Friday, April 8, 2016
Honor in Both Father and Mother
Perhaps the American Christians could take a lesson from the Jewish custom of honoring parents.
Christ Owns Me
Who owns me: Christ
Who controls me: Christ
Who is responsible for me: Christ
No one else owns me, no one else controls me and no one else is responsible for me.
We have friends and family whom God has placed in our lives that we are responsible "before God" to treat with dignity and respect and they are responsible for treating us with dignity and respect.
When we are a follower of Christ, we do our part, however we have others in our lives who do not honor us or God, they walk in the lust of their own minds, whether it be lust for money, power or any other worldly device that affords them pleasure.
God has given us clear boundaries to obey that will bring us closer to Him while living as He wants us to live. When God's boundaries for us are violated by others, we are responsible before God to defend those boundaries.
For example: When we have decided to obey God in remaining married to a spouse for life, we must remove from our life anyone who would tell us we should divorce, this is only one example there are many more. I mention divorce because it is rampant in the church today. I have met many people who will pressure a person to divorce, which God forbids, while bludgeoning anyone who would encourage someone to stay married, which God commands.
Any time a friend or relative suggests or pressures us to go against what God has told us, then they must be chastised, if they will not stop then they must be removed.
We cannot allow anyone to guilt us into disobeying God, or manipulate our emotions to violate what God has instructed us to do. When we see someone doing this on a consistent basis then they are not concerned about us, they are only concerned that we live according to their desires, it relieves them of the guilt they feel when we obey God.
Often those who are disobedient will punish those who do not live according to their mandates, that are not God's, rather than encouraging us to live according to God's principles.
In these times of apostasy, we will be continually asserting our boundaries with many who will be offended that we do not live the way they want us to live.
2 Timothy 3 clearly states that we are to get away from those who live in rebellion against God and demonstrate a controlling mentality. They do not just want to live they way they please, they want to harm those who won't accept their way for themselves.
When we realize what we are dealing with, it is easier to let go of those who will not honor God. Let them go, do not feel any obligation to keep them in your life, they have been sent by the devil to destroy your walk. If they want to remain because they have a changed heart, that is a different matter, but only if the Lord has changed it.
John 10:10-18
"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Who controls me: Christ
Who is responsible for me: Christ
No one else owns me, no one else controls me and no one else is responsible for me.
We have friends and family whom God has placed in our lives that we are responsible "before God" to treat with dignity and respect and they are responsible for treating us with dignity and respect.
When we are a follower of Christ, we do our part, however we have others in our lives who do not honor us or God, they walk in the lust of their own minds, whether it be lust for money, power or any other worldly device that affords them pleasure.
God has given us clear boundaries to obey that will bring us closer to Him while living as He wants us to live. When God's boundaries for us are violated by others, we are responsible before God to defend those boundaries.
For example: When we have decided to obey God in remaining married to a spouse for life, we must remove from our life anyone who would tell us we should divorce, this is only one example there are many more. I mention divorce because it is rampant in the church today. I have met many people who will pressure a person to divorce, which God forbids, while bludgeoning anyone who would encourage someone to stay married, which God commands.
Any time a friend or relative suggests or pressures us to go against what God has told us, then they must be chastised, if they will not stop then they must be removed.
We cannot allow anyone to guilt us into disobeying God, or manipulate our emotions to violate what God has instructed us to do. When we see someone doing this on a consistent basis then they are not concerned about us, they are only concerned that we live according to their desires, it relieves them of the guilt they feel when we obey God.
Often those who are disobedient will punish those who do not live according to their mandates, that are not God's, rather than encouraging us to live according to God's principles.
In these times of apostasy, we will be continually asserting our boundaries with many who will be offended that we do not live the way they want us to live.
2 Timothy 3 clearly states that we are to get away from those who live in rebellion against God and demonstrate a controlling mentality. They do not just want to live they way they please, they want to harm those who won't accept their way for themselves.
When we realize what we are dealing with, it is easier to let go of those who will not honor God. Let them go, do not feel any obligation to keep them in your life, they have been sent by the devil to destroy your walk. If they want to remain because they have a changed heart, that is a different matter, but only if the Lord has changed it.
John 10:10-18
"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Walking With Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
When we walk with Christ living in us, we walk with him as Adam and Eve did in the garden before the fall. We need no special position for prayer, no special words and no mantras. He is our friend that we share everything with and depend upon.
"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
When we walk with Christ living in us, we walk with him as Adam and Eve did in the garden before the fall. We need no special position for prayer, no special words and no mantras. He is our friend that we share everything with and depend upon.
Where Will You Go on the Day of Your Death?
We have one more day to speak and write about the Lord, we may not have tomorrow, for the believer that is a hope, but for the unbeliever it is a frightening thing to find themselves without salvation in Christ when they pass.
Hebrews 3:7 "7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, 8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,…"
Many people today don't realize they can provoke the Lord to anger by their contempt of Him and His principles.
Hebrews 10:30-31 "…30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Hebrews 3:7 "7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, 8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,…"
Many people today don't realize they can provoke the Lord to anger by their contempt of Him and His principles.
Hebrews 10:30-31 "…30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
God Has A Plan
The condition of the world today:
Psalm 2:1-3
"The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.
2 Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
What God says to the nations:
Psalms 2:4-12
"4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion,
My holy mountain.”
7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry,
and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!"
Do not fear or become discouraged, no one will get away with their wickedness, it will be dealt with God's way.
Are You Being Polked in the Eye?
I felt compelled to post in this status what Bob said, because it was so good, describing his experience and the experience of many others as they walk the Christian walk.
Bob N Sherril Renihan said this; "What i am seeing is selfishness magnified in people. Oh yeah , It's all about themselves and nobody else. It's a whole new level today. What they WANT and what they are going to have is all that matters no matter what. They have an agenda for me , myself and I and you better not interfere in their lives. Oh they aren't going to include you unless they can benefit some how, like with your resources. You know how the worldly think. I'm just saying they have everything micro-managed down to the letter. I'm just amazed at how bad and evil their hearts have gotten. But God has a plan for all that. It may be a hard plan because they are going to reap some things back to their selfish self. Usually they have to go the hard way to finally come to giving up thier selfish selves to Jesus. I really do pity them though. I pray for them. Like,' Do whatever you have to do Lord to get thier attention. ' It's a drastic anything I'm asking for too. I'm praying the Word into their lives. Destroy their idols. Close the doors , that are not your will. The sand will eventually shift and thier world will crumble according to the word of God . I know, its just a matter of time. I see hearts getting more callous and minds getting more bent on serving self. I hope the saving of thier souls comes before they get more set in thier course of self destruction. God does give people over to Delusion and can make them a reprobate , if they so choose. Lives in the balance for sure. I guess i think deep about these things outloud. It's just on my heart. But I know spiritual things. I know the Lord and have some knowledge. So, I see more than just carnality manifesting itself. I see the enemy working and that bothers me. I see lives being wasted in vanity and selfish pursuits. I've been down that road already. I know the results. Life is all about the Lords life, living for Him and Him living to love us and give us His life."
Gwendolyn Wehage's response to Bob:
Exactly Bob, you said it just right! I am going to copy and paste what you wrote, I think that others need to see what you have noticed, so that they can identify what they are seeing but can't seem to sort out.
So many people are thinking these things are normal, they might be tempted to get sucked into acting this way themselves if they don't pay close attention to what they observe.
There is a lot of covert meanness going on because of this, they still know they are mean, but they don't want anyone to think they are so they poke their targets in the eye under the radar, while feigning innocence.
Bob N Sherril Renihan said this; "What i am seeing is selfishness magnified in people. Oh yeah , It's all about themselves and nobody else. It's a whole new level today. What they WANT and what they are going to have is all that matters no matter what. They have an agenda for me , myself and I and you better not interfere in their lives. Oh they aren't going to include you unless they can benefit some how, like with your resources. You know how the worldly think. I'm just saying they have everything micro-managed down to the letter. I'm just amazed at how bad and evil their hearts have gotten. But God has a plan for all that. It may be a hard plan because they are going to reap some things back to their selfish self. Usually they have to go the hard way to finally come to giving up thier selfish selves to Jesus. I really do pity them though. I pray for them. Like,' Do whatever you have to do Lord to get thier attention. ' It's a drastic anything I'm asking for too. I'm praying the Word into their lives. Destroy their idols. Close the doors , that are not your will. The sand will eventually shift and thier world will crumble according to the word of God . I know, its just a matter of time. I see hearts getting more callous and minds getting more bent on serving self. I hope the saving of thier souls comes before they get more set in thier course of self destruction. God does give people over to Delusion and can make them a reprobate , if they so choose. Lives in the balance for sure. I guess i think deep about these things outloud. It's just on my heart. But I know spiritual things. I know the Lord and have some knowledge. So, I see more than just carnality manifesting itself. I see the enemy working and that bothers me. I see lives being wasted in vanity and selfish pursuits. I've been down that road already. I know the results. Life is all about the Lords life, living for Him and Him living to love us and give us His life."
Gwendolyn Wehage's response to Bob:
Exactly Bob, you said it just right! I am going to copy and paste what you wrote, I think that others need to see what you have noticed, so that they can identify what they are seeing but can't seem to sort out.
So many people are thinking these things are normal, they might be tempted to get sucked into acting this way themselves if they don't pay close attention to what they observe.
There is a lot of covert meanness going on because of this, they still know they are mean, but they don't want anyone to think they are so they poke their targets in the eye under the radar, while feigning innocence.
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