Play acting producing nothing of substance, merely fools some people part of the time, it never fools God.
Actors in movies are not the people they portray, they are merely pretending.
So many people are "play acting" in their Christianity. They pretend they walk with God but have no real desire to please Him. We know this because they violate more of God's principles in His Word than they obey, even becoming hostile when it is pointed out.
An authentic believer who desires to please God will be ashamed rather than angry when told they are violating one of God's principles. It is those who rage that reveal a heart of pride and rebellion.
Those that are ashamed and go to prayer, will not rage or become angry, they will go to prayer to see if it is true and then begin to have a changed heart that results in changed behavior. The change in the authentic believer is permanent, they will not repeat the same things again because the desire to do it has left them entirely.
John 14:15 "15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Confession is the Key
As believers we must confess our sin to remain in fellowship with Jesus Christ Who lives in us. If we do not confess He will not hear our prayers and we can expect discipline, sometimes very devastating consequences for stubbornness.
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with your wives with understanding, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered."
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
When we refuse to admit our sin and confess it, God will discipline, ignore our prayers and leave us to the wiles of the devil to bring us to the end of ourselves. Without confession there will be no turning from the sin, only the appearance of turning, the heart remains the same. Pretending to confess without a heart change is not a turning but a remaining. When we confess sin with the desire to be cleansed by Christ, only then will there be a change of heart that results in a change in behavior.
If there is an attempt at changing the behavior without confession then pride remains and the change is temporary and fleshly. It is only through Christ changing the heart that brings on permanent and authentic change, the heart has been changed by Christ, rather than just a man attempting to change their behavior without confessing. It is only through confession with the desire to be changed, that brings about a transformation of the spirit.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
This phrase is very important but many people miss it entirely in human relationship and their relationship with Christ, "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS."
Until we recognize that we are nothing before God, that we have no wisdom to offer within ourselves, He will leave us to ourselves, often the consequences of this are life long.
Refusal to confess is the proof that someone remains in pride.
Those who are not born again, must confess their sinfulness and trust Christ for their salvation. God does not bless those who are not His, He will leave them to their own devices while life will be their teacher and discipline. Those who live according to their own flesh, don't know that their way gets them nothing spiritually and will become more and more depraved in their thinking the longer they resist Christ.
Romans 1:28-32 "28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
Even though one may not engage in the depraved actions of others, they will be held accountable for what they accept and endorse in the depravity of others.
So many people think all they have to do is pretend their offenses didn't happen, act better next time and all will be over for a better relationship. This does not only NOT work for human relationships but it also does not work between man and God.
God wants repentance, sorrow and an earnestness to be changed by Him. Attempting to change oneself without confession and without God's help will only result in a phony appearance that will not last. The slightest challenge by anyone in the next encounter will reveal the lack of authenticity in a person's heart. Play acting producing nothing of substance, merely fools some people part of the time, it never fools God.
Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."
The solution to sinfulness in the believers heart is to confess it and ask Christ to change us to become more holy.
2 Peter 3:18 " 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
The solution for the unsaved, is to confess before God their need for salvation in Jesus Christ, then He will come to live in them and begin the lifelong process of cleansing them.
Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
No one gets away with anything, even if it looks that way. Believers who sin will be disciplined and non-believers are lost in their sin without hope unless they come to Christ.
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with your wives with understanding, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered."
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
When we refuse to admit our sin and confess it, God will discipline, ignore our prayers and leave us to the wiles of the devil to bring us to the end of ourselves. Without confession there will be no turning from the sin, only the appearance of turning, the heart remains the same. Pretending to confess without a heart change is not a turning but a remaining. When we confess sin with the desire to be cleansed by Christ, only then will there be a change of heart that results in a change in behavior.
If there is an attempt at changing the behavior without confession then pride remains and the change is temporary and fleshly. It is only through Christ changing the heart that brings on permanent and authentic change, the heart has been changed by Christ, rather than just a man attempting to change their behavior without confessing. It is only through confession with the desire to be changed, that brings about a transformation of the spirit.
1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
This phrase is very important but many people miss it entirely in human relationship and their relationship with Christ, "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS."
Until we recognize that we are nothing before God, that we have no wisdom to offer within ourselves, He will leave us to ourselves, often the consequences of this are life long.
Refusal to confess is the proof that someone remains in pride.
Those who are not born again, must confess their sinfulness and trust Christ for their salvation. God does not bless those who are not His, He will leave them to their own devices while life will be their teacher and discipline. Those who live according to their own flesh, don't know that their way gets them nothing spiritually and will become more and more depraved in their thinking the longer they resist Christ.
Romans 1:28-32 "28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
Even though one may not engage in the depraved actions of others, they will be held accountable for what they accept and endorse in the depravity of others.
So many people think all they have to do is pretend their offenses didn't happen, act better next time and all will be over for a better relationship. This does not only NOT work for human relationships but it also does not work between man and God.
God wants repentance, sorrow and an earnestness to be changed by Him. Attempting to change oneself without confession and without God's help will only result in a phony appearance that will not last. The slightest challenge by anyone in the next encounter will reveal the lack of authenticity in a person's heart. Play acting producing nothing of substance, merely fools some people part of the time, it never fools God.
Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."
The solution to sinfulness in the believers heart is to confess it and ask Christ to change us to become more holy.
2 Peter 3:18 " 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
The solution for the unsaved, is to confess before God their need for salvation in Jesus Christ, then He will come to live in them and begin the lifelong process of cleansing them.
Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
No one gets away with anything, even if it looks that way. Believers who sin will be disciplined and non-believers are lost in their sin without hope unless they come to Christ.
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