Those we allow in our lives says something about us.
We will become like those we spend time with, those whom are a big part of our life will influence our behavior. When we are not strong and bold, we are being changed by the evil person.
1 Corinthians 15:33
"33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
There are two reasons we keep difficult and rebellious people in our lives, the first is that we are afraid others will judge us for having boundaries concerning our friends, and the second reason is that a part of us likes the attention from our unruly friend.
If you think you cannot be influenced by your friends behavior, watch what you do when you are around them. Many people refuse to rebuke or correct in any fashion, their friends, thus becoming the supporters by silence, of the very things we do not agree with.
Some people are very proud of their silence as though it is godly, yes, the devil wants to convince you that silence to keep the peace is godly, but in fact it is playing into the hands of the one who rebels against God. There is a time for silence, however when we find ourselves remaining silent most of the time, then we know our friend is not a friend at all, but an emotional intimidater who has managed to gag us to be able to control us and everyone in their sphere.
When we remain silent long enough about things we disagree with, eventually we will become what we didn't approve of until our true self is lost in the shadow of the rebellious friend.
When we do not stand against sin and rebellion, our wicked friend is further empowered and the righteous side of us disappears.
This disappearance of self and support for sin, translates into loving our friend more than we love God. It also manages to support the actions of the evil one against others, so others are not very important either. Does anyone notice the lack of love for others demonstrated here?
Matthew 10:36-38 "36 A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.…"
The test of a true friendship is when we can stand for righteousness and our friend accepts it. When our friend can only love us when we think like they do, then there is no authentic friendship. The friendship is based on the believer remaining silent all the time, meaning the evil friend is continually being empowered to remain evil, while affecting the attitude and actions of the believer and others around them.
2 Timothy 3:5 tells us to get away from the evil people, if they will not leave, then we are to avoid them. We cannot always get away from family members who live with us, but we can avoid their tactics, remain strong and ignore their tantrums.
If you love God, speak up! You will lose friends until God replaces them with lovely people who agree with God. Don't miss out on the blessing of lovely God fearing people. The wicked friends in our life will often chase away the Godly ones. A Godly person has no desire to be with the wicked and their foolishness any longer than it takes to give them the gospel.
Friendships are based on mutual respect and love. When our friend shows us no respect, intimates they have no interest in our walk with God, even negating it, it is time to be alone for awhile as we wait for the friends God has for us.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Rejection From the Proud
It has been six or seven years since we saw our son's family. There is a spirit of anger that has taken the hearts of many people in our children's generation, much of their bitterness is without reason. They did this to Jesus Christ, accusing Him of doing miracles by means of the devil. We too will not escape this as long as we love Christ.
If the anger were rational and there was love in their hearts, they would want to work things out, speak openly and listen intently, but because the anger is irrational, there is a refusal to speak or listen without hate and contempt in their voices. I am convinced that the devil has twisted their minds, causing them to believe there is a reason to be angry, when there is not. The only solution is for these raging adults to find Christ.
Until the angry entitled and rebellious generation is able to come to the end of themselves, there can be no relationships around the Lord, they will either be superficial or they will be broken.
John 15:24-26 "…24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’ 26 When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—He will testify about Me.…"
When you are reviled, are following Christ and have prayed to understand why there is contempt toward you, my guess is that you are being maligned because of Christ Who lives in you.
In my personal life there are those who have gossiped behind my back but will not talk to me, they prefer to believe the gossip rather than know truth. Perhaps it is sin within the heart of the revilers that they are hiding, openness is not an option for them, it might expose their sinful hearts.
1 Peter 4:12-19 "1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."
If the anger were rational and there was love in their hearts, they would want to work things out, speak openly and listen intently, but because the anger is irrational, there is a refusal to speak or listen without hate and contempt in their voices. I am convinced that the devil has twisted their minds, causing them to believe there is a reason to be angry, when there is not. The only solution is for these raging adults to find Christ.
Until the angry entitled and rebellious generation is able to come to the end of themselves, there can be no relationships around the Lord, they will either be superficial or they will be broken.
John 15:24-26 "…24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’ 26 When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—He will testify about Me.…"
When you are reviled, are following Christ and have prayed to understand why there is contempt toward you, my guess is that you are being maligned because of Christ Who lives in you.
In my personal life there are those who have gossiped behind my back but will not talk to me, they prefer to believe the gossip rather than know truth. Perhaps it is sin within the heart of the revilers that they are hiding, openness is not an option for them, it might expose their sinful hearts.
1 Peter 4:12-19 "1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."
Confession is Continual
It is only through confession that we grow in holiness, it is the first step in realizing a need in us to be changed further by Christ. Those who will not confess, do not grow, they even regress, becoming worse the longer they refuse to 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. "
And,
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
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. "
And,
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
The Jewish Feasts
The Jewish feasts are for Israel! Not the church!! Has nothing to do with the Age of Grace!
I have been dealing with people for years who think they must "get all the leaven out of their house" for "Hanukkah." I have to laugh because the attempt is futile, since it is just as impossible to purge the leaven out of our kitchens as it is out of our lives. Those who have done this find they are throwing out nearly everything in their pantries. LOL
It is only Christ working in us Who can cleanse us, not by our own deeds but by His discipline and redirection.
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?…"
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
I have been dealing with people for years who think they must "get all the leaven out of their house" for "Hanukkah." I have to laugh because the attempt is futile, since it is just as impossible to purge the leaven out of our kitchens as it is out of our lives. Those who have done this find they are throwing out nearly everything in their pantries. LOL
It is only Christ working in us Who can cleanse us, not by our own deeds but by His discipline and redirection.
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?…"
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Good or Bad?
The devil is very clever at making bad things look good and good things look bad.
He is also very good at making born again people look bad while elevating wicked people to appear good.
If the world loves something or someone, it is a good bet they are not.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that count darkness as light, and light as darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
He is also very good at making born again people look bad while elevating wicked people to appear good.
If the world loves something or someone, it is a good bet they are not.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that count darkness as light, and light as darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
Trusting Christ
Nothing in this life is more important than your eternity. Where we spend eternity depends entirely on what we do with Christ. His blood was shed for us, but it only counts to us if we trust in Him.
Seeking and Hearing God
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Psalm 32:8-9
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 1 Samuel 3:10
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Psalm 32:8-9
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
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