If you attend a church gathering where the elders or pastor are encouraging you to see the movie "The Shack", then it is your duty as a member of God's church to rebuke him and if he will not listen, run away from that group.
The book was promoted among many churches in our area, now I am sure those same pastors will be promoting the movie too.
These men were actually encouraging the parishioners to read that disgusting and blasphemous trash.
My prayer is that any leader of a church gathering who promoted it will repent and if not that God would remove him, while showing the people why He did.
Anyone who will not stand against it, is a party to it.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Only If You Want to be Cleansed
Grace is given to the repentant, but not to the unrepentant. There is no mercy for the rebellious and unrepentant.
Proverbs 16:5-7 "…5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. 6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. 7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.…"
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."
It is only when the wicked man desires to be cleansed that Christ cleanses him.
Proverbs 16:5-7 "…5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. 6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. 7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.…"
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."
It is only when the wicked man desires to be cleansed that Christ cleanses him.
Christmas: "Revelrous or Sombre and reflective!"
Deborah Perrot said this, it made a whole lot of sense:
"christmas is only about the flesh; reveling and coveting. If was really about Jesus it would be a sombre and reflective spiritual pursuit."
"christmas is only about the flesh; reveling and coveting. If was really about Jesus it would be a sombre and reflective spiritual pursuit."
Why Would We Be Exempt!
As a nation we shout, "make America great again", even though we have not repented from any of the evil that we do. We don't even make any promises that we will stop our sin. We just keep going on as though we deserve blessing and honor, while 4000 babies a day are being brutally murdered, illegal drugs are being legalized, every form of filth imaginable is allowed to continue unabated, but we think we deserve safety and blessing.
Keep in mind that God destroyed societies just like ours for doing the things we do, what makes us think He is going to be more lenient on us!!!
It is astonishing how many people in jails today, when asked if they think they are basically a good person, will actually say they are a good person.
The people of our country are very much like those criminals in jail today. The people haven't reduced or stopped any of their sin, but still think they deserve something from God because they said His name a couple of times or celebrate what they believe to be His holidays or church events from time to time.
I don't hear any of our leaders or our future leaders proclaiming that we should confess our sin and trust Christ. Notice they never use the name of Christ, only "God." The name of Christ is embarrassing to them, but "god" can be generic, no one is too upset at that.
Nearly everyone wants to believe America is special, almost as though they think of this nation as the entity they worship. As though they are special and deserving of everything good, but their idea of good is far from the righteousness Christ demands and we are not able to accomplish.
Only Christ is good and righteous, only He can save our nation and only if we confess our sin and trust in Him.
A lot of big "only's"! We have been brainwashed to believe that all people are basically good, the opposite of what Christ teaches, and that everyone deserves to have good things, also the opposite of what God says.
Romans 6:22-23 "…22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 1:31-32 "…31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them."
Psychology is the culprit that has deceived many into thinking that no one is bad and everyone deserves to be happy. How many times we have heard such non-sense. This thinking leads us away from repentance and produces pride, a pride so intense that it is difficult to penetrate it.
Christ must bring hardship into a nation that has grown such vast stores of arrogance within the hearts of most.
Acts 7:51-52 "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—…"
2 Kings 17:13-14
"Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets." However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God."
2 Chronicles 30:8
"Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you."
Proverbs 1:24-31
"Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. "They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. "So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices."
God was willing to discipline and punish His own people to get them to turn to Him, why on earth do you not see that He will do the same to us?
Keep in mind that God destroyed societies just like ours for doing the things we do, what makes us think He is going to be more lenient on us!!!
It is astonishing how many people in jails today, when asked if they think they are basically a good person, will actually say they are a good person.
The people of our country are very much like those criminals in jail today. The people haven't reduced or stopped any of their sin, but still think they deserve something from God because they said His name a couple of times or celebrate what they believe to be His holidays or church events from time to time.
I don't hear any of our leaders or our future leaders proclaiming that we should confess our sin and trust Christ. Notice they never use the name of Christ, only "God." The name of Christ is embarrassing to them, but "god" can be generic, no one is too upset at that.
Nearly everyone wants to believe America is special, almost as though they think of this nation as the entity they worship. As though they are special and deserving of everything good, but their idea of good is far from the righteousness Christ demands and we are not able to accomplish.
Only Christ is good and righteous, only He can save our nation and only if we confess our sin and trust in Him.
A lot of big "only's"! We have been brainwashed to believe that all people are basically good, the opposite of what Christ teaches, and that everyone deserves to have good things, also the opposite of what God says.
Romans 6:22-23 "…22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 1:31-32 "…31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them."
Psychology is the culprit that has deceived many into thinking that no one is bad and everyone deserves to be happy. How many times we have heard such non-sense. This thinking leads us away from repentance and produces pride, a pride so intense that it is difficult to penetrate it.
Christ must bring hardship into a nation that has grown such vast stores of arrogance within the hearts of most.
Acts 7:51-52 "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—…"
2 Kings 17:13-14
"Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets." However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God."
2 Chronicles 30:8
"Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you."
Proverbs 1:24-31
"Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes,When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD. "They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. "So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices."
God was willing to discipline and punish His own people to get them to turn to Him, why on earth do you not see that He will do the same to us?
The Unrepentant Hold Grudges Too
Did you know that those who will not confess their sins are holding a grudge as much as those who will not forgive when someone is repentant?
Grudges are not exclusive to the one who will not forgive a penitent man or woman, grudges are in the heart of one who will not confess their sin also.
Grudges are not exclusive to the one who will not forgive a penitent man or woman, grudges are in the heart of one who will not confess their sin also.
We Celebrate Christ Every Day
Romans 13:13-14
"13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
Christ lives in those who have been born again. We celebrate Him everyday as He prays on our behalf.
Romans 8:33-34 "…33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God — and He is interceding for us. "
"13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."
Christ lives in those who have been born again. We celebrate Him everyday as He prays on our behalf.
Romans 8:33-34 "…33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God — and He is interceding for us. "
A Different Way to Celebrate Christ!
This is hard for me to watch:
Many if not most of those posts who say their Christmas shopping is done, are doing it on credit to be paid later.
I see so much materialism and extravagance this time of year it is astonishing.
I know people who put things on layaway to get now and pay later, it always aggravates me when wealthy people go and pay their bill for them.
All these good deed doers, are doing is fostering a wrong view of Christmas as well as enabling poor people to feel alright about spending money they don't have on foolishness.
Sorry, folks, I am not impressed with videoing acts of kindness for the world to see, or paying off someone's layaway gifts for poor people.
Children should be taught to give necessary things to those who are in need, not frivolous things that do not take care of needs. Sadly most people in our culture think everything they want is a need. NOT SO, needs can be exciting to receive too, when we learn to be grateful for the needs, we can enjoy life much more than any toy we receive.
Why do we think gifts are more important than relationships? Often we give a gift to replace the relationship. It takes far more effort developing a friendship than it does to give a gift that ultimately ends up glorifying our self.
How about celebrating a new way, don't give the gifts, decorate the trees and home, but rather spend time with others in the Word of God.
Visit those who have no one to come see them, while sharing the Word of God. The best gift we can give others who are lost is a copy of the Bible along with an explanation of what it means to be born again. This is the good news, greater than any news they will hear.
After all that lovely prayer and Bible time, enjoy a game with them. Spend time listening to their life, knowing their story might enrich us in some special way.
Giving God's way brings far more blessing to the receiver and the giver than anything the world thinks is important.
Many if not most of those posts who say their Christmas shopping is done, are doing it on credit to be paid later.
I see so much materialism and extravagance this time of year it is astonishing.
I know people who put things on layaway to get now and pay later, it always aggravates me when wealthy people go and pay their bill for them.
All these good deed doers, are doing is fostering a wrong view of Christmas as well as enabling poor people to feel alright about spending money they don't have on foolishness.
Sorry, folks, I am not impressed with videoing acts of kindness for the world to see, or paying off someone's layaway gifts for poor people.
Children should be taught to give necessary things to those who are in need, not frivolous things that do not take care of needs. Sadly most people in our culture think everything they want is a need. NOT SO, needs can be exciting to receive too, when we learn to be grateful for the needs, we can enjoy life much more than any toy we receive.
Why do we think gifts are more important than relationships? Often we give a gift to replace the relationship. It takes far more effort developing a friendship than it does to give a gift that ultimately ends up glorifying our self.
How about celebrating a new way, don't give the gifts, decorate the trees and home, but rather spend time with others in the Word of God.
Visit those who have no one to come see them, while sharing the Word of God. The best gift we can give others who are lost is a copy of the Bible along with an explanation of what it means to be born again. This is the good news, greater than any news they will hear.
After all that lovely prayer and Bible time, enjoy a game with them. Spend time listening to their life, knowing their story might enrich us in some special way.
Giving God's way brings far more blessing to the receiver and the giver than anything the world thinks is important.
Is it Rude to Warn of Danger?
It is interesting to me that there are many people who act as though it is rude to warn people about danger, but they have no problem warning us for warning them. LOL
I was once corrected by my mother that "you should not tell people they are wrong", while in the middle of telling me I was wrong for telling others they are wrong.
Interesting too that so many people do not afford others the same courtesy of expressing their viewpoint, that they allow themselves. It just must be that the subject matter is what bothers them, not the act of warning, explaining or caring.
These same people wouldn't be angry at us if we shouted at a child to get off the railroad tracks when they might be hit by a train, but tell that same child of the dangers of rejecting Christ, which leads to the fires of hell with eternal consequences, and that is evil in the eyes of the world.
We are living in a world that doesn't believe in hell, that's why they are so angry when we warn about it. They don't want it to exist, so they rage at those who warn about it.
Hell is real, so is heaven! We have a choice, we can trust Christ and be saved from our sin and hell, or we can rebel and meet our consequences in the fires of hell.
Luke 12:4-5 "4 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"
Revelation 20:13-15 "…13 The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death — the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.…"
I was once corrected by my mother that "you should not tell people they are wrong", while in the middle of telling me I was wrong for telling others they are wrong.
Interesting too that so many people do not afford others the same courtesy of expressing their viewpoint, that they allow themselves. It just must be that the subject matter is what bothers them, not the act of warning, explaining or caring.
These same people wouldn't be angry at us if we shouted at a child to get off the railroad tracks when they might be hit by a train, but tell that same child of the dangers of rejecting Christ, which leads to the fires of hell with eternal consequences, and that is evil in the eyes of the world.
We are living in a world that doesn't believe in hell, that's why they are so angry when we warn about it. They don't want it to exist, so they rage at those who warn about it.
Hell is real, so is heaven! We have a choice, we can trust Christ and be saved from our sin and hell, or we can rebel and meet our consequences in the fires of hell.
Luke 12:4-5 "4 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"
Revelation 20:13-15 "…13 The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death — the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.…"
Friendship
Throughout the newsfeed I see often that someone wants to test my friendship by commanding me to "like and share", leaving me to believe they don't consider me to be a friend unless I do their bidding. I am so sorry people feel a need to to this, it is manipulation and not very friendly.
I consider it rude to demand that we do something someone else wants to test our friendship, it is wrong.
If I see someone declaring that they are testing my friendship based on whether or not I obey them, then I immediately pass it up. My responses to things must be because the Holy Spirit has led me.
Now, having said that, I would suggest that if someone wants us to pass on a message, they would ask politely that we do it and leave it to the Holy Spirit as to whether or not we should.
I prefer our friendship be based on the Scriptures and not on what someone personally wants from us. If I feel led to pass something on, I respond well to an appeal rather than a demand to test me.1
1Corinthians 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."
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