Monday, November 27, 2017
Jeremiah 3:31-32
"For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness."
America's Demise
A description of America! This was written about Israel but has practical application for our country.
Jeremiah 2:19 "19"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God, And the dread of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of hosts."
Jeremiah 2:30 "In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion."
Jeremiah 2:19 "19"Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you; Know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter For you to forsake the LORD your God, And the dread of Me is not in you," declares the Lord GOD of hosts."
Jeremiah 2:30 "In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion."
Anger at God is Dangerous
For those foolish people who say it is alright to be angry with God, as though He has flaws.
Isaiah 45:9
"9"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'?"
Isaiah 45:9
"9"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'?"
Proverbs 29:15-16
" 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother. 16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases; But the righteous will see their fall.…"
The Ruthless and Their End
Isaiah 29:20-21
"20 For the ruthless will come to an end and the scorner will be finished,
Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off;
21 Who cause a person to be indicted by a word,
And ensnare him who adjudicates at the gate,
And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments."
"20 For the ruthless will come to an end and the scorner will be finished,
Indeed all who are intent on doing evil will be cut off;
21 Who cause a person to be indicted by a word,
And ensnare him who adjudicates at the gate,
And defraud the one in the right with meaningless arguments."
His Righteousness
"Christ did not merely give us a push,a 'head start', and leave us to work at establishing our own righteousness, on the rest of our way to heaven. Christ picked us up and into His arms, to carry us all the way to heaven by the virtue of His most precious blood, shed on the cross for our sins. (Romans 3: 22 & 25).That is the meaning of the word, GRACE. (Romans 11: 6). (Romans 4: 4 - 6). (Ephesians 2: 8 & 9).(Galatians 2: 21). (Jude 24)."
Nick Bevilacqua
Amen, Amen!!!!! I think this is a very misunderstood doctrine. Even those who say they are saved by grace seem to be proud about how good they are doing. The longer I live the less proud I feel about myself and the more excited about Christ I become. The burden of "measuring up" is gone and the joy of being held up by Christ remains.
Nick Bevilacqua
Amen, Amen!!!!! I think this is a very misunderstood doctrine. Even those who say they are saved by grace seem to be proud about how good they are doing. The longer I live the less proud I feel about myself and the more excited about Christ I become. The burden of "measuring up" is gone and the joy of being held up by Christ remains.
Authentic Love vs Superficial Love
Those who are more concerned about "love", superficial happiness that they believe is love, are more concerned about being loved by man than they are about imparting wisdom to the believers and salvation to the non-believers.
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Exodus 23:22
“But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."
1 John 5:3
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome."
John 14:31
"But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here."
God never said to us that the world will love us because we do what they like. He said that the world will love Him because they see our love for the Father and our obedience to Him.
Think about it!
John 14:15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Exodus 23:22
“But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."
1 John 5:3
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome."
John 14:31
"But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here."
God never said to us that the world will love us because we do what they like. He said that the world will love Him because they see our love for the Father and our obedience to Him.
Think about it!
The Scoffers Will Do This
2 Peter 3:3-4
"3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
"3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
Feeling Over Substance
When superficial feelings take priority over God's truth, then we know that self is on the throne and not God.
Ananias and Sapphira Lied
Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit as the Bible says and died because of it.
Acts 5:1-11
Fate of Ananias and Sapphira
5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things."
Notice that the Holy Spirit in Peter revealed to him that this couple was lying. They were not even required to give all that came from the sale of the land. They lied to make themselves look good to others. They were pretenders, grievous to God. They were saved but they were taken out early so that their prideful heart would not influence others in the beginnings of the church. Notice too that their death for their sin was so dramatic that many came to the Lord because His power was revealed in His discipline.
When we are with Christians in a "fun" gathering and any attempt to bring the conversation to Christ or His principles is mocked and ignored, we very likely are dealing with pretenders or prideful believers.
I have experienced this a lot in my life, thinking that because we are with Christians the gathering ought to be exuding the joy of the Lord and discussions about Him and His principles, but instead we are met with contempt and anger for the attempt.
Those who would keep God in a box in church, will never authentically live their lives for Him. When we are excited about the Word and about Christ, we cannot stop talking about Him. It doesn't matter where we are, who we're with or what we are doing everything we think is filtered through the Word of God.
Rebellious Christians do not want their fun disrupted by discussions about Christ or answers that come from His Word. They will talk about the ball games, their latest trips, their newest material possession, but become embarrassed and even angry when things of the Lord are mentioned.
This is the state of the apostate church, there are monstrous lying judgments made against anyone who loves the Lord. The more we live for Christ the greater the gossip will proliferate. The pretender must discredit the believer by mocking, accusing us of things we never did or said or attitudes we never had, the very things the narcissist is doing but the authentic believer is not doing.
They will say we are unloving and mean spirited to intimidate us into silence or regretting that we spoke of the Lord.
Pretenders are "religious", but they are not born again. They love themselves for the things they do. Demonstrating contempt for anyone who will want to discuss matters to come to a solution. They use the mantra often, "just love them", but do not know or understand the love of Christ. Their form of love is acceptance of everything no matter how disobedient to Christ and a jovial happy smile all the time so that people will like THEM.
It is interesting to me that God said of the account of Ananias and Sapphira, they were being influenced by the devil. The very same influence that is twisting the minds of people today to reject God's principles, His answers and holiness while they attend church every week.
"But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit."
When you become confused that so many people, seem to be surrounded by friends and family who have flattering and glowing words for them, but when you speak of the Lord, you are counted as an enemy.
Galatians 4:16-17 "16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you will be zealous for them.…"
Pray for strength that the Holy Spirit respond in you on your behalf as you deal with the increased hostility even in the church gathering.
Acts 5:1-11
Fate of Ananias and Sapphira
5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things."
Notice that the Holy Spirit in Peter revealed to him that this couple was lying. They were not even required to give all that came from the sale of the land. They lied to make themselves look good to others. They were pretenders, grievous to God. They were saved but they were taken out early so that their prideful heart would not influence others in the beginnings of the church. Notice too that their death for their sin was so dramatic that many came to the Lord because His power was revealed in His discipline.
When we are with Christians in a "fun" gathering and any attempt to bring the conversation to Christ or His principles is mocked and ignored, we very likely are dealing with pretenders or prideful believers.
I have experienced this a lot in my life, thinking that because we are with Christians the gathering ought to be exuding the joy of the Lord and discussions about Him and His principles, but instead we are met with contempt and anger for the attempt.
Those who would keep God in a box in church, will never authentically live their lives for Him. When we are excited about the Word and about Christ, we cannot stop talking about Him. It doesn't matter where we are, who we're with or what we are doing everything we think is filtered through the Word of God.
Rebellious Christians do not want their fun disrupted by discussions about Christ or answers that come from His Word. They will talk about the ball games, their latest trips, their newest material possession, but become embarrassed and even angry when things of the Lord are mentioned.
This is the state of the apostate church, there are monstrous lying judgments made against anyone who loves the Lord. The more we live for Christ the greater the gossip will proliferate. The pretender must discredit the believer by mocking, accusing us of things we never did or said or attitudes we never had, the very things the narcissist is doing but the authentic believer is not doing.
They will say we are unloving and mean spirited to intimidate us into silence or regretting that we spoke of the Lord.
Pretenders are "religious", but they are not born again. They love themselves for the things they do. Demonstrating contempt for anyone who will want to discuss matters to come to a solution. They use the mantra often, "just love them", but do not know or understand the love of Christ. Their form of love is acceptance of everything no matter how disobedient to Christ and a jovial happy smile all the time so that people will like THEM.
It is interesting to me that God said of the account of Ananias and Sapphira, they were being influenced by the devil. The very same influence that is twisting the minds of people today to reject God's principles, His answers and holiness while they attend church every week.
"But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit."
When you become confused that so many people, seem to be surrounded by friends and family who have flattering and glowing words for them, but when you speak of the Lord, you are counted as an enemy.
Galatians 4:16-17 "16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you will be zealous for them.…"
Pray for strength that the Holy Spirit respond in you on your behalf as you deal with the increased hostility even in the church gathering.
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