Why do we have so many broken relationships, not only broken with God but also with people?
The answer is simple, coming in two parts. First and foremost is that we are not honestly desiring truth with all our hearts as a Christian culture, And, secondly we do not voice openly concerns and problems. There is far too much secrecy going on in the church gatherings, hiding is a sign of guilt often.
I have said in my more snarky times, "we need to learn to open the appendages on the front of our face called lips, and speak our concerns, speak truth and then apply what we speak or apply before we speak, so that we are believable.
The very least that anyone should be doing is praying, spending much time alone with God. When we do this, we cannot help but share openly what we learn, sharing concerns, sharing the wisdom God is showing us.
All those who are doing this, praying and seeking God, are finding one another, excited about all they are learning and experiencing, the evidence of what God is showing us.
I have never met a person who was deeply in the Word, asking for wisdom and living what they know, who did not gush forth with enthusiasm for Christ in a very public way.
James 1:5 "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."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Anyone who is angry at rebuke, angry at the suggestion that they are not obeying the Word, we can be sure we are speaking to someone who has a stubborn heart. Those who are seeking can't seem to get enough and take very seriously a correction.
2 Timothy 4:2 "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
Monday, December 28, 2015
Confession is Necessary for Cleansing
It is best to own our stuff and just say "I am sorry I was so unkind, please for give me." When someone goes this far, it is very likely they really mean it and probably will avoid repeating the offense.
When someone cannot do this, they most likely will repeat, because it was to easy to make it all go away without having to admit anything. Even AA encourages speaking it out as a means of deterrent for repeat offenses.
Luke 17:3 ""Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
Confession of sin is required for cleansing, it is less likely that someone will repeat sins they have openly confessed. Confession is truly a deterrent and help in repeat offenses of the same sins.
When someone cannot do this, they most likely will repeat, because it was to easy to make it all go away without having to admit anything. Even AA encourages speaking it out as a means of deterrent for repeat offenses.
Luke 17:3 ""Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
Confession of sin is required for cleansing, it is less likely that someone will repeat sins they have openly confessed. Confession is truly a deterrent and help in repeat offenses of the same sins.
Fitting In Brings Bondage
Don't attempt to fit in!
When we are able to think for ourselves, guided by the Holy Spirit it is virtually impossible to be manipulated by controllers, whose only objective is to mold you into their shape while using you as a puppet for their purposes.
Our culture has the tendency to mock and demean anyone who does not do what the crowd thinks is right, this is not only in the world but it is also in the churches.
The crowd is almost always wrong, it is based on personal gratification and acceptance, rather than truth, while thinking with only one mind rather than all the minds working together to find truth.
Don't let people shape you into their mold based on cultural fads. Let the Holy Spirit, the Potter, shape our clay into His image, He is perfect and knows exactly what is needed for each of us.
Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand."
Do you want to be a cultural puppet dancing to the tune of the crowd? Or would you rather be a free thinker, free to think with the mind of Christ the perfecter of our faith?
In the culture there is bondage to the ways of man, in Christ there is freedom to pursue truth and wisdom.
Hebrews 12:2 "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
When we are able to think for ourselves, guided by the Holy Spirit it is virtually impossible to be manipulated by controllers, whose only objective is to mold you into their shape while using you as a puppet for their purposes.
Our culture has the tendency to mock and demean anyone who does not do what the crowd thinks is right, this is not only in the world but it is also in the churches.
The crowd is almost always wrong, it is based on personal gratification and acceptance, rather than truth, while thinking with only one mind rather than all the minds working together to find truth.
Don't let people shape you into their mold based on cultural fads. Let the Holy Spirit, the Potter, shape our clay into His image, He is perfect and knows exactly what is needed for each of us.
Isaiah 64:8 "But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand."
Do you want to be a cultural puppet dancing to the tune of the crowd? Or would you rather be a free thinker, free to think with the mind of Christ the perfecter of our faith?
In the culture there is bondage to the ways of man, in Christ there is freedom to pursue truth and wisdom.
Hebrews 12:2 "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
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