When we confront another about their sin we ought to be careful to do it with humility and concern for them, since we have our own battles with sin. Any one who thinks they have no battles with sin is lying and that is a sin.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 "12 So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.…"
Thursday, March 1, 2018
Remember the Butterfly
It seems as though God often shows us examples in nature that explain why we must do as we do to be what we should be.
A good example of this is the butterfly that must struggle coming out of its chrysalis, some call it the cocoon, in order to be healthy.
In a story I read, a man thought he would help the butterfly from its chrysalis by slitting it open, only to doom the butterfly to death because of undeveloped wings. The butterfly needed that struggle to be able to live healthy later.
The Christian life seems like this sometimes, we must struggle to become strong, that all our life experiences teach us important lessons that could not be learned any other way except through trials and struggles. There are times too when we want to bail others out of their consequences that would only serve to hinder their spiritual and emotional growth.
There have been many times I wanted to bail out of a struggle or a problem to spare myself the agony of the difficulty. It was after my struggles that I realized why I had to endure them. The more I focused on Christ through them, the stronger I felt through the next trial that would come.
Trials are not something to be avoided, they are learning experiences that bring great strength when we go through with God. Not only the strength that keeps us focused on Christ, but also the wisdom that comes as we learn important lessons.
We live in a world that seeks to make life as easy as possible, leaving many people weak and child like in their responses.
When we will not face a problem, refusing to discuss a matter with others, we do not grow spiritually. It is in the discussion, the give and take, the sharing and confessing that one learns humility and empathy for others. The maturing cannot occur when we avoid speaking truth in relationships. Growing in maturity requires us to look at our selves in truth rather than ignoring our flaws or pretending we are better than we are.
The longer we avoid the growth lessons, the more infantile our responses to the situations of life. The more we hide our real selves to pretend we are something we are not, the more we hinder our maturing process.
In our world today many people would rather manipulate, intimidate and mock to avoid facing the inner self, causing infantile responses rather than mature decisions that grow a relationship.
It seems we have lived a lifetime with people who will not tell the truth, who love to blame others, who hide to prevent exposing their inner man, rather than being open, honest and humble in an exchange that will fix a broken relationship.
Relationships cannot remain strong and close whenever there is pretense. A good relationship requires confession of wrong or bad attitudes and speaking truth. Those who cannot allow their real selves to be displayed will never be able to obey the Word of God in the relationship process.
In James it seems that the use of the word "sick" here has more to do with sin than it does with physical illness. God is far more concerned about the sin in our heart than the health of our physical bodies. He will bring illness to flush out sin to bring healing to the soul.
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
A good example of this is the butterfly that must struggle coming out of its chrysalis, some call it the cocoon, in order to be healthy.
In a story I read, a man thought he would help the butterfly from its chrysalis by slitting it open, only to doom the butterfly to death because of undeveloped wings. The butterfly needed that struggle to be able to live healthy later.
The Christian life seems like this sometimes, we must struggle to become strong, that all our life experiences teach us important lessons that could not be learned any other way except through trials and struggles. There are times too when we want to bail others out of their consequences that would only serve to hinder their spiritual and emotional growth.
There have been many times I wanted to bail out of a struggle or a problem to spare myself the agony of the difficulty. It was after my struggles that I realized why I had to endure them. The more I focused on Christ through them, the stronger I felt through the next trial that would come.
Trials are not something to be avoided, they are learning experiences that bring great strength when we go through with God. Not only the strength that keeps us focused on Christ, but also the wisdom that comes as we learn important lessons.
We live in a world that seeks to make life as easy as possible, leaving many people weak and child like in their responses.
When we will not face a problem, refusing to discuss a matter with others, we do not grow spiritually. It is in the discussion, the give and take, the sharing and confessing that one learns humility and empathy for others. The maturing cannot occur when we avoid speaking truth in relationships. Growing in maturity requires us to look at our selves in truth rather than ignoring our flaws or pretending we are better than we are.
The longer we avoid the growth lessons, the more infantile our responses to the situations of life. The more we hide our real selves to pretend we are something we are not, the more we hinder our maturing process.
In our world today many people would rather manipulate, intimidate and mock to avoid facing the inner self, causing infantile responses rather than mature decisions that grow a relationship.
It seems we have lived a lifetime with people who will not tell the truth, who love to blame others, who hide to prevent exposing their inner man, rather than being open, honest and humble in an exchange that will fix a broken relationship.
Relationships cannot remain strong and close whenever there is pretense. A good relationship requires confession of wrong or bad attitudes and speaking truth. Those who cannot allow their real selves to be displayed will never be able to obey the Word of God in the relationship process.
In James it seems that the use of the word "sick" here has more to do with sin than it does with physical illness. God is far more concerned about the sin in our heart than the health of our physical bodies. He will bring illness to flush out sin to bring healing to the soul.
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Mental Illness a Misnomer
There is no such thing as "mental illness", there is only sin.
We don't see one place in the Bible when God addresses such a thing as mental illness, however, He did speak a lot about demonic activity and our sinful nature.
Whether it be possession or influence, the devil has been working since the very beginning of time to influence the thoughts of man to do evil.
There is no physical scientific test to measure someone's mental health. Any diagnosis is based on actions and reactions. There can be imbalance in the brain of fluids but that can also be affected by devils. We know this because of the people who seems to have physical problems that went away when the devils were cast out of them.
The mental health problems we see today often are drug induced or lack of self control in someone's life that leads to sinful behavior. Out of control emotions can cause all kinds of physical problems.
All mental health drugs can do is remove the inhibitions toward destructive behavior that is already in someone. Most everyone uses self control to stop themselves from doing things they know are wrong or would bring consequences they don't want to have.
When the inhibition is removed by the dulling of the brain, then the real self, what is inside all along, is able to emerge without restraint.
The removing of consequences from the lives of people in our country has increased the violence and disrespect. Rather than requiring a child to sit still in school, they are put on drugs to dull them into compliance.
Just because someone does not kill another person for whom they have contempt, does not mean that person lacks the ability to kill. God said if we so much as hate our brother we have a mentality of murder in our hearts. Many people have sin in their hearts that they do not carry out because of the consequences that would come after.
We now live in a culture that views many actions and reactions as illness rather than sin. This is why we see evil increasing, the root problem of sin is not only not being addressed it manages to coddle those who use mental illness as an excuse for sinful behavior.
There are those who will actually say, "I do what I do because I am bi-polar", or some other mental disposition to excuse them.
It is interesting that none of these mental illnesses ever make a person nicer, kinder or more giving. NO, they always without exception cause the mentally ill to be meaner, more selfish and irrational. That is a clue to me, that these are demonically inspired illnesses, using the word illness for lack of a better word, nonetheless often devastating to families.
If the devil can get people to falsely diagnose sin as illness, then he can continue unchallenged by believers. The last thing the devil wants is for believer to be praying them away, people becoming stronger and the antics of the devil less effective if not eliminated.
My guess is that many people who say they are Christians never believe in the demonic world any more than they have trust in Christ. We cannot believe in Christ unless we also believe in the works of the devil.
Genesis 3:4
"The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! "
The devil is a liar, he is using the same tactics now that he used in the garden with Eve, only now he is saying this; "you are not sinful, you just have an illness, its not your fault."
When the devil is able to get people to feel sorry for the "ill" person, then they will make no attempts to turn them from their sin toward God, instead they will merely drug them up to keep them under control. It is also interesting to me that in many if not most cases the depression drugs used today only work for a short time and then there must be a change in the drug. In other words they are not very effective for those who are using them.
In the life of David the king, the devil influenced him through thoughts and ideas to do exactly what God did not want David to do.
1 Chronicles 21:1
"Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel."
So many Christians are working against God because the devil gave them popular ideas that sounded good, or attractive preachers who looked good, the very things the people wanted. The devil knows what the wicked heart wants and will use that to influence the minds of many.
Even in Christian churches, so many people are following strange teachings because it sort of makes them feel superior or special to know the fantasy they are being fed. They go with the flow and refuse to evaluate what they have heard. This too is influence from the devil, he is constantly putting ideas and thoughts into minds, that sound good but negate God.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "…13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.…"
The devil pits one person against another for little to no reason at all, merely to stand back and watch the fight.
Job 2:7
"Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head."
The devil will work on the minds of those who are defenseless against him, to accuse believers of things that are not true, on purpose to watch them squirm as they attempt to explain themselves to the person who does not want to listen. A recipe for destruction of a relationship, over nothing important.
Zechariah 3:1
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him."
One of the devil's favored tactics is to cause emotions to rise even when there is no rational reason to feel anything.
Matthew 13:38
"and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;"
The devil is busy sowing tares in among the sheep, to cause division, corruption of truth and chaos everywhere he goes. He can get people to remain silent for fear of "starting trouble", in effect, the ones who refuse to obey God have become in control of the gatherings. The righteous ones who desire to follow God's Word are the ones who are driven out or completely silenced.
Is the devil influencing this culture all around us, you betcha!
Our best and only defense is Christ and His truth. Speak it often, boldly and with courage, no matter who comes against you, then you will be victorious in your own spiritual growth. Never mind that you might lose friends, those friends that you lost were not walking the same path, they cannot go with you where God is taking you.
Philippians 2:1-3 "1 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by BEING OF ONE MIND, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.…"
As God has said; "two cannot walk together if they are not agreed."
We don't see one place in the Bible when God addresses such a thing as mental illness, however, He did speak a lot about demonic activity and our sinful nature.
Whether it be possession or influence, the devil has been working since the very beginning of time to influence the thoughts of man to do evil.
There is no physical scientific test to measure someone's mental health. Any diagnosis is based on actions and reactions. There can be imbalance in the brain of fluids but that can also be affected by devils. We know this because of the people who seems to have physical problems that went away when the devils were cast out of them.
The mental health problems we see today often are drug induced or lack of self control in someone's life that leads to sinful behavior. Out of control emotions can cause all kinds of physical problems.
All mental health drugs can do is remove the inhibitions toward destructive behavior that is already in someone. Most everyone uses self control to stop themselves from doing things they know are wrong or would bring consequences they don't want to have.
When the inhibition is removed by the dulling of the brain, then the real self, what is inside all along, is able to emerge without restraint.
The removing of consequences from the lives of people in our country has increased the violence and disrespect. Rather than requiring a child to sit still in school, they are put on drugs to dull them into compliance.
Just because someone does not kill another person for whom they have contempt, does not mean that person lacks the ability to kill. God said if we so much as hate our brother we have a mentality of murder in our hearts. Many people have sin in their hearts that they do not carry out because of the consequences that would come after.
We now live in a culture that views many actions and reactions as illness rather than sin. This is why we see evil increasing, the root problem of sin is not only not being addressed it manages to coddle those who use mental illness as an excuse for sinful behavior.
There are those who will actually say, "I do what I do because I am bi-polar", or some other mental disposition to excuse them.
It is interesting that none of these mental illnesses ever make a person nicer, kinder or more giving. NO, they always without exception cause the mentally ill to be meaner, more selfish and irrational. That is a clue to me, that these are demonically inspired illnesses, using the word illness for lack of a better word, nonetheless often devastating to families.
If the devil can get people to falsely diagnose sin as illness, then he can continue unchallenged by believers. The last thing the devil wants is for believer to be praying them away, people becoming stronger and the antics of the devil less effective if not eliminated.
My guess is that many people who say they are Christians never believe in the demonic world any more than they have trust in Christ. We cannot believe in Christ unless we also believe in the works of the devil.
Genesis 3:4
"The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! "
The devil is a liar, he is using the same tactics now that he used in the garden with Eve, only now he is saying this; "you are not sinful, you just have an illness, its not your fault."
When the devil is able to get people to feel sorry for the "ill" person, then they will make no attempts to turn them from their sin toward God, instead they will merely drug them up to keep them under control. It is also interesting to me that in many if not most cases the depression drugs used today only work for a short time and then there must be a change in the drug. In other words they are not very effective for those who are using them.
In the life of David the king, the devil influenced him through thoughts and ideas to do exactly what God did not want David to do.
1 Chronicles 21:1
"Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel."
So many Christians are working against God because the devil gave them popular ideas that sounded good, or attractive preachers who looked good, the very things the people wanted. The devil knows what the wicked heart wants and will use that to influence the minds of many.
Even in Christian churches, so many people are following strange teachings because it sort of makes them feel superior or special to know the fantasy they are being fed. They go with the flow and refuse to evaluate what they have heard. This too is influence from the devil, he is constantly putting ideas and thoughts into minds, that sound good but negate God.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "…13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.…"
The devil pits one person against another for little to no reason at all, merely to stand back and watch the fight.
Job 2:7
"Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head."
The devil will work on the minds of those who are defenseless against him, to accuse believers of things that are not true, on purpose to watch them squirm as they attempt to explain themselves to the person who does not want to listen. A recipe for destruction of a relationship, over nothing important.
Zechariah 3:1
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him."
One of the devil's favored tactics is to cause emotions to rise even when there is no rational reason to feel anything.
Matthew 13:38
"and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one;"
The devil is busy sowing tares in among the sheep, to cause division, corruption of truth and chaos everywhere he goes. He can get people to remain silent for fear of "starting trouble", in effect, the ones who refuse to obey God have become in control of the gatherings. The righteous ones who desire to follow God's Word are the ones who are driven out or completely silenced.
Is the devil influencing this culture all around us, you betcha!
Our best and only defense is Christ and His truth. Speak it often, boldly and with courage, no matter who comes against you, then you will be victorious in your own spiritual growth. Never mind that you might lose friends, those friends that you lost were not walking the same path, they cannot go with you where God is taking you.
Philippians 2:1-3 "1 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by BEING OF ONE MIND, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.…"
As God has said; "two cannot walk together if they are not agreed."
The Radical Walk
When your walk with Christ is so radical that you can't stop thinking and talking about Christ and His principles, it will cause division. Not because you want division but because you are so excited about the things of God you cannot hold back from sharing them.
However, know this, it will make non-believers very uncomfortable. It will make Christians who love their self righteousness become agitated and even hostile at time.
You may be accused of things that are not true in order for these people to discredit you.
When this happens do not let it unnerve you, it is only the devil using those who are disobedient, in an effort to silence you.
Jeremiah 9:4-6 "…4 "Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; Because every brother deals craftily, And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. 5 "Everyone deceives his neighbor And does not speak the truth, They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing iniquity. 6 "Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me," declares the LORD.…"
Jeremiah 1:8-9 " 8 "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.…"
Not only has the Lord placed His words in our mouths as followers of Christ, He has placed His Son within us, He dwells there!
However, know this, it will make non-believers very uncomfortable. It will make Christians who love their self righteousness become agitated and even hostile at time.
You may be accused of things that are not true in order for these people to discredit you.
When this happens do not let it unnerve you, it is only the devil using those who are disobedient, in an effort to silence you.
Jeremiah 9:4-6 "…4 "Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor, And do not trust any brother; Because every brother deals craftily, And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. 5 "Everyone deceives his neighbor And does not speak the truth, They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves committing iniquity. 6 "Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me," declares the LORD.…"
Jeremiah 1:8-9 " 8 "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.…"
Not only has the Lord placed His words in our mouths as followers of Christ, He has placed His Son within us, He dwells there!
Examine Your Heart
Examine your heart, do you believe what others believe to be accepted by men? Or do you believe God to be blessed of Him.
Make Sure of What God Really Said
There are those who are using this passage to say that if a woman divorces her husband and marries another then divorces that second husband, she can never return to the first husband. This is not true, God said this is what the people say, but God said something different. Israel is a picture of the adulterous wife and yet will return to God someday.
Let's remember not to make scripture say what man wants it to say, but be sure to read what God actually said.
Jeremiah 3:1
"THEY SAY, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; YET RETURN AGAIN TO ME, SAYS THE LORD.
Let's remember not to make scripture say what man wants it to say, but be sure to read what God actually said.
Jeremiah 3:1
"THEY SAY, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; YET RETURN AGAIN TO ME, SAYS THE LORD.
Jeremiah 23:28-32
"28 The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord.
29 “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
30 Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares.’
32 Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord."
29 “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?
30 Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal My words from each other.
31 Behold, I am against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues and declare, ‘The Lord declares.’
32 Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit,” declares the Lord."
Isaiah 57:1-2
1 The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart;
And devout men are taken away, while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from evil,
2 He enters into peace;
They rest in their [a]beds,
Each one who walked in his upright way.
And devout men are taken away, while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from evil,
2 He enters into peace;
They rest in their [a]beds,
Each one who walked in his upright way.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 24
"The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who dwell in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah.
The world, and those who dwell in it.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face—even Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
The Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates,
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in!
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah.
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