Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Definitions of Legalism and Obedience
God gave me definitions for "legalism" and "obedience." God told me that legalism is obeying man's rules that God never made. Obedience is obeying God's principles because He gave them.
Not Under the Law
The Law Giver, Jesus Christ lives in us, we love the Law and have no need to be "under" it anymore. I will not steal not because I follow the Law, I will not steal because Christ in me gave me His Spirit and I don't desire to steal.
Don't Be a Bobble Headed Christian
Don't be a bobble headed Christian! Use your brain to ask God and then believe Him when He answers.
Bobble Headed Christians
Nearly all instruction or correction these days is seen as rude. We are supposed to nod our heads in bobble head fashion to be loved and accepted. LOL
Have you ever seen those bobble head dolls that sit on the table, when the table is bumped the little head wiggles back and forth as if to say yes to everything?
Just hate those things!!! ROFL
Have you ever seen those bobble head dolls that sit on the table, when the table is bumped the little head wiggles back and forth as if to say yes to everything?
Just hate those things!!! ROFL
Sugar Coating is not Helpful in Relationships
When we get past the "I want them to like me" stage in our walk while infant Christians, we are able to walk through the fires of life without the smoke getting on us, just like the three Hebrew children in the fires.
Christ walked there with them, and they didn't even smell like smoke when they came out.
Believers walk through the fire often as they assert their own right to believe in Christ and follow His principles.
Every believe who is battling against the devil's ploys, ought to read Daniel 3 in the Bible.
Also it would be good to read the account of John the Baptist who was beheaded because he stood for God's principles.
Mark 6 tells of the plight of John the Baptist because he dared to tell non-believers they were living in sin, in their divorces and remarriages.
We live in a culture now that considers it rude to correct or instruct anyone if they have not asked for the advice. God called us to be ready to answer anything as it arises, to be of help to others as the voice of reason and wisdom.
It is the truth teller who gets punished. All of you who have experienced emotional, physical and spiritual abuse know that if you tell family members of your experiences, often they choose not to believe you. It is hard for those who live in a fantasy world to give up their fantasy to walk in truth. When we place our faith and trust in man, choosing to believe things that are not true in order to feel good, it will only serve to give us superficial happiness translating into a resistance to helping those who have been abused.
When our only focus is our own happiness, we will not see things in truth, we will avoid anything uncomfortable to protect our false image and our personal desires.
Often those who live on their fantasy island, choose to beat up the truth teller in order to appreciate and continue contact with the abuser.
Don't ask me why someone chooses to elevate others as gods, I don't understand it, except that they had a view of someone in their heads that gave them happiness and they don't want to harm their "feelings" of security and place of safety.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 "3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.…"
When we walk in truth the ugly and difficult things don't devastate us, they only cause us to grow in wisdom. We are not afraid of truth no matter what that truth is, it is more satisfying to see things as they really are than to have to keep up a pretense. Pretense is hard work and brings no peace in our soul in the long run.
Authenticity helps us to see the truth without feeling attacked or diminished because of what we know.
John 8:32 "32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The bottom line: Seek truth through the Holy Spirit as well as His strength to accept it. We learn from everything, the good times don't teach us very much, but the difficult times are like puzzle pieces they fit together over time, giving us more wisdom as we look at them closely within the context of their meaning.
Psalm "119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever."
Psalm "86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name."
Matthew 22:16
"16 And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and [a]defer to no one; for You are not partial to any."
If you want to be of help to anyone, you must see things in truth, not sugar coating things to feel better.
Christ walked there with them, and they didn't even smell like smoke when they came out.
Believers walk through the fire often as they assert their own right to believe in Christ and follow His principles.
Every believe who is battling against the devil's ploys, ought to read Daniel 3 in the Bible.
Also it would be good to read the account of John the Baptist who was beheaded because he stood for God's principles.
Mark 6 tells of the plight of John the Baptist because he dared to tell non-believers they were living in sin, in their divorces and remarriages.
We live in a culture now that considers it rude to correct or instruct anyone if they have not asked for the advice. God called us to be ready to answer anything as it arises, to be of help to others as the voice of reason and wisdom.
It is the truth teller who gets punished. All of you who have experienced emotional, physical and spiritual abuse know that if you tell family members of your experiences, often they choose not to believe you. It is hard for those who live in a fantasy world to give up their fantasy to walk in truth. When we place our faith and trust in man, choosing to believe things that are not true in order to feel good, it will only serve to give us superficial happiness translating into a resistance to helping those who have been abused.
When our only focus is our own happiness, we will not see things in truth, we will avoid anything uncomfortable to protect our false image and our personal desires.
Often those who live on their fantasy island, choose to beat up the truth teller in order to appreciate and continue contact with the abuser.
Don't ask me why someone chooses to elevate others as gods, I don't understand it, except that they had a view of someone in their heads that gave them happiness and they don't want to harm their "feelings" of security and place of safety.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 "3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.…"
When we walk in truth the ugly and difficult things don't devastate us, they only cause us to grow in wisdom. We are not afraid of truth no matter what that truth is, it is more satisfying to see things as they really are than to have to keep up a pretense. Pretense is hard work and brings no peace in our soul in the long run.
Authenticity helps us to see the truth without feeling attacked or diminished because of what we know.
John 8:32 "32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The bottom line: Seek truth through the Holy Spirit as well as His strength to accept it. We learn from everything, the good times don't teach us very much, but the difficult times are like puzzle pieces they fit together over time, giving us more wisdom as we look at them closely within the context of their meaning.
Psalm "119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever."
Psalm "86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name."
Matthew 22:16
"16 And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and [a]defer to no one; for You are not partial to any."
If you want to be of help to anyone, you must see things in truth, not sugar coating things to feel better.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Christ Never Takes Back His Gift
If you have trusted in Christ by faith, then you will never lose what He did for you. There are many people who are attempting to convince believers that their salvation is dependent on their own good deeds. If we cannot gain salvation by our works we cannot keep it by our works either. When we trust Christ, He does everything after that, giving us the salvation we desire as well as keeping us in it. Our desire never changes after that, it remains until He takes us home.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
God never breaks a promise and never turns us back into the old creation ever again.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
God never breaks a promise and never turns us back into the old creation ever again.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
Our World is Entertainment on Steroids
If you think we are not living in a fantasy, entertainment oriented world, take a look at the activities of most people today! Count the number of times we entertain ourselves or plan activities that are not work or study of the Word.
Living in a Fantasy World
Narcissists live in a fantasy world, they become angry when someone comes along and tells the truth that interrupts their fantasy.
The devil is deeply involved in the fantasy world, causing people to feel frustrated or bored with their lives.
When we are not content with our lives, busy doing what God wants us to do, then we become agitated without steadiness, even frustrated.
When we are trusting Christ we don't live in a fantasy world constantly, we have no need of adventure or fiction.
When I became a believer I lost all desire for reading novels. I am not saying novels are wrong, but they seemed empty for me because I knew they were not truth.
Truth should be exciting enough without pretending. Pretend and fantasy can be enjoyable once in a while but it never satisfies the born again believer.
Philippians 4:8
"8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
We must know the tactics of the devil in order to stand against him. Our culture is on fiction overload, we have more fantasy and fiction in our lives than we have truth. When this happens truth becomes offensive and avoided by most people.
The Bible is all truth, to pick up the Bible for light reading would send the fantasy junky into a tailspin, since the truth challenges us to place our trust in Christ rather than our fantasies.
Psalm 25:5
"5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day."
It is amazing how truth becomes exciting when we come down from the addiction of fantasy and fiction. And, it is an addiction, all we have to do is look all around us to see the fixation of our world on entertainment.
As a culture we are so fixated on entertainment that it has been brought into our churches to pacify the addicts, the masses of people who cannot sit still for one hour and worship or study without joking, laughing and entertainers on stage.
Sometimes I long for a simpler world in which everyone stays home a lot, they share rocking chair conversations on their front porches with no where to be and nothing that has to be done immediately.
One of the signs of the end times is that people will not have time for one another, they will be flitting too and fro all the time as they follow their own desires, fulfilling their own lusts.
Daniel 12:4
"4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Knowledge and travel have increased but wisdom has decreased, this is the state of the world at the end of the age, we are there now.
The devil is deeply involved in the fantasy world, causing people to feel frustrated or bored with their lives.
When we are not content with our lives, busy doing what God wants us to do, then we become agitated without steadiness, even frustrated.
When we are trusting Christ we don't live in a fantasy world constantly, we have no need of adventure or fiction.
When I became a believer I lost all desire for reading novels. I am not saying novels are wrong, but they seemed empty for me because I knew they were not truth.
Truth should be exciting enough without pretending. Pretend and fantasy can be enjoyable once in a while but it never satisfies the born again believer.
Philippians 4:8
"8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
We must know the tactics of the devil in order to stand against him. Our culture is on fiction overload, we have more fantasy and fiction in our lives than we have truth. When this happens truth becomes offensive and avoided by most people.
The Bible is all truth, to pick up the Bible for light reading would send the fantasy junky into a tailspin, since the truth challenges us to place our trust in Christ rather than our fantasies.
Psalm 25:5
"5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day."
It is amazing how truth becomes exciting when we come down from the addiction of fantasy and fiction. And, it is an addiction, all we have to do is look all around us to see the fixation of our world on entertainment.
As a culture we are so fixated on entertainment that it has been brought into our churches to pacify the addicts, the masses of people who cannot sit still for one hour and worship or study without joking, laughing and entertainers on stage.
Sometimes I long for a simpler world in which everyone stays home a lot, they share rocking chair conversations on their front porches with no where to be and nothing that has to be done immediately.
One of the signs of the end times is that people will not have time for one another, they will be flitting too and fro all the time as they follow their own desires, fulfilling their own lusts.
Daniel 12:4
"4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Knowledge and travel have increased but wisdom has decreased, this is the state of the world at the end of the age, we are there now.
What Changed?
I never met anyone as a child that needed meds for "hyper-activity", this control freak mentality for lack of discipline has drugged up half of our population.
I am convinced it is responsible for many of the shootings in schools, because it removes the necessary inhibitions to commit crimes.
The drugs may also be responsible for some anger and rage issues we see in the teens today.
I have met a few people who are in their 40's today who were on the depression drugs beginning at 12 years old, they seem immature, as though they were stunted in the emotional growth.
We really have no idea how far reaching is the damage these drugs have created.
Every few years someone dreams up a new way to make money through the creation of another mental disease that never occurred just 40 years ago.
I am highly suspect when half or more than half the children in the elementary school classroom are on depression or hyper-activity drugs.
Back in the day, even just 40 years ago, children didn't take any drug except cough medicine if they were sick.
Let me ask: "What happened, what changed"? Perhaps the culture became more wicked and less observing of God's principles?
I am convinced it is responsible for many of the shootings in schools, because it removes the necessary inhibitions to commit crimes.
The drugs may also be responsible for some anger and rage issues we see in the teens today.
I have met a few people who are in their 40's today who were on the depression drugs beginning at 12 years old, they seem immature, as though they were stunted in the emotional growth.
We really have no idea how far reaching is the damage these drugs have created.
Every few years someone dreams up a new way to make money through the creation of another mental disease that never occurred just 40 years ago.
I am highly suspect when half or more than half the children in the elementary school classroom are on depression or hyper-activity drugs.
Back in the day, even just 40 years ago, children didn't take any drug except cough medicine if they were sick.
Let me ask: "What happened, what changed"? Perhaps the culture became more wicked and less observing of God's principles?
Faith Leads to Obedience
Our faith leads us to obey God because we believe Him. If we do not believe God we will not obey Him!
The Did According to their Own Desires Always
Hospitality: Something we do in deference to another person.
Back in the day, it was considered rude to neglect to offer guests refreshment. Whatever we had in the house at the time a guest arrived, was offered as a way of showing them our delight at their visit. Even if the guest came unannounced, dropping in unexpectedly they were shown pleasure at their arrival.
Unexpected guests were treated with great kindness and made to feel welcome. The best way to welcome a guest is to offer them drink and a snack.
If we were sitting down to a meal when an unexpected guest arrived, they would be offered a place at the table to share in the meal.
Believe it or not, this was common with everyone. This hospitality seems to have been lost in the younger generation, by younger I mean the 40 somethings and under.
We were taught this by example as well as lessons in Home Economic classes in school.
We were so trained in this practice that we were embarrassed when someone came and it slipped our minds to offer refreshment. We would apologize and immediately get up to get some.
There was an old saying that described the hospitality of the host and also the hospitality of the guest. Yes the guest was expected to appreciate any offer of refreshment and accept it. It was rude to neglect to offer refreshment and rude for the guest to ask for it, it was also rude to refuse it when offered by the hostess.
Has anyone else experienced this loss of hospitality among this new generation?
The more our culture focuses on self, the more we lose the old traditions of hospitality and kindness. In order to be kind and hospitable we must defer to others. Selfish people hate manners and hospitality because it means they are submitting to the needs and desires of others.
I have actually experienced younger people acting embarrassed at manners and hospitality. They seemed to think it something strange.
Can we say: "divorce and remarriage", as an indication of this lack of deference to others. This is only one sin that comes from a self focus, there is abortion, pornography, the women leaving the home to become "their own person", as well as many other popular sins that are seem as normal courses in these last days.
With the acceptance of disrespect and lack of hospitality, comes every other sin imaginable. When deference to others is seen as weak and foolish, so goes the manners and love.
Welcome to the end times in which most people think nearly entirely about themselves and their own desires, there is no room for deference to anyone else.
Genesis 6:5,11,12 ...'And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.'
Judges 21:25 " 25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
Matthew 24:37-39
"37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
The people of the land no longer see themselves under anyone, they defer to no one and value no one. Everything that is done, is in preference to their own desires.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Back in the day, it was considered rude to neglect to offer guests refreshment. Whatever we had in the house at the time a guest arrived, was offered as a way of showing them our delight at their visit. Even if the guest came unannounced, dropping in unexpectedly they were shown pleasure at their arrival.
Unexpected guests were treated with great kindness and made to feel welcome. The best way to welcome a guest is to offer them drink and a snack.
If we were sitting down to a meal when an unexpected guest arrived, they would be offered a place at the table to share in the meal.
Believe it or not, this was common with everyone. This hospitality seems to have been lost in the younger generation, by younger I mean the 40 somethings and under.
We were taught this by example as well as lessons in Home Economic classes in school.
We were so trained in this practice that we were embarrassed when someone came and it slipped our minds to offer refreshment. We would apologize and immediately get up to get some.
There was an old saying that described the hospitality of the host and also the hospitality of the guest. Yes the guest was expected to appreciate any offer of refreshment and accept it. It was rude to neglect to offer refreshment and rude for the guest to ask for it, it was also rude to refuse it when offered by the hostess.
Has anyone else experienced this loss of hospitality among this new generation?
The more our culture focuses on self, the more we lose the old traditions of hospitality and kindness. In order to be kind and hospitable we must defer to others. Selfish people hate manners and hospitality because it means they are submitting to the needs and desires of others.
I have actually experienced younger people acting embarrassed at manners and hospitality. They seemed to think it something strange.
Can we say: "divorce and remarriage", as an indication of this lack of deference to others. This is only one sin that comes from a self focus, there is abortion, pornography, the women leaving the home to become "their own person", as well as many other popular sins that are seem as normal courses in these last days.
With the acceptance of disrespect and lack of hospitality, comes every other sin imaginable. When deference to others is seen as weak and foolish, so goes the manners and love.
Welcome to the end times in which most people think nearly entirely about themselves and their own desires, there is no room for deference to anyone else.
Genesis 6:5,11,12 ...'And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.'
Judges 21:25 " 25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
Matthew 24:37-39
"37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
The people of the land no longer see themselves under anyone, they defer to no one and value no one. Everything that is done, is in preference to their own desires.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Have You Been Abused, Christ is the Answer
It is sad that we live in a world so fraught with sin that many things that are done commonly are sinful are being treated as normal and acceptable.
Just recently I was discussing the matter of child abuse with someone who had not been abused. This person could not understand or even believe those who claim they were abused. There was a lack of empathy or even concern for those who are abused.
When someone has not experienced these kind of trials themselves, the testimony of others who have been through it seem surreal to them, they cannot wrap their mind around the fact that someone could do these terrible things, especially if the testimony is about someone they believed all their life was a great person.
There are many emotionally, verbally and physically abused people in our world, who have no one to tell because the extended family members refuse to believe the truth.
I am here to tell you that some testimonies are fabricated, but many if not most are not. Emotional abuse is far more common than physical abuse, and of course this abuse is never reported, because there are no witnesses and it is not a crime.
Narcissists hide their verbal and emotional abuse from those they wish to impress. They make sure to only do their dastardly attacks in private when others are not watching. This is why when a little comment is made that others think is a joke, is taken seriously by the target, they know what the narcissist means by it and what they are doing from recent and past abuse.
There is a book by Dorie Stone, that shows how severely parents can treat their children and how horrid the abuse can become. Dorie was a "scapegoat"child. She was given away by her mother while her mother kept the "golden child", her sister. Her sister was the favored one and Dorie was the rejected one.
The name of this book is "Dorie, the Girl Nobody Loved." It is well worth reading for those who have experienced every form of abuse possible. Dorie was a mean child in the beginning because of all she endured, but after finding Christ she was healed from her abuse and her response to life changed, she became a kind and loving child.
Make no mistake, those who are abused, whichever form it takes, can see the tactics clearly, no matter how covert, while the world remains skeptical to believe anything they have no been through or seen for themselves.
But guess what.....God sees it all and God can deliver from all of it. In Dorie's case she was not delivered after she became born again, she remained in situations of abuse, but her testimony will blow your socks off, she says, the abuse continued but God went through with her. She survived, was no longer broken and saw that it was not about her, it was the evil of the abuser that was the problem.
Abused and broken people often think something is wrong with them, after all, how could people treat us so badly unless we deserved it. This is what the abuser attempts to inculcate into our soul, that we are worthless, unworthy of love and helpless to be anything but disgusting refuse.
This mentality that feels entitled to abuse others is coming from the father of lies, the devil himself. He thinks if he can keep people broken and diminished continually, he can motivate these broken people to hate and blame God.
If you are a broken one who has been tormented by evil people all your life, please pray and reject the idea that God did this to you. God allowed you to go through this as learning, it was not his will and all the evil people who do this will be punished at the end of it all.
Everything we go through in this life has value and purpose, if we trust Christ we will see things most others do not see and have the wisdom of Solomon, but only if we trust in Christ.
Those who have gone through horrid things and do not have Christ, respond to life in anger, often destroying their own life as they lean into their feelings of worthlessness.
When we have trusted Christ we know that He loved us so much that He went through terrible abuse in payment of our sin, that we might live for eternity with Him. So you see, His suffering was not less than ours, it was even worse, and He was doing it on purpose for others.
Christ could have come off of that cross, He is God! But He chose to remain for the sake of humanity.
When we see our suffering as having purpose and that it could not measure up to what Christ went through, this makes it a little easier to endure and recover when the abuse is over.
Our flesh never completely recovers from the abuse, but we don't have to cogitate on it continually, it is better to replace those ugly thoughts with the Word of God and on Christ Himself.
Romans 5:3-5
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
When you encounter those who do not believe what you endured, move on to new relationships who will not negate what you know. Those who are focused on Christ should be our continual companions, they only have one agenda and that is to glorify Him, learn from their life experiences and enjoy engaging in yours.
Romans 12:15
"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
Hallelujah, remember how much Christ loved us, no person can love us as much as He did and does.
Just recently I was discussing the matter of child abuse with someone who had not been abused. This person could not understand or even believe those who claim they were abused. There was a lack of empathy or even concern for those who are abused.
When someone has not experienced these kind of trials themselves, the testimony of others who have been through it seem surreal to them, they cannot wrap their mind around the fact that someone could do these terrible things, especially if the testimony is about someone they believed all their life was a great person.
There are many emotionally, verbally and physically abused people in our world, who have no one to tell because the extended family members refuse to believe the truth.
I am here to tell you that some testimonies are fabricated, but many if not most are not. Emotional abuse is far more common than physical abuse, and of course this abuse is never reported, because there are no witnesses and it is not a crime.
Narcissists hide their verbal and emotional abuse from those they wish to impress. They make sure to only do their dastardly attacks in private when others are not watching. This is why when a little comment is made that others think is a joke, is taken seriously by the target, they know what the narcissist means by it and what they are doing from recent and past abuse.
There is a book by Dorie Stone, that shows how severely parents can treat their children and how horrid the abuse can become. Dorie was a "scapegoat"child. She was given away by her mother while her mother kept the "golden child", her sister. Her sister was the favored one and Dorie was the rejected one.
The name of this book is "Dorie, the Girl Nobody Loved." It is well worth reading for those who have experienced every form of abuse possible. Dorie was a mean child in the beginning because of all she endured, but after finding Christ she was healed from her abuse and her response to life changed, she became a kind and loving child.
Make no mistake, those who are abused, whichever form it takes, can see the tactics clearly, no matter how covert, while the world remains skeptical to believe anything they have no been through or seen for themselves.
But guess what.....God sees it all and God can deliver from all of it. In Dorie's case she was not delivered after she became born again, she remained in situations of abuse, but her testimony will blow your socks off, she says, the abuse continued but God went through with her. She survived, was no longer broken and saw that it was not about her, it was the evil of the abuser that was the problem.
Abused and broken people often think something is wrong with them, after all, how could people treat us so badly unless we deserved it. This is what the abuser attempts to inculcate into our soul, that we are worthless, unworthy of love and helpless to be anything but disgusting refuse.
This mentality that feels entitled to abuse others is coming from the father of lies, the devil himself. He thinks if he can keep people broken and diminished continually, he can motivate these broken people to hate and blame God.
If you are a broken one who has been tormented by evil people all your life, please pray and reject the idea that God did this to you. God allowed you to go through this as learning, it was not his will and all the evil people who do this will be punished at the end of it all.
Everything we go through in this life has value and purpose, if we trust Christ we will see things most others do not see and have the wisdom of Solomon, but only if we trust in Christ.
Those who have gone through horrid things and do not have Christ, respond to life in anger, often destroying their own life as they lean into their feelings of worthlessness.
When we have trusted Christ we know that He loved us so much that He went through terrible abuse in payment of our sin, that we might live for eternity with Him. So you see, His suffering was not less than ours, it was even worse, and He was doing it on purpose for others.
Christ could have come off of that cross, He is God! But He chose to remain for the sake of humanity.
When we see our suffering as having purpose and that it could not measure up to what Christ went through, this makes it a little easier to endure and recover when the abuse is over.
Our flesh never completely recovers from the abuse, but we don't have to cogitate on it continually, it is better to replace those ugly thoughts with the Word of God and on Christ Himself.
Romans 5:3-5
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
When you encounter those who do not believe what you endured, move on to new relationships who will not negate what you know. Those who are focused on Christ should be our continual companions, they only have one agenda and that is to glorify Him, learn from their life experiences and enjoy engaging in yours.
Romans 12:15
"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
Hallelujah, remember how much Christ loved us, no person can love us as much as He did and does.
Monday, January 29, 2018
Not a Hospital but a Place of Worship
The church gathering is not a hospital for sinners, it is a house of worship for believers.
The church are born again transformed followers of Christ who are not perfect, but they are not sinners, they are saints.
No where in the Bible does God tell us to bring unsaved people into our worship. We are to go into the world and make converts and then bring them in as saved and transformed lovers of Christ.
God never refers to His born again children as sinners, He refers to them as saints.
Acts 9:32 "32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda."
Philippians 4:21 "21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you."
Ephesians 4:12 "12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"
The church are born again transformed followers of Christ who are not perfect, but they are not sinners, they are saints.
No where in the Bible does God tell us to bring unsaved people into our worship. We are to go into the world and make converts and then bring them in as saved and transformed lovers of Christ.
God never refers to His born again children as sinners, He refers to them as saints.
Acts 9:32 "32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda."
Philippians 4:21 "21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you."
Ephesians 4:12 "12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,"
By the Power of the Holy Spirit
One of the most used tactic of the devil these days is to make the believer "feel" they did something wrong when they told the truth.
Those who are lying, hiding and depend on secrecy to manipulate and control others, really hate it when we expose them and their tactics.
When we are evaluating ourselves, praying to see ourselves in truth, God can reveal whether we did something wrong or if we did something right.
We must base our evaluation on truth not feelings. The devil has the ability to make us feel bad for doing good. That's one of his ways of shutting down and shutting up the believer.
When we ignore feelings and meditate on God's truth, then we will know where we stand with God. God will never ignore our prayers for discovering our inner motives.
The evil person has no power over us as long as we are continually meditating on God's Word and praying for wisdom.
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
You can trust that in these last days the believer will be under attack on all fronts by most everyone, believe it and be encouraged that we do not have to be intimidated by these tactics or the devil.
James 3:8 "…8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work."
Galatians 1:4
" Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,"
It is the desire of the devil to make believers fall by manipulating us to answer fools the same way they speak to us. They are rude, mean and loud, we do not have to be as they are, we can remain Christlike no matter what they are doing and if we are diligent in prayer, we will be able to answer everything in the power of the Holy Spirit, or withhold responses in the power of the Holy Spirit, whichever way He leads.
The key to all of this is to be deeply connected to the Holy Spirit, so that when we encounter the evil ones we will not speak, but the Holy Spirit will do whatever He wants through us.
May we be hid behind the Holy Spirit in all circumstances.
Those who are lying, hiding and depend on secrecy to manipulate and control others, really hate it when we expose them and their tactics.
When we are evaluating ourselves, praying to see ourselves in truth, God can reveal whether we did something wrong or if we did something right.
We must base our evaluation on truth not feelings. The devil has the ability to make us feel bad for doing good. That's one of his ways of shutting down and shutting up the believer.
When we ignore feelings and meditate on God's truth, then we will know where we stand with God. God will never ignore our prayers for discovering our inner motives.
The evil person has no power over us as long as we are continually meditating on God's Word and praying for wisdom.
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
You can trust that in these last days the believer will be under attack on all fronts by most everyone, believe it and be encouraged that we do not have to be intimidated by these tactics or the devil.
James 3:8 "…8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work."
Galatians 1:4
" Christ who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,"
It is the desire of the devil to make believers fall by manipulating us to answer fools the same way they speak to us. They are rude, mean and loud, we do not have to be as they are, we can remain Christlike no matter what they are doing and if we are diligent in prayer, we will be able to answer everything in the power of the Holy Spirit, or withhold responses in the power of the Holy Spirit, whichever way He leads.
The key to all of this is to be deeply connected to the Holy Spirit, so that when we encounter the evil ones we will not speak, but the Holy Spirit will do whatever He wants through us.
May we be hid behind the Holy Spirit in all circumstances.
Feeling Over Facts Brings Error
I was listening to someone this morning that gave me one more tidbit of understanding into the mind of the narcissist.
This person said that since the narcissist is coming from the standpoint of feelings rather than facts, they are more often wrong than they are right.
This made so much sense to me. It also increased my understanding that this mentality is perpetuated by the devil who would rather use feelings than facts to control the thinking of those he wishes to use against God and against God's people. It also explained why the narcissists in my life disagree with nearly everything I say and do, nearly all the time. They can never validate anything I do because to validate me would be to "submit", something that is unthinkable to the narcissist.
It's not that they have seen something wrong in us, it's that they saw something right and it frightened and infuriated them. I once was told by a narcissist, "you think you are always right", but the fact was that the narcissist was projecting, He can never be wrong so he accuses me of what he is doing. This is a common tactic. The narcissist hates to be wrong, it is an injury they cannot tolerate and we know where that is coming from, the devil working the minds of those who have no defense against him.
A born again believer who is following Christ has no problem admitting they don't know something, in fact often they will say they don't know and then go to find the answer. They never "rage" at anyone over disagreements. Raging to intimidate others is a tactic only the devil would use. The devil loves to use unsaved people to accuse us of things that we are not doing, it disarms us, making us feel a sense of defensiveness.
Revelation 12:10
"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser (Satan) of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night."
I am convinced that the Holy Spirit emanates from the soul of believers. When we are in the presence of those who are lost, He, the Holy Spirit, brings condemnation to their soul.
John 16:8 "8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…"
How can the Holy Spirit convict others of sin, He cannot be seen and does not speak audibly to those in our presence, but often there will be something about us that repels the non-believer.
There is a sense of uneasiness that comes when unbeliever are in the presence of the Holy Spirit. They think it is us, so they may concoct something about us that to explain their unease. Sadly they pass their concoction on to others as facts, maligning our character in an attempt to explain away their own feelings of fear.
Yes, the Holy Spirit frightens those who do not belong to Him. This is why they rage and accuse when we have done nothing wrong to them.
There are many pretenders in the church today, they claim they are Christians, but the name of Christ never rolls off their tongue, they are even embarrassed at the mention of Him or His principles. Some of these people may be infant believers who are still growing, but sadly a majority of them are people who have been in church all their lives, are past middle age now and have never grown past a controlling and intimidating mentality.
We cannot always know who is saved and who is not, but we can tell the truth and watch the reaction. Those in rebellion will hate truth and hate even worse if someone perceives them as wrong, even if it is only one time. We become a target for defeat by a narcissist for the rest of our lives over one or two disagreements.
Amos 5:10 "10 They hate him who reproves in the gate, And they abhor him who speaks with integrity. "
This person said that since the narcissist is coming from the standpoint of feelings rather than facts, they are more often wrong than they are right.
This made so much sense to me. It also increased my understanding that this mentality is perpetuated by the devil who would rather use feelings than facts to control the thinking of those he wishes to use against God and against God's people. It also explained why the narcissists in my life disagree with nearly everything I say and do, nearly all the time. They can never validate anything I do because to validate me would be to "submit", something that is unthinkable to the narcissist.
It's not that they have seen something wrong in us, it's that they saw something right and it frightened and infuriated them. I once was told by a narcissist, "you think you are always right", but the fact was that the narcissist was projecting, He can never be wrong so he accuses me of what he is doing. This is a common tactic. The narcissist hates to be wrong, it is an injury they cannot tolerate and we know where that is coming from, the devil working the minds of those who have no defense against him.
A born again believer who is following Christ has no problem admitting they don't know something, in fact often they will say they don't know and then go to find the answer. They never "rage" at anyone over disagreements. Raging to intimidate others is a tactic only the devil would use. The devil loves to use unsaved people to accuse us of things that we are not doing, it disarms us, making us feel a sense of defensiveness.
Revelation 12:10
"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser (Satan) of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night."
I am convinced that the Holy Spirit emanates from the soul of believers. When we are in the presence of those who are lost, He, the Holy Spirit, brings condemnation to their soul.
John 16:8 "8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;…"
How can the Holy Spirit convict others of sin, He cannot be seen and does not speak audibly to those in our presence, but often there will be something about us that repels the non-believer.
There is a sense of uneasiness that comes when unbeliever are in the presence of the Holy Spirit. They think it is us, so they may concoct something about us that to explain their unease. Sadly they pass their concoction on to others as facts, maligning our character in an attempt to explain away their own feelings of fear.
Yes, the Holy Spirit frightens those who do not belong to Him. This is why they rage and accuse when we have done nothing wrong to them.
There are many pretenders in the church today, they claim they are Christians, but the name of Christ never rolls off their tongue, they are even embarrassed at the mention of Him or His principles. Some of these people may be infant believers who are still growing, but sadly a majority of them are people who have been in church all their lives, are past middle age now and have never grown past a controlling and intimidating mentality.
We cannot always know who is saved and who is not, but we can tell the truth and watch the reaction. Those in rebellion will hate truth and hate even worse if someone perceives them as wrong, even if it is only one time. We become a target for defeat by a narcissist for the rest of our lives over one or two disagreements.
Amos 5:10 "10 They hate him who reproves in the gate, And they abhor him who speaks with integrity. "
The Character Qualities of Christ
The fruit of the Spirit are character qualities:
Galatians 5:22-2
"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 character qualities will lead to right actions and attitudes.
Galatians 5:22-2
"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 character qualities will lead to right actions and attitudes.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
It Matters Why We Stop Sinning
It' not really about the ability to stop sinning, it's about whether or not someone wants to do it.
We know this because even the unsaved get themselves off of alcohol and drugs to avoid the miserable consequences of living that horrid lifestyle, the ruination is their motivator.
So, there are those who choose to stop a sin when it benefits them to do it.
With Christ we stop and say away from sin because we know it displeases the Holy God. The Holy Spirit in us makes us miserable in sin, so we either avoid it, or if we fall because we have a weak moment, we are miserably guilty until we confess and turn from it.
It matters to God why we stop sinning!
We know this because even the unsaved get themselves off of alcohol and drugs to avoid the miserable consequences of living that horrid lifestyle, the ruination is their motivator.
So, there are those who choose to stop a sin when it benefits them to do it.
With Christ we stop and say away from sin because we know it displeases the Holy God. The Holy Spirit in us makes us miserable in sin, so we either avoid it, or if we fall because we have a weak moment, we are miserably guilty until we confess and turn from it.
It matters to God why we stop sinning!
Confession to be Cleansed
Notice in other verses says, "when he comes to me to ask forgiveness."
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”"
Leaving out the confession and cleansing process leaves the one who sins smug in his sin. We must not enable the offender by forgiving when they are not sorry, that would be to thwart the purpose of God.
We must not leave out the steps of reconciliation. If the brother sins, rebuke him and forgive him IF he repents. If he does not repent, then walk away and leave him to God.
We do no one any favors if we share our forgiveness before someone is sorry. We actually help to harden their hearts, causing them to think they can do anything they like, no matter how evil and they will still be acceptable to God.
When we forgive people who are not sorry, we are sending a wrong message about Christ. Christ will not forgive those who are not broken over their sin and will not confess it.
God even told believer to confess their sin to be cleansed in 1 John 1:9. We are to confess to be forgiven and cleansed.
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."
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”"
Leaving out the confession and cleansing process leaves the one who sins smug in his sin. We must not enable the offender by forgiving when they are not sorry, that would be to thwart the purpose of God.
We must not leave out the steps of reconciliation. If the brother sins, rebuke him and forgive him IF he repents. If he does not repent, then walk away and leave him to God.
We do no one any favors if we share our forgiveness before someone is sorry. We actually help to harden their hearts, causing them to think they can do anything they like, no matter how evil and they will still be acceptable to God.
When we forgive people who are not sorry, we are sending a wrong message about Christ. Christ will not forgive those who are not broken over their sin and will not confess it.
God even told believer to confess their sin to be cleansed in 1 John 1:9. We are to confess to be forgiven and cleansed.
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."
Mean Nice Cycle
When we encounter people who are nice to some people and mean to others, we have encountered a pretender.
Loving people are always that way to everyone, they don't choose to be nice to some and mean to others, because their love is genuine.
Loving people speak the truth because they are deeply connected to Christ, they love Him above all else and others so much they can't withhold sharing God's truth with them.
The self righteous person hates truth, they prefer a false image of self than facing truth. Those who can face truth about themselves, grow in holiness, it is in the admitting truth about ourselves that helps us become cleansed. Christ will not cleanse someone who has a high opinion of themselves.
Selfish people are more about looking good on the outside, deeply invested in appearing righteous in front of people. The righteous man wants to actually be holy, through continual cleansing of faults and does this by facing truth about themselves and others. The righteous man will choose the ways of God over worldly ways, when no one is watching.
Love is a state of being within a person, it is not a manipulation tactic to gain approval or attention.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 [a]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [b]prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
Loving people are always that way to everyone, they don't choose to be nice to some and mean to others, because their love is genuine.
Loving people speak the truth because they are deeply connected to Christ, they love Him above all else and others so much they can't withhold sharing God's truth with them.
The self righteous person hates truth, they prefer a false image of self than facing truth. Those who can face truth about themselves, grow in holiness, it is in the admitting truth about ourselves that helps us become cleansed. Christ will not cleanse someone who has a high opinion of themselves.
Selfish people are more about looking good on the outside, deeply invested in appearing righteous in front of people. The righteous man wants to actually be holy, through continual cleansing of faults and does this by facing truth about themselves and others. The righteous man will choose the ways of God over worldly ways, when no one is watching.
Love is a state of being within a person, it is not a manipulation tactic to gain approval or attention.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 [a]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [b]prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
Saturday, January 27, 2018
2 Peter 3:5-7
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men."
Psalm 37:1-11
1 "Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity."
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity."
Consistency Only Comes Through Truth
Liberals cannot be consistent, because everything they want is based on selfishness and emotion rather than truth.
There is little truth left in the world, far too many people are experiencing emotions that don't even need to be there because they have been indoctrinated by television and other media that convince them they should want something that without this influence they might never think about.
Liberals are driven my emotions and the ideas of others, they are in lock step with one another unable to think for themselves.
How could they ponder and evaluate anything that is based on what others tell them they should think and feel.
Rational and reasonable human beings never do what others tell them to do, they evaluate matters and come to a decision based on truth.
The only truth comes from the Word of God, it's all in there, every principle necessary for life is contained in the Scriptures.
There is little truth left in the world, far too many people are experiencing emotions that don't even need to be there because they have been indoctrinated by television and other media that convince them they should want something that without this influence they might never think about.
Liberals are driven my emotions and the ideas of others, they are in lock step with one another unable to think for themselves.
How could they ponder and evaluate anything that is based on what others tell them they should think and feel.
Rational and reasonable human beings never do what others tell them to do, they evaluate matters and come to a decision based on truth.
The only truth comes from the Word of God, it's all in there, every principle necessary for life is contained in the Scriptures.
If you think you are not a liberal, ask yourself how many times you consulted the Bible when the matters of life presented themselves, this might give a clue.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,"
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,"
God Takes Care of Us
I have had many prayers over the years, some were answered in a wonderful way and others are either not going to be or at a later time, but one thing for sure is that God has my best interest at heart and in His hands, just as He does for all those who love Him.
2 Timothy 4:7-9 "…7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing. 9 Make every effort to come to me quickly,…"
Paul had many desires to see believers, some were answered and others were not, He trusted Christ in all of it, we can do the same.
Never be discouraged because you have not yet had an answer to your prayer. Your prayer may or may not be God's will, but for sure the Lord looks upon us with compassion as we move through this life knowing He is in control and we can trust Him.
Psalm 9:10
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
Romans 15:13
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
2 Timothy 4:7-9 "…7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing. 9 Make every effort to come to me quickly,…"
Paul had many desires to see believers, some were answered and others were not, He trusted Christ in all of it, we can do the same.
Never be discouraged because you have not yet had an answer to your prayer. Your prayer may or may not be God's will, but for sure the Lord looks upon us with compassion as we move through this life knowing He is in control and we can trust Him.
Psalm 9:10
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
Romans 15:13
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."
Friday, January 26, 2018
Couch Potato Christians
The one man pastor system of the apostate church has created "couch potato Christians."
So many people will not seek Christ for themselves, they would rather just hear a short sermonnette Sunday morning, believe what is said without cracking their Bibles and go home satisfied.
When someone comes along who challenges them to look into the word on any particular matter, they become hostile and mocking, their response might be "what makes you know, you didn't go to Bible school."
You see this mentality places the teaching of men above the teaching of the Holy Spirit. It creates idols in the form of men and women who say they know but are often wrong about their teachings while truly ignorant of much of what is in the Bible.
The Bible never teaches for one man to be the leader of a gathering. God teaches in His word that there should be a plurality of leadership, with every man preaching and teaching as led by the Holy Spirit.
The services most people attend today are not Biblical, they are man's traditions.
John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
God placed the Holy Spirit in every believer, therefore every believer has everything they need to speak about the Lord, obey the Lord and make decisions based on His Word.
No man should be following man made rules, every decision should be based on the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and these two must agree.
The Holy Spirit will never tell us anything that is not already written in God's Word. There is a principle for every situation that comes upon us, no situation is new and no situation is without an answer or principle.
If you want to know God's Will, know His Word! If you want to be led by the Holy Spirit, then ask Him and question everything any man will say to you, running to get your Bible when what a man says does not sound familiar from the Word.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 "21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.…"
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
Trust the Lord in all things, not in man.
Proverbs 3:6
"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Psalm 9:10
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Philippians 4:12-14 "…12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.…"
I see no verses in the Bible that tell us to trust in any man.
Psalm 146:2-4 "…2 I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.…
So many people will not seek Christ for themselves, they would rather just hear a short sermonnette Sunday morning, believe what is said without cracking their Bibles and go home satisfied.
When someone comes along who challenges them to look into the word on any particular matter, they become hostile and mocking, their response might be "what makes you know, you didn't go to Bible school."
You see this mentality places the teaching of men above the teaching of the Holy Spirit. It creates idols in the form of men and women who say they know but are often wrong about their teachings while truly ignorant of much of what is in the Bible.
The Bible never teaches for one man to be the leader of a gathering. God teaches in His word that there should be a plurality of leadership, with every man preaching and teaching as led by the Holy Spirit.
The services most people attend today are not Biblical, they are man's traditions.
John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
God placed the Holy Spirit in every believer, therefore every believer has everything they need to speak about the Lord, obey the Lord and make decisions based on His Word.
No man should be following man made rules, every decision should be based on the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and these two must agree.
The Holy Spirit will never tell us anything that is not already written in God's Word. There is a principle for every situation that comes upon us, no situation is new and no situation is without an answer or principle.
If you want to know God's Will, know His Word! If you want to be led by the Holy Spirit, then ask Him and question everything any man will say to you, running to get your Bible when what a man says does not sound familiar from the Word.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 "21 but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.…"
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
Trust the Lord in all things, not in man.
Proverbs 3:6
"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Psalm 9:10
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Philippians 4:12-14 "…12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.…"
I see no verses in the Bible that tell us to trust in any man.
Psalm 146:2-4 "…2 I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 3 Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.…
Philippians 1
When we are of one mind in Christ, we will think alike, we will interpret things in terms of the Bible and not according to our own desires.
It's Not About Gifts and Cards
Honor and respecting parents has nothing to do with birthday gifts and cards.
When we honor our parents we are careful not to argue, fight or rage at them just because we may disagree about something.
It is dishonoring to parents to act as though you know more than they do, after all, they are the ones who changed your diapers as well as every other need you had as you were growing up. Of course there were exceptions to this, there have been evil parents, but even then, we are never to treat them with contempt.
Contrary to popular opinion, parents are not stupid, in fact the one who treats their parents as though they are, are wicked and possibly assigning stupidity to their parents when it really belongs to them.
Wise children see the value of their parents, even taking seriously any correction or instruction their parents might have. Adult children do not have to "obey" their parents but according to God they must listen with interest and consider what is being said.
Children who devalue parents as under them, are displaying contempt and rebellion against God.
Anyone who validates an adult child who disrespects his parent through arrogance and arguing, is validating the disobedient one.
Our culture no longer follows the laws of the OT, however those laws show us just how serious rebellion and haughtiness against parents is to God.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear."
And, we can see from the chaotic nature of our culture, that rebellion is on the rise as parents place the commands of their children above the commands of themselves and of God.
When we honor our parents we are careful not to argue, fight or rage at them just because we may disagree about something.
It is dishonoring to parents to act as though you know more than they do, after all, they are the ones who changed your diapers as well as every other need you had as you were growing up. Of course there were exceptions to this, there have been evil parents, but even then, we are never to treat them with contempt.
Contrary to popular opinion, parents are not stupid, in fact the one who treats their parents as though they are, are wicked and possibly assigning stupidity to their parents when it really belongs to them.
Wise children see the value of their parents, even taking seriously any correction or instruction their parents might have. Adult children do not have to "obey" their parents but according to God they must listen with interest and consider what is being said.
Children who devalue parents as under them, are displaying contempt and rebellion against God.
Anyone who validates an adult child who disrespects his parent through arrogance and arguing, is validating the disobedient one.
Our culture no longer follows the laws of the OT, however those laws show us just how serious rebellion and haughtiness against parents is to God.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear."
And, we can see from the chaotic nature of our culture, that rebellion is on the rise as parents place the commands of their children above the commands of themselves and of God.
Honoring Father and Mother According to God's Standard
Ephesians 6:2 "1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3“that it may go well with you and that you may be long-lived on the earth.”…"
Written to young and adult children alike. Showing disrespect to parents is a death nil to the spiritual growth, it may even mean a shortened life.
What are some ways that adult children honor their parents, keep in mind this is applicable to both father and mother, not one over the other, but both.
Written to young and adult children alike. Showing disrespect to parents is a death nil to the spiritual growth, it may even mean a shortened life.
What are some ways that adult children honor their parents, keep in mind this is applicable to both father and mother, not one over the other, but both.
Follow the Link:
End Times Narcissism on Steroids
When a narcissist sees you, they are really looking at themselves, you are merely an object to be used. If you do a kind act, the narcissist will assign an ulterior motive to it because if they did that same act, they know they would be showing off, so they assume you are showing off.
When the narcissist accuses you of anything, that you cannot figure out why they are thinking that of you, then you know they have assigned to you their own traits.
If a narcissist accuses you of lying, then you know they are lying or about to lie to you.
When the narcissist says you are angry, and you don’t feel angry, their purpose is to assign to you their own feelings of anger, or they want you to become angry so their feelings of guilt over the mistreatment of you will be justified or go away entirely.
When narcissists cannot cause you to become angry or get you to respond in a way that makes you look out of control, they will move on to flying monkeys who listen to all their lies about you, even mistreating you because of what the narcissist tells them.
The flying monkeys need no evidence, they merely have the narcissist on a pedestal and cannot believe the narcissist would ever tell a lie.
Not only do the narcissists lie, they do it calculatingly to control the perception of others and to cause a break down in their target. If they can get their target to look bad by their defense of themselves, they can validate everything the narc said about you, in the eyes of all the flying monkeys.
We only have to look at the serpent in the garden of Eden to see that these things are so. The first thing the serpent did with Eve was to deceive her into believing God told her a lie. Then he worked on her ego with flattery to get her to believe she knew God better than He knew her.
The narcissist chooses to believe they know others they target for abuse. They say and do things that are not true but pass them on as evidence to others how enjoy the gossip too.
Keep in mind that the narcissist gets worse when they have been discovered. They will work harder than ever to discredit, demean and mock us to others when they cannot be around us to do it to us.
After the devil influenced Eve through deception to disobey God, she then influenced others to do the same. The devil is never happy just hurting others, he must get others to hurt us too. Destruction by the numbers has always been the way of Satan.
In our modern age of apostasy we can expect this treatment, while learning to be happy alone with Christ. We can trust people until they prove they can no longer be trusted, then we must move on and make our lives without those who are manipulated by the devil.
A narcissist thinks they are in control of their own destiny, they are not, the devil has them firmly in his grip, using their mouth and manipulating their minds to believe lies. These people are pawns in the devil’s hands.
We know that the devil places thoughts in the minds of people through the account of Peter when he denied Christ three times. At one point God told the devil while looking at Peter, “get thee behind me ‘Satan.’” If you doubt that the devil uses people look at the account of Judas, who betrayed Christ and then went out and killed himself. Scripture to support this is at the end of the article.
When you hear gossip from narcissists, it is best to dismiss it, unless it pertains to you, then you must check it out thoroughly and even talk to others who were gossiped about. If others refuse to discuss the matter, then they have made the choice to believe the lie. Avoid people such as this, there will never be anything resolved with them and everything you say will be twisted and maligned as though you did a terrible things, even though all you wanted was to clear the air and reconcile a relationship.
There have been so many of these people in my life, controlled by the devil’s minions working to destroy believers, truth and our witness for Christ. These people must be removed from our lives, it is better they know nothing about us than for them to spread half truths about us and others we love.
Matthew 16:22-24 “…22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” 23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.…”
Luke 22:2-4 “…2 and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.…”
Not all narcissists are possessed of the devil but all are controlled and manipulated by him.
John 13:21-30 “21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will [a]betray Me.”22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” 25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus then *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”
There are devils among us who seek our ruin. They may be those in a community or in family, but they are there and we must recognize who and what we are dealing with in order to remain unaffected by them.
Gray rock: Going gray rock a lot is helpful, that means that we show no emotion when we are attacked, we do not defend ourselves and we do not answer back any challenge, we simply remove ourselves. Remember…….one cannot reason with a narcissist, the more we talk to them the more food for their lies fodder for their plots and schemes.
We know we will be encountering this phenomena more intensely as the time grows near for the Lord’s return. Even the seculars are noticing an increase in the 2 Timothy 3 description of the wicked, and guess what…..this is a description in the apostate church, the world is even worse. The secular doesn’t know what it means or the answer to it, but they can describe it very well from their observations.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good,4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [b]godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.”
When the narcissist accuses you of anything, that you cannot figure out why they are thinking that of you, then you know they have assigned to you their own traits.
If a narcissist accuses you of lying, then you know they are lying or about to lie to you.
When the narcissist says you are angry, and you don’t feel angry, their purpose is to assign to you their own feelings of anger, or they want you to become angry so their feelings of guilt over the mistreatment of you will be justified or go away entirely.
When narcissists cannot cause you to become angry or get you to respond in a way that makes you look out of control, they will move on to flying monkeys who listen to all their lies about you, even mistreating you because of what the narcissist tells them.
The flying monkeys need no evidence, they merely have the narcissist on a pedestal and cannot believe the narcissist would ever tell a lie.
Not only do the narcissists lie, they do it calculatingly to control the perception of others and to cause a break down in their target. If they can get their target to look bad by their defense of themselves, they can validate everything the narc said about you, in the eyes of all the flying monkeys.
We only have to look at the serpent in the garden of Eden to see that these things are so. The first thing the serpent did with Eve was to deceive her into believing God told her a lie. Then he worked on her ego with flattery to get her to believe she knew God better than He knew her.
The narcissist chooses to believe they know others they target for abuse. They say and do things that are not true but pass them on as evidence to others how enjoy the gossip too.
Keep in mind that the narcissist gets worse when they have been discovered. They will work harder than ever to discredit, demean and mock us to others when they cannot be around us to do it to us.
After the devil influenced Eve through deception to disobey God, she then influenced others to do the same. The devil is never happy just hurting others, he must get others to hurt us too. Destruction by the numbers has always been the way of Satan.
In our modern age of apostasy we can expect this treatment, while learning to be happy alone with Christ. We can trust people until they prove they can no longer be trusted, then we must move on and make our lives without those who are manipulated by the devil.
A narcissist thinks they are in control of their own destiny, they are not, the devil has them firmly in his grip, using their mouth and manipulating their minds to believe lies. These people are pawns in the devil’s hands.
We know that the devil places thoughts in the minds of people through the account of Peter when he denied Christ three times. At one point God told the devil while looking at Peter, “get thee behind me ‘Satan.’” If you doubt that the devil uses people look at the account of Judas, who betrayed Christ and then went out and killed himself. Scripture to support this is at the end of the article.
When you hear gossip from narcissists, it is best to dismiss it, unless it pertains to you, then you must check it out thoroughly and even talk to others who were gossiped about. If others refuse to discuss the matter, then they have made the choice to believe the lie. Avoid people such as this, there will never be anything resolved with them and everything you say will be twisted and maligned as though you did a terrible things, even though all you wanted was to clear the air and reconcile a relationship.
There have been so many of these people in my life, controlled by the devil’s minions working to destroy believers, truth and our witness for Christ. These people must be removed from our lives, it is better they know nothing about us than for them to spread half truths about us and others we love.
Matthew 16:22-24 “…22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” 23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 24 Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.…”
Luke 22:2-4 “…2 and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.…”
Not all narcissists are possessed of the devil but all are controlled and manipulated by him.
John 13:21-30 “21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will [a]betray Me.”22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 So Simon Peter *gestured to him, and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” 25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, *said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus then *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.”
There are devils among us who seek our ruin. They may be those in a community or in family, but they are there and we must recognize who and what we are dealing with in order to remain unaffected by them.
Gray rock: Going gray rock a lot is helpful, that means that we show no emotion when we are attacked, we do not defend ourselves and we do not answer back any challenge, we simply remove ourselves. Remember…….one cannot reason with a narcissist, the more we talk to them the more food for their lies fodder for their plots and schemes.
We know we will be encountering this phenomena more intensely as the time grows near for the Lord’s return. Even the seculars are noticing an increase in the 2 Timothy 3 description of the wicked, and guess what…..this is a description in the apostate church, the world is even worse. The secular doesn’t know what it means or the answer to it, but they can describe it very well from their observations.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good,4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [b]godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.”
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Proverbs 29:8-10
"…8 Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger. 9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest. 10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright are concerned for his life."
Christ Must Be the Focus not Clothing
I don't believe in establishing a dress code for worship, however It also becomes about outer appearance when we think it ought to be casual.
Thinking about clothing at all is a wrong focus, let everyone do as they feel comfortable.
Think about it, we would dress up to go to see the President of the United States, why not show this same respect for God's worship.
Going to a fancy restaurant we usually dress up a little, going to a wedding, funeral and others activities of man we make an effort to look nice, seems a little strange that we would dress down to go together to worship.
Just saying!
Thinking about clothing at all is a wrong focus, let everyone do as they feel comfortable.
Think about it, we would dress up to go to see the President of the United States, why not show this same respect for God's worship.
Going to a fancy restaurant we usually dress up a little, going to a wedding, funeral and others activities of man we make an effort to look nice, seems a little strange that we would dress down to go together to worship.
Just saying!
Keep Going Brothers and Sister it's Almost Over
Evil abounds everywhere. It is a common practice now for evil people to call good people evil, it is a diversionary tactic the devil uses all the time.
They did it to Christ, claiming he was doing miracles by the devil. The devil is very cleaver, if he can get hateful people to be against good people he counts himself as having a victory. However, he will never have a victory over the born again believer no matter how hard he tries.
Just remember they did it to Christ and they will do it to every believer. If you are not being persecuted in some way, then perhaps you do not belong to Christ.
No matter what you do the devil will find someone to falsely accuse you, malign your character and accuse you of things that you are not doing. He is in the business of twisting minds against the believer who loves the Bible and loves God's principles.
Satan tells lies, blinds the minds of people, makes things look good that are bad, convinces others that believers are evil and mean spirited, he does false signs and wonders to deceive, tempts people to sin, batters believer so they will be silenced and fights against God's plans for us.
The biggest tactic of all the devil uses is to bring others against us with lies and accusations, placing believers on the defensive, diverting our attention from obedience to Christ.
But remember this, he will not win if we ignore his ploys and plots and continue on to obey Christ.
Acts 10:38
"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
2 Timothy 1:9 "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,"
2 Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
Expect attacks in these last day, many things will come against us, if we know it and who is doing it, then we are more prepared to stand strong. May the Holy Spirit strengthen and empower every believer who follows hard after.
They did it to Christ, claiming he was doing miracles by the devil. The devil is very cleaver, if he can get hateful people to be against good people he counts himself as having a victory. However, he will never have a victory over the born again believer no matter how hard he tries.
Just remember they did it to Christ and they will do it to every believer. If you are not being persecuted in some way, then perhaps you do not belong to Christ.
No matter what you do the devil will find someone to falsely accuse you, malign your character and accuse you of things that you are not doing. He is in the business of twisting minds against the believer who loves the Bible and loves God's principles.
Satan tells lies, blinds the minds of people, makes things look good that are bad, convinces others that believers are evil and mean spirited, he does false signs and wonders to deceive, tempts people to sin, batters believer so they will be silenced and fights against God's plans for us.
The biggest tactic of all the devil uses is to bring others against us with lies and accusations, placing believers on the defensive, diverting our attention from obedience to Christ.
But remember this, he will not win if we ignore his ploys and plots and continue on to obey Christ.
Acts 10:38
"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
2 Timothy 1:9 "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,"
2 Timothy 2:19 "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
Expect attacks in these last day, many things will come against us, if we know it and who is doing it, then we are more prepared to stand strong. May the Holy Spirit strengthen and empower every believer who follows hard after.
Himalayan Salt and the Salt Lick for Cows
An interesting point about Himalayan pink salt. Has anyone else noticed that is looks and tastes exactly like those salt licks the farmers used to put out for cows when we were children.
We used to break off a corner of those licks and carry it around in our pockets to lick throughout the day.
Here's what they looked like:
Follow the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H494GklF62I
We used to break off a corner of those licks and carry it around in our pockets to lick throughout the day.
Here's what they looked like:
Follow the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H494GklF62I
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