am always fascinated at God's creation and all the intricacies of our bodies. God gives us clues through actions but also through expressions and body language. We cannot completely hide ourselves from others, our bodies often give us away.
An interesting thing happened after the test. My blood pressure was high during the whole thing. 167 over 100. When I began to tell one of the techs about the left leg pain I was having at times, she told me after the story, that my blood pressure went up to 185/100.
That was interesting to me, I asked her why that happened and she said I was displaying stress just from telling the story, even though I didn't feel stressed. It is amazing that our bodies reflect our inner selves even when we don't realize it.
This fits very well with my studies on "micro-expressions", when we have facial expressions and twitches in our facial muscles when we are lying. Some people are gifted in discerning this and can see it in people, that's why they don't trust someone even when others looking on don't notice anything.
If you have ever had the feeling that something just wasn't right about a person you meet, but you have the sense that they are liars and deceivers. Even though you know nothing about them, there is an unsettledness in your spirit that this person is not who they claim to be, you may be seeing unconsciously a micro expression that reveals they are lying or pretending, using flattery in an attempt to disarm you, throwing you off the track to hide who they really are.
We are seeing an increase in pretenders and deceivers. They will claim things about themselves that are not true at all, but cannot be proven, unless we have been able to watch their lives. But interestingly, the Holy Spirit within us warns us of such people, they cannot be trusted as friends, they will not be loyal, compassionate or empathetic, everything they do is based on personal glory without concern for anyone but themselves. Sadly this is on the rise and will continue to grow as we move toward the very end of days.
2 Timothy 3 speaks about these people.
3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
I am grateful that we do not have to stay with these deceitful people, no where in the word does God tell us to keep company with those who dishonor Him and use us. When we encounter them, we are to love them as a human being, but we are not mandated to maintain a friendship with them. Verse 5 of 2 Timothy 3 states clearly "from such people turn away." They will be destructive to us and those we love, because they will not interpret our life experiences properly, but in the darkness of their own perverted lines of thinking.
I am always fascinated at God's creation and all the intricacies of our bodies. God gives us clues through actions but also through expressions and body language. We cannot completely hide ourselves from others, our bodies often give us away.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
We See the Problem, But We Can't Seem To Give It A Name
Many people are feeling trapped in their relationships but can't seem to break free because of our "just love them" mentality. I am not speaking about breaking free from marriage, that is an entirely different matter. I am talking about relationships in the community or church where something is just ugly but we can't put our finger on it. Here is a possible answer.
When we notice the person we are with, doesn't laugh at our playful jokes, almost never smiles, negates everything we do, ignores us deliberately, demeans our accomplishments, even concocting stories about us to ruin our reputation while acting loving and sweet in the presence of others, we can be sure we are dealing with a narcissist.
The article link takes you to an excellent explanation of what we are dealing with and how damaging it can be. These relationships can even destroy other relationships if we allow the association to continue.
This is the second Timothy 3 crowd. "3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"
When we notice the person we are with, doesn't laugh at our playful jokes, almost never smiles, negates everything we do, ignores us deliberately, demeans our accomplishments, even concocting stories about us to ruin our reputation while acting loving and sweet in the presence of others, we can be sure we are dealing with a narcissist.
The article link takes you to an excellent explanation of what we are dealing with and how damaging it can be. These relationships can even destroy other relationships if we allow the association to continue.
This is the second Timothy 3 crowd. "3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"
What a Demon Possessed Person Looks Like
Here is what demonic activity looks like. Notice the uncontrollable violence, the hissing, growling and verbiage... "Don't let me assume my ultimate form." This woman probably has legions.
Prayer Request
Brothers and Sister, would all you prayer warriors remember me in prayer tomorrow. I am going in for a stress test for my heart. I have been having problems for some time but have been putting off checking it out.
My mother had four bypasses at age 57, my father had strokes in his 60's and my brother had a heart attack last summer. One doctor already diagnosed a blockage in my neck, so I suspect others.
It is always discouraging when we have problems, we go to the doctor and they can't find anything wrong. We are the picture of health, our problems must be in our head. LOL
My mother went to the doctor several times, they sent her home not able to find anything, until she had a serious weakness attack, then they did more tests and found the blocked arteries. After she had open heart surgery she lived about 25 more years. Also my mother lived with a smoker (my father) for more than 40 years and I only lived with it the first 18 years of my life before I married.
Medical techniques are better now than they were when my parents had their heart trouble, I expect things to be more advanced and move more quickly.
I am a blood bought born again believer so I have no worries. I do confess that if they don't find anything, I will be tempted to be discouraged.
Thank you in advance for your prayers.
My mother had four bypasses at age 57, my father had strokes in his 60's and my brother had a heart attack last summer. One doctor already diagnosed a blockage in my neck, so I suspect others.
It is always discouraging when we have problems, we go to the doctor and they can't find anything wrong. We are the picture of health, our problems must be in our head. LOL
My mother went to the doctor several times, they sent her home not able to find anything, until she had a serious weakness attack, then they did more tests and found the blocked arteries. After she had open heart surgery she lived about 25 more years. Also my mother lived with a smoker (my father) for more than 40 years and I only lived with it the first 18 years of my life before I married.
Medical techniques are better now than they were when my parents had their heart trouble, I expect things to be more advanced and move more quickly.
I am a blood bought born again believer so I have no worries. I do confess that if they don't find anything, I will be tempted to be discouraged.
Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Using God is Sin
Most people turn to God in a crisis, they have no interest in Him any more than they do in anything else they think they don't need. Many parents have experienced this. The only time they hear from their children is when they need something, if they say no, the children get mad and disappear again for a long time.
When all we want is God's "stuff", and are incensed that He bothers us any other times, then we have contempt for God. He is to be used, ignored and maligned when we don't need Him.
We can not expect to have our prayers answered in a crisis when we do not love Him any other time.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
Micah 3:4 "Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds."
We cannot expect to demand things from God while ignoring Him and have our prayers answered when we care nothing about Him otherwise.
When all we want is God's "stuff", and are incensed that He bothers us any other times, then we have contempt for God. He is to be used, ignored and maligned when we don't need Him.
We can not expect to have our prayers answered in a crisis when we do not love Him any other time.
Matthew 15:8 "'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME."
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear."
Micah 3:4 "Then they will cry out to the LORD, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds."
We cannot expect to demand things from God while ignoring Him and have our prayers answered when we care nothing about Him otherwise.
Rituals Are Not Evidence of Holiness
Rituals do not make us spiritual, they only make us think we are, pridefully "observing ceremonies" to feel a sense of obedience without a heart to obey in the authentic things. Often rituals replace authentic obedience.
Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."
What Are Our Marching Orders?
A person can have extensive Bible knowledge and emotions about God, and still be on the broad way to hell. God is wanting us to deny ourselves daily. If we are doing all kinds of things we think are for him, proud of ourselves for doing it, then we are doing our own will, not the will of God.
Matthew 12:50
""For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Mr. Poonen gave an example of a child who was told to sit down by his father. The child had defiance in his heart but feared punishment, so he sat down, boldly proclaiming that he was sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
We may not be practicing lawlessness outwardly, but we may be practicing it inwardly by ignoring the will of God as presented in His Word.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how well we know the Bible or the knowledge we think we have, nor can we evaluate ourselves on how well we can explain our knowledge.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how successful we think we are, financially, through education, or how much influence we think we have over people.
True spirituality is to deny our own will and seek God's Will.
John 3:30 ""He must increase, but I must decrease."
Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."
We must do this daily.
Luke 9:23 "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
Rituals do not make us spiritual, they only make us think we are, pridefully "observing ceremonies" to feel a sense of obedience without a heart to obey in the authentic things. Often rituals replace authentic obedience.
It is frightening that far more people than we realize, who claim to be "Christians" are not born again.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
The Scripture verses in Matthew 7:21-23 are akin to verses 13-14. Most people who think they are saved have never been changed into a new creation by Christ.
Many are faithful church goers respected by multitudes, loved by everyone they meet.
Luke 6:26 ""Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."
Often those who desire to be elevated by others, look good to those around them, but there will be clues for the discerning person, even the prompting of the Holy Spirit that warns us that these people are not what they claim to be, they even believe they are spiritual and special, but they have little concern for the laying down of their own will. In fact these people fight against giving up their will.
When we are seeking God, we are focusing on Him rather than ourselves,we will be deeply committed to God's Will. No one can feel superior when they are submitting to Christ.
I once knew a man who was continually comparing his spirituality with others. He judged everything about people, believing he knew them, but in fact he never knew them, because his judgment was based on his own effort to be elevated, the judgment could not be accurate. He made statements such as; "my sins weren't as bad as those of others." It is hard for me to believe that one who would say such a thing, would be changed into a new creation by Christ. When we do not come to Christ in humility, we cannot be born again.
If we come to Christ in brokenness over our sin, then we come ashamed desiring to be made a new person by Christ. No one who believes their sins were not so bad, walking with Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:12 " 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
Luke 9:23 "23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
When we are dead to ourselves, then we have no dilutions about ourselves being superior to others. We know where we came from, a lost soul who needed a Savior, and was gloriously saved by Christ when we trusted Him. Anyone who understands their own sinfulness and the great price Christ paid, could never feel elevated above others.
If we are to be holy, we must walk in the way Christ walked.
1 John 2:6 "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."
How did Christ walk?
John 6:38 ""For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
When we become born again, our mission is to walk as Christ walked, doing the will of the Father. The way to know the will of God is to read the instruction book...the Bible. Through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit and the reading of His Words to us, we can know the will of God.
If we claim to be believers and do not care what the Bible teaches, or whether or not we seek the will of Christ, perhaps picking and choosing what we like in His Word, while ignoring or negating the other Words, then we are hypocrites.
It is sin to do our own will. Christ never pleased Himself, even unto death.
What Christ did....the will of the Father...are our marching orders too.
When we speak to people we are to speak always in terms of God's Will, in order to do this we must know His Words and be able to hear the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 4:11 "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Our mission as believers: To do the will of the Father and to speak as the oracles of God. When we do this there is immense joy, even through the trials.
When we are not seeking our own will, anyone can come against us and it does not change our steady spirit, nor does it remove our joy. In fact it strengthens our faith and gives us a deeper joy.
James 1:2 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,"
Matthew 12:50
""For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
Mr. Poonen gave an example of a child who was told to sit down by his father. The child had defiance in his heart but feared punishment, so he sat down, boldly proclaiming that he was sitting down on the outside but standing up on the inside.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
We may not be practicing lawlessness outwardly, but we may be practicing it inwardly by ignoring the will of God as presented in His Word.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how well we know the Bible or the knowledge we think we have, nor can we evaluate ourselves on how well we can explain our knowledge.
We must never evaluate ourselves by how successful we think we are, financially, through education, or how much influence we think we have over people.
True spirituality is to deny our own will and seek God's Will.
John 3:30 ""He must increase, but I must decrease."
Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."
We must do this daily.
Luke 9:23 "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
Rituals do not make us spiritual, they only make us think we are, pridefully "observing ceremonies" to feel a sense of obedience without a heart to obey in the authentic things. Often rituals replace authentic obedience.
It is frightening that far more people than we realize, who claim to be "Christians" are not born again.
Matthew 7:13-14 "13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
The Scripture verses in Matthew 7:21-23 are akin to verses 13-14. Most people who think they are saved have never been changed into a new creation by Christ.
Many are faithful church goers respected by multitudes, loved by everyone they meet.
Luke 6:26 ""Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."
Often those who desire to be elevated by others, look good to those around them, but there will be clues for the discerning person, even the prompting of the Holy Spirit that warns us that these people are not what they claim to be, they even believe they are spiritual and special, but they have little concern for the laying down of their own will. In fact these people fight against giving up their will.
When we are seeking God, we are focusing on Him rather than ourselves,we will be deeply committed to God's Will. No one can feel superior when they are submitting to Christ.
I once knew a man who was continually comparing his spirituality with others. He judged everything about people, believing he knew them, but in fact he never knew them, because his judgment was based on his own effort to be elevated, the judgment could not be accurate. He made statements such as; "my sins weren't as bad as those of others." It is hard for me to believe that one who would say such a thing, would be changed into a new creation by Christ. When we do not come to Christ in humility, we cannot be born again.
If we come to Christ in brokenness over our sin, then we come ashamed desiring to be made a new person by Christ. No one who believes their sins were not so bad, walking with Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:12 " 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."
Luke 9:23 "23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
When we are dead to ourselves, then we have no dilutions about ourselves being superior to others. We know where we came from, a lost soul who needed a Savior, and was gloriously saved by Christ when we trusted Him. Anyone who understands their own sinfulness and the great price Christ paid, could never feel elevated above others.
If we are to be holy, we must walk in the way Christ walked.
1 John 2:6 "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."
How did Christ walk?
John 6:38 ""For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
When we become born again, our mission is to walk as Christ walked, doing the will of the Father. The way to know the will of God is to read the instruction book...the Bible. Through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit and the reading of His Words to us, we can know the will of God.
If we claim to be believers and do not care what the Bible teaches, or whether or not we seek the will of Christ, perhaps picking and choosing what we like in His Word, while ignoring or negating the other Words, then we are hypocrites.
It is sin to do our own will. Christ never pleased Himself, even unto death.
What Christ did....the will of the Father...are our marching orders too.
When we speak to people we are to speak always in terms of God's Will, in order to do this we must know His Words and be able to hear the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 4:11 "Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Our mission as believers: To do the will of the Father and to speak as the oracles of God. When we do this there is immense joy, even through the trials.
When we are not seeking our own will, anyone can come against us and it does not change our steady spirit, nor does it remove our joy. In fact it strengthens our faith and gives us a deeper joy.
James 1:2 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,"
Monday, February 23, 2015
Pride was in the Heart of the Devil
"If you desire to be honored and admired by men, you have a spirit of anti-christ."
The Feathers are Gone, Now Get Them Back
I have seen this more times than I care to admit. There are many wounded people in the church because of gossipers, who neglect their Bible studies and prayer, creating a social club more like a high school clique than they are a gathering of believers desiring to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth!
If we do not speak up at an injustice or lie told about another person, then we leave the liar with the impression that we approve. It is also true of those who treat people disrespectfully, if no one speaks up then the sheeple in the room think we agree with the antics of those whose purpose is to malign and degrade someone.
Mocking is another form of lying. To mock someone is telling onlookers that this person is not worthy of our respect, dismissing them, pretending they are not there, is another way of demeaning a person.
When we do not defend the innocent, more concerned about being liked by the group, than we are about righteousness, we are as guilty as the perpetrator.
There is an old saying, "if you got caught up with a bad crowd, you are the bad crowd." No one with a righteous heart could stand by and allow disrespect, mocking and lies to continue without challenge.
I have actually seen someone tell a big lie in a group of people, no one spoke up and the liar later told his victim that everyone in the room agreed with him. I found out later that it was not true, but because those who knew it was a lie did not speak up, those who didn't know better, believed the liar. I did not believe the liar because anyone who would do this, just to elevate self, is lacking in character in the first place.
When we do not openly discipline a liar or the disrespectful, by telling the truth, then we are participating in the sin of lying and disrespect ourselves, by our silence.
The liar counts on others being too timid to contend with him, his tactics are many and varied but the goal is the same, to malign and degrade his target. By the time he gets through, the group disperses all go home, there is a question in the minds of all the people, even those who once liked the target, are now distancing themselves.
It is an interesting phenomena, when a lie is told, someone is maligned, the crowd is more interested in staying friends with the liar and the people who support him, than they are in defending the innocent. That is the culture we live in, we bend over backward to protect the people who sin, while throwing the innocent one under the bus. But this should not happen in our worship gatherings because of the love for the brethren that God said we should have.
1 Timothy 5:20 "Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear."
1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death."
Titus 1:13 "This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,"
When we are more concerned about maintaining the peace of the social club, then we cannot be concerned about the liar learning not to lie and we cannot be concerned about the heart of the victim.
Proverbs 19:9 "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish."
Proverbs 14:5 "A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies."
Proverbs 13:5 "The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace."
There are many passages that deal with this matter of a false witness and the damage they can do. It would be good to pray for fortitude to be able to handle things openly as they occur.
The excuse that God needs to speak to them, doesn't hold water, since God placed His Holy Spirit in us and we are to allow Him to speak through us using His Holy Word.
When we use the excuse, "just pray for them and remain silent" we are showing that we do not believe what God told us about being indwelt with the Holy Spirit and His work in our hearts, also using us to do His work in another believer's heart.
When we believe a lie about someone without going to them to find their side, then we have chosen to believe the lie, because we like it. If the lie is told in public, then it must be handled in public, so that all that heard the lie, will also hear the victims side.
The devil loves to intimidate people through fear of men, so that the damage can never be repaired.
I once heard a story to illustrate the damage lies can do if not "nipped in the bud." It is like taking a feather pillow to the top of a mountain on a windy day, slitting it open and letting the wind carry the feathers all over the mountain, now go and get back every feather.....it's impossible to retrieve all the feathers.
If we do not speak up at an injustice or lie told about another person, then we leave the liar with the impression that we approve. It is also true of those who treat people disrespectfully, if no one speaks up then the sheeple in the room think we agree with the antics of those whose purpose is to malign and degrade someone.
Mocking is another form of lying. To mock someone is telling onlookers that this person is not worthy of our respect, dismissing them, pretending they are not there, is another way of demeaning a person.
When we do not defend the innocent, more concerned about being liked by the group, than we are about righteousness, we are as guilty as the perpetrator.
There is an old saying, "if you got caught up with a bad crowd, you are the bad crowd." No one with a righteous heart could stand by and allow disrespect, mocking and lies to continue without challenge.
I have actually seen someone tell a big lie in a group of people, no one spoke up and the liar later told his victim that everyone in the room agreed with him. I found out later that it was not true, but because those who knew it was a lie did not speak up, those who didn't know better, believed the liar. I did not believe the liar because anyone who would do this, just to elevate self, is lacking in character in the first place.
When we do not openly discipline a liar or the disrespectful, by telling the truth, then we are participating in the sin of lying and disrespect ourselves, by our silence.
The liar counts on others being too timid to contend with him, his tactics are many and varied but the goal is the same, to malign and degrade his target. By the time he gets through, the group disperses all go home, there is a question in the minds of all the people, even those who once liked the target, are now distancing themselves.
It is an interesting phenomena, when a lie is told, someone is maligned, the crowd is more interested in staying friends with the liar and the people who support him, than they are in defending the innocent. That is the culture we live in, we bend over backward to protect the people who sin, while throwing the innocent one under the bus. But this should not happen in our worship gatherings because of the love for the brethren that God said we should have.
1 Timothy 5:20 "Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear."
1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death."
Titus 1:13 "This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith,"
When we are more concerned about maintaining the peace of the social club, then we cannot be concerned about the liar learning not to lie and we cannot be concerned about the heart of the victim.
Proverbs 19:9 "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish."
Proverbs 14:5 "A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies."
Proverbs 13:5 "The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace."
There are many passages that deal with this matter of a false witness and the damage they can do. It would be good to pray for fortitude to be able to handle things openly as they occur.
The excuse that God needs to speak to them, doesn't hold water, since God placed His Holy Spirit in us and we are to allow Him to speak through us using His Holy Word.
When we use the excuse, "just pray for them and remain silent" we are showing that we do not believe what God told us about being indwelt with the Holy Spirit and His work in our hearts, also using us to do His work in another believer's heart.
When we believe a lie about someone without going to them to find their side, then we have chosen to believe the lie, because we like it. If the lie is told in public, then it must be handled in public, so that all that heard the lie, will also hear the victims side.
The devil loves to intimidate people through fear of men, so that the damage can never be repaired.
I once heard a story to illustrate the damage lies can do if not "nipped in the bud." It is like taking a feather pillow to the top of a mountain on a windy day, slitting it open and letting the wind carry the feathers all over the mountain, now go and get back every feather.....it's impossible to retrieve all the feathers.
Lukewarmness is Hateful
The lukewarm are "indifferent", indifference is a form of hate. To say or act as though we don't care is hateful. IF we are hot we are on fire for God, enthusiastic, if we are cold, we are a refreshing drink of water given in a time of need. Lukewarmness has no enthusiasm for anything or anyone but self.
Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
Revelation 3:16 "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
The Times Are Hard, But Believers Have A Hope
For Those who have trusted Christ, may I encourage you in this time of increasing wickedness.
There are those who would call us mean, negative and uncaring because we post Scriptures that seem that way. But remember the most loving thing anyone can do for a lost and dying world is to warn them what is coming and give them an opportunity to trust Christ, so that they will not be counted with the wicked who perish.
Many and even most who hear the warnings will be angry at them, rather than believing them. They will hate and persecute those who are attempting to snatch them from the fires of hell through the preaching of the truth.
They will hate us for exposing sin, even though our motives are to help, not harm. Don't be discouraged by this, the world is getting worse, we are told this would happen in 2 Timothy 3. Members of our own families will be against us, even telling lies to turn others against us, will little or no truth to the allegations.
2 Timothy 3:1-9 "3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
Matthew 10:36 "and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD."
Matthew 5:11 ""Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."
Malachi 4:1-3
"4 “For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“That will leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
3 You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,”
Says the Lord of hosts."
2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers."
If you are the object of this kind of hatred, be blessed, you are in the company of the apostles and Christ Himself. It is very hard and discouraging if we focus on the reviling, but if we focus on Christ, we can experience great joy that we have placed God above everyone and everything, in the place of pre-eminence.
Hallelujah, it will be over soon, all this mess will be burned up, our bodies will be new and we have a glorious inheritance awaiting us at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
There are those who would call us mean, negative and uncaring because we post Scriptures that seem that way. But remember the most loving thing anyone can do for a lost and dying world is to warn them what is coming and give them an opportunity to trust Christ, so that they will not be counted with the wicked who perish.
Many and even most who hear the warnings will be angry at them, rather than believing them. They will hate and persecute those who are attempting to snatch them from the fires of hell through the preaching of the truth.
They will hate us for exposing sin, even though our motives are to help, not harm. Don't be discouraged by this, the world is getting worse, we are told this would happen in 2 Timothy 3. Members of our own families will be against us, even telling lies to turn others against us, will little or no truth to the allegations.
2 Timothy 3:1-9 "3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was."
Matthew 10:36 "and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD."
Matthew 5:11 ""Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me."
Malachi 4:1-3
"4 “For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“That will leave them neither root nor branch.
2 But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
3 You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,”
Says the Lord of hosts."
2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers."
If you are the object of this kind of hatred, be blessed, you are in the company of the apostles and Christ Himself. It is very hard and discouraging if we focus on the reviling, but if we focus on Christ, we can experience great joy that we have placed God above everyone and everything, in the place of pre-eminence.
Hallelujah, it will be over soon, all this mess will be burned up, our bodies will be new and we have a glorious inheritance awaiting us at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Contempt for Brothers and Sisters is a Sin
Contempt for one another is not acceptable in Christian relationships. While I don't approve of much of psychological teaching, this article is valuable in showing us what contempt looks like and what it creates.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Is Your Hair Sensitive?
The reason we have such hair sensitive people today who refuse to learn and refuse to be corrected is because they have all been raised on self esteem. No better way to ruin a culture than to make everyone hypersensitive to criticism, so they cannot learn and will start fights because of their pride.
1 Peter 5:6 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,"
1 Peter 5:6 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,"
Hell is no Joking Matter
My husband was at work one day and an old man came to our booth to visit with him.
The man began telling my husband all about his wicked exploits over the years. My husband was disgusted and asked the man where he thought he would go when he died to heave or hell.
The man said this: "heaven or hell it doesn't matter, I have friends in both places."
Then the man turned to my husband and asked him where my husband thought he was going, my husband's response was "well, hell of course, judging from your life and that you are not repentant over it."
The man became very angry and walked quickly away.
Now, why would he be angry if my husband thought he was going to hell, when he said he had friends in both places and it didn't matter where he went?
Obviously, he knew about hell and didn't really want to go there, but in rebellion, rather than repenting he just got mad.
The man began telling my husband all about his wicked exploits over the years. My husband was disgusted and asked the man where he thought he would go when he died to heave or hell.
The man said this: "heaven or hell it doesn't matter, I have friends in both places."
Then the man turned to my husband and asked him where my husband thought he was going, my husband's response was "well, hell of course, judging from your life and that you are not repentant over it."
The man became very angry and walked quickly away.
Now, why would he be angry if my husband thought he was going to hell, when he said he had friends in both places and it didn't matter where he went?
Obviously, he knew about hell and didn't really want to go there, but in rebellion, rather than repenting he just got mad.
Is Your Hair Sensitive?
The reason we have such hair sensitive people today who refuse to learn and refuse to be corrected is because they have all been raised on self esteem. No better way to ruin a culture than to make everyone hypersensitive to criticism, so they cannot learn and will start fights because of their pride.
1 Peter 5:6 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,"
Want to know if you still have pride, take note of your reaction the next time someone corrects you even harshly. If you are immediately defensive, then you still have pride.
A humble person hangs their head desiring to know if what the other person said was true.
A prideful person immediately reacts in anger assuming they did not deserve the rebuke.
Think about it!
1 Peter 5:6 "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,"
Want to know if you still have pride, take note of your reaction the next time someone corrects you even harshly. If you are immediately defensive, then you still have pride.
A humble person hangs their head desiring to know if what the other person said was true.
A prideful person immediately reacts in anger assuming they did not deserve the rebuke.
Think about it!
Popularity Will Ruin You
My husband and I were discussing the matter of popularity in school. Children and young adults seem to think that the more friends you have the better person you are. This thinking is based on appearance, hair, clothing, activities such as football, cheerleading and other involvements that are elevated in the eyes of the world.
This discussion came up because my husband had heard a newscast about a study that was done, showing what happens to school children and young adults, who have enjoyed popularity.
In the study they found that those who tended to be popular in school were less successful in life. They had a higher rate of divorce, were involved in more crime, took no interest in spiritual matters even being hostile toward such things, or any other activity that did not elevate them in some way.
The popular people tended to be satisfied with popularity, feeling no need to develop character or work hard at any job. They excelled in only one thing and that was knowing how to gain the approval of the world around them. They surrounded themselves with those who enjoyed fun, often bragging about how many people they knew. They spent a lot of time impressing people with cars, boats and material possessions, while neglecting character qualities.
I believe we are seeing these "popular people" on chats and phones more now than ever before. Not too much of value is said or exchanged on these mediums.
When popularity is our goal, it will be impossible to develop godly character. We are taught in God's word that the world will hate those who love Christ. We have to ask why they do, the answer is because Christ does not elevate man, but shows us our wickedness, humbles us and stips away all pride and self righteousness.
I believe the study because of my own experience in school. I was never one to have a lot of friends, but I seemed to always have one very special friend. When we moved from elementary school to high school, we were separated and I would develop a different friend, but always only one.
I noticed the popular people in high school spent a lot of time mocking those they thought were less than they, they drove their own cars paid for by their parents, always had wonderful clothes and went out drinking on the weekends. These people counted themselves superior to those of us who were "wall flowers."
I was not attracted to the popular people, I guess I didn't expect to be accepted by them so I stayed in my own niche. I was one that was angry when they mocked others and generally reached out to the ones they treated this way. I was a more fortunate one, they ignored me completely.
On my 40th high school reunion, I thought I would go to see if any of the popular people ever grew up. I expected everyone to be more mature, with stable families, after all we were from a country school and we had 40 years to mature. What I found was astonishing.
Most of the attendees were those who had been popular, many were divorced, some more than once, they still told dirty jokes, got drunk and ignored the unpopular people. I felt sorry for them, they were stuck in their high school pattern and now it was too late to come out of it.
When it came time to ask people how long they had been married, I was the longest married with the most children and grandchildren. They mocked it, while joking about how many divorces were in the group. Those who had been divorced many times got the claps, while the ones who remained married with stable families were ignored. For the first time in my life I realized that many people never grow up, never evaluate self and are satisfied with foolishness their entire lives. I remembered the scripture that says "come out from among them and be ye separate."
Without Christ, this is what it is like to be in the world, it was very sad. It was bad enough that most, if not all the people there were like this, but then they openly mocked righteousness while elevating wickedness.
Mark 13:13 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Matthew 5:11-12 "10"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Next time a young person complains that they are not popular, show them the devastating effects of popularity while pointing out the blessings of genuine friends, who are not fake and foolish.
This discussion came up because my husband had heard a newscast about a study that was done, showing what happens to school children and young adults, who have enjoyed popularity.
In the study they found that those who tended to be popular in school were less successful in life. They had a higher rate of divorce, were involved in more crime, took no interest in spiritual matters even being hostile toward such things, or any other activity that did not elevate them in some way.
The popular people tended to be satisfied with popularity, feeling no need to develop character or work hard at any job. They excelled in only one thing and that was knowing how to gain the approval of the world around them. They surrounded themselves with those who enjoyed fun, often bragging about how many people they knew. They spent a lot of time impressing people with cars, boats and material possessions, while neglecting character qualities.
I believe we are seeing these "popular people" on chats and phones more now than ever before. Not too much of value is said or exchanged on these mediums.
When popularity is our goal, it will be impossible to develop godly character. We are taught in God's word that the world will hate those who love Christ. We have to ask why they do, the answer is because Christ does not elevate man, but shows us our wickedness, humbles us and stips away all pride and self righteousness.
I believe the study because of my own experience in school. I was never one to have a lot of friends, but I seemed to always have one very special friend. When we moved from elementary school to high school, we were separated and I would develop a different friend, but always only one.
I noticed the popular people in high school spent a lot of time mocking those they thought were less than they, they drove their own cars paid for by their parents, always had wonderful clothes and went out drinking on the weekends. These people counted themselves superior to those of us who were "wall flowers."
I was not attracted to the popular people, I guess I didn't expect to be accepted by them so I stayed in my own niche. I was one that was angry when they mocked others and generally reached out to the ones they treated this way. I was a more fortunate one, they ignored me completely.
On my 40th high school reunion, I thought I would go to see if any of the popular people ever grew up. I expected everyone to be more mature, with stable families, after all we were from a country school and we had 40 years to mature. What I found was astonishing.
Most of the attendees were those who had been popular, many were divorced, some more than once, they still told dirty jokes, got drunk and ignored the unpopular people. I felt sorry for them, they were stuck in their high school pattern and now it was too late to come out of it.
When it came time to ask people how long they had been married, I was the longest married with the most children and grandchildren. They mocked it, while joking about how many divorces were in the group. Those who had been divorced many times got the claps, while the ones who remained married with stable families were ignored. For the first time in my life I realized that many people never grow up, never evaluate self and are satisfied with foolishness their entire lives. I remembered the scripture that says "come out from among them and be ye separate."
Without Christ, this is what it is like to be in the world, it was very sad. It was bad enough that most, if not all the people there were like this, but then they openly mocked righteousness while elevating wickedness.
Mark 13:13 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Matthew 5:11-12 "10"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Next time a young person complains that they are not popular, show them the devastating effects of popularity while pointing out the blessings of genuine friends, who are not fake and foolish.
God Knows Those Who Are His
Malachi 3:16-18
"16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZL6039Yms
"16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNZL6039Yms
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Face of a True Believer
One of the earmarks of a true believe is their obsession with saving the lost and speaking truth to fellow believers. Those who hate correction are rebellious and likely not saved.
A true believer will humbly accept correction, wanting to ask God if it is true, seeking the Word for instruction.
A true believer is never embarrassed about the mention of Christ in a crowd, in fact they love to hear it no matter who it comes from.
A true believer will humbly accept correction, wanting to ask God if it is true, seeking the Word for instruction.
A true believer is never embarrassed about the mention of Christ in a crowd, in fact they love to hear it no matter who it comes from.
A Form of Godliness but Denying the Real Power
In these last days we are seeing antagonism on the part of superficial believers who place their trust in the physical world, while neglecting the inner spirit.
They go through the rituals of their culture, hoping to appear more spiritual while neglecting to focus on the need for a deeper walk, all is about appearance, superiority and control over others, rather than submission to Christ in their heart.
I am seeing a greater polarization between the sheep and the goats and between those who desire a deeper walk and those who live in the plain of superficiality.
When asked to go and pray about a matter, the superficial Christian, suddenly have nothing to say and will not commit to pray.
I believe the Lord is showing me what I have known for some time but is much more dramatic now than ever before, and that is that most who claim to be believers are not born again. They lack two things, compassion for the lost and empathy and love for fellow believers.
A good test is to challenge someone to greater holiness, leaving Scripture in context to prove a point and to discuss a matter fully before making judgments. Most "Christians" now do not want to discuss anything in depth, they want quick answers, manipulation and easy judgment, not based on truth but on feelings.
Sometimes it seems impossible to resolve most things, because of the continual stonewalling and animosity that emerges when we try. No one will listen long enough to fully understand a matter, only long enough to decide what to be mad at.
I have no solution to this problem except to move on to others who might be interested in digging deeply into the Word for understanding and who are willing to pray over a matter for God's guidance.
I have been saddened by those I desired a relationship with, but know it is impossible and my only recourse is to move on. Most people will not listen, nor love anyone enough to resolve anything.
When God is not the center of the relationship, humility driving a prayer life and desire to learn truth, then we can not have a relationship, without that, there can not be closeness.
Be encouraged by all this mess, God said it would happen in these last days of apostasy, we can expect it and know that everyone else who loves the Lord is going through the same thing.
Notice too that the apostate age will produce people who "have a form of godliness", they are in the church, but they are not born again.
2 Timothy 3:1-15
"3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
They go through the rituals of their culture, hoping to appear more spiritual while neglecting to focus on the need for a deeper walk, all is about appearance, superiority and control over others, rather than submission to Christ in their heart.
I am seeing a greater polarization between the sheep and the goats and between those who desire a deeper walk and those who live in the plain of superficiality.
When asked to go and pray about a matter, the superficial Christian, suddenly have nothing to say and will not commit to pray.
I believe the Lord is showing me what I have known for some time but is much more dramatic now than ever before, and that is that most who claim to be believers are not born again. They lack two things, compassion for the lost and empathy and love for fellow believers.
A good test is to challenge someone to greater holiness, leaving Scripture in context to prove a point and to discuss a matter fully before making judgments. Most "Christians" now do not want to discuss anything in depth, they want quick answers, manipulation and easy judgment, not based on truth but on feelings.
Sometimes it seems impossible to resolve most things, because of the continual stonewalling and animosity that emerges when we try. No one will listen long enough to fully understand a matter, only long enough to decide what to be mad at.
I have no solution to this problem except to move on to others who might be interested in digging deeply into the Word for understanding and who are willing to pray over a matter for God's guidance.
I have been saddened by those I desired a relationship with, but know it is impossible and my only recourse is to move on. Most people will not listen, nor love anyone enough to resolve anything.
When God is not the center of the relationship, humility driving a prayer life and desire to learn truth, then we can not have a relationship, without that, there can not be closeness.
Be encouraged by all this mess, God said it would happen in these last days of apostasy, we can expect it and know that everyone else who loves the Lord is going through the same thing.
Notice too that the apostate age will produce people who "have a form of godliness", they are in the church, but they are not born again.
2 Timothy 3:1-15
"3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.
10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Hell is for Real
In hell, those who go there will not be partying with their friends, as many rebellious people would say in jest. Those who go to hell will be all alone in the dark burning forever.
Revelation 21:5-8
"5 The one who sat on the throne[f] said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me, “They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.
7 The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.
8 But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
In chapter 21, in the later verses we can see the wonderful blessing that believers who have trusted Christ will enjoy when this life is over and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem is our home.
Revelation 21:5-8
"5 The one who sat on the throne[f] said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me, “They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.
7 The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.
8 But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
In chapter 21, in the later verses we can see the wonderful blessing that believers who have trusted Christ will enjoy when this life is over and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem is our home.
A True Gift Brings Glory To God
Thank you notes are very important, at least a call to show gratefulness, when we receive a gift from someone.
Whenever I receive a gift, I say thank you. However, when the person giving it tells me where to put it in my house, or whether or not you can paint it when you tire of the color, then the gift is not really yours, it belongs to the giver, they want to hold onto it, have power over you through it, making the gift not really a gift at all.
This has happened to me more than once. One time I was given a chair for my house. I am a decorator of sorts, constantly coordinating things, fixing up, recovering and painting. This person who gave me the gift, knew this about me, her instruction to me was that I couldn't do anything to change the chair.
The chair was a nice style but the fabric was ugly, worn and dirty. I like to improve things, this person also knew that about me, which is why she felt a need to instruct me as to my actions with the chair.
I politely declined the chair because often I forget things and might change the chair forgetting about the agreement. So I thanked the woman for the offer, but told her that I didn't want to accidently hurt her by doing something when I had forgotten.
She then offered the chair with no strings, I took it, changed it and she gossiped that I had changed it. UGH!!!!! From that time on, I do not take gifts with conditions attached. I wondered if she did that to have a way of discrediting me to others. It also led to a distrust for her and a distant relationship. To give a gift with conditions and expectations is a way of lending it, never letting go, but retaining ownership over it, then it is not a gift at all but rather a burden. Gossiping about the "misuse" of the gift is a way of taking that gift back.
When we give a gift we should forget about it, care not one wit what happens to it after that. If we have truly given then we have no strings or expectations for the use of it. We can even praise the person for the new change if they change what we gave them because we are happy that they used it the way that pleased them.
Why do we hang onto a gift we give to someone else, as though it were more akin to lending, than it is really giving? I suspect that one who does this is not giving to please the person who receives the gift, but to please themselves, feeling a sense of pride over having given the gift, more than desiring pleasure for the receiver.
Christ never "lent" our salvation to us with the expectation that if we mess up or displease Him, He will come and get His gift back. His gift is immediate upon our desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. He already knows we do not have the ability in our flesh to be anything good, so He sends His Son to live in us as our righteousness.
Christ gave us a gift that required the shedding of His blood, he cared so deeply about us that He was willing to give the most precious thing He could give and that was His life.
He alone gets the glory, He does the work and we are the joyful recipients of this marvelous gift. He changes us through sanctification throughout our lives, while caring deeply about us.
Unlike the burdensome offer of a gift with strings, that we cannot completely adhere to, Christ offers a permanent gift, a gift that required His very life for which to pay the price. He gets the glory because He is God, creator and deserves all praise and glory.
And, He never takes back His gift!
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"
Romans 11:29 "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
Whenever I receive a gift, I say thank you. However, when the person giving it tells me where to put it in my house, or whether or not you can paint it when you tire of the color, then the gift is not really yours, it belongs to the giver, they want to hold onto it, have power over you through it, making the gift not really a gift at all.
This has happened to me more than once. One time I was given a chair for my house. I am a decorator of sorts, constantly coordinating things, fixing up, recovering and painting. This person who gave me the gift, knew this about me, her instruction to me was that I couldn't do anything to change the chair.
The chair was a nice style but the fabric was ugly, worn and dirty. I like to improve things, this person also knew that about me, which is why she felt a need to instruct me as to my actions with the chair.
I politely declined the chair because often I forget things and might change the chair forgetting about the agreement. So I thanked the woman for the offer, but told her that I didn't want to accidently hurt her by doing something when I had forgotten.
She then offered the chair with no strings, I took it, changed it and she gossiped that I had changed it. UGH!!!!! From that time on, I do not take gifts with conditions attached. I wondered if she did that to have a way of discrediting me to others. It also led to a distrust for her and a distant relationship. To give a gift with conditions and expectations is a way of lending it, never letting go, but retaining ownership over it, then it is not a gift at all but rather a burden. Gossiping about the "misuse" of the gift is a way of taking that gift back.
When we give a gift we should forget about it, care not one wit what happens to it after that. If we have truly given then we have no strings or expectations for the use of it. We can even praise the person for the new change if they change what we gave them because we are happy that they used it the way that pleased them.
Why do we hang onto a gift we give to someone else, as though it were more akin to lending, than it is really giving? I suspect that one who does this is not giving to please the person who receives the gift, but to please themselves, feeling a sense of pride over having given the gift, more than desiring pleasure for the receiver.
Christ never "lent" our salvation to us with the expectation that if we mess up or displease Him, He will come and get His gift back. His gift is immediate upon our desire to be changed into a new creation by Him. He already knows we do not have the ability in our flesh to be anything good, so He sends His Son to live in us as our righteousness.
Christ gave us a gift that required the shedding of His blood, he cared so deeply about us that He was willing to give the most precious thing He could give and that was His life.
He alone gets the glory, He does the work and we are the joyful recipients of this marvelous gift. He changes us through sanctification throughout our lives, while caring deeply about us.
Unlike the burdensome offer of a gift with strings, that we cannot completely adhere to, Christ offers a permanent gift, a gift that required His very life for which to pay the price. He gets the glory because He is God, creator and deserves all praise and glory.
And, He never takes back His gift!
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;"
Romans 11:29 "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
If You Tattled You Sinned
Something I have been dealing with my entire life, I am sure many others deal with it too. The desire to clear things up rationally with gossips has been lifelong, however, there is a sense of impossibility about it. People love to gossip and they love to believe gossip.
There has been some confusion about what "gossip" is. I am quite sure it is not gossip to tell friends what has personally happened to us, nor is it gossip to warn others about a person who has proven to be a danger to us and others.
There is a form of gossip that has destroyed many relationships while leaving innocent people devastated, that is rushing to tell someone what others have said about them.
We should never tell someone what someone else said about them, it is damaging to relationships and at best innaccurrate.
Second hand information is almost always distorted and embellished with lies. Those who believe the information that is not only second hand, but most likely embellished are engaging in gossip by the hearing of it.
Sadly I have known destroyed relationships because of what someone else told them, what someone said about them, when the information wasn't even accurrate.
Comments made innocently can be embellished to such a degree that very little truth is left in the telling. Usually information is passed on with the attitudes of those gossiping, not the way in which the comments were offered. Those who do this are acting like "tattle tales" while spinning the information in a way that causes anger in the hearer. There can be no other reason for "tattling" on others, except to gain the approval of the hearer.
The heartbreaking thing is that many people choose to believe the embellished version without ever speaking to the one who has been accused of saying something about them.
What is the solution to this problem of gossip to alert others of what is being said about them, is quite simply this; when someone comes to tell you something someone else said about you, politely decline to hear it.
I have to question the heart of someone who wants to hurt others by passing on words that were supposedly said about them. There is an underlying motive to cause division and anger, even hate in those they tell.
The motive is likely, to gain the allegiance and maintain the front position of the friendship. If the gossip can get you to "appreciate" them telling you and turn your anger toward the one who said something about you, then they have managed to break up a friendship and appear to be the only one you can trust.
This is narcissism at its worst, tale bearing is to inform others of what is being said about them, to gain the advantage as though they are your friend. A true friend never wants to hurt another friends by sharing information that they know will only cause hurt and anger.....and they do know it when they do it.
Sharing information like this solidifies the heart, leaving no possibility for learning truth and resolving a matter.
I am always saddened when someone believes something untrue about me, but will not come to me to clear things up. Choosing to believe the lies makes me question the friendship, it could not have been based on true friendship or they would have chosen not to believe it in the first place.
It is always good to remember to evaluate the motive of those who would come to tell us something, they know will hurt us.
Many things are shared in private with friends, that we don't want anyone else to hear, many things are shared in the heat of emotion with those we believe we can trust. For a friend to pass them on, without concern for where it may lead, is no friend at all.
Choose your friends carefully, a gossip will spin what you say to mean what they want it to mean rather than in the spirit in which it was offered. Those who listen to gossip without clarifying truth, are themselves gossips.
It has been my experience that the more bent against you someone is, the most likely they are to believe what is not true. The only things we can do is to withdraw from those people, they cannot be trusted and they will never love you.
Then pray for their soul. A man or woman of God, chooses to believe the best, unless something is proven.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
Proverbs 20:19 "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
Proverbs 18:8 "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."
Psalm 34:13 "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit."
Psalm 101:5 "Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure."
Titus 3:2 "To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people."
Proverbs 26:20 "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
Proverbs 17:4 "An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue."
Proverbs 11:13 "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered."
2 Timothy 2:16 "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,"
Proverbs 10:18 "The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool."
Romans 1:29 "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,"
Exodus 23:1 "“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness."
Proverbs 17:9 "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."
There has been some confusion about what "gossip" is. I am quite sure it is not gossip to tell friends what has personally happened to us, nor is it gossip to warn others about a person who has proven to be a danger to us and others.
There is a form of gossip that has destroyed many relationships while leaving innocent people devastated, that is rushing to tell someone what others have said about them.
We should never tell someone what someone else said about them, it is damaging to relationships and at best innaccurrate.
Second hand information is almost always distorted and embellished with lies. Those who believe the information that is not only second hand, but most likely embellished are engaging in gossip by the hearing of it.
Sadly I have known destroyed relationships because of what someone else told them, what someone said about them, when the information wasn't even accurrate.
Comments made innocently can be embellished to such a degree that very little truth is left in the telling. Usually information is passed on with the attitudes of those gossiping, not the way in which the comments were offered. Those who do this are acting like "tattle tales" while spinning the information in a way that causes anger in the hearer. There can be no other reason for "tattling" on others, except to gain the approval of the hearer.
The heartbreaking thing is that many people choose to believe the embellished version without ever speaking to the one who has been accused of saying something about them.
What is the solution to this problem of gossip to alert others of what is being said about them, is quite simply this; when someone comes to tell you something someone else said about you, politely decline to hear it.
I have to question the heart of someone who wants to hurt others by passing on words that were supposedly said about them. There is an underlying motive to cause division and anger, even hate in those they tell.
The motive is likely, to gain the allegiance and maintain the front position of the friendship. If the gossip can get you to "appreciate" them telling you and turn your anger toward the one who said something about you, then they have managed to break up a friendship and appear to be the only one you can trust.
This is narcissism at its worst, tale bearing is to inform others of what is being said about them, to gain the advantage as though they are your friend. A true friend never wants to hurt another friends by sharing information that they know will only cause hurt and anger.....and they do know it when they do it.
Sharing information like this solidifies the heart, leaving no possibility for learning truth and resolving a matter.
I am always saddened when someone believes something untrue about me, but will not come to me to clear things up. Choosing to believe the lies makes me question the friendship, it could not have been based on true friendship or they would have chosen not to believe it in the first place.
It is always good to remember to evaluate the motive of those who would come to tell us something, they know will hurt us.
Many things are shared in private with friends, that we don't want anyone else to hear, many things are shared in the heat of emotion with those we believe we can trust. For a friend to pass them on, without concern for where it may lead, is no friend at all.
Choose your friends carefully, a gossip will spin what you say to mean what they want it to mean rather than in the spirit in which it was offered. Those who listen to gossip without clarifying truth, are themselves gossips.
It has been my experience that the more bent against you someone is, the most likely they are to believe what is not true. The only things we can do is to withdraw from those people, they cannot be trusted and they will never love you.
Then pray for their soul. A man or woman of God, chooses to believe the best, unless something is proven.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
Proverbs 6:16-19 "There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers."
Proverbs 20:19 "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
Proverbs 18:8 "The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."
Psalm 34:13 "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit."
Psalm 101:5 "Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure."
Titus 3:2 "To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people."
Proverbs 26:20 "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
Proverbs 17:4 "An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue."
Proverbs 11:13 "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered."
2 Timothy 2:16 "But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,"
Proverbs 10:18 "The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool."
Romans 1:29 "They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,"
Exodus 23:1 "“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness."
Proverbs 17:9 "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."
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