We live in a day and age when people want to stay children their entire lives, they just don't want to grow up. Perhaps this is an indication of the mentality that we live with in our present age of rebellion.
1 Corinthians 13:11King James Version (KJV)
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
An Important Tool: Discernment
Discernment is a valuable tool. Without it we can be led down a garden path thinking we are among flowers when they are really thrones.
Could it be Increasingly Worse?
Does this description of our modern church resonate with anyone else? Is it possible that things have become increasingly worse since Tozer wrote about his observations?
By A.W. Tozer, from his book "God Tells the Man Who Cares"
"In the majority of our meetings there is scarcely a trace of reverent thought, no recognition of the unity of the body, little sense of the divine presence, no moment of stillness, no solemnity, no wonder, no holy fear. But so often there is a dull or a breezy song leader full of awkward jokes, as well as a chairman announcing each "number" with the old radio continuity patter in an effort to make everything hang together."
"The whole Christian family stands desperately in need of a restoration of penitence, humility and tears. May God send them soon."
By A.W. Tozer, from his book "God Tells the Man Who Cares"
"In the majority of our meetings there is scarcely a trace of reverent thought, no recognition of the unity of the body, little sense of the divine presence, no moment of stillness, no solemnity, no wonder, no holy fear. But so often there is a dull or a breezy song leader full of awkward jokes, as well as a chairman announcing each "number" with the old radio continuity patter in an effort to make everything hang together."
"The whole Christian family stands desperately in need of a restoration of penitence, humility and tears. May God send them soon."
Let God Encourage Us!
I see more arrogance in the Christian churches I have been to than in the world, at least in my world. Many in the church have never been broken over their sinfulness. When we have been broken then we know we have no reason to feel superior to anyone else.
When we think we are so good because we "do" certain things, we are focused on works rather than Christ. Our good deeds should be second nature to us, hardly noticed by us.
When we are proud because we do them, then we have not yet understood that we are not saved by our works, nor should we be elevated because of them.
Does a man have to work to breathe! NO, we do that without thinking because it is our nature.
When we are proud of the good things we do, it probably isn't in our nature, it's in the flesh so that we take note and work to make sure others take note also.
If our focus is Christ, we do not take note of our good deeds, they come as naturally as breathing and we forget them when they are finished.
It is only those who do their good deeds in the Spirit who keep no records of the things they are led to do by the Spirit Who lives in us.
Deeds done in the flesh build pride and need for recognition. The spirit of a prideful man will become angry inside when they are not continually elevated over their outer deeds.
Would we do the same deeds if no one could know about them?
Would we look around us to see if anyone is watching if no one was there?
If we are satisfied with only Christ seeing our hearts and working in us, then we will not be patting ourselves on the back, nor would we care if anyone sees but God. In fact we tend to feel embarrassed when others praise us, we would rather be encouraged by God, than praised by men.
Matthew 6:1 "1 Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
John 12:43 " 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. "
When we think we are so good because we "do" certain things, we are focused on works rather than Christ. Our good deeds should be second nature to us, hardly noticed by us.
When we are proud because we do them, then we have not yet understood that we are not saved by our works, nor should we be elevated because of them.
Does a man have to work to breathe! NO, we do that without thinking because it is our nature.
When we are proud of the good things we do, it probably isn't in our nature, it's in the flesh so that we take note and work to make sure others take note also.
If our focus is Christ, we do not take note of our good deeds, they come as naturally as breathing and we forget them when they are finished.
It is only those who do their good deeds in the Spirit who keep no records of the things they are led to do by the Spirit Who lives in us.
Deeds done in the flesh build pride and need for recognition. The spirit of a prideful man will become angry inside when they are not continually elevated over their outer deeds.
Would we do the same deeds if no one could know about them?
Would we look around us to see if anyone is watching if no one was there?
If we are satisfied with only Christ seeing our hearts and working in us, then we will not be patting ourselves on the back, nor would we care if anyone sees but God. In fact we tend to feel embarrassed when others praise us, we would rather be encouraged by God, than praised by men.
Matthew 6:1 "1 Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
John 12:43 " 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. "
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