Because of our liberal environment on earth we are being told now that it is murder to kill animals. This thinking comes out of evolution, that we are nothing more than animals and if we kill another of our own kind it is murder whether it be man or beast.
This is silly, God clearly says that a wise man takes good care of his animals. However He also tells us that the beasts are for us to eat.
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel."
It is foolish and wasteful to kill animals simply for sport or trophies, but it is not murder.
Genesis 9:3
"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything."
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Sin is Sin No Matter What Form It Takes
There are so many who are enraged at the sin of homosexuality and transgender, who are divorced and remarried, thinking they are different.
All of it is sexual sin and rebellion. Every divorced and remarried couple should, at the very least, be asking God, but instead they fight and surround themselves with others who validate their sin.
Those of us who have sought God and taken a stand are the ones who are pummeled continually and abandoned because we believe Christ. This is a sign of our end times condition, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 speaks about it clearly.
2 Timothy "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
All of it is sexual sin and rebellion. Every divorced and remarried couple should, at the very least, be asking God, but instead they fight and surround themselves with others who validate their sin.
Those of us who have sought God and taken a stand are the ones who are pummeled continually and abandoned because we believe Christ. This is a sign of our end times condition, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 speaks about it clearly.
2 Timothy "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
The Police Understand!
Watch the video on the link below and be encouraged!
Something similar happened to me. I slapped my son for smart mouthing me and he threatened to call the police. I dialed the phone for him and my son refused to talk so I hung up the phone.
The police had my number before there was caller idea for everyone else, she asked me what the problem was, I told her that I slapped my son and he threatened to tell the police on me.
The officer on the other end told me to tell my son that if he wanted to tell on me, he needed to make a complaint and they would come and take him away to JDH for his rebellion. She said to tell him that "your mother has a right to discipline her son and that she was right in doing it." I was blessed that the police had my back.
The police are out there every day, they see the results of undisciplined children that commit crimes. They know that discipline helps to train children to be better citizens. Thank God for police officers who will back up a parent who wants to do the right thing.
Something similar happened to me. I slapped my son for smart mouthing me and he threatened to call the police. I dialed the phone for him and my son refused to talk so I hung up the phone.
The police had my number before there was caller idea for everyone else, she asked me what the problem was, I told her that I slapped my son and he threatened to tell the police on me.
The officer on the other end told me to tell my son that if he wanted to tell on me, he needed to make a complaint and they would come and take him away to JDH for his rebellion. She said to tell him that "your mother has a right to discipline her son and that she was right in doing it." I was blessed that the police had my back.
The police are out there every day, they see the results of undisciplined children that commit crimes. They know that discipline helps to train children to be better citizens. Thank God for police officers who will back up a parent who wants to do the right thing.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Pray and See the Clues
Young people, before you marry, pray and educate yourself on the signs of narcissism. Someone does not change into something after marriage that they were not before marriage.
There are signs that we can see if we know what to look for, in someone who might be abusive or arrogant.
In every case where there is an abusive spouse, the clues were there all along before one made those marriage vows. The problem is that so many young people refuse to believe those who know the signs, excusing away the clues they see, only to have the traits of their narcissist emerging more boldly after the wedding.
Through prayer, direction from the Holy Spirit and equipped with the knowledge of the tactics and traits of a narcissist, a woman can avoid committing to a man who will probably abuse her, whether it is physically or emotionally.
Yes, women can be abusive too, but in my generation more often it was the man who was the abuser. It could be that this has changed because of the feminist movement where women feel empowered to be more aggressive.
For those who are believers, expect a potential spouse to be on their best behavior, willing to hide the real self to win you. If they are the one suggesting Bible study and prayer together, wonderful. However, if you are the one having to always suggest these important things in which them men should be leading, then run like the wind. A man who will leave all the work of guiding and studying to the woman will not lead and protect his family, in anything.
Sadly, many young women over the years would not listen and remain stuck with a man who shows little or no interest in her outside the bedroom. Or, even worse these women end up divorced with children who are angry at the whole mess, forever doomed to a life without support of a man or even their community. Don't make this mistake, thinking that "love is all you need." That little ditty, spawned by a popular rock group in the '60's is a lie.
The love these songs portray is not love but infatuation that is temporary at best, based alone on personal pleasure and happy times. When the tough stuff comes, the people who were dedicated to their feelings of infatuation, suddenly disappear, divorcing, in search of another high, never able to love the way Christ told us to love.
Most people in our children's generation marry for their own pleasure, when that pleasure diminishes and the hard work of marriage and children arise, they become unglued. Having been pampered and babied all their lives to believe they are special and deserving of anything they desire, they bolt as soon as the going gets tough. We know this because of the present divorce rate, and sadly it is in the church too.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 [a]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Our culture looks to the heroes out there hoping to hitch themselves to the wagon of the hero. Perhaps we should look to the heroes who stuck out their marriages for many years no matter what. These are the people that we can learn from, not those who have failed marriages, thinking we can use the excuses they used to get rid of the old to get some new adulation.
We don't have to marry those who would abuse us, we can seek God, wait on Him and learn what a godly person looks like from the inside out.
There are signs that we can see if we know what to look for, in someone who might be abusive or arrogant.
In every case where there is an abusive spouse, the clues were there all along before one made those marriage vows. The problem is that so many young people refuse to believe those who know the signs, excusing away the clues they see, only to have the traits of their narcissist emerging more boldly after the wedding.
Through prayer, direction from the Holy Spirit and equipped with the knowledge of the tactics and traits of a narcissist, a woman can avoid committing to a man who will probably abuse her, whether it is physically or emotionally.
Yes, women can be abusive too, but in my generation more often it was the man who was the abuser. It could be that this has changed because of the feminist movement where women feel empowered to be more aggressive.
For those who are believers, expect a potential spouse to be on their best behavior, willing to hide the real self to win you. If they are the one suggesting Bible study and prayer together, wonderful. However, if you are the one having to always suggest these important things in which them men should be leading, then run like the wind. A man who will leave all the work of guiding and studying to the woman will not lead and protect his family, in anything.
Sadly, many young women over the years would not listen and remain stuck with a man who shows little or no interest in her outside the bedroom. Or, even worse these women end up divorced with children who are angry at the whole mess, forever doomed to a life without support of a man or even their community. Don't make this mistake, thinking that "love is all you need." That little ditty, spawned by a popular rock group in the '60's is a lie.
The love these songs portray is not love but infatuation that is temporary at best, based alone on personal pleasure and happy times. When the tough stuff comes, the people who were dedicated to their feelings of infatuation, suddenly disappear, divorcing, in search of another high, never able to love the way Christ told us to love.
Most people in our children's generation marry for their own pleasure, when that pleasure diminishes and the hard work of marriage and children arise, they become unglued. Having been pampered and babied all their lives to believe they are special and deserving of anything they desire, they bolt as soon as the going gets tough. We know this because of the present divorce rate, and sadly it is in the church too.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 [a]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Our culture looks to the heroes out there hoping to hitch themselves to the wagon of the hero. Perhaps we should look to the heroes who stuck out their marriages for many years no matter what. These are the people that we can learn from, not those who have failed marriages, thinking we can use the excuses they used to get rid of the old to get some new adulation.
We don't have to marry those who would abuse us, we can seek God, wait on Him and learn what a godly person looks like from the inside out.
Christ the Anointing Oil
1 John 2:19-21 "…19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I have not written you because you lack knowledge of the truth, but because you have it, and because no lie comes from the truth.…"
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
"21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge."
Acts 2:17 "17‘- In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
1 John 2:27 "27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught."
James 5:14–15
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
We are not healed from illness just by pouring oil on us, it is Christ Who heals and the oil is a symbol of Him.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
"21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge."
Acts 2:17 "17‘- In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people; your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."
1 John 2:27 "27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught."
James 5:14–15
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
We are not healed from illness just by pouring oil on us, it is Christ Who heals and the oil is a symbol of Him.
They Abused Christ
There are many who believe it is alright to divorce someone because they are abusive. Leave to be safe, but divorce for abuse is not any where to be found in the Word.
So, a question, should Christ remove His offer of salvation to mankind because they were abusive to Him?
Romans 5:7-8 "a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
So, a question, should Christ remove His offer of salvation to mankind because they were abusive to Him?
Romans 5:7-8 "a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
They Ran Out Because They Never Trusted
The oil in the lamps of the virgins is the Holy Spirit. Those without oil were never born again they only thought they were. When things got tough and long they gave up because they didn't have the Holy Spirit to sustain them.
Those who had oil but not enough were those that tasted of the Holy Spirit, knew about Him but never trusted Him. If they had trusted Him they would have remained to wait for Him. They never would have run out.
Matthew 25:1-12
"1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’
12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Those who had oil but not enough were those that tasted of the Holy Spirit, knew about Him but never trusted Him. If they had trusted Him they would have remained to wait for Him. They never would have run out.
Matthew 25:1-12
"1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.
3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut.
11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’
12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour."
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Jesus Spoke to the Devil, Not Peter
Jesus didn’t speak to Peter he spoke to the devil who was using Peter’s mouth. Here is the evidence that the devil uses the mouths of others to destroy the work of God.
When we are in a battle, we don’t sit down, cry and feel bad for ourselves, we pick up our sword and do battle.
Our sword is the Bible, the Scriptures, the very Word, the Lord Jesus Christ is called the Word. We pray, we quote scripture, we hold our position and do battle.
When we allow the devil to bring us to a place of impotence because of his arrows, we are surrendering to the enemy. To allow others to silence the truth in us is to surrender to the enemy. To allow the devil to silence us, we miss opportunities to witness to those who might listen. Evil people will try to break down our excitement for the Lord, our tenacity that allows us to move through this world without fear. All of that is diminished when we listen to the enemy through those who have no defense from him.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “…3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.…”
When we allow the devil to debilitate us through his mean, covert and demeaning tactics, our focus is on self rather that Christ Who lives in us. Since our battle is not flesh and blood, then our weapon is not more cleaver arguments but rather it is the Word of God that is powerful.
Hebrews 4:11-13 “11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.…”
I have known many people focus on the hurt they feel, I was one of them rather than on Christ, they whimper off in defeat by allowing emotions to drive them, instead of using the Word of God, the Sword, picking up their battle weapon and engaging in the battle, they remain silent to avoid being hurt again. A soldier has no time for pampering his wounds, he must continue the battle until it is over.
I know that many of you have experienced what I have, that is to be mocked and intimidated into silence by a culture that has managed to call it rude to confront sin.
The enemy of our soul, the devil has won the battle when he is able to make us feel bad for doing good.
Isaiah 5:20 “20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight!…”
Our culture has removed all restraints concerning evil while placing a ball and chain on the ankles of the believer to prevent their “noise” of the gospel entering their ears. They hate to hear it, they become enraged and mean when it is spoken.
Isaiah 30:9-10
“…9 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD; 10 Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.”
These same people use flattery to entice people into accepting their sin, when flattery doesn’t work they demand that we shut our mouths, sadly many do just what they want, eliminating from our society the most needed element of a people and that is correction and instruction that comes from God through His Word.
Romans 16:18
“For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
2 Timothy 4:3
“For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.”
2 Timothy 4:4
“So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
This people that once consulted God to direct their path, now engage in cultic practices to determine their way. They spit in the face of the God Who gave them life and Who even died for them. They want no instruction from Him, their instruction comes from other devastating sources, such as psychology and what is falsely called science.
The prosperity preachers are massaging the egos of tens of thousands of people to keep their own wealth coming. The people eat it up like cotton candy, enjoying every morsel of tasty rotten fruit, disguised as sweet delights.
1 Samuel 9:9
“(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.)”
Isaiah 29:10
“For the LORD has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, the seers.”
Jeremiah 6:14
"They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace.”
The solutions of the masses today are superficial but not only that, they do not heal wounds of sin, they increase the wounds, causing greater harm, larger wounds and no cures because they don’t believe a cure is needed. What are sin actions are now called diseases requiring drugs to mask the problem rather than fix it.
Jeremiah 11:21
“Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, so that you will not die at our hand";
There will come a time and perhaps it is here now, that the people will be so stubborn that God will tell His people to stop bothering to speak to them, because of their stiff necks and hardened hearts.
Acts 7:50=52
“…50 Has not My hand made all these things?’ 51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—…”
If you are at the place with some people that you have given up, don’t be too hard on yourself, it may be the Holy Spirit that removes you from those people, taking from them the wisdom that they so desperately need but refuse to hear.
Jeremiah 11:14 “14"Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster."
If those who heard the prophets would want to kill them for speaking truth, we know that they would desire to do the same to us. In our country the prophets are not yet physically murdered, but they are murdered day after day in the hearts of the rebellious people. The contempt toward the truth is increasing, the hearts of the people are growing colder and the resistance to truth is at times, overwhelming.
There have been many times I have been spurned by Christians for suggesting that “self esteem” was a lie of the devil, or that divorce and remarriage is sin against God. These same people will be incensed that the homosexual agenda is being promoted, but they themselves live in serial adultery through remarriage. These people disobey more of the Word of God than they obey, but the delight in coming against the other sins that they don’t engage in, they have their pet sins they hate and their pet sins they enjoy.
I hear parents lamenting the fact that their children do not listen to them, but the parents will not seek God nor did they require obedience of their children as they were growing up. The parents didn’t require holiness and sensibleness in their home, indulging the children and then wonder why they have no interest in holiness for themselves. Can we see the hollowness, deception and hypocrisy in the culture as a whole.
Those parents that wished to do what was right, were spurned continually by the culture, unsaved spouses, public schools and even the church for their attempt to bring the children up in the way of the Lord.
One of the elements of a “Christanized” culture that thinks it is doing well by feeding the poor, donating to causes and attending a building they call a church, is their own pride over their deeds, even though they have little concern about pleasing God, they are deeply committed to appearing righteous without actually being so.
I see many short videos all the time of people who are doing good deeds, making sure they are seen on youtube while they do them. This is a violation of God’s Word to keep our good deeds secret, but many argue that it is to encourage others, my answer to that is flatly, NO, these actions are to glorify self. The Holy Spirit is the One Who instructs each one of us what to do, we need no other person to “encourage” us.
When we are walking with Christ in obedience, He will guide us in our actions, we need no praise for it from men.
John 12:42-43
“42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. “
So many people are focused on the work of the Holy Spirit, but have perverted His work. They love the wild manifestations of what they call miracles, but ignore His principles or add to them to give the sense of righteousness, that only feeds the ego but negates God.
Mark 7:13
“13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so” in many such matters.”
When we are in a battle, we don’t sit down, cry and feel bad for ourselves, we pick up our sword and do battle.
Our sword is the Bible, the Scriptures, the very Word, the Lord Jesus Christ is called the Word. We pray, we quote scripture, we hold our position and do battle.
When we allow the devil to bring us to a place of impotence because of his arrows, we are surrendering to the enemy. To allow others to silence the truth in us is to surrender to the enemy. To allow the devil to silence us, we miss opportunities to witness to those who might listen. Evil people will try to break down our excitement for the Lord, our tenacity that allows us to move through this world without fear. All of that is diminished when we listen to the enemy through those who have no defense from him.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “…3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.…”
When we allow the devil to debilitate us through his mean, covert and demeaning tactics, our focus is on self rather that Christ Who lives in us. Since our battle is not flesh and blood, then our weapon is not more cleaver arguments but rather it is the Word of God that is powerful.
Hebrews 4:11-13 “11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.…”
I have known many people focus on the hurt they feel, I was one of them rather than on Christ, they whimper off in defeat by allowing emotions to drive them, instead of using the Word of God, the Sword, picking up their battle weapon and engaging in the battle, they remain silent to avoid being hurt again. A soldier has no time for pampering his wounds, he must continue the battle until it is over.
I know that many of you have experienced what I have, that is to be mocked and intimidated into silence by a culture that has managed to call it rude to confront sin.
The enemy of our soul, the devil has won the battle when he is able to make us feel bad for doing good.
Isaiah 5:20 “20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight!…”
Our culture has removed all restraints concerning evil while placing a ball and chain on the ankles of the believer to prevent their “noise” of the gospel entering their ears. They hate to hear it, they become enraged and mean when it is spoken.
Isaiah 30:9-10
“…9 For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen To the instruction of the LORD; 10 Who say to the seers, "You must not see visions"; And to the prophets, "You must not prophesy to us what is right, Speak to us pleasant words, Prophesy illusions.”
These same people use flattery to entice people into accepting their sin, when flattery doesn’t work they demand that we shut our mouths, sadly many do just what they want, eliminating from our society the most needed element of a people and that is correction and instruction that comes from God through His Word.
Romans 16:18
“For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
2 Timothy 4:3
“For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.”
2 Timothy 4:4
“So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
This people that once consulted God to direct their path, now engage in cultic practices to determine their way. They spit in the face of the God Who gave them life and Who even died for them. They want no instruction from Him, their instruction comes from other devastating sources, such as psychology and what is falsely called science.
The prosperity preachers are massaging the egos of tens of thousands of people to keep their own wealth coming. The people eat it up like cotton candy, enjoying every morsel of tasty rotten fruit, disguised as sweet delights.
1 Samuel 9:9
“(Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for he who is called a prophet now was formerly called a seer.)”
Isaiah 29:10
“For the LORD has poured over you a spirit of deep sleep, He has shut your eyes, the prophets; And He has covered your heads, the seers.”
Jeremiah 6:14
"They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace.”
The solutions of the masses today are superficial but not only that, they do not heal wounds of sin, they increase the wounds, causing greater harm, larger wounds and no cures because they don’t believe a cure is needed. What are sin actions are now called diseases requiring drugs to mask the problem rather than fix it.
Jeremiah 11:21
“Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, so that you will not die at our hand";
There will come a time and perhaps it is here now, that the people will be so stubborn that God will tell His people to stop bothering to speak to them, because of their stiff necks and hardened hearts.
Acts 7:50=52
“…50 Has not My hand made all these things?’ 51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—…”
If you are at the place with some people that you have given up, don’t be too hard on yourself, it may be the Holy Spirit that removes you from those people, taking from them the wisdom that they so desperately need but refuse to hear.
Jeremiah 11:14 “14"Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster."
If those who heard the prophets would want to kill them for speaking truth, we know that they would desire to do the same to us. In our country the prophets are not yet physically murdered, but they are murdered day after day in the hearts of the rebellious people. The contempt toward the truth is increasing, the hearts of the people are growing colder and the resistance to truth is at times, overwhelming.
There have been many times I have been spurned by Christians for suggesting that “self esteem” was a lie of the devil, or that divorce and remarriage is sin against God. These same people will be incensed that the homosexual agenda is being promoted, but they themselves live in serial adultery through remarriage. These people disobey more of the Word of God than they obey, but the delight in coming against the other sins that they don’t engage in, they have their pet sins they hate and their pet sins they enjoy.
I hear parents lamenting the fact that their children do not listen to them, but the parents will not seek God nor did they require obedience of their children as they were growing up. The parents didn’t require holiness and sensibleness in their home, indulging the children and then wonder why they have no interest in holiness for themselves. Can we see the hollowness, deception and hypocrisy in the culture as a whole.
Those parents that wished to do what was right, were spurned continually by the culture, unsaved spouses, public schools and even the church for their attempt to bring the children up in the way of the Lord.
One of the elements of a “Christanized” culture that thinks it is doing well by feeding the poor, donating to causes and attending a building they call a church, is their own pride over their deeds, even though they have little concern about pleasing God, they are deeply committed to appearing righteous without actually being so.
I see many short videos all the time of people who are doing good deeds, making sure they are seen on youtube while they do them. This is a violation of God’s Word to keep our good deeds secret, but many argue that it is to encourage others, my answer to that is flatly, NO, these actions are to glorify self. The Holy Spirit is the One Who instructs each one of us what to do, we need no other person to “encourage” us.
When we are walking with Christ in obedience, He will guide us in our actions, we need no praise for it from men.
John 12:42-43
“42 Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. “
So many people are focused on the work of the Holy Spirit, but have perverted His work. They love the wild manifestations of what they call miracles, but ignore His principles or add to them to give the sense of righteousness, that only feeds the ego but negates God.
Mark 7:13
“13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so” in many such matters.”
Sunday, November 27, 2016
The Pretenders are Many
There are many who say they believe in Christ, but His name almost never falls from their lips, there is no fruit to speak of, they are living a superficial and mechanical Christianity based on their own desires to be elevated by others. The depth of conviction for Christ and self reflection is not there .
When we hear believers almost exclusively speaking about rules, miracles and blessings but not mentioning Christ Jesus, we should become concerned.
When we hear no confession of sin, but rather hostility at the suggestion that someone should reflect upon their own attitude or lifestyle, then we have very likely encountered a pretender.
A pretender is one who has all the right words, attends a local church, even lives a decent life, but becomes enraged at any correction or instruction. Their heart is so elevated, basking in their own goodness, that they are unhinged that someone might think they need God to work in them.
Romans 12:2-4 "…2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,…"
James 5:16 "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
When we hear believers almost exclusively speaking about rules, miracles and blessings but not mentioning Christ Jesus, we should become concerned.
When we hear no confession of sin, but rather hostility at the suggestion that someone should reflect upon their own attitude or lifestyle, then we have very likely encountered a pretender.
A pretender is one who has all the right words, attends a local church, even lives a decent life, but becomes enraged at any correction or instruction. Their heart is so elevated, basking in their own goodness, that they are unhinged that someone might think they need God to work in them.
Romans 12:2-4 "…2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,…"
James 5:16 "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
The Tongue and Covert Meanness are Cousins
The Tongue and Covert Meanness are Cousins
We must include the covert acts of meanness, that are not seen by most but felt by the victims. It isn't only the tongue that is the problem in many relationships, it is the hidden and covert contempt that chips away at the victims soul. They pretend to care, but deeply hate those they wish to destroy.
Proverbs 29:5-6 "5 A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps. 6 By transgression an evil man is ensnared, But the righteous sings and rejoices.…"
Psalm 21:23 "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."
James 3:2
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Proverbs 12:13
An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
Proverbs 13:3
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
We must include the covert acts of meanness, that are not seen by most but felt by the victims. It isn't only the tongue that is the problem in many relationships, it is the hidden and covert contempt that chips away at the victims soul. They pretend to care, but deeply hate those they wish to destroy.
Proverbs 29:5-6 "5 A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps. 6 By transgression an evil man is ensnared, But the righteous sings and rejoices.…"
Psalm 21:23 "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."
James 3:2
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
Psalm 141:3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Proverbs 12:13
An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
Proverbs 13:3
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Narcissist are their own Accusation
One elements of narcissism is that they accuse others of doing what the narcissist is doing but the others are not. Hillary chastised Trump for not proclaiming he would accept the results of the election, then when she loses she does not accept the results of the election.
If a narcissist calls you a liar, they are revealing that they have lied or are about to lie to you. If a narcissist says you are man spirited, they are describing themselves. It's called in psychological terms, "projection." They think you are doing what they do because they do it.
If a narcissist calls you a liar, they are revealing that they have lied or are about to lie to you. If a narcissist says you are man spirited, they are describing themselves. It's called in psychological terms, "projection." They think you are doing what they do because they do it.
Healing Our Wounds From A Sinful Heart
When Christ died on the cross, He came to heal our wounds, not the physical wound, although He also does that at times. But the wounds He healed were the stain of sin, that no longer has to dominate us when we have trusted Christ, that His blood covers our sinfulness and places in us a new heart that loves Him.
Accepting God's Will
I do not rejoice nor do I grieve over someone who goes into hell, because I fully accept God's will.
My hope is that many will become born again, but once they have made their choice and God has executed His decree, I walk away and leave it to God.
My hope is that many will become born again, but once they have made their choice and God has executed His decree, I walk away and leave it to God.
Words Are Spitting in the Wind Without Evidence
We live in a culture that seems satisfied with merely words, nothing has to change or happen, as long as they say the words. To say the words without any intent to do what is said, is called "lying."
Purpose of God are Different from Ours
Our elections prove this point, that "the deception will be so great that even the elect will be fooled."
"T" was elected because the American people wanted their borders, lower taxes and the freedom to do as they please without challenge. I heard no push to repent, stopping of sin, turning to Christ or any other concept that had to do with righteousness. The American people remain selfish, entitled, grandiose and willful. They have placed their trust in empty words and an empty man, they have viewed to be their rescuer, refusing to see what he is and the life he has consistently lived. This man they have idolized is already backing up on some of his promises, in my estimation because he never intended to keep them in the first place.
I have seen this up close and personal, sociopaths and narcissists are in the habit of living in a fantasy world, thinking they can say anything, as long as it pleases people it doesn't have to actually be true or it doesn't have to happen, as long as the "words" are spoken. Once again the American people moved upon the hype they were fed without discernment.
I now have a much better idea of just what the deception of the anti-christ will look like, the eyes of many will see only what they want to see, not what is real and not what can be discerned from a little prayer and the clues. The clues were and are there, but many refuse to see them, or explain them away by their excuses.
Was the other candidate worse? Maybe, but I don't think so, both who won the nomination of their parties are of the very same stripe, sociopathic narcissists, one knew how better to work the people, the other was so grandiose in her own mind that she really believed that everyone loved her and would think as she does.
"T" having been more involved in the matter of wheeling and dealing with people understood the need to pretend he wanted what the majority of people wanted, he was very good at it. After all, don't we watch television shows and actually cry over sad scenes because our emotions make us think what we see is really happening? Yes, once again America has been duped, manipulated and lied to.
I voted for the one who "said" the right things, knowing what I was doing, simply because I saw no choice and that perhaps I was wrong, I left room for doubt, but in my Spirit I was deeply troubled by this person who promised so many things, that frankly I didn't even care about.
My concerns have to do with the spiritual bankruptcy of this nation. For me this is all that matters, if this nation has to fall apart in order for the people to see their need for Christ, then I am all for that.
Make no mistake, God ordained whoever is in office, He motivated the people to vote for this man in order for God's purposes to go forward. Sadly, the people who voted for him do not see God's purposes, they are still trusting in having a great nation more than they are in pleasing Christ. I see no repentance on the part of anyone, I see only pride that they got what they wanted.
Many of the people who voted for "T" would become enraged if he proposed a ban on their immoral practices, or spoke boldly against their sinful behavior. I experience rage from believers all the time for correcting them in the mildest terms, imagine if I told them they were acting wickedly and need to repent.
Even the believer in our country say they are "Bible Believing", when in fact they obey very little of the Scriptures. When someone claims to be Bible believing, that should mean that we seek the Scriptures for our wisdom and the way in which we should live. Most people who claim to be believers today know little of the Word or know just enough to dangerously twist it to their own benefit, justifying their sinfulness, while negating Christs principles.
Our only hope as individuals in a nation that has gone bad on every level, is to confess our sinfulness before Christ, ask Him to change us into a new creation to become born again. Saving this nation for our own personal safety and pleasure should not be the goal of a born again believer.
Remember this, the church grows under persecution, under comfort and pleasure it becomes apostate.
"T" was elected because the American people wanted their borders, lower taxes and the freedom to do as they please without challenge. I heard no push to repent, stopping of sin, turning to Christ or any other concept that had to do with righteousness. The American people remain selfish, entitled, grandiose and willful. They have placed their trust in empty words and an empty man, they have viewed to be their rescuer, refusing to see what he is and the life he has consistently lived. This man they have idolized is already backing up on some of his promises, in my estimation because he never intended to keep them in the first place.
I have seen this up close and personal, sociopaths and narcissists are in the habit of living in a fantasy world, thinking they can say anything, as long as it pleases people it doesn't have to actually be true or it doesn't have to happen, as long as the "words" are spoken. Once again the American people moved upon the hype they were fed without discernment.
I now have a much better idea of just what the deception of the anti-christ will look like, the eyes of many will see only what they want to see, not what is real and not what can be discerned from a little prayer and the clues. The clues were and are there, but many refuse to see them, or explain them away by their excuses.
Was the other candidate worse? Maybe, but I don't think so, both who won the nomination of their parties are of the very same stripe, sociopathic narcissists, one knew how better to work the people, the other was so grandiose in her own mind that she really believed that everyone loved her and would think as she does.
"T" having been more involved in the matter of wheeling and dealing with people understood the need to pretend he wanted what the majority of people wanted, he was very good at it. After all, don't we watch television shows and actually cry over sad scenes because our emotions make us think what we see is really happening? Yes, once again America has been duped, manipulated and lied to.
I voted for the one who "said" the right things, knowing what I was doing, simply because I saw no choice and that perhaps I was wrong, I left room for doubt, but in my Spirit I was deeply troubled by this person who promised so many things, that frankly I didn't even care about.
My concerns have to do with the spiritual bankruptcy of this nation. For me this is all that matters, if this nation has to fall apart in order for the people to see their need for Christ, then I am all for that.
Make no mistake, God ordained whoever is in office, He motivated the people to vote for this man in order for God's purposes to go forward. Sadly, the people who voted for him do not see God's purposes, they are still trusting in having a great nation more than they are in pleasing Christ. I see no repentance on the part of anyone, I see only pride that they got what they wanted.
Many of the people who voted for "T" would become enraged if he proposed a ban on their immoral practices, or spoke boldly against their sinful behavior. I experience rage from believers all the time for correcting them in the mildest terms, imagine if I told them they were acting wickedly and need to repent.
Even the believer in our country say they are "Bible Believing", when in fact they obey very little of the Scriptures. When someone claims to be Bible believing, that should mean that we seek the Scriptures for our wisdom and the way in which we should live. Most people who claim to be believers today know little of the Word or know just enough to dangerously twist it to their own benefit, justifying their sinfulness, while negating Christs principles.
Our only hope as individuals in a nation that has gone bad on every level, is to confess our sinfulness before Christ, ask Him to change us into a new creation to become born again. Saving this nation for our own personal safety and pleasure should not be the goal of a born again believer.
Remember this, the church grows under persecution, under comfort and pleasure it becomes apostate.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
The Devil Uses the Narcissist
If we learn the tactics of the narcissist we will know the tactics of the devil. The narcissist is a pawn in the hands of the devil, helpless to be anything but what the evil one causes them to be. His tactics always use the greed and arrogance of the human heart as he manipulates them into monstrous attitudes and actions.
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV
Friday, November 25, 2016
Peace in the Lord
The devil is working hard to isolate family members who love the Lord, hoping to make them discouraged for lack of companionship, disabling their tenacity in sharing the truth.
I am all over bondage to anyone, I thank the Lord that I can let anyone go, if it means compromising my Christianity to keep them. When Christ was rejected, He didn't fight to convince, He simply walked away.
We are never alone when Christ lives in us! May those who have experienced this separation keep in mind that the devil thinks he is ruining believers through this isolation, when in fact he is only bringing peace and freedom from drama.
I am all over bondage to anyone, I thank the Lord that I can let anyone go, if it means compromising my Christianity to keep them. When Christ was rejected, He didn't fight to convince, He simply walked away.
We are never alone when Christ lives in us! May those who have experienced this separation keep in mind that the devil thinks he is ruining believers through this isolation, when in fact he is only bringing peace and freedom from drama.
God's Kind of Love
May the believers ask the Lord what His love is, our concept of love in this culture is not the love of the Bible, it is false emotional love that has little value for reconciling and maintaining relationships.
This worlds love is based on how others can make us feel or enhance our own life. God's love is far deeper than that and completely sacrificial. By sacrificial I mean a willingness to give up something we desire for the sake of another as well as being willing to be rejected to hold out for the greater good for ourselves and others.
Love is not always happy feelings, sometimes it is hard and lonely, until we can see how God is going to work, we must be committed to His principles of Love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all that you do be done in love.
Mark 12:29-31
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Colossians 3:14
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Corinthians 131:7
"1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
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.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Matthew 5:44-48
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Ephesians 4:2
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
1 John 3:18
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Romans 13:10
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 22:37
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
This worlds love is based on how others can make us feel or enhance our own life. God's love is far deeper than that and completely sacrificial. By sacrificial I mean a willingness to give up something we desire for the sake of another as well as being willing to be rejected to hold out for the greater good for ourselves and others.
Love is not always happy feelings, sometimes it is hard and lonely, until we can see how God is going to work, we must be committed to His principles of Love.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all that you do be done in love.
Mark 12:29-31
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Colossians 3:14
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Corinthians 131:7
"1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
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.
3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Matthew 5:44-48
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Ephesians 4:2
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
1 John 3:18
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Romans 12:9
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Romans 13:10
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Mark 12:31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Matthew 22:37
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Meet You Soon!
To all those brothers and sisters in Christ that I cannot see now, but one day will go up with me, Hallelujah!!!
A Life For A Life
We devalue a human life by not requiring the death penalty for one who has taken a life, making the life of the murderer more important than the life of the victim.
When we do not punish evil doers, we validate their evil and devalue their victims.
When we do not punish evil doers, we validate their evil and devalue their victims.
Don't Let Them!
Avoid those who would attempt to goad us into anger and conflict, they bring nothing to the relationship. These people want to cause us to do something fleshly in anger, to discredit Christ.
Romans 16:17-18 "17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.…"
Romans 16:17-18 "17 Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. 18 For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.…"
Indifference Cousin to Hate
Indifference is a cousin to hate! To be indifferent, uncaring and unconcerned, we are saying we don't care. It is hateful to be "careless."
How do we love our Brethren?
1 John 5:2-4 "…2 By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome, 4 because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.…"
How do we love our brethren? We do it by obeying Christ. If we obey Christ we will care deeply about the welfare of our brothers and sisters, more than we care about their response to us. We will be concerned with their walk with Christ.
Jude 1:22-23 "…22 And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others, show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh."
How do we love our brethren? We do it by obeying Christ. If we obey Christ we will care deeply about the welfare of our brothers and sisters, more than we care about their response to us. We will be concerned with their walk with Christ.
Jude 1:22-23 "…22 And indeed, have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; and to still others, show mercy tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh."
Warn A Catholic
Please listen to the very important message at the end.
There is no such thing as a born again "Catholic", who remains in the Catholic church. Participating in the paganism that is continual and rampant throughout the rituals of the Catholic church would only serve to annoy and frustrate a true born again believer, they could not stay to endure it.
Even if a Catholic doesn't know all the decrees of the hierarchy of that system, the Holy Spirit within them would continually stir in anguish about the Mass, and it's abominations.
If someone calls themselves a "born again Catholic" while remaining in the church is either in serious disobedience or never became born again. In most cases those who refuse to leave after declaring that they are a "born again Catholic", have never been born again, they merely adopted the language of the Evangelicals, the heart has not been changed, only the lingo.
Sadly, there are many Christians today who think that if a Catholic declares he is born again, then the Catholic church is nothing more than another Christian denomination.
This is the end times deception! The melding together of all religions into one, has been the goal of the Vatican. Those who believe a practicing Catholic can be born again and remain Catholic have been deceived, falling into the trap of the devil.
We need to be witnessing truth to the Catholic community and encouraging anyone who says they are born again to get out of that wicked system.
Please don't anyone come to me and try to convince me that they know of a Catholic who is a good person and uses all the right Evangelical verbiage, that this person is a born again believer. It ought to grieve us to see this, we ought to warn them that if they have been born again they must leave that evil system.
It has been the practice of the Catholic church to add to their church the elements of other religions to draw in those who have never been Catholic. Using language that sounds good while acting righteously, does not save anyone, it is merely a craftiness of the devil to mock and demean Christ.
If you know someone who claims to be a "born again Catholic", do not jump up and down with excitement, praising them up and down while calling them your brother. WARN THEM!
There is no such thing as a born again "Catholic", who remains in the Catholic church. Participating in the paganism that is continual and rampant throughout the rituals of the Catholic church would only serve to annoy and frustrate a true born again believer, they could not stay to endure it.
Even if a Catholic doesn't know all the decrees of the hierarchy of that system, the Holy Spirit within them would continually stir in anguish about the Mass, and it's abominations.
If someone calls themselves a "born again Catholic" while remaining in the church is either in serious disobedience or never became born again. In most cases those who refuse to leave after declaring that they are a "born again Catholic", have never been born again, they merely adopted the language of the Evangelicals, the heart has not been changed, only the lingo.
Sadly, there are many Christians today who think that if a Catholic declares he is born again, then the Catholic church is nothing more than another Christian denomination.
This is the end times deception! The melding together of all religions into one, has been the goal of the Vatican. Those who believe a practicing Catholic can be born again and remain Catholic have been deceived, falling into the trap of the devil.
We need to be witnessing truth to the Catholic community and encouraging anyone who says they are born again to get out of that wicked system.
Please don't anyone come to me and try to convince me that they know of a Catholic who is a good person and uses all the right Evangelical verbiage, that this person is a born again believer. It ought to grieve us to see this, we ought to warn them that if they have been born again they must leave that evil system.
It has been the practice of the Catholic church to add to their church the elements of other religions to draw in those who have never been Catholic. Using language that sounds good while acting righteously, does not save anyone, it is merely a craftiness of the devil to mock and demean Christ.
If you know someone who claims to be a "born again Catholic", do not jump up and down with excitement, praising them up and down while calling them your brother. WARN THEM!
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Learn Wisdom
Narcissists never negotiate or discuss, they merely demand, manipulate and intimidate!
Never allow them to control you, learn the ways to handle them, say no a lot and seek God for wisdom in dealing with them.
2 Timothy 3:5 "from such turn away."
Never allow them to control you, learn the ways to handle them, say no a lot and seek God for wisdom in dealing with them.
2 Timothy 3:5 "from such turn away."
Monday, November 21, 2016
Be Content to Love God!
Obey God!!! Do not allow yourself to miss what you cannot have. Remember Christ has us where we are for a reason, often it is to protect us.
Bless the Wicked and Devalue the Righteous
The reason I write a lot about leaving behind trouble makers and narcissists, is because our culture has falsely taught that we should never give up on anyone.
When we give up on someone, often that is when Christ begins His work on them.
Is it possible that God is saying; "when you are ready to quit trying to change someone, then I will take over and do the real work on them."?
We are an arrogant bunch, we think no one can learn without us. No one will understand without us. We are a stubborn and self-righteous people who are still attempting to play God, "do it ourselves", instead of gaining the peace that comes from backing off and leaving it to God.
We don't want to leave anything to anyone else, including God. We must do it our own way!!! And, what a mess we have made of things by teaching false concepts that only keep people in their sinful state, making them comfortable no matter what they do.
So!!! Stop attempting to play God, acting as though we know more than He does.
Too many people don't believe God, or they would obey His word. The reality is that very few Christians take God at His word, deeply committed to seeking His answers. They are filled with the hooey of psychology, committed to the "feel good" actions that have been proven to enhance sin, wink at evil while it all grows out of control. Even those who think they don't use psychology have Christianized it, so much so that it is a very clever deception.
Most believers can't wrap their minds around truth, they are too completely indoctrinated in man's methods, when God's principles are seen they interpret them in terms of this false system, remaining disobedient to the Word because of the deception of psychology.
In our attempt to be friendly to the wicked man we have managed to devalue the righteous man. The wicked are not won to Christ by this deception and the righteous man is negated by all.
Proverbs 21:2 "2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.…"
When we give up on someone, often that is when Christ begins His work on them.
Is it possible that God is saying; "when you are ready to quit trying to change someone, then I will take over and do the real work on them."?
We are an arrogant bunch, we think no one can learn without us. No one will understand without us. We are a stubborn and self-righteous people who are still attempting to play God, "do it ourselves", instead of gaining the peace that comes from backing off and leaving it to God.
We don't want to leave anything to anyone else, including God. We must do it our own way!!! And, what a mess we have made of things by teaching false concepts that only keep people in their sinful state, making them comfortable no matter what they do.
So!!! Stop attempting to play God, acting as though we know more than He does.
Too many people don't believe God, or they would obey His word. The reality is that very few Christians take God at His word, deeply committed to seeking His answers. They are filled with the hooey of psychology, committed to the "feel good" actions that have been proven to enhance sin, wink at evil while it all grows out of control. Even those who think they don't use psychology have Christianized it, so much so that it is a very clever deception.
Most believers can't wrap their minds around truth, they are too completely indoctrinated in man's methods, when God's principles are seen they interpret them in terms of this false system, remaining disobedient to the Word because of the deception of psychology.
In our attempt to be friendly to the wicked man we have managed to devalue the righteous man. The wicked are not won to Christ by this deception and the righteous man is negated by all.
Proverbs 21:2 "2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.…"
Obey Christ and Have Peace
You might become sad because someone whom you trusted and thought was your friend, suddenly turns on you, without provocation, or will not express why they are angry, then left you.
In an effort to remove you from their lives or to manipulate you into becoming what they thought you should be, you remain confused.
Even though you have been walking with the Lord and cannot figure out what there was to be angry about, you agonize over their loss, as though you lost something precious.
Let me remind you that often we have in our minds things that are not true, but more based on how we want to view matters, rather than how they are in reality.
When we lose people like this, it is good to remember that God is the One removing them. He knows the damage they do to us unjustly, even more He knows the future problems they could cause by their continual acts of hate. In cases like this, we need to let them go and trust Christ that He knows what He is doing.
Mean people view us as a problem, an irritant to be squashed or controlled. Unkind people judge often and badly, based on their own personal feelings rather than what is happening in truth.
Righteous people are more tolerant and will quickly dismiss a clue because of their desire to avoid falsely judging, realizing that they are not perfect and they want to do no harm. They realize they could be wrong so they let the little things pass, and that's good. When the little things become constant, regular and even escalate, the clues pile up and the events get worse, then we begin to understand what we are dealing with, God shows us what is going on, when this happens, we must obey Christ even if it means temporary loneliness.
Remember that the lonliness is short lived when we begin to experience the peace that comes from the absence of those who are mean spirited and bent on our devastation.
When someone sees you continually in a bad light as you walk with Christ, it is probably because there is a tormented and angry spirit within them. It is common for selfish people to judge badly because they are jealous or that we didn't do what they thought we should.
Those who judge badly with intent to demean, almost always refuse to talk about a matter. They want to believe their own judgment, so they quench any attempt to learn more in order to reconcile with the one they wish to hate.
Do not engage in an attempt to reconcile with someone like this. God to prayer making sure you are not at fault. If you are, ask forgiveness, if you are not, be blessed that you have a clear conscience and move on to better relationships.
Isaiah 26:10 ". 10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD."
Our walk with the Lord is stagnated and quenched by the continual presence of those who will not obey Christ while working to cause you to disobey Him too.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” "
Proverbs 4:13-15 "…13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.…"
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
When we realize who these people are and what God wants us to do about it, then we can move on with our lives in peace, knowing those who act badly, whether they say they are Christian or not, will not enhance our walk with Christ, rather will attempt to destroy what God is doing, God tells us to get away from them.
Remember what God says in 2 Timothy 3:5 "Avoid such men as these."
Life is much more peaceful and we are more contented when we obey Christ. If we cannot avoid trouble, then we can still maintain our peace through knowledge of what is going on and what God says to do about it.
In an effort to remove you from their lives or to manipulate you into becoming what they thought you should be, you remain confused.
Even though you have been walking with the Lord and cannot figure out what there was to be angry about, you agonize over their loss, as though you lost something precious.
Let me remind you that often we have in our minds things that are not true, but more based on how we want to view matters, rather than how they are in reality.
When we lose people like this, it is good to remember that God is the One removing them. He knows the damage they do to us unjustly, even more He knows the future problems they could cause by their continual acts of hate. In cases like this, we need to let them go and trust Christ that He knows what He is doing.
Mean people view us as a problem, an irritant to be squashed or controlled. Unkind people judge often and badly, based on their own personal feelings rather than what is happening in truth.
Righteous people are more tolerant and will quickly dismiss a clue because of their desire to avoid falsely judging, realizing that they are not perfect and they want to do no harm. They realize they could be wrong so they let the little things pass, and that's good. When the little things become constant, regular and even escalate, the clues pile up and the events get worse, then we begin to understand what we are dealing with, God shows us what is going on, when this happens, we must obey Christ even if it means temporary loneliness.
Remember that the lonliness is short lived when we begin to experience the peace that comes from the absence of those who are mean spirited and bent on our devastation.
When someone sees you continually in a bad light as you walk with Christ, it is probably because there is a tormented and angry spirit within them. It is common for selfish people to judge badly because they are jealous or that we didn't do what they thought we should.
Those who judge badly with intent to demean, almost always refuse to talk about a matter. They want to believe their own judgment, so they quench any attempt to learn more in order to reconcile with the one they wish to hate.
Do not engage in an attempt to reconcile with someone like this. God to prayer making sure you are not at fault. If you are, ask forgiveness, if you are not, be blessed that you have a clear conscience and move on to better relationships.
Isaiah 26:10 ". 10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD."
Our walk with the Lord is stagnated and quenched by the continual presence of those who will not obey Christ while working to cause you to disobey Him too.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” "
Proverbs 4:13-15 "…13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.…"
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
When we realize who these people are and what God wants us to do about it, then we can move on with our lives in peace, knowing those who act badly, whether they say they are Christian or not, will not enhance our walk with Christ, rather will attempt to destroy what God is doing, God tells us to get away from them.
Remember what God says in 2 Timothy 3:5 "Avoid such men as these."
Life is much more peaceful and we are more contented when we obey Christ. If we cannot avoid trouble, then we can still maintain our peace through knowledge of what is going on and what God says to do about it.
Pray to Ask if You are in the Faith
A comment I received on another post, was expressing the frustration with "Christians", they often act worse than non-Christians. Here was my answer to this comment;
There is a lot of corruption in the Catholic church for sure and in the denominations. However, true believers do not live a lifestyle of sin, they are convicted by the Holy Spirit if they do sin and eventually confess it to be cleansed. These verses were written to believer in Christ.
1 John 1:9-10 "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."
Believers do sin on occasion but they do not live a continual lifestyle of sin, ongoing and defensive of it. True believers are ashamed when they sin.
Also the Scripture tells us that many will think they are born again but in fact never were . They came to Christ to get things out of Him, rather than to be cleansed by Him.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
God says "you shall know them by their fruit."
Matthew 7:16-20
"16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
"17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is chopped down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
God also told us what the fruit was: It is the Holy Spirit, in which dwells all goodness and justice.
Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
When we have been forgiven and the blood of Jesus Christ covers our sin, then the Holy Spirit is sent to live in us and He is the essence of the fruit, He is given to us by God, He works in us to be what we should be, that is those who glorify the Father and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we place our trust in men, we have nothing but disappointment, when we place our trust in Christ we have the fruit and the hope of His return when He comes for us.
Keep in mind that most who claim to be Christian in our world, never trusted Him, they remain in their sin without hope until they stop trusting in themselves and begin to trust Christ.
There is a lot of corruption in the Catholic church for sure and in the denominations. However, true believers do not live a lifestyle of sin, they are convicted by the Holy Spirit if they do sin and eventually confess it to be cleansed. These verses were written to believer in Christ.
1 John 1:9-10 "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."
Believers do sin on occasion but they do not live a continual lifestyle of sin, ongoing and defensive of it. True believers are ashamed when they sin.
Also the Scripture tells us that many will think they are born again but in fact never were . They came to Christ to get things out of Him, rather than to be cleansed by Him.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
God says "you shall know them by their fruit."
Matthew 7:16-20
"16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
"17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is chopped down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
God also told us what the fruit was: It is the Holy Spirit, in which dwells all goodness and justice.
Galatians 5:22-23 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
When we have been forgiven and the blood of Jesus Christ covers our sin, then the Holy Spirit is sent to live in us and He is the essence of the fruit, He is given to us by God, He works in us to be what we should be, that is those who glorify the Father and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we place our trust in men, we have nothing but disappointment, when we place our trust in Christ we have the fruit and the hope of His return when He comes for us.
Keep in mind that most who claim to be Christian in our world, never trusted Him, they remain in their sin without hope until they stop trusting in themselves and begin to trust Christ.
Friday, November 18, 2016
Seeker Friendly a Deception
Have you heard of the "Seeker Friendly Church."
Let me give you some things to think about that God showed me when I was praying about the validity of this modern system of evangelism. The more I prayed about it the more the Lord opened my eyes to the concept of "Seeker Friendly" idea of reaching the lost.
Matthew 12:38-39 "38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."
There have always been people who are continually seeking God, ever learning but never finding Him. They come seeking a protector, and provider, or too appear righteous to others, not to a holy God they wish to change them, nor do they desire to obey Him. They are seeking but not finding.
2 Timothy 3:7-8 " 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.…"
These seekers are looking for evidence to validate their life, rather than to transform it.
Romans 12:1-3 "1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you."
Someone who wants to find God, will find Him, they don't need to be validated, they need to be shown their sinfulness that they might confess their sinfulness and be changed by Christ. The more we attempt to validate a sinner in their life to please them, the less likely they are to understand their need for repentance and salvation.
When we see so many people who claim to be "Christian" but have little or no interest in the things of God, perhaps often even fighting against the truth, these clues lead us to believe they have never met the Savior.
These people never take a stand for truth, in fact they shy away from discussion of it out of fear of man. Their desire is to be seen as a good person, actual holiness is not even an issue for them.
God will not be fooled or manipulated, our outer expressions or words do not intimidate Him, He sees our heart and moves on that basis.
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 Seeker Friendly churches attempt to bring converts in through the wide gate, the gate that allows for validation of lifestyle rather than conviction of sin. Preaching a distorted form of love, worldly and not godly, they lull their targets into a false sense of safety.
Once someone has come to Christ through the back door of false conversion they are very difficult to convince of the truth.
John 4:23-24 "…23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
We must remember that just being friendly hoping a sinner will like us and then like Jesus, is operating from the standpoint of psychology. Christ and the Apostles reached people with the hard truth, showing the sinner of their sinful heart while sharing the good news that trusting Christ and His payment for our debt is the only path that leads the narrow way. It is only faith in Christ that saves, then His grace will cover our sins. We cannot come in the back door through our own good works, we must come through the gate by His grace through faith in Him.
Isaiah 26:10-11 "10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.…"
Matthew 7:13-15 "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.…"
Ephesians 2:7-9 "…7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.…"
Let me give you some things to think about that God showed me when I was praying about the validity of this modern system of evangelism. The more I prayed about it the more the Lord opened my eyes to the concept of "Seeker Friendly" idea of reaching the lost.
Matthew 12:38-39 "38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39 Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."
There have always been people who are continually seeking God, ever learning but never finding Him. They come seeking a protector, and provider, or too appear righteous to others, not to a holy God they wish to change them, nor do they desire to obey Him. They are seeking but not finding.
2 Timothy 3:7-8 " 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.…"
These seekers are looking for evidence to validate their life, rather than to transform it.
Romans 12:1-3 "1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you."
Someone who wants to find God, will find Him, they don't need to be validated, they need to be shown their sinfulness that they might confess their sinfulness and be changed by Christ. The more we attempt to validate a sinner in their life to please them, the less likely they are to understand their need for repentance and salvation.
When we see so many people who claim to be "Christian" but have little or no interest in the things of God, perhaps often even fighting against the truth, these clues lead us to believe they have never met the Savior.
These people never take a stand for truth, in fact they shy away from discussion of it out of fear of man. Their desire is to be seen as a good person, actual holiness is not even an issue for them.
God will not be fooled or manipulated, our outer expressions or words do not intimidate Him, He sees our heart and moves on that basis.
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 Seeker Friendly churches attempt to bring converts in through the wide gate, the gate that allows for validation of lifestyle rather than conviction of sin. Preaching a distorted form of love, worldly and not godly, they lull their targets into a false sense of safety.
Once someone has come to Christ through the back door of false conversion they are very difficult to convince of the truth.
John 4:23-24 "…23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
We must remember that just being friendly hoping a sinner will like us and then like Jesus, is operating from the standpoint of psychology. Christ and the Apostles reached people with the hard truth, showing the sinner of their sinful heart while sharing the good news that trusting Christ and His payment for our debt is the only path that leads the narrow way. It is only faith in Christ that saves, then His grace will cover our sins. We cannot come in the back door through our own good works, we must come through the gate by His grace through faith in Him.
Isaiah 26:10-11 "10 Though the wicked is shown favor, He does not learn righteousness; He deals unjustly in the land of uprightness, And does not perceive the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is lifted up yet they do not see it. They see Your zeal for the people and are put to shame; Indeed, fire will devour Your enemies.…"
Matthew 7:13-15 "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.…"
Ephesians 2:7-9 "…7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.…"
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