We have been poking our finger in God's eye for many years now, believing we could get away with anything and He would just turn a blind eye, the one we poked, because of His great love.
What we have been taught all these years, that Jesus, the false Jesus, wasn't too upset with sin, He knows how we can be and just puts up with our rebellion and dismissiveness toward Him.
ARE WE KIDDING!!!!! God is the God of mercy and love, but He is also the God of justice and righteousness.
Do we really think that Christ Who shed His blood for us on that cruel cross, would wink at sin that caused Him to have to pay with His life? Don't we understand that this is just how serious sin is, that a perfect and holy God had to die, taking our sin on Himself to pay the penalty that we could never pay? How utterly silly that we would think that God would wink at sin.
He cannot demonstrate love unless He also demonstrates justice.
It is unjust to ignore sin and evil, it must be dealt with.
Love for the innocent must be shown through punishment for evil.
Isaiah 13:11 "Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless."
Proverbs 11:21 "Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered."
We have been foolishly taught that ignoring sin of the wicked and loving up to them would cause them to like Jesus and become saved, God never said that.
What we have really been doing is cozying up to the wicked so they will like us, we care that someone might not like us, that is idolatry. We are instructed to never to harm to anyone, but that does not mean we are to treat the wicked man as though he has done nothing wrong, even becoming his friend, ignorantly called "lifestyle evangelism", something God also never taught.
Isaiah 26:10 "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."
We are not to speak truth in a way that the wicked will receive it, that is pure psychology. We are to speak truth as led by the Holy Spirit and leave all the results to God. It is not up to us to figure out what someone likes so they will come to Christ, it is up to God to speak through us and He does all the rest of the work in someone's heart. To feel a need to figure out our delivery is based on human effort, void of faith that Christ can do a better job than we.
We have disobeyed God, I fell into this years ago thinking that if I just show enough kindness, sort of sneak in a word now and again about "God blesses", then the unsaved will enjoy me and come to Christ because of my delivery and because they like me. This was so very wrong, but it is exactly what we have been taught.
The softer we become on sin, the more it grows.
Revelation 20:15 "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
The consequences of sin are immense, would it not make sense to warn strongly with intense words to convince a lost individual that unless he repent, he will end up in the lake of fire, having eternal consequences of his wickedness?
We don't really love one another as Christ loved us! If we love, we warn and chastise, rebuking with intensity to show the sinfulness of sin and where it leads. Rejection of Christ is self worship, it is very serious and the weight of that decision depends on our eternal state.
Love goes beyond our own personal comfort, thinking more about offending our Holy God, than we do about how others will treat us.
Matthew 24:43-45 "…43 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44 "For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
45"Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?…"
1 Peter 4:12-13 "12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.…"
1 Peter 4:12-14 "1 Peter 4:12-14
"12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
We need to stop attempting to get others to like us and stop trying to fit in to be enjoyed the world. We are of no use to God as long as people are our gods, elevated above God.
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Rebellious Generation
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
When we attack because we have been attacked then God has more work to do in us.
Romans 12:19 "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord."
This does not mean we remain silent all the time, we must tell the truth if there is a chance the person will listen and we are led by the Holy Spirit, however God tells us not to throw our pearls before swine.
We are to keep our emotions under control no matter what is happening to us. If we have a fight with someone, let them be the only one fighting. Telling the truth calmly, is our weapon against evil, unless the Lord has told us to remain silent because the evil person will only twist and use against us whatever we say, then it is better to remain silent and remove ourselves.
The more we trust Christ obeying His principles the more it becomes natural to do as God commanded in the matter of dealing with difficult people. We will not have to work hard at keeping under control, it comes naturally because we have been washed continually with His Word while the Holy Spirit is in control of us.
Proverbs 23:9 "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words."
Proverbs 22:10 "Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease."
Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."
When we discover that we are speaking to a fool and a mocker, it takes faith to remain silent, allowing God to be the One to speak to them His way.
In these last days of apostasy, the likelihood that we will run across a scoffer and mocker is a guarantee. Not only will we meet them in the community, but nearly all family members will be like this. The reason we know this to be true, is because the Bible says so:
Matthew 10:36 "…35 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; 36 and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD."
1 Peter 5:8 "“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
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."
If this is true........Luke 18:8 "…7now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?", then we should have our eyes open to the present calamity, it will not catch us by surprise, we will be able to call it like it is, rather than pretending it isn't so.
As the day of the Lord's return approaches, we can expect that most people will be of the 2 Timothy 3 persuasion. Believers are a remnant right now, we find few who have any interest in the principles of God, true worship or obedience to Him.
The worship has been turned into Sunday morning circus, designed to titillate the senses, gratify the ego while undermining the very tenets of the faith in favor of personal pleasure and aggrandizement.
All that is evil is being unleashed in these last days, but we can remain strong through seeking the Lord for everything.
We live in a generation that is so full of self that any suggestion that they may have been wrong or need to repent is met with rage rather than the shame they should feel.
Proverbs 3:5-8 "5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones."
When we attack because we have been attacked then God has more work to do in us.
Romans 12:19 "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord."
This does not mean we remain silent all the time, we must tell the truth if there is a chance the person will listen and we are led by the Holy Spirit, however God tells us not to throw our pearls before swine.
We are to keep our emotions under control no matter what is happening to us. If we have a fight with someone, let them be the only one fighting. Telling the truth calmly, is our weapon against evil, unless the Lord has told us to remain silent because the evil person will only twist and use against us whatever we say, then it is better to remain silent and remove ourselves.
The more we trust Christ obeying His principles the more it becomes natural to do as God commanded in the matter of dealing with difficult people. We will not have to work hard at keeping under control, it comes naturally because we have been washed continually with His Word while the Holy Spirit is in control of us.
Proverbs 23:9 "Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words."
Proverbs 22:10 "Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, Even strife and dishonor will cease."
Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."
When we discover that we are speaking to a fool and a mocker, it takes faith to remain silent, allowing God to be the One to speak to them His way.
In these last days of apostasy, the likelihood that we will run across a scoffer and mocker is a guarantee. Not only will we meet them in the community, but nearly all family members will be like this. The reason we know this to be true, is because the Bible says so:
Matthew 10:36 "…35 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW; 36 and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD."
1 Peter 5:8 "“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
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."
If this is true........Luke 18:8 "…7now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8"I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?", then we should have our eyes open to the present calamity, it will not catch us by surprise, we will be able to call it like it is, rather than pretending it isn't so.
As the day of the Lord's return approaches, we can expect that most people will be of the 2 Timothy 3 persuasion. Believers are a remnant right now, we find few who have any interest in the principles of God, true worship or obedience to Him.
The worship has been turned into Sunday morning circus, designed to titillate the senses, gratify the ego while undermining the very tenets of the faith in favor of personal pleasure and aggrandizement.
All that is evil is being unleashed in these last days, but we can remain strong through seeking the Lord for everything.
We live in a generation that is so full of self that any suggestion that they may have been wrong or need to repent is met with rage rather than the shame they should feel.
Proverbs 3:5-8 "5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones."
Confession Then Forgiveness
Forgiveness has been misunderstood for a long time, perhaps this will help clear it up.
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