There are three reasons people read the Bible! 1. there is an addiction to knowledge, 2 to impress others and 3 to learn the heart of God to do and be what pleases Him, to become like Him.
Let the Lord guide you as you ask this question of God for you. Which one are you?
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Turning At God's Reproof
Proverbs 1:23
"If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you."
There is no greater love than turning someone from their sin toward God.
"If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you."
There is no greater love than turning someone from their sin toward God.
Feeling Oriented Decisions
Has anyone noticed that when someone is drunk they will do things they would not have done if they were sober? Notice too that those who indulge in obedience to feelings also do things that normal reason and logic would have prevented them from doing otherwise.
Following feelings as a way of dealing with life will only bring devastation. We must think with the mind of Christ, know His Word and obey what we hear to avoid the pitfalls of feeling oriented decisions.
Following feelings as a way of dealing with life will only bring devastation. We must think with the mind of Christ, know His Word and obey what we hear to avoid the pitfalls of feeling oriented decisions.
Avoid Becoming Drunk
God says for the believer to avoid becoming drunk with wine! There is for the believer an even greater tragedy within the church, that is to be drunk on self.
This drunkenness causes a stupor of tolerance toward sin, causing it to grow in the body of Christ.
Apostasy and apathy go hand in hand. The lack of concern about loving God more than man, brings disobedience and arrogance to the body. Scriptures are twisted, maligned, ignored and even mocked by those who hate to obey anyone.
The Holy Spirit is mocked while God's principles are ignored.
Attacks against the believer who loves to use the Word of God as the standard for discussion is railed against. Then the personal attacks to our character begin.
When the narcissist does not have an answer for our questions about the principles of God, they begin attacking us, even accusing us of aggressiveness as they mock and demean us, claiming things about us that are not true, even laughing at us to intimidate us into silence.
Do not be unnerved by these tactics, they are nothing more than a smoke screen for a tortured and rebellious soul. God is clear that we will be seeing this barrage of persecution against us in these last days.
The love is gone, at least God's Love His Way, is a thing of the past for most people who say they are Christians. The only concern these people have is that they be elevated, praised and appreciated by others, they have little concern about obedience to God's Word. These people claim it is legalism to seek the Word to know the mind of Christ for obedience. This is their excuse for their rebellion.
The love of the world has replace any resemblance to God's love. Those who have been addicted to the world cannot wrap their mind around God's Love God's Way.
Romans 1:18 "18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."
The world's love does not bring peace, it brings more unnecessary trials because of the consequences that come with rebellion against God.
When temporary feelings take center stage in one's life there are difficulties far greater than what we can see momentarily. Feelings are like the man whose inhibitions have been removed because of drunkenness.
Has anyone noticed that when someone is drunk they will do things they would not have done if they were sober? Notice too that those who indulge in obedience to feelings also do things that normal reason and logic would have prevented them from doing otherwise.
Following feelings as a way of dealing with life will only bring devastation. We must think with the mind of Christ, know His Word and obey what we hear to avoid the pitfalls of feeling oriented decisions.
This drunkenness causes a stupor of tolerance toward sin, causing it to grow in the body of Christ.
Apostasy and apathy go hand in hand. The lack of concern about loving God more than man, brings disobedience and arrogance to the body. Scriptures are twisted, maligned, ignored and even mocked by those who hate to obey anyone.
The Holy Spirit is mocked while God's principles are ignored.
Attacks against the believer who loves to use the Word of God as the standard for discussion is railed against. Then the personal attacks to our character begin.
When the narcissist does not have an answer for our questions about the principles of God, they begin attacking us, even accusing us of aggressiveness as they mock and demean us, claiming things about us that are not true, even laughing at us to intimidate us into silence.
Do not be unnerved by these tactics, they are nothing more than a smoke screen for a tortured and rebellious soul. God is clear that we will be seeing this barrage of persecution against us in these last days.
The love is gone, at least God's Love His Way, is a thing of the past for most people who say they are Christians. The only concern these people have is that they be elevated, praised and appreciated by others, they have little concern about obedience to God's Word. These people claim it is legalism to seek the Word to know the mind of Christ for obedience. This is their excuse for their rebellion.
The love of the world has replace any resemblance to God's love. Those who have been addicted to the world cannot wrap their mind around God's Love God's Way.
Romans 1:18 "18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."
The world's love does not bring peace, it brings more unnecessary trials because of the consequences that come with rebellion against God.
When temporary feelings take center stage in one's life there are difficulties far greater than what we can see momentarily. Feelings are like the man whose inhibitions have been removed because of drunkenness.
Has anyone noticed that when someone is drunk they will do things they would not have done if they were sober? Notice too that those who indulge in obedience to feelings also do things that normal reason and logic would have prevented them from doing otherwise.
Following feelings as a way of dealing with life will only bring devastation. We must think with the mind of Christ, know His Word and obey what we hear to avoid the pitfalls of feeling oriented decisions.
What is Love According to God
The church is not only accepting sin within it's ranks but is in many cases embracing it to demonstrate "tolerance", the tolerance for sin that negates and nullifies God.
Those who call it love to remain silent while people are going to hell or while those in the body of Christ are sinning against God, do not understand God's love.
God's love is first toward God and then toward man. When we love God first then we will love man God's way.
Proverbs 27:5
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love."
1 Timothy 5:20
"As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
Titus 2:15
"Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
James 5:20
"Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Proverbs 27:6
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."
Proverbs 1:23
"If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you."
There is no greater love than turning someone from their sin toward God.
Those who call it love to remain silent while people are going to hell or while those in the body of Christ are sinning against God, do not understand God's love.
God's love is first toward God and then toward man. When we love God first then we will love man God's way.
Proverbs 27:5
"Better is open rebuke than hidden love."
1 Timothy 5:20
"As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
Titus 2:15
"Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
James 5:20
"Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Proverbs 27:6
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy."
Proverbs 1:23
"If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you."
There is no greater love than turning someone from their sin toward God.
Pretenders Claims
In the matter of the acceptance of transgender. Interesting, I see this mentality present in the church today, the acceptance of words and desires, above evidence, which would never hold up in a court of law.
Not that the church has accepted transgender.....yet..... but the mentality claiming to be something they are not has been embraced regularly. Many people like to "identify" as Christians but they have never been changed by the Holy Spirit, into a new creation, they remain as rebellious after conversion as they were before conversion, only with a little clean up to make themselves acceptable. These are the ones who minimize the reality and truth of the Bible, acting hostile when an authentic believer wants to use the Scriptures to settle a debate or address a problem of disobedience.
Trans gender thinking is nothing more than one deciding to declare themselves to be something they are not. Is this not true for the pretender who wants to identify as a Christian but has no desire to be authentically changed by Christ, according to the Scriptures?
A trans gender person is not the person they say they are, they are the person God made them, but they lie and say they are something they are not.
Is this not also true of the Christian who wants to be seen as a believer but has no identifying spiritual fruit that demonstrates their assertions! We learn who these people are soon after a challenge to think about their actions and attitudes as well as an admonition to go to prayer to ask God. I have yet to witness a pretender who will go to prayer to ask God, their initial response is to attack our character after which they gossip to bring people to their side.
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."
The fruit of the Spirit that God speaks of in Gatatians is absent in most people who would identify as "Christian."
Words and claims do not make someone a believer or follower of Christ. When we have become born again it was because we believed Christ and want to be changed into a new creation by Him. Our mind is changed, our behavior is changed, but we are not doing it ourselves, we are submitting to Christ, He becomes the One who works miracles in us for cleansing.
We never fear telling the truth of God's principles because we do not fear the rejection of man.
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."
Merely making the claim that we "identify" as something does not make that assertion true.
Our culture loves to pretend, appearances have become more important than substance. Joining the "group think" has become a measure of acceptance, but it is not authentic, it is pretense and rejected by Christ.
Proverbs 16:28
"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
Pretenders are always causing strife within the body. They whine and complain as though accountability is mean when it is a command of Christ that we be closely tied to others, intimately entwined as brothers and sister should be in a family. Most gatherings do not allow this, it is discouraged out of fear that someone might get mad and leave.
If someone will not want to be accountable then it is wise to let them go, they will only cause trouble, infecting others as they defy God. If someone rejects the words of God because of their rebellious heart, then they are walking in pride and will resist, their attitude will cause division, they must leave to spare the rest of the flock.
1 Corinthians 5:5-7 "…5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.…"
2 Timothy 4:1-3 "1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: 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.…"
We are to speak truth to everyone all the time. Do not worry about "how" it is done, do it because of your love for Christ and concern for the siblings. Let the Holy Spirit be the One to speak through you and stop listening to those who would continually intimidate you into "doing it the worlds way", that is to soften the message so much that when they walk away they thought you were congratulating them on their sinful behavior.
It is interesting to me that these pretenders, those who say they are Christians but hate it when we bring in the Word of God to explain our actions, are never bothered by sin, but are enraged by correction, rebuke and admonishment. Seems like a clue doesn't it?
Not that the church has accepted transgender.....yet..... but the mentality claiming to be something they are not has been embraced regularly. Many people like to "identify" as Christians but they have never been changed by the Holy Spirit, into a new creation, they remain as rebellious after conversion as they were before conversion, only with a little clean up to make themselves acceptable. These are the ones who minimize the reality and truth of the Bible, acting hostile when an authentic believer wants to use the Scriptures to settle a debate or address a problem of disobedience.
Trans gender thinking is nothing more than one deciding to declare themselves to be something they are not. Is this not true for the pretender who wants to identify as a Christian but has no desire to be authentically changed by Christ, according to the Scriptures?
A trans gender person is not the person they say they are, they are the person God made them, but they lie and say they are something they are not.
Is this not also true of the Christian who wants to be seen as a believer but has no identifying spiritual fruit that demonstrates their assertions! We learn who these people are soon after a challenge to think about their actions and attitudes as well as an admonition to go to prayer to ask God. I have yet to witness a pretender who will go to prayer to ask God, their initial response is to attack our character after which they gossip to bring people to their side.
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."
The fruit of the Spirit that God speaks of in Gatatians is absent in most people who would identify as "Christian."
Words and claims do not make someone a believer or follower of Christ. When we have become born again it was because we believed Christ and want to be changed into a new creation by Him. Our mind is changed, our behavior is changed, but we are not doing it ourselves, we are submitting to Christ, He becomes the One who works miracles in us for cleansing.
We never fear telling the truth of God's principles because we do not fear the rejection of man.
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."
Merely making the claim that we "identify" as something does not make that assertion true.
Our culture loves to pretend, appearances have become more important than substance. Joining the "group think" has become a measure of acceptance, but it is not authentic, it is pretense and rejected by Christ.
Proverbs 16:28
"A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
Pretenders are always causing strife within the body. They whine and complain as though accountability is mean when it is a command of Christ that we be closely tied to others, intimately entwined as brothers and sister should be in a family. Most gatherings do not allow this, it is discouraged out of fear that someone might get mad and leave.
If someone will not want to be accountable then it is wise to let them go, they will only cause trouble, infecting others as they defy God. If someone rejects the words of God because of their rebellious heart, then they are walking in pride and will resist, their attitude will cause division, they must leave to spare the rest of the flock.
1 Corinthians 5:5-7 "…5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.…"
2 Timothy 4:1-3 "1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: 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.…"
We are to speak truth to everyone all the time. Do not worry about "how" it is done, do it because of your love for Christ and concern for the siblings. Let the Holy Spirit be the One to speak through you and stop listening to those who would continually intimidate you into "doing it the worlds way", that is to soften the message so much that when they walk away they thought you were congratulating them on their sinful behavior.
It is interesting to me that these pretenders, those who say they are Christians but hate it when we bring in the Word of God to explain our actions, are never bothered by sin, but are enraged by correction, rebuke and admonishment. Seems like a clue doesn't it?
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