God will not hear the prayers of disobedient believers.
Those who say they are born again but walk in continual rebellion to the commands of God will be disciplined.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
Hebrews 12:6 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
One is not in obedience simply by saying they like the principles of God. One must actually be practicing what they say, this is what proves a person's words to be true.
James 2:17-19 "…17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons know that—and shudder.…"
Far too many people in our culture think just speaking something makes it truth, they fail to understand that speaking and not obeying is the same as lying.
When someone says things just to get others to accept them, they are manipulating with lies to keep someone else happy. Its never a good idea to pretend in this way as though God can't see what they are doing. God sees these lies, He sees the deception and the disobedience, nothing escapes God's notice.
Hebrews 4:12-14 "12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. 14 Therefore, since we have such a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.…"
Friday, August 17, 2018
The Pew Dweller
Amen, this is why it is so difficult for me to reconcile that some people go to church, never speak of God, even act embarrassed at the mention of His name, rage when challenged mildly to think more scripturally, and even punish those who expect Biblical responses to things.
I meet more of these kind of Christians than I do authentic. I have to believe the pew people who act as described above never really became born again, they simply decided to join the Christian club without any love for Christ. But that's just me!
When I became born again my entire "WAY" of thinking was changed. I was ultra sensitive to any sin in my heart even before it became an action. Which prevented me from committing the outward sin. I confessed much in those beginning years and was cleansed of it. The sins I find in myself now are more attitudes that are more like temptations.
When someone is angry at correction then they are probably not seeking the Holy Spirit for cleansing.
False Humility or Authentic Humility
So many people have superiority complexes that they fail to see their sinfulness. I don't think these people can be saved.
I came to Christ because God opened my eyes to my sinfulness. It caused me to be broken and ready to be cleansed by Christ.
How can someone be cleansed by Christ while still remaining confident about their own goodness? Sadly this is in the church!
I see also much false humility, the shuffling of feet while looking downward toward their shoes, their eyes shifted away from those they speak to as though they are not worthy. Never any mention of their past sinfulness and that Christ cleansed them. They do not see that they ever needed cleansing. In the next moment they are raging because someone told them they were wrong about something.
False humility is a sin, its a cover up for anger that remains inside. Authentic humility does not hang its head, turn away its eyes or shuffle its feet. Authentic humility looks straight at someone while telling the truth.
Philippians 2:3-11
"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
James 4:6
"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Those who demonstrate false humility are false in every area of their lives. Pretense is a character flaw through and through, not only in one area.
Colossians 3:12
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"
False meekness is the pretense that one must appear weak. True meekness is as someone once said; "power under control." Meek people are not mousy, they just know that Christ is their leader and they have nothing of themselves to offer. They are not sad or whimpy, they are confident and powerful while knowing what they are and what Christ is.
Romans 12:3
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."
False humility is proud of the humility they pretend to have in themselves. Their brand of humility is human concocted not God driven.
An authentically humble person does not have to "try" to be humble or "appear" to be so, they just operate this way naturally because they are walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
I came to Christ because God opened my eyes to my sinfulness. It caused me to be broken and ready to be cleansed by Christ.
How can someone be cleansed by Christ while still remaining confident about their own goodness? Sadly this is in the church!
I see also much false humility, the shuffling of feet while looking downward toward their shoes, their eyes shifted away from those they speak to as though they are not worthy. Never any mention of their past sinfulness and that Christ cleansed them. They do not see that they ever needed cleansing. In the next moment they are raging because someone told them they were wrong about something.
False humility is a sin, its a cover up for anger that remains inside. Authentic humility does not hang its head, turn away its eyes or shuffle its feet. Authentic humility looks straight at someone while telling the truth.
Philippians 2:3-11
"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
James 4:6
"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Those who demonstrate false humility are false in every area of their lives. Pretense is a character flaw through and through, not only in one area.
Colossians 3:12
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,"
False meekness is the pretense that one must appear weak. True meekness is as someone once said; "power under control." Meek people are not mousy, they just know that Christ is their leader and they have nothing of themselves to offer. They are not sad or whimpy, they are confident and powerful while knowing what they are and what Christ is.
Romans 12:3
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."
False humility is proud of the humility they pretend to have in themselves. Their brand of humility is human concocted not God driven.
An authentically humble person does not have to "try" to be humble or "appear" to be so, they just operate this way naturally because they are walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
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