When we are at a loss for words in our prayers, we can count on our Savior to stand in the gap for us. He knows better than we do just what to pray.
Romans 8:25-27 "…25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.…"
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Prophesy is not Important to Pretenders
Most people in the gatherings will not be prepared because they are pretenders, they have never been born again and have no desire for the things of the Lord. These same people merely want a puppet that they call upon when things get rough.
Dawn Martin said this:
Dawn Martin said this:
Embarrassment is a Clue
When you run into a person or group of people who are embarrassed at the mention of Christ, you may be with non-believers.
Friday, December 29, 2017
Soon it will Burn
Pretty soon and very soon I think, we will be leaving it all behind anyway. Then we will wonder how we could have been so silly as to hang onto that which will burn.
His Burden is Light
It's actually quiet easy to follow Christ when He is the focus. The difficulty comes when we want our own way and desire popularity with people, then we become fixated on that rather than on Christ and His principles.
Matthew 11:28-30
"28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Notice God doesn't say there is NO burden, but He does say that it is LIGHT.
Take your eyes off of people and place them on Christ, then we are able to walk alone when we are rejected because of Him.
Put your eyes on the world and you will be accepting many sinful things to be appreciated by people.
Take the high road, reject sin, stand against it, speak truth and walk with Christ every day. When we are diverted during weak times, confess it and go on to do differently, following Him again.
Matthew 11:28-30
"28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Notice God doesn't say there is NO burden, but He does say that it is LIGHT.
Take your eyes off of people and place them on Christ, then we are able to walk alone when we are rejected because of Him.
Put your eyes on the world and you will be accepting many sinful things to be appreciated by people.
Take the high road, reject sin, stand against it, speak truth and walk with Christ every day. When we are diverted during weak times, confess it and go on to do differently, following Him again.
Last Days Joys Overpower the Grief
In these last days evil will "wax worse and worse" as God says in His Word. We can expect everything to become irrational and mean spirited all the time. I think of Noah's time and also the time of Lot. These men lived with nearly no support for their godliness.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Isaiah 5:20
"20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
The condition of the world in these last days does not have to devastate us, the joy that God envelopes us with as we walk through these wicked times, overwhelms the grief we feel that the world hates God and all His people.
Our joy is greater than our grief because we know the beginning from the end and God wins on all counts. Hallelujah!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Isaiah 5:20
"20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
The condition of the world in these last days does not have to devastate us, the joy that God envelopes us with as we walk through these wicked times, overwhelms the grief we feel that the world hates God and all His people.
Our joy is greater than our grief because we know the beginning from the end and God wins on all counts. Hallelujah!
When the Holy Spirit Speaks
When the Holy Spirit is the One speaking through us:
Amen, Amen!!! It is wonderful when we see the Holy Spirit working. We know it's Him because everything flows, there is no fear and we walk away saying, "did I just say all that?"
Amen, Amen!!! It is wonderful when we see the Holy Spirit working. We know it's Him because everything flows, there is no fear and we walk away saying, "did I just say all that?"
One Test of a Changed Heart
A saint is someone who has been born again, made into a new creation by Christ, is indwelt with the Holy Spirit and promised their home in heaven.
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 bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth 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 bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
There is no human formula to determine who is a saint, we can know them by their fruit of the Spirit, but only God knows for sure who is saved and who is not.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The warning is to check with God if someone is unsure, to see if they have been changed into a new creation. Those who have been born again, most likely already KNOW they are, however, when someone is a new believer and they are still wabbly on their new legs, they must pray for the assurance while continuing to trust what God says in His Word.
John 3:1-21
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
A test for knowing if you are born again, might be that you hate the sin you used to love, what used to be pleasurable is now repugnant to you. It is only one of the tests, but a very good one. When we are changed by Christ, we don't have to work at hating sin, we just do, because the Holy Spirit lives in us. Hallelujah!
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 bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth 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 bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
There is no human formula to determine who is a saint, we can know them by their fruit of the Spirit, but only God knows for sure who is saved and who is not.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The warning is to check with God if someone is unsure, to see if they have been changed into a new creation. Those who have been born again, most likely already KNOW they are, however, when someone is a new believer and they are still wabbly on their new legs, they must pray for the assurance while continuing to trust what God says in His Word.
John 3:1-21
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
A test for knowing if you are born again, might be that you hate the sin you used to love, what used to be pleasurable is now repugnant to you. It is only one of the tests, but a very good one. When we are changed by Christ, we don't have to work at hating sin, we just do, because the Holy Spirit lives in us. Hallelujah!
Thursday, December 28, 2017
The Birthing of Foolish People
Many foolish people were not born that way, they were trained by the liberal schools they attended, excessive praise from their families and rebellion against God.
They have no defenses against the devil, he makes them think things that are ludicrous, things they believe are intelligent and they think it's their own idea. He is whispering in their ear all the time, the lies that will destroy them and everyone else who listen to them.
Our society is not becoming more intelligent, it is more educated and less wise than ever before.
John 8:43-45 "…43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!…"
They have no defenses against the devil, he makes them think things that are ludicrous, things they believe are intelligent and they think it's their own idea. He is whispering in their ear all the time, the lies that will destroy them and everyone else who listen to them.
Our society is not becoming more intelligent, it is more educated and less wise than ever before.
John 8:43-45 "…43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!…"
See the Clues
Yes, the devil knows how to make evil look like good while making good look like evil. Unless we know the Word of God and are led by the Holy Spirit, we will miss the clues and be sucked into the lies.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
They are Deeply Immature
People are becoming more selfish and deeply immature, while lacking in Christ like love or even natural human love. The list in 2 Timothy 3 says it all!
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."
Spiritual Fakes
Those who are spiritual fakes will use gossip and bullying to control those who do not fall into line with their idea of spirituality.
When we have trusted Christ and turn to Him for our guidance, there will be those who attempt to intimidate us into submission to them, not to God, it's all about them.
Some forms of bullying in the church gatherings are the demands for tithing, intimidating to do work in the church that God never called you to do, as well as many other things that are not mandated in the Scriptures.
If someone cannot give you Scripture for their demands, then the answer for them is very simple, here it is; "I cannot help you with that because God didn't call me to do that." Then if they object you can instruct them to go and fight with God over it.
When we have trusted Christ and turn to Him for our guidance, there will be those who attempt to intimidate us into submission to them, not to God, it's all about them.
Some forms of bullying in the church gatherings are the demands for tithing, intimidating to do work in the church that God never called you to do, as well as many other things that are not mandated in the Scriptures.
If someone cannot give you Scripture for their demands, then the answer for them is very simple, here it is; "I cannot help you with that because God didn't call me to do that." Then if they object you can instruct them to go and fight with God over it.
Running with the Pack
Wild dogs run in packs to have power over their prey. They need one another and will not go it alone.
If you are a person who cannot be strong unless you are with the pack of dogs to guide you, then you are not strong. Those who are spiritually weak are those who must have the support of others to maintain a level of superficial spirituality.
When we are strong in the Lord, we do not feel a need to act like, look like and think like the pack. We are free to think with the mind of Christ without the pressure of non-thinking packs who intimidate their victims to be just like them.
Matthew 23:15-16..."… 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16 Woe to you, blind guides!"
If you are a person who cannot be strong unless you are with the pack of dogs to guide you, then you are not strong. Those who are spiritually weak are those who must have the support of others to maintain a level of superficial spirituality.
When we are strong in the Lord, we do not feel a need to act like, look like and think like the pack. We are free to think with the mind of Christ without the pressure of non-thinking packs who intimidate their victims to be just like them.
Matthew 23:15-16..."… 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16 Woe to you, blind guides!"
Galatians 5:19-21
"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Ephesians 4:17-19
17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness."
18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness."
2 John 1:9-11
"Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
How to Escape the World's Thinking
When we read the Word of God, it is the means through which the Lord reveals His truths. When we do not spend enough time in the Word of God, we will not be able to escape the tricks of the devil and the worlds thinking.
If we are to escape the thinking of the world, then we must be continually washed with the Word.
Ephesians 1:17-18
"17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,"
If we are to escape the thinking of the world, then we must be continually washed with the Word.
Ephesians 1:17-18
"17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,"
Sunday, December 24, 2017
The Fruit Exposes Them
When someone demonstrates a rebellious spirit, declaring that they do not care about others they are showing us their heart.
I have had young people tell me they would never wear a tie for anyone nor would they dress up to go to meet the president of the United States. The people who say these things are giving themselves away, clearly showing their disdain for authority and the expectations of others in authority.
My answer to these men was that we are to defer to others for the sake of those others. I notice these same men wore tuxedos to their own weddings. They wore the tuxedo to their own wedding because that event was about them. They are selfish enough to do what makes them look good for their own sake, but would not defer to others when it does not make them special or elevated.
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Fruit of the Spirit are character qualities that affect our actions and the way we think. When we only do what makes ourselves look good or special, then we are selfish to the core.
These same men would mock the pretty table settings of their mother in law or mother, but will take their wives to a fancy restaurant that has all the beauty of a castle, are demonstrating clearly their self absorbed status.
People who love themselves more than anyone else often are terribly inconsistent. They cannot allow others to shine, they must be the focus of all praise and they must mock anyone who takes attention away from themselves.
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 selfish people mock the ways of God, cannot possibly possess the fruit of the Spirit. They are not loving, they have no joy, they are not peacable, patient, kind or any of the other qualities. These people need to find Christ, to be changed into a new creation by Him.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
The world is becoming a very ugly place, there is much need for constant instruction in righteousness because it is so lacking in human interactions. The arrogance of the young is growing exponentially, without any sign of abating.
We grieve as we watch the growth of disrespect and dishonor for people and for good things. The things that we grew up with, manners and excellence in hospitality have diminished so much so that they seem nearly completely gone.
The principles of the Bible are not important to these rebellious types. Those who claim to be Christians say that they are following the Bible but in close inspection they do not. Much of what they do is based on psychology and modern traditions, rather than God's Word.
When we mention God's word to these people they become angry, even raging as though we did something wrong in speaking about Christ. This is the face of the apostate church, they say they believe in God and say they believe the Bible while at the same time ignoring and even mocking His principles and commands. They are frequently removing passages of the Bible from their context to justify their own desires and to elevate self.
2 Timothy 3 shows us what the last days apostate church will look like and in verse 5 He says to remove ourselves from them. These people will not encourage us to continue with God but will work to mock us into silence. We cannot allow them to diminish our walk by associating with them. They are not reachable because they are stubborn and self righteous, they will not listen, these are those who are controlled by the devil.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
"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."
I have had young people tell me they would never wear a tie for anyone nor would they dress up to go to meet the president of the United States. The people who say these things are giving themselves away, clearly showing their disdain for authority and the expectations of others in authority.
My answer to these men was that we are to defer to others for the sake of those others. I notice these same men wore tuxedos to their own weddings. They wore the tuxedo to their own wedding because that event was about them. They are selfish enough to do what makes them look good for their own sake, but would not defer to others when it does not make them special or elevated.
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Fruit of the Spirit are character qualities that affect our actions and the way we think. When we only do what makes ourselves look good or special, then we are selfish to the core.
These same men would mock the pretty table settings of their mother in law or mother, but will take their wives to a fancy restaurant that has all the beauty of a castle, are demonstrating clearly their self absorbed status.
People who love themselves more than anyone else often are terribly inconsistent. They cannot allow others to shine, they must be the focus of all praise and they must mock anyone who takes attention away from themselves.
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 selfish people mock the ways of God, cannot possibly possess the fruit of the Spirit. They are not loving, they have no joy, they are not peacable, patient, kind or any of the other qualities. These people need to find Christ, to be changed into a new creation by Him.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
The world is becoming a very ugly place, there is much need for constant instruction in righteousness because it is so lacking in human interactions. The arrogance of the young is growing exponentially, without any sign of abating.
We grieve as we watch the growth of disrespect and dishonor for people and for good things. The things that we grew up with, manners and excellence in hospitality have diminished so much so that they seem nearly completely gone.
The principles of the Bible are not important to these rebellious types. Those who claim to be Christians say that they are following the Bible but in close inspection they do not. Much of what they do is based on psychology and modern traditions, rather than God's Word.
When we mention God's word to these people they become angry, even raging as though we did something wrong in speaking about Christ. This is the face of the apostate church, they say they believe in God and say they believe the Bible while at the same time ignoring and even mocking His principles and commands. They are frequently removing passages of the Bible from their context to justify their own desires and to elevate self.
2 Timothy 3 shows us what the last days apostate church will look like and in verse 5 He says to remove ourselves from them. These people will not encourage us to continue with God but will work to mock us into silence. We cannot allow them to diminish our walk by associating with them. They are not reachable because they are stubborn and self righteous, they will not listen, these are those who are controlled by the devil.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
"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."
Let God Be God!
Even if we do not lead anyone to Christ but we have obeyed in speaking the gospel, we have been counted as obeying.
Sometimes missionaries worked for 30 years without one convert, they died and the next missionaries led many to Christ from all the foundation the first missionaries laid for the people.
We cannot judge a person by how many people came to Christ because of their work. We lay the ground work and Christ brings the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 " 6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.…"
We also cannot judge another man's work, what looks like little to us, God can make bigger in His way and His timing. When we look at "circumstances" rather than obeying by faith, we could very often be discouraged.
Our faith is not based on our own results, but on the power of Christ to take His message wherever He wants it to go.
Perhaps there will be little old ladies who sat in their favorite rocking chair day after day, year after year, who never led anyone to Christ but faithfully prayed for those around her, those on the mission field and those in her families. No one would see the results of her prayers, not even her, but God did things she and onlookers never saw or heard about.
Stop judging another man's work and begin asking Christ what He wants you to do.
Sometimes missionaries worked for 30 years without one convert, they died and the next missionaries led many to Christ from all the foundation the first missionaries laid for the people.
We cannot judge a person by how many people came to Christ because of their work. We lay the ground work and Christ brings the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 " 6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.…"
We also cannot judge another man's work, what looks like little to us, God can make bigger in His way and His timing. When we look at "circumstances" rather than obeying by faith, we could very often be discouraged.
Our faith is not based on our own results, but on the power of Christ to take His message wherever He wants it to go.
Perhaps there will be little old ladies who sat in their favorite rocking chair day after day, year after year, who never led anyone to Christ but faithfully prayed for those around her, those on the mission field and those in her families. No one would see the results of her prayers, not even her, but God did things she and onlookers never saw or heard about.
Stop judging another man's work and begin asking Christ what He wants you to do.
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Past Forgiven Sins
On another thread we were posed the question as to whether or not someone has the right to hold past forgiven sins against us. I thought this was a good time to address this here because I realize there are many believers who are being accused of past sin, merely to control them and redirect the target away from the present sins of the accuser.
People can do what ever they want, but the fact is that if someone is repentant they are forgiven by God, no one should rehash it. The only reason to bring up a past sin is to demean and diminish the person who is the target.
Those who bring up past sins or don't bring them up but act superior to us, are merely attempting to control our emotions to cause frustration and even insanity. They are being used of the devil to cause guilt in one who is forgiven. These are acts of the devil, we should not take them seriously.
I never feel guilty for past forgiven sins, everyone....everyone and everyone has past sins, it is the human experience. Those who think they can hold past sin against us must be thinking they never had any of their own. If they believe they never had sin that needed forgiving, then perhaps their sin is unrepented and they remain in their guilt.
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Ephesians 1:7
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"
Matthew 6:14-15
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Here is where judging is a sin, when we judge others based on past forgiven sins, for the purpose of elevating ourselves and demeaning another.
Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
People can do what ever they want, but the fact is that if someone is repentant they are forgiven by God, no one should rehash it. The only reason to bring up a past sin is to demean and diminish the person who is the target.
Those who bring up past sins or don't bring them up but act superior to us, are merely attempting to control our emotions to cause frustration and even insanity. They are being used of the devil to cause guilt in one who is forgiven. These are acts of the devil, we should not take them seriously.
I never feel guilty for past forgiven sins, everyone....everyone and everyone has past sins, it is the human experience. Those who think they can hold past sin against us must be thinking they never had any of their own. If they believe they never had sin that needed forgiving, then perhaps their sin is unrepented and they remain in their guilt.
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Ephesians 1:7
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"
Matthew 6:14-15
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
Here is where judging is a sin, when we judge others based on past forgiven sins, for the purpose of elevating ourselves and demeaning another.
Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
The Way We Think
The way we think determines our actions. We cannot separate our thinking process from the way we operate in life.
The unsaved are deeply invested in self esteem teaching which colors every single thing way they think and the things they do.
In Judges 17 we can see what happens to a nation when there is no king or God in the lives of the people.
Without God there is no ability to do what is right, there are no rules and standards. We see this right now in our country. All moral standards of God are mocked while the relativity of human moral standards are changing every day, based merely on the desires of radically selfish human beings.
Those who follow Christ know that proper way to raise children, but the world is allowing the children to raise the adults.
When we follow Christ we see the need to defer to others in unimportant matters to be helpful to those around us.
The world fights for their rights tolerating nothing while asserting their right to be tolerated. Worldly thinking is irrational at best, it defies God's standards of righteousness that are actually better for us, that bring emotional, spiritual and even financial advantage.
Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways” .
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” .
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” .
Those who fight to have their own way, mocking and demeaning the ways of God, will see destruction and miss many blessings!
Those who love the ways of God will be prosperous in their spiritual growth and wisdom. They will not be led astray by foolishness.
Psalm 119:100 “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts”.
Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life”.
The unsaved are deeply invested in self esteem teaching which colors every single thing way they think and the things they do.
In Judges 17 we can see what happens to a nation when there is no king or God in the lives of the people.
Without God there is no ability to do what is right, there are no rules and standards. We see this right now in our country. All moral standards of God are mocked while the relativity of human moral standards are changing every day, based merely on the desires of radically selfish human beings.
Those who follow Christ know that proper way to raise children, but the world is allowing the children to raise the adults.
When we follow Christ we see the need to defer to others in unimportant matters to be helpful to those around us.
The world fights for their rights tolerating nothing while asserting their right to be tolerated. Worldly thinking is irrational at best, it defies God's standards of righteousness that are actually better for us, that bring emotional, spiritual and even financial advantage.
Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways” .
Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble” .
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” .
Those who fight to have their own way, mocking and demeaning the ways of God, will see destruction and miss many blessings!
Those who love the ways of God will be prosperous in their spiritual growth and wisdom. They will not be led astray by foolishness.
Psalm 119:100 “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts”.
Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life”.
Friday, December 22, 2017
Emotions Ignore Them
When emotions drive actions and reactions, then there is much error and even further brokenness.
Forget the Excuses and Repent
Ezekiel 18:19-21
"19"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.…"
So you see, our home environment is not responsible for the way we turn out. The choices we make prove our own hearts.
"19"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity?' When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.
20"The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21"But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.…"
So you see, our home environment is not responsible for the way we turn out. The choices we make prove our own hearts.
The Pavlov Dog Experiment Doesn't Work on Humans
I am convinced that narcissists make choices and decisions in how they will respond to life.
Some very good people raised in terrible homes do not become narcissists. AND, some bad people were raised in good environments do not become narcissists.
We are not animals who respond to stimuli, we are human beings who make our choices based on our inner heart.
There is no formula, it's a matter of choices people make in response to their life situations.
I have met bad people who were given good family environments who blamed the standards of the family on their "strict" homes, for their choices to act badly. I saw those homes and they were not "too strict", they were merely normal caring parents who had boundaries for their children.
One child in a good environment will rebel and live horribly, while others in that same family choose righteously and well.
When we attempt to apply principles from psychology based on evolution of "cause and effect", we make a very grave mistake. This mentality tends to coddle evil doers, thinking they are in pain when they are not only, not in pain, they are the abusers who cause pain.
Everyone is responsible for their own choices and responses to life. Sadly many people who do act like animals, losing control over the unkind treatment in our culture, or perceiving something as unkind when it was not, give themselves excuses.
Our Lord teaches that we are to ignore our feelings that are natural, never executing revenge. God tells us not to treat others badly in response to their ill treatment of us. We can tell the truth, explain the need to stop abusing others, even give consequences but we are never to exact revenge on anyone.
Romans 12:18-20 "…18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
We have God's permission and even a command to remove ourselves from those who act badly and are not sorry for their actions. Those who are not sorry will continue causing trouble whenever they can get away with it.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 “Difficult Times Will Come” 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."
Truth and consequences only work on those who have a conscience. When there is no conscience present for bad behavior, then there will be revenge on the part of the narcissist. Their goal is to punish us so that we will end up acting badly, thereby excusing themselves for their own evil behavior.
As believers we have all the necessary instructions in the Bible to help us know how to handle those who are disobedient and rebellious against God.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Our hope and prayer is that the Lord will help us to respond in a godly manner to all the circumstances around us rather than reacting to the manipulations of others.
Some very good people raised in terrible homes do not become narcissists. AND, some bad people were raised in good environments do not become narcissists.
We are not animals who respond to stimuli, we are human beings who make our choices based on our inner heart.
There is no formula, it's a matter of choices people make in response to their life situations.
I have met bad people who were given good family environments who blamed the standards of the family on their "strict" homes, for their choices to act badly. I saw those homes and they were not "too strict", they were merely normal caring parents who had boundaries for their children.
One child in a good environment will rebel and live horribly, while others in that same family choose righteously and well.
When we attempt to apply principles from psychology based on evolution of "cause and effect", we make a very grave mistake. This mentality tends to coddle evil doers, thinking they are in pain when they are not only, not in pain, they are the abusers who cause pain.
Everyone is responsible for their own choices and responses to life. Sadly many people who do act like animals, losing control over the unkind treatment in our culture, or perceiving something as unkind when it was not, give themselves excuses.
Our Lord teaches that we are to ignore our feelings that are natural, never executing revenge. God tells us not to treat others badly in response to their ill treatment of us. We can tell the truth, explain the need to stop abusing others, even give consequences but we are never to exact revenge on anyone.
Romans 12:18-20 "…18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
We have God's permission and even a command to remove ourselves from those who act badly and are not sorry for their actions. Those who are not sorry will continue causing trouble whenever they can get away with it.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 “Difficult Times Will Come” 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."
Truth and consequences only work on those who have a conscience. When there is no conscience present for bad behavior, then there will be revenge on the part of the narcissist. Their goal is to punish us so that we will end up acting badly, thereby excusing themselves for their own evil behavior.
As believers we have all the necessary instructions in the Bible to help us know how to handle those who are disobedient and rebellious against God.
Matthew 7:16-20 "16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Our hope and prayer is that the Lord will help us to respond in a godly manner to all the circumstances around us rather than reacting to the manipulations of others.
MacAruthur in Serious Error
Many years ago I collected a number of books by John MacArthur and listened to him on the radio often. His sermons seemed good and I never heard anything I disagreed with......until recent years.
Over the years as I grew in the Lord I became aware that he believed some things that the Lord never taught in His word, things that will lead people astray.
I thought the doctrine of "election", in which no one had a choice in their salvation, nor could anyone understand anything unless they first had the Holy Spirit after salvation, was a mere disagreement. Now I see just how serious is this teaching.
I thought these things sounded off to me, but thought perhaps I had misunderstood him. Then over the course of a few months I saw that he was becoming more outspoken on these matters, as though he knew many years ago that most people would not accept these things so he waited until the culture was more receptive.
Now I realize he believed these things all along but seemed to be hiding them to remain popular with mainstream Christianity.
Lately he has been openly teaching that no one has a choice in their salvation and that a person in the tribulation could still be saved when they take the mark of the beast.
It makes no sense at all, in light of our understanding of the character of God, that He would make people unable to choose Him and then punish them in hell for not choosing Him. That is not the compassionate and loving God Who would send His own Son to die for the sins of the world.
I am throwing out all of his books!
Revelation 14:11. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. Day and night there will be no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
John 1:2 " 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world."
2 Peter 3:9
"9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
Over the years as I grew in the Lord I became aware that he believed some things that the Lord never taught in His word, things that will lead people astray.
I thought the doctrine of "election", in which no one had a choice in their salvation, nor could anyone understand anything unless they first had the Holy Spirit after salvation, was a mere disagreement. Now I see just how serious is this teaching.
I thought these things sounded off to me, but thought perhaps I had misunderstood him. Then over the course of a few months I saw that he was becoming more outspoken on these matters, as though he knew many years ago that most people would not accept these things so he waited until the culture was more receptive.
Now I realize he believed these things all along but seemed to be hiding them to remain popular with mainstream Christianity.
Lately he has been openly teaching that no one has a choice in their salvation and that a person in the tribulation could still be saved when they take the mark of the beast.
It makes no sense at all, in light of our understanding of the character of God, that He would make people unable to choose Him and then punish them in hell for not choosing Him. That is not the compassionate and loving God Who would send His own Son to die for the sins of the world.
I am throwing out all of his books!
Revelation 14:11. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. Day and night there will be no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
John 1:2 " 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours alone, but also for the sins of the whole world."
2 Peter 3:9
"9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
Addiction to Continual Praise
I know a lot of people pleasers today, perhaps because they have been raised on self esteem and cannot live without continual praise.
When we are addicted to being superior to others, we know that self is on the throne.
Matthew 16:23-25 "23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.…"
When we are addicted to being superior to others, we know that self is on the throne.
Matthew 16:23-25 "23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.…"
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Time Out and the Silent Treatment are Cousins
There are those that believe physical punishment, such as a spanking, is child abuse.
My assertion is that the real child abuse is not the spanking that is done to redirect the behavior of a child after which the child is allowed to continue with the family after the bad behavior has been corrected, but the isolation from others that is the real child abuse.
One of the most devastating occurrences is that of deliberately ignoring a person to punish them, such as the silent treatment. Rather than treating a person as a valuable human being, worthy of rational dialogue to resolve a matter, the perpetrator of the silent treatment ignores and dismisses a person as of not enough value to even bother with.
This is the mentality behind placing a child in a room alone to become depressed while feeling devalued as a human being. Left to ruminate on their lack of importance to the family, the child's imagination wanders to their isolation, believing they are no longer loved by the parent who set them aside.
When a child has been naughty, receives a spanking and is allowed to return to activity with the family, they know the discipline was to redirect their behavior, but they are too valuable to be set aside and alone, they must be a functioning member of the family as they return to the group after their correction.
The "experts" who decry the silent treatment as contempt for the target will also endorse that same treatment for a child only changing the name of it from silent treatment to time out, and yet it amounts to the same thing with the same cruel effects as the silent treatment.
God knew what He was saying when He told us to use the rod to correct the bad behavior, after which the child is returned immediately to contact and interaction with their beloved family.
Proverbs 13:24 "24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
Proverbs 22:15
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him."
Children are not stupid, they know the difference between child abuse and a spanking to correct their behavior. They also know when they have been naughty and deserve to be punished.
I have actually heard children who were given a choice to be spanked or go to their room removing them from the family, say they would rather have the spanking and get it over with than to be isolated from everyone.
Isolation is a tactic of terrorists and jailers. They isolate their prisoners to cause mental insanity. When a person is isolated from others they come under intense emotional pain that is far worse than a spanking could ever be.
Removing a child on occasion who cannot get along with others can be appropriate, however continual use of isolation as the main form of punishment is in my estimation, child abuse of the worst sort. Often this isolation merely serves to embitter the one who has been set aside as unworthy to be with the family.
When we love someone we want them to learn how to interact with others, but we do not want to devalue them to the point of completely ignoring their emotional and spiritual needs for connection with others.
Narcissists often use the tactic of isolation to be able to cause emotional insanity. They know if they can make their target feel desperate they will be able to control them.
Parents are not to be interested in "controlling" their families, they ought to be interested in teaching and training for the children to be able to make their own proper choices through loving discipline based on God's Word and encouragement.
A parent should not be disciplining merely to get their own way, but to train a child in the way he should go. When discipline is administered solely for the purpose of having control over the child, the child will become embittered and angry.
The purpose of discipline is to teach God's principles that will be valuable for the child to know as they learn how to exist in the world around them, how to be loving, kind and honoring to God as they move through life.
Those children who have not learned to obey, who have been indulged and ignored will often turn into selfish narcissists who care little about anyone else. These people have no empathy for others nor do they engage in caring interactions with anyone. Everything they do all the time is to gain advantage over others. Even their good actions are designed to gain something for themselves.
Jude 1:16 " 16 These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage. "
Proverbs 10:9
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out."
Children who have been disciplined God's way are more likely to understand kindness, love, empathy and selflessness.
Those who have not been disciplined will become narcissists, there are more of them around us every day now as the days become more wicked. These people rage at anyone who says no to them or corrects them on any level. They use lying, deceit, manipulation and intimidation to get their own way or to appear superior to others.
God described these undisciplined types in 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."
Ever since the onset of the self esteem teaching, our culture has deteriorated into the abyss of total selfishness, treachery and monstrous tactics to destroy anyone who will not praise and elevate them.
May the Lord work in the hearts of young believers who are now raising the children who will one day be the adults of our world.
My assertion is that the real child abuse is not the spanking that is done to redirect the behavior of a child after which the child is allowed to continue with the family after the bad behavior has been corrected, but the isolation from others that is the real child abuse.
One of the most devastating occurrences is that of deliberately ignoring a person to punish them, such as the silent treatment. Rather than treating a person as a valuable human being, worthy of rational dialogue to resolve a matter, the perpetrator of the silent treatment ignores and dismisses a person as of not enough value to even bother with.
This is the mentality behind placing a child in a room alone to become depressed while feeling devalued as a human being. Left to ruminate on their lack of importance to the family, the child's imagination wanders to their isolation, believing they are no longer loved by the parent who set them aside.
When a child has been naughty, receives a spanking and is allowed to return to activity with the family, they know the discipline was to redirect their behavior, but they are too valuable to be set aside and alone, they must be a functioning member of the family as they return to the group after their correction.
The "experts" who decry the silent treatment as contempt for the target will also endorse that same treatment for a child only changing the name of it from silent treatment to time out, and yet it amounts to the same thing with the same cruel effects as the silent treatment.
God knew what He was saying when He told us to use the rod to correct the bad behavior, after which the child is returned immediately to contact and interaction with their beloved family.
Proverbs 13:24 "24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
Proverbs 22:15
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him."
Children are not stupid, they know the difference between child abuse and a spanking to correct their behavior. They also know when they have been naughty and deserve to be punished.
I have actually heard children who were given a choice to be spanked or go to their room removing them from the family, say they would rather have the spanking and get it over with than to be isolated from everyone.
Isolation is a tactic of terrorists and jailers. They isolate their prisoners to cause mental insanity. When a person is isolated from others they come under intense emotional pain that is far worse than a spanking could ever be.
Removing a child on occasion who cannot get along with others can be appropriate, however continual use of isolation as the main form of punishment is in my estimation, child abuse of the worst sort. Often this isolation merely serves to embitter the one who has been set aside as unworthy to be with the family.
When we love someone we want them to learn how to interact with others, but we do not want to devalue them to the point of completely ignoring their emotional and spiritual needs for connection with others.
Narcissists often use the tactic of isolation to be able to cause emotional insanity. They know if they can make their target feel desperate they will be able to control them.
Parents are not to be interested in "controlling" their families, they ought to be interested in teaching and training for the children to be able to make their own proper choices through loving discipline based on God's Word and encouragement.
A parent should not be disciplining merely to get their own way, but to train a child in the way he should go. When discipline is administered solely for the purpose of having control over the child, the child will become embittered and angry.
The purpose of discipline is to teach God's principles that will be valuable for the child to know as they learn how to exist in the world around them, how to be loving, kind and honoring to God as they move through life.
Those children who have not learned to obey, who have been indulged and ignored will often turn into selfish narcissists who care little about anyone else. These people have no empathy for others nor do they engage in caring interactions with anyone. Everything they do all the time is to gain advantage over others. Even their good actions are designed to gain something for themselves.
Jude 1:16 " 16 These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage. "
Proverbs 10:9
"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out."
Children who have been disciplined God's way are more likely to understand kindness, love, empathy and selflessness.
Those who have not been disciplined will become narcissists, there are more of them around us every day now as the days become more wicked. These people rage at anyone who says no to them or corrects them on any level. They use lying, deceit, manipulation and intimidation to get their own way or to appear superior to others.
God described these undisciplined types in 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."
Ever since the onset of the self esteem teaching, our culture has deteriorated into the abyss of total selfishness, treachery and monstrous tactics to destroy anyone who will not praise and elevate them.
May the Lord work in the hearts of young believers who are now raising the children who will one day be the adults of our world.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Time Flies and The Lord is Coming
Has anyone noticed how quickly the weeks pass? There is no time to waste anymore. The Lord will be returning very soon and the days are flying!
Exercise is of Little Value
I am convinced any exercise other than walking is bad for people, they are injuring their bodies incrementally. If other things can wear out from use, why not our bodies.
Want to live longer and healthier? Just take a nap every day!
1 Timothy 4:7-9
7 But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness. 8 For physicalexercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for thepresent life and for the one to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.…
Want to live longer and healthier? Just take a nap every day!
1 Timothy 4:7-9
7 But reject irreverent and silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness. 8 For physicalexercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for thepresent life and for the one to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance.…
Saved by Grace Expected Obedience
We are saved by grace, that means that we did not have to pay for our salvation, because of that same grace we have the desire and ability through the Holy Spirit to obey God. When we do not obey Him, we are in sin and it needs to be dealt with through accountability of other believers as well as the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Never use the excuse that we are saved by grace therefore sin doesn't matter. Anyone who says this may not be born again, because those who become born again hate their own sin when it happens.
Hebrews 10:26
"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"
2 Timothy 4:2-3 " 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.…"
It is the love of God that causes believers to correct one another to help spiritual growth in holiness.
Now that you know that deliberate sin after becoming born again is rebellion against God, you might want to drop the nonsense that "grace" covers sin. NO, grace does not cover sin, the blood of Jesus does, so why would we want to believe that sin is no big deal when it took the horrid death and shedding of blood of the Son of God, God Himself.
Never use the excuse that we are saved by grace therefore sin doesn't matter. Anyone who says this may not be born again, because those who become born again hate their own sin when it happens.
Hebrews 10:26
"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"
2 Timothy 4:2-3 " 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.…"
It is the love of God that causes believers to correct one another to help spiritual growth in holiness.
Now that you know that deliberate sin after becoming born again is rebellion against God, you might want to drop the nonsense that "grace" covers sin. NO, grace does not cover sin, the blood of Jesus does, so why would we want to believe that sin is no big deal when it took the horrid death and shedding of blood of the Son of God, God Himself.
The Holy Spirit Emanates from Believers
When we had an ice cream business we would take our ice cream to the fairs. Serving out of the booth, we had many customers, it was enlightening the things I noticed from behind the counter.
Sometimes scantily clad women would approach the booth to buy ice cream. I was always friendly with everyone but some of them would begin to pull their cloths together to try to cover up, as though they were embarrassed. When I had not looked any particular way or said anything at all except to smile at them, they watched me sheeplishly as though being humbled.
I always attributed the reactions of some customers to the Holy Spirit. They were being confronted by the Holy Spirit in me and probably thought it was something about me. I am convinced that this happens a lot when we can't figure out why someone would not like us or would feel uncomfortable in our presence when we have not even had time to say or do anything.
When extended family act like they don't like you, but you can't figure out what they dislike, it very well could be Christ in us and not us at all.
There are times when it seems like people are fabricating reasons to dislike us but even they cannot find a real reason, so they make one up.
This is why, at times there seem to be irrational actions and attitudes that even those who hold us in disregard can't say exactly why they are not comfortable around us. I have had people "guess" what was wrong with me when there had no evidence of what they were saying.
John 16:7-9 "…7 But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…"
Notice in verse 8 that God says that it will be the Holy Spirit that convicts unbelievers of sin. Even when we say nothing the unbeliever senses the Holy Spirit in us and are made to feel strange, believing it is something about us they are sensing.
Since the unbeliever cannot see the Holy Spirit, they come against the one they can see, that is us.
Ian Thomas said this:
"The Holy Spirit is like a man with a lamp entering a dark and dirty room, and what you have learned to live with in the dark becomes repugnant in the light."
Sometimes scantily clad women would approach the booth to buy ice cream. I was always friendly with everyone but some of them would begin to pull their cloths together to try to cover up, as though they were embarrassed. When I had not looked any particular way or said anything at all except to smile at them, they watched me sheeplishly as though being humbled.
I always attributed the reactions of some customers to the Holy Spirit. They were being confronted by the Holy Spirit in me and probably thought it was something about me. I am convinced that this happens a lot when we can't figure out why someone would not like us or would feel uncomfortable in our presence when we have not even had time to say or do anything.
When extended family act like they don't like you, but you can't figure out what they dislike, it very well could be Christ in us and not us at all.
There are times when it seems like people are fabricating reasons to dislike us but even they cannot find a real reason, so they make one up.
This is why, at times there seem to be irrational actions and attitudes that even those who hold us in disregard can't say exactly why they are not comfortable around us. I have had people "guess" what was wrong with me when there had no evidence of what they were saying.
John 16:7-9 "…7 But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…"
Notice in verse 8 that God says that it will be the Holy Spirit that convicts unbelievers of sin. Even when we say nothing the unbeliever senses the Holy Spirit in us and are made to feel strange, believing it is something about us they are sensing.
Since the unbeliever cannot see the Holy Spirit, they come against the one they can see, that is us.
Ian Thomas said this:
"The Holy Spirit is like a man with a lamp entering a dark and dirty room, and what you have learned to live with in the dark becomes repugnant in the light."
Rejection for Boldness
Facebook December 20, 2016
Let me describe what I have seen many believers are feeling;
They are full of joy and boldness, continually rejected by rebellious hears, accused of "negative" attitude as they are compelled by the Holy Spirit to expose evil because of their love for Christ first and then their love of those to whom they speak.
Believers have a deep concern for the spiritual growth of their brothers and sisters in Christ as well as an even deeper concern for those who are unsaved and on their way to the fires of hell.
Our hearts leap with joy over our hope of going home, when all this mess we live with every day torments our souls as it tormented the soul of Lot.
We rejoice at what God has made us, where we are going and the joy of our love for Christ, while simultaneously grieving over the dying and evil world all around us.
2 Peter 2:6-8 "6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; 7 and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—…"
Those who would accuse of a believer being too negative, perhaps does not understand the world they live in, the working of the Holy Spirit or the depth of depravity he or she is surrounded by.
These same people hate correction and instruction themselves, so they interpret these necessary elements of Christian life as saddening, rather than things that could bring joy to anyone who heeds the warnings and become born again because of it.
Anyone who cannot face truth, will never lead anyone to the Lord. Should we make people feel comfortable in their wickedness, or would it be better to warn them and watch them seek God because of the conviction they have toward their sin?
Romans 1:21-22 "21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,…"
Anyone who hears the "negative" truth of hell and damnation and heeds its' warning will be excited and blessed that they have been saved out of it and on their way to heaven.
2 Corinthians 7:8-9 "8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time. 9 And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.…"
The reality is this, those who avoid sounding negative while living in the dilution that everyone should be happy happy all the time are negating the Word of God and the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit to show us our sinful nature after which we become joyful that Christ provided a way out of sin and hell.
Would we rather a person go to hell for eternity, so that others will like us, or do we grief over evil and attempt to convince others to turn to Christ for their salvation?
"Romans 1:26-27
"26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is [a]unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing [b]indecent acts and receiving in [c]their own persons the due penalty of their error."
Let me describe what I have seen many believers are feeling;
They are full of joy and boldness, continually rejected by rebellious hears, accused of "negative" attitude as they are compelled by the Holy Spirit to expose evil because of their love for Christ first and then their love of those to whom they speak.
Believers have a deep concern for the spiritual growth of their brothers and sisters in Christ as well as an even deeper concern for those who are unsaved and on their way to the fires of hell.
Our hearts leap with joy over our hope of going home, when all this mess we live with every day torments our souls as it tormented the soul of Lot.
We rejoice at what God has made us, where we are going and the joy of our love for Christ, while simultaneously grieving over the dying and evil world all around us.
2 Peter 2:6-8 "6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly; 7 and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—…"
Those who would accuse of a believer being too negative, perhaps does not understand the world they live in, the working of the Holy Spirit or the depth of depravity he or she is surrounded by.
These same people hate correction and instruction themselves, so they interpret these necessary elements of Christian life as saddening, rather than things that could bring joy to anyone who heeds the warnings and become born again because of it.
Anyone who cannot face truth, will never lead anyone to the Lord. Should we make people feel comfortable in their wickedness, or would it be better to warn them and watch them seek God because of the conviction they have toward their sin?
Romans 1:21-22 "21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,…"
Anyone who hears the "negative" truth of hell and damnation and heeds its' warning will be excited and blessed that they have been saved out of it and on their way to heaven.
2 Corinthians 7:8-9 "8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Although I did regret it, I now see that my letter caused you sorrow, but only for a short time. 9 And now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us.…"
The reality is this, those who avoid sounding negative while living in the dilution that everyone should be happy happy all the time are negating the Word of God and the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit to show us our sinful nature after which we become joyful that Christ provided a way out of sin and hell.
Would we rather a person go to hell for eternity, so that others will like us, or do we grief over evil and attempt to convince others to turn to Christ for their salvation?
"Romans 1:26-27
"26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is [a]unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing [b]indecent acts and receiving in [c]their own persons the due penalty of their error."
Believing the Truth
Often those who are guilty of sin choose to believe we are bad for exposing it, when in their hearts they are deeply convicted.
Those who are evil pretend we are bad to relieve themselves of their own guilt.
If they were not guilty or really didn't know they did something wrong, they would not be raging at us, they would merely want to hear the truth.
We live in a monstrously rebellious world now, so evil that even many in the church prefer to defend their sin rather than exposing it to heal.
Many do not heal from their sin, rather choosing to be spiritually miserable to "appear" alright. Nothing is ever cleansed or resolved when there is denial of truth.
John 8:31-32 "31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Those who live in lies to feel superior are never absolved of their sin, they are in bondage to it. There can be no peace for these people, they ruminate continually on defending themselves, when confession and brokenness over their sin would set them free.
John 8:36 "36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. "
We are only freed from the weight of our sin by confessing it while desiring to be cleansed of it by Christ. If we cannot confess bitterness, anger, hate and greed, then we will remain in bondage to it.
The hypocrites way is to accuse others of the very sins they have to take the pressure off of themselves. The real solution to sin is to confess it and ask the Lord to cleanse us from it. Without admitting and confess, the sin will continue to dominate our being until we do what is needed, that is tell the truth about ourselves.
So often in this life when we realize a need for speaking truth, we will be envied by those who are not free in their soul to do what is needed. The pride of life is far too great to ever admit something that will only be fixed if we merely confess.
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 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."
The devil loves the "self esteem" teachings that have take captive the people of this country. It manages to keep people focused on how good they think they are, eliminating any real solution of repentance for a changed heart.
Pretending nothing is wrong only results in more sin, greater bondage and a less of a chance of ever being cleansed.
God's healing in the world has more to do with healing us of our sin than it does with physical healing. Perhaps often physical pain causes us to see our frailties and sins to be cleansed. Continual health and lack of adversity only serves to bring smugness and pride, diverting our gaze from Christ to ourselves.
The false gospel of health, wealth and prosperity has only served to built arrogance, self righteousness and meanness into our culture, so much so that when someone comes along to point out a need for repentance and healing, the hearer chooses to defend their sin sick soul over the swallowing of their pride to be healed.
1 Corinthians 11:30 "30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.…"
There are those that would accuse the believer of being too negative to be helpful. Sadly the clamor for positive thinking in our day has kept many people spiritually ill and blind without hope of change or growth.
Let's not worry about how positive we are, let's be more concerned about how helpful we can be, the right way. If I have an illness that requires an operation to make me well, I prefer a doctor who will tell the truth about the need to cut into me, than one who will pretend no operation is necessary just to make me feel emotionally good for the moment.
The good doctor speaks the problem and presents the cure. We want to be helpers who bring solutions much more than temporary happy feelings that seldom resolve anything.
Those who are evil pretend we are bad to relieve themselves of their own guilt.
If they were not guilty or really didn't know they did something wrong, they would not be raging at us, they would merely want to hear the truth.
We live in a monstrously rebellious world now, so evil that even many in the church prefer to defend their sin rather than exposing it to heal.
Many do not heal from their sin, rather choosing to be spiritually miserable to "appear" alright. Nothing is ever cleansed or resolved when there is denial of truth.
John 8:31-32 "31 So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Those who live in lies to feel superior are never absolved of their sin, they are in bondage to it. There can be no peace for these people, they ruminate continually on defending themselves, when confession and brokenness over their sin would set them free.
John 8:36 "36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. "
We are only freed from the weight of our sin by confessing it while desiring to be cleansed of it by Christ. If we cannot confess bitterness, anger, hate and greed, then we will remain in bondage to it.
The hypocrites way is to accuse others of the very sins they have to take the pressure off of themselves. The real solution to sin is to confess it and ask the Lord to cleanse us from it. Without admitting and confess, the sin will continue to dominate our being until we do what is needed, that is tell the truth about ourselves.
So often in this life when we realize a need for speaking truth, we will be envied by those who are not free in their soul to do what is needed. The pride of life is far too great to ever admit something that will only be fixed if we merely confess.
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 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."
The devil loves the "self esteem" teachings that have take captive the people of this country. It manages to keep people focused on how good they think they are, eliminating any real solution of repentance for a changed heart.
Pretending nothing is wrong only results in more sin, greater bondage and a less of a chance of ever being cleansed.
God's healing in the world has more to do with healing us of our sin than it does with physical healing. Perhaps often physical pain causes us to see our frailties and sins to be cleansed. Continual health and lack of adversity only serves to bring smugness and pride, diverting our gaze from Christ to ourselves.
The false gospel of health, wealth and prosperity has only served to built arrogance, self righteousness and meanness into our culture, so much so that when someone comes along to point out a need for repentance and healing, the hearer chooses to defend their sin sick soul over the swallowing of their pride to be healed.
1 Corinthians 11:30 "30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.…"
There are those that would accuse the believer of being too negative to be helpful. Sadly the clamor for positive thinking in our day has kept many people spiritually ill and blind without hope of change or growth.
Let's not worry about how positive we are, let's be more concerned about how helpful we can be, the right way. If I have an illness that requires an operation to make me well, I prefer a doctor who will tell the truth about the need to cut into me, than one who will pretend no operation is necessary just to make me feel emotionally good for the moment.
The good doctor speaks the problem and presents the cure. We want to be helpers who bring solutions much more than temporary happy feelings that seldom resolve anything.
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