There is no Scripture that says every saved person speaks in tongues as evidence of their salvation. God doesn't need any evidence and the evidence for people is the fruit of the Spirit.
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."
Notice the fruit are character qualities not works. There will be works after Christ changes us into a new creation, but the works are the effect of being changed into a new person with an entirely opposite attitude about everything.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,…"
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Yes I Remember America
Yes I remember all this, and it grieves me to see it disappear. The disrespect of the younger people seems overwhelming at times. We live in a crass and rude culture now, elders are not treated with honor, they are rather treated as peers to be manipulated.
We raised our children in the Pacific Northwest, the "left coast", even though we tried to teach them manners, they have no idea what it is to honor their elders. The schools undermined parental authority and taught rudeness by elevating self esteem.
In law adult children call their in laws by their first name, adult children instruct their parents instead of listening to instruction, grandchildren are taught to call their grandparents by their first names instead of Grandpa and Granny or Mr. and Mrs.
I cannot tell you the number of times I tried to correct our children in instructing them to call elders Mr. and Mrs. only to be undermined by everyone in the room as if I did something wrong.
There were so many social norms that flew in the face of everything we knew was right, but most didn't understand these social graces or were too cowardly to enforce them in their children in a culture that would mock them.
How far we have fallen from a decent and respectful society of humble people.
Henry-Hank Verlyn Spooner-Christen
49 mins ·
Do You Remember The Real America?
You do If you can you remember When people had pride about themselves, and dressed nice to go out In public. When you could leave your front doors unlocked. When children read the Bible and prayed in public schools. When marriage was between a man and a woman. When the word gay meant happy. When socialism was a dirty word. When ghettos were neighborhoods. When the American Flag was a respected symbol. When criminals actually went to jail. When you were not afraid to go out at night. When Television was free. When children were spanked In public schools. When people talked without cursing. When taxes were only a necessary nuisance. When a boy was a boy and dressed like one. When a girl was girl and dressed like one. When almost everyone went to Church on Sunday. When things were made In America. When the clergy actually preached against sin In Church. When clerks and repairmen tried to please you. When college kids swallowed goldfish, not drugs. When people respected their elders, and said yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir, no sir, even after they were grown up. When songs had a tune and the words made sense. When people expected less, and valued what they had more. When politicians proclaimed their patriotism and meant it. When everyone knew the difference between right and wrong. When things were not perfect-but you did not expect them to be. When our government stood up for Americans anywhere in the world. When you knew that the law would be enforced and your safety protected. When you considered yourself lucky to have a good job and proud, too. When the law meant justice and you were in awe at the sight of a policeman. When you were not too embarrassed to say that this is the best country . When America was a land filled with brave, proud, hardworking people. That was what It was like In the Real America.
Time was passing like a hand waving from a train i wanted to be on.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) — with Connie Kielsmeier.
We raised our children in the Pacific Northwest, the "left coast", even though we tried to teach them manners, they have no idea what it is to honor their elders. The schools undermined parental authority and taught rudeness by elevating self esteem.
In law adult children call their in laws by their first name, adult children instruct their parents instead of listening to instruction, grandchildren are taught to call their grandparents by their first names instead of Grandpa and Granny or Mr. and Mrs.
I cannot tell you the number of times I tried to correct our children in instructing them to call elders Mr. and Mrs. only to be undermined by everyone in the room as if I did something wrong.
There were so many social norms that flew in the face of everything we knew was right, but most didn't understand these social graces or were too cowardly to enforce them in their children in a culture that would mock them.
How far we have fallen from a decent and respectful society of humble people.
Henry-Hank Verlyn Spooner-Christen
49 mins ·
Do You Remember The Real America?
You do If you can you remember When people had pride about themselves, and dressed nice to go out In public. When you could leave your front doors unlocked. When children read the Bible and prayed in public schools. When marriage was between a man and a woman. When the word gay meant happy. When socialism was a dirty word. When ghettos were neighborhoods. When the American Flag was a respected symbol. When criminals actually went to jail. When you were not afraid to go out at night. When Television was free. When children were spanked In public schools. When people talked without cursing. When taxes were only a necessary nuisance. When a boy was a boy and dressed like one. When a girl was girl and dressed like one. When almost everyone went to Church on Sunday. When things were made In America. When the clergy actually preached against sin In Church. When clerks and repairmen tried to please you. When college kids swallowed goldfish, not drugs. When people respected their elders, and said yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir, no sir, even after they were grown up. When songs had a tune and the words made sense. When people expected less, and valued what they had more. When politicians proclaimed their patriotism and meant it. When everyone knew the difference between right and wrong. When things were not perfect-but you did not expect them to be. When our government stood up for Americans anywhere in the world. When you knew that the law would be enforced and your safety protected. When you considered yourself lucky to have a good job and proud, too. When the law meant justice and you were in awe at the sight of a policeman. When you were not too embarrassed to say that this is the best country . When America was a land filled with brave, proud, hardworking people. That was what It was like In the Real America.
Time was passing like a hand waving from a train i wanted to be on.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) — with Connie Kielsmeier.
We Must Hate Evil
"A person who cannot feel anger at evil is a person who lacks enthusiasm for good. If you cannot hate the wrong, it is very questionable whether you really love righteousness."
David Seamands
David Seamands
Correct Them and Watch the Reaction
All the candidates, every one, is not what they claim to be, none of them can be trusted. Now is the time to place our trust and hope in Christ alone.
Proverbs 3:5 "…4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 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.…"
We cannot trust in man and God at the same time, it is a divided heart!
James 1:8 "…7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
God is not hearing us as a people, the very people who claim to love the Lord are not interested in the principles of God to obey them, but make a pretense of it through following what they like and discarding what they do not like.
Many who say they believe the Bible, violate so much of it without realizing it there is little difference between them and the world. They think if they obey some of it, that translates into following it. When we pick and choose what we like, we are pretending, thinking that a little obedience translates into compliance.
I used to tell my children that almost obeying is partial obedience, and not obedience at all. Some of them would say they didn't remember me saying these things to them.
Often when there is rebellion against the authority, the stubborn heart, tunes out or disregards the teachings, there is anger in their hearts, they cannot hear what we are saying, even concocting something in their mind that is not true to be able to justify disobedience.
When you find that someone is not listening, there is a rebellious response or no response at all, then is when we stop speaking, turn them over to God and pray for them. When we see many years of continued rebellion, then is when we can set aside praying and allow God to do whatever He will.
Jeremiah 11:13-14 "…13 "For your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. 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."
There are those who are praying for America, but their prayers are not heard because their desire is to retain their freedom, their wealth, their pleasure and their own will. They are not interested in setting aside their idols of self, wealth and pleasure to obey God.
God will not forgive an unrepentant nation who claims to be something they are not! He will allow us to fail, showing us the consequences of our own sin, even then many will refuse to acknowledge their evil, choosing to blame others.
Proverbs 28:13 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
If you are having a hard time accepting this about our nation, try to think back to the last time anyone you know was unkind or selfish to someone, then ask yourself if that person who did evil become sorry and confessed their sin.
It is very rare today, our secular training has taught everyone to forgive without confession, leaving the offender expecting that others just accept their sin, there is no desire to reconcile a relationship to bring a new cleansing and freedom from the sin. Most people do not grow and change, they have been trained that they are wonderful just as they are, without need of improvement.
If you don't believe me, tell someone their wrong about something and watch what emerges, most of the time it will not be pretty.
Proverbs 3:5 "…4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. 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.…"
We cannot trust in man and God at the same time, it is a divided heart!
James 1:8 "…7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
God is not hearing us as a people, the very people who claim to love the Lord are not interested in the principles of God to obey them, but make a pretense of it through following what they like and discarding what they do not like.
Many who say they believe the Bible, violate so much of it without realizing it there is little difference between them and the world. They think if they obey some of it, that translates into following it. When we pick and choose what we like, we are pretending, thinking that a little obedience translates into compliance.
I used to tell my children that almost obeying is partial obedience, and not obedience at all. Some of them would say they didn't remember me saying these things to them.
Often when there is rebellion against the authority, the stubborn heart, tunes out or disregards the teachings, there is anger in their hearts, they cannot hear what we are saying, even concocting something in their mind that is not true to be able to justify disobedience.
When you find that someone is not listening, there is a rebellious response or no response at all, then is when we stop speaking, turn them over to God and pray for them. When we see many years of continued rebellion, then is when we can set aside praying and allow God to do whatever He will.
Jeremiah 11:13-14 "…13 "For your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. 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."
There are those who are praying for America, but their prayers are not heard because their desire is to retain their freedom, their wealth, their pleasure and their own will. They are not interested in setting aside their idols of self, wealth and pleasure to obey God.
God will not forgive an unrepentant nation who claims to be something they are not! He will allow us to fail, showing us the consequences of our own sin, even then many will refuse to acknowledge their evil, choosing to blame others.
Proverbs 28:13 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
If you are having a hard time accepting this about our nation, try to think back to the last time anyone you know was unkind or selfish to someone, then ask yourself if that person who did evil become sorry and confessed their sin.
It is very rare today, our secular training has taught everyone to forgive without confession, leaving the offender expecting that others just accept their sin, there is no desire to reconcile a relationship to bring a new cleansing and freedom from the sin. Most people do not grow and change, they have been trained that they are wonderful just as they are, without need of improvement.
If you don't believe me, tell someone their wrong about something and watch what emerges, most of the time it will not be pretty.
America Will Not Wake Up
America is not going to wake up, it is falling into a deeper sleep than it has ever been. Everything that makes good sense is being thrown out in favor of everything that not only does not make good sense but everything that is devastatingly evil.
There are hopeful believers who continue to pray for revival of morality in this country, I applaud them for their hope, however I see the end times culmination of wickedness all over the world, causing me to believe we are in the... last days of no return, only escalating evil with each passing day.
Our purpose in these days of apostasy has to be focused on teaching the believers and witnessing the salvation message to the unsaved. Each one of us must ask the Lord what our calling is and do it when God reveals it.
No calling is too small, God is in the small things, we know this from the size of Israel, that nothing nation that God loves so much.
He is protecting her as a nation even with losses, she remains a nation.
God wants us to realize when we are small, He is the One that is the all powerful One! He wants to get the glory for all that is done through us. None of us has what we need, but He is everything in all that we can do through Him.
If we keep our focus on Christ, our hope is large, but not in this world, in our purpose here and in eternity.
There are hopeful believers who continue to pray for revival of morality in this country, I applaud them for their hope, however I see the end times culmination of wickedness all over the world, causing me to believe we are in the... last days of no return, only escalating evil with each passing day.
Our purpose in these days of apostasy has to be focused on teaching the believers and witnessing the salvation message to the unsaved. Each one of us must ask the Lord what our calling is and do it when God reveals it.
No calling is too small, God is in the small things, we know this from the size of Israel, that nothing nation that God loves so much.
He is protecting her as a nation even with losses, she remains a nation.
God wants us to realize when we are small, He is the One that is the all powerful One! He wants to get the glory for all that is done through us. None of us has what we need, but He is everything in all that we can do through Him.
If we keep our focus on Christ, our hope is large, but not in this world, in our purpose here and in eternity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)