As born again believing wives we love to please our husbands. However when we have to choose between obeying God or obeying a husband who is wanting us to disobey God, we must go with God.
We can be respectful but firm in declining to do anything that would go against Christ and His principles.
If we have believing husbands who ask us to do something against the principles of God then we must administer to him a mild rebuke. Believing husbands should know better, they must be treated with respect, that respect does not mean we do not rebuke them when they are in sin.
If a believing husband will not listen then we simply answer the matter, walk away and obey God. If the believing husband pitches a fit that we will not disobey God then we remain silent and continue obeying God while praying for his repentance.
When either a believing husband or an unsaved husband is pressuring a woman to disobey God than He is coming against God himself not just His wife.
Women of God love to obey their husbands, the love to serve them whenever they can, but they must never make the husband more important than God.
God is our leader, Christ is our teacher, our husbands are to lead in a godly manner, if they will not then the wife must honor god above her husband.
The Holy Spirit lives in every born again believer, women as well as men. The Holy Spirit takes priority over a spouse whether man or woman.
There is a monstrous teaching in some of the churches today that a woman should do any evil her husband wants just because he is the leader, this is patently wrong and destructive to the soul of the wife.
A "Christian" man, I use this term loosely here, instructed a newly born again believing woman to look at porn with her husband simply because she should obey him in everything. This is wicked beyond belief, that any man claiming to be a Christian would tell a woman to defile herself in an act of adultery looking at other people doing evil things just to satisfy a wicked husband. Shame shame on that man, I hope he repented, I don't know if he ever did but he will be held accountable before God if he did not. One has to wonder what wickedness dwelt in the heart of the man who would counsel in this way.
The Holy Spirit will never instruct us to do anything that violates God's principles. Therefore when a husband or wife comes against the Holy Spirit we must go with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:29
"29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."
Matthew 12:50 "50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”"
There is no verse that says; "whoever does the will of their husband is saved." God made it clear that every person men and women will be personally accountable for their own choices.
If a woman values her husband's love above Christ then she cannot belong to Christ.
Luke 14:26-27 "26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…"
The woman was given to Adam as a counselor, he was not complete without her. She is to be treated with respect and honor, never as an object to be used for the man's purposes.
Any man who sees his wife as an object is wicked and must repent.
1 Peter 3:7
"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
Any man who does not honor his wife is in rebellion against God. Any man who will not support the wife in the decisions of her domain, the household and the raising of the children is in rebellion against God.
Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Living Out Our Christlikeness Through Cleansing
Philippians 3:9
"9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,"
When we have the characteristics of Christ because He lives in us, then we will walk as He would walk. When we disobey God we are walking in the flesh rather than in the power of Christ.
Those who walk in the flesh and defend sin are not walking in the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:8
"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light"
2 Corinthians 5:7
"for we walk by faith, not by sight--"
Galatians 5:16
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
When we fail and fall back into trusting the flesh and following fleshly desires we must confess that and begin again to obey Christ.
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."
God called born again believers to confess their sin to be cleansed. When we refuse to confess and begin defending sin we have chosen to defy God.
"9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,"
When we have the characteristics of Christ because He lives in us, then we will walk as He would walk. When we disobey God we are walking in the flesh rather than in the power of Christ.
Those who walk in the flesh and defend sin are not walking in the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:8
"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light"
2 Corinthians 5:7
"for we walk by faith, not by sight--"
Galatians 5:16
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
When we fail and fall back into trusting the flesh and following fleshly desires we must confess that and begin again to obey Christ.
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."
God called born again believers to confess their sin to be cleansed. When we refuse to confess and begin defending sin we have chosen to defy God.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Addressing Sin in the Body of Christ
Smart law enforcement leaders know that ignoring smaller crimes leads to bigger ones. Its also true of sin in the body of Christ. When we ignore sin it is an endorsement of it after a fashion.
Ignoring something sends the message that it isn't important enough to address.
Romans 8:7
"7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,"
James 3:3-7 "3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’"
Romans 12:9
"9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."
Born again believers hate sin, we are commanded to reject it, avoid it and discourage others from engaging in it.
Proverbs 27:6
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."
Psalm 141:5
"Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
Luke 17:3
"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
1 Thessalonians 5:14
"We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."
2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;"
It is crystal clear that God gave us plenty of scripture after He rose from the dead that we are to seek to be holy, avoiding sin, confessing it when we fall to be cleansed from it.
To take sin lightly, endorsing it in any way while even defending it is sin in and of itself.
Proverbs 22:24
"24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,"
1 Corinthians 15:33
"33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Matthew 12:36
"36 I tell you, son the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,"
Galatians 6:7
"7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."
2 Corinthians 10:5
"5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,"
Acts 5:29
"29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."
The only way to be able to obey God rather than man is to take everything man says to the Word of God and prayer to discern if it matches with the word of God. Whatever does not agree with the Word of God must be rejected and discarded.
Ignoring something sends the message that it isn't important enough to address.
Romans 8:7
"7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,"
James 3:3-7 "3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’"
Romans 12:9
"9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."
Born again believers hate sin, we are commanded to reject it, avoid it and discourage others from engaging in it.
Proverbs 27:6
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."
Psalm 141:5
"Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds."
Luke 17:3
"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
1 Thessalonians 5:14
"We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."
2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;"
It is crystal clear that God gave us plenty of scripture after He rose from the dead that we are to seek to be holy, avoiding sin, confessing it when we fall to be cleansed from it.
To take sin lightly, endorsing it in any way while even defending it is sin in and of itself.
Proverbs 22:24
"24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,"
1 Corinthians 15:33
"33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Matthew 12:36
"36 I tell you, son the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,"
Galatians 6:7
"7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap."
2 Corinthians 10:5
"5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,"
Acts 5:29
"29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."
The only way to be able to obey God rather than man is to take everything man says to the Word of God and prayer to discern if it matches with the word of God. Whatever does not agree with the Word of God must be rejected and discarded.
Anger is on the Angry Person!
The one who becomes angry is the one who is responsible for his own anger. No one makes another person angry, its a lack of self control that lashes out when we have been insulted.
I have seen entire rooms of people defend the wicked man when a truth tellers calls them out on their wickedness as though the truth teller was evil for making the wicked man feel bad about himself.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
We live in a culture now that believes no one should feel bad about themselves. Sadly knowing we are sinful and in need of a Savior is what brings the broken hearted person to salvation through trusting Christ.
Psalm 51:16-17 "…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
God loves those who humble themselves to confess their sinfulness. It is only then that He can change us into a new creation to become born again.
I have seen entire rooms of people defend the wicked man when a truth tellers calls them out on their wickedness as though the truth teller was evil for making the wicked man feel bad about himself.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
We live in a culture now that believes no one should feel bad about themselves. Sadly knowing we are sinful and in need of a Savior is what brings the broken hearted person to salvation through trusting Christ.
Psalm 51:16-17 "…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."
God loves those who humble themselves to confess their sinfulness. It is only then that He can change us into a new creation to become born again.
The Modern Christian in America
The modern Christian in America spends more time with the ungodly than they do with born again sold out Christ followers.
This is the reason most believers we meet today are embarrassed at the mention of Christ's name, they fear the rejection of the world.
Proverbs 29:24-25 "…24 A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath, but will not testify. 25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set securely on high. 26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.…"
This is the reason most believers we meet today are embarrassed at the mention of Christ's name, they fear the rejection of the world.
Proverbs 29:24-25 "…24 A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath, but will not testify. 25 The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set securely on high. 26 Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.…"
Family Mobbings?
An amusing thought entered my mind this morning. Tell me if you have encountered this:
Have you been invited to family gatherings but left out of others things the family is planning, only to be told later about them so you can know you were left out?
Then there are those lovely gatherings in which no one acts like a Christian but they all go to church.
There is a mentality that wants the scapegoat to show up at the yearly gathering so they can see the bullies ignoring them. When you decide not to go anymore you are questioned by phone why you didn't go.
There are those who want us to want them but they don't want us. There is some sort of perverted desire to make sure we see them as special while they make sure we know that we are not.
This is becoming a common petty and silly manipulation for no other reason than to elevate the status of the narcissists in the family. Sadly the narcissists are the ones people perceive to be above everyone else but their character is more like that of a bratty six year old.
This is the reason God told us to "come out from among them", and "to hate your family members" to follow Christ. We must have more love for Christ than we do for family members. This will put us at odds with family, not because we did anything wrong but because family loves their worldliness and elevated status in their own minds.
Luke 14:25-27 "25 Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…"
We love our families but we cannot love the way they act when they dishonor Christ. Just as Christ's love falls to the ground when offered to a stubborn person, so does our love when we have offered it to stubborn and prideful family.
When family does not love Christ then they cannot be our companions.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 "…16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” 17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”…"
The best way to visit with rebellious family is one on one. Attempting to visit with anyone in a crowd is not very productive.
The crowd intimidates people to accept the ways of the crowd. This is the reason I don't go to family "gatherings" anymore. I prefer to visit with family members individually, then there is greater possibility of a conversation that is not tainted by the intimidation of others in the room.
It is really true that most families these days become a "pack of wolves" using family mobbings to intimidate that one person who wants to converse on a deeper level and who loves God.
When we love Christ we want pure truth, not superficial cliches that have very little meaning or significance. When I hear a cliche my first thought is " is that Biblical?" Then I proceed to evaluate the saying to decide if it is based on truth.
The modern Christian love their cliches, their mantras and happy feelings. The more superficial the better to those who care more about a happy life than they do about truth and a holy life.
Proverbs 12:15-25
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 A fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17 He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad."
What is the "good word", that is a scriptural word authored by Christ. Not a human idea that sounds good.
Have you been invited to family gatherings but left out of others things the family is planning, only to be told later about them so you can know you were left out?
Then there are those lovely gatherings in which no one acts like a Christian but they all go to church.
There is a mentality that wants the scapegoat to show up at the yearly gathering so they can see the bullies ignoring them. When you decide not to go anymore you are questioned by phone why you didn't go.
There are those who want us to want them but they don't want us. There is some sort of perverted desire to make sure we see them as special while they make sure we know that we are not.
This is becoming a common petty and silly manipulation for no other reason than to elevate the status of the narcissists in the family. Sadly the narcissists are the ones people perceive to be above everyone else but their character is more like that of a bratty six year old.
This is the reason God told us to "come out from among them", and "to hate your family members" to follow Christ. We must have more love for Christ than we do for family members. This will put us at odds with family, not because we did anything wrong but because family loves their worldliness and elevated status in their own minds.
Luke 14:25-27 "25 Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…"
We love our families but we cannot love the way they act when they dishonor Christ. Just as Christ's love falls to the ground when offered to a stubborn person, so does our love when we have offered it to stubborn and prideful family.
When family does not love Christ then they cannot be our companions.
2 Corinthians 6:16-18 "…16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” 17 “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18 And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”…"
The best way to visit with rebellious family is one on one. Attempting to visit with anyone in a crowd is not very productive.
The crowd intimidates people to accept the ways of the crowd. This is the reason I don't go to family "gatherings" anymore. I prefer to visit with family members individually, then there is greater possibility of a conversation that is not tainted by the intimidation of others in the room.
It is really true that most families these days become a "pack of wolves" using family mobbings to intimidate that one person who wants to converse on a deeper level and who loves God.
When we love Christ we want pure truth, not superficial cliches that have very little meaning or significance. When I hear a cliche my first thought is " is that Biblical?" Then I proceed to evaluate the saying to decide if it is based on truth.
The modern Christian love their cliches, their mantras and happy feelings. The more superficial the better to those who care more about a happy life than they do about truth and a holy life.
Proverbs 12:15-25
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 A fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17 He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the slack hand will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good word makes it glad."
What is the "good word", that is a scriptural word authored by Christ. Not a human idea that sounds good.
Monday, July 29, 2019
Entitlement Mentality
Joyful Through and Through, In and Out!!!!
Many people I know believe that we must be nice to unbelievers so they will like us and then they will like Jesus because they like us.
I questioned this a few years ago when this thinking was becoming popular, prayed about it and here is what God gave me from His word.
1 Corinthians 15:13 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
And Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD."
It was interesting to me that the brothers who loved this "lifestyle" evangelism were friendly to the unbeliever and mean to those believers that disagreed with them. So where was their friendliness toward the brethren?
1 John 3:13-14 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. "
The reason I questioned this style of non-evangelism through a lifestyle, was because the people I knew who were practicing it tended to be ashamed to mention the name of Christ for fear of being seen as weird and losing ungodly friends. They wanted to be liked by the world rather than caring about pleasing Christ.
It was their excuse to remain silent to avoid rejection.
There were some people who believed this "lifestyle" evangelism was right because its what the "preachers" were telling them. They had a sense of false guilt if they were bolder about the gospel. After all, if someone became angry with us it was our fault for making them angry.
I have seen entire rooms of people defend the wicked man when a truth tellers calls them out on their wickedness as though the truth teller was evil for making the wicked man feel bad about himself.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
We live in a culture now that believes no one should feel bad about themselves. Sadly knowing we are sinful and in need of a Savior is what brings the broken hearted person to salvation through trusting Christ.
Matthew 5:3-5 "3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.…"
Thankfully when we have confessed our sinfulness we no longer remain mournful but become joyful through and through, in and out.
I questioned this a few years ago when this thinking was becoming popular, prayed about it and here is what God gave me from His word.
1 Corinthians 15:13 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
And Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD."
It was interesting to me that the brothers who loved this "lifestyle" evangelism were friendly to the unbeliever and mean to those believers that disagreed with them. So where was their friendliness toward the brethren?
1 John 3:13-14 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. "
The reason I questioned this style of non-evangelism through a lifestyle, was because the people I knew who were practicing it tended to be ashamed to mention the name of Christ for fear of being seen as weird and losing ungodly friends. They wanted to be liked by the world rather than caring about pleasing Christ.
It was their excuse to remain silent to avoid rejection.
There were some people who believed this "lifestyle" evangelism was right because its what the "preachers" were telling them. They had a sense of false guilt if they were bolder about the gospel. After all, if someone became angry with us it was our fault for making them angry.
I have seen entire rooms of people defend the wicked man when a truth tellers calls them out on their wickedness as though the truth teller was evil for making the wicked man feel bad about himself.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
We live in a culture now that believes no one should feel bad about themselves. Sadly knowing we are sinful and in need of a Savior is what brings the broken hearted person to salvation through trusting Christ.
Matthew 5:3-5 "3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.…"
Thankfully when we have confessed our sinfulness we no longer remain mournful but become joyful through and through, in and out.
The Holy Spirit, Being and Doing Together
When I have told people that unbelievers can sense the Holy Spirit in us I was not intimating that we can just remain silent and let that witness be all that happens.
We are a witness by the power of the Holy Spirit without speaking but God commanded us to speak the gospel to people.
We are to do more than just "be" we are to "act" too. The challenge is to "be" to validate our words when they come out. If we "be" then what we act will be authentically Holy Spirit witness.
If we "be" but do not act then maybe we are not "being" but pretending to "be."
I know it sounds strange but becoming "being" Christ like must be first before our witness can be believed. We should be speaking all the time, truth to unbelievers and encouragement in righteousness to believers.
If we are born again we will be busting at the seams with fatness of truth, it will not only be seen spiritually but in actions too, they must match up.
When we are born again we are not ashamed of Christ or worried about rejection from those who wish to intimidate us into silence. We have such wonderful boldness and joy that nothing that comes against us will silence us.
Hallelujah for the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers life!
We are a witness by the power of the Holy Spirit without speaking but God commanded us to speak the gospel to people.
We are to do more than just "be" we are to "act" too. The challenge is to "be" to validate our words when they come out. If we "be" then what we act will be authentically Holy Spirit witness.
If we "be" but do not act then maybe we are not "being" but pretending to "be."
I know it sounds strange but becoming "being" Christ like must be first before our witness can be believed. We should be speaking all the time, truth to unbelievers and encouragement in righteousness to believers.
If we are born again we will be busting at the seams with fatness of truth, it will not only be seen spiritually but in actions too, they must match up.
When we are born again we are not ashamed of Christ or worried about rejection from those who wish to intimidate us into silence. We have such wonderful boldness and joy that nothing that comes against us will silence us.
Hallelujah for the work of the Holy Spirit in the believers life!
The Devil's Work Every Single Day
The devil is busy placing angry thoughts into the minds of many to turn them against one another.
Pride keeps people angry when there is no reason to be angry.
The devil hates believers, even causing people to believe they are saved when they are not. These are the people who are easily enraged when they are confronted with their sin of pride.
When we encounter someone who has been told they need to rethink their belief or their actions and they rage as a result of the conversation we know we have met a prideful person.
Those who believe they are doing right do not rage at a challenge. They may even listen to the challenge to ponder it if they have not heard the principles presented before.
However the narcissist will rage nearly every time they are confronted. They will mock, demean and reject anyone who brings truth that contradicts their elevated view of themselves.
In short: Narcissists do not listen carefully to learn truth unless its what they want to hear. They rage when they don't like what they have heard.
When God said the angry man does not have ears to hear He does not mean they have no ears, He means they are "sticking their fingers in their ears" to deliberately resist hearing. This is the meaning in the original language.
We see this all the time when we speak to stubborn people. They refuse to answer simple questions when asked and ignore anything you say when they are not raging. They can learn to restrain their actions but the angry mentality remains.
This is the state of our world today, get used to it believers and be prepared to address it Biblically.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"1 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."
Notice God said these people will have a form of godliness, or "religion" but not the relationship with Christ. These people our pridefully holding on to their own self esteem, in so doing they deny God in favor of self. They do not say there is no god. They say they will make their own ideas of what God means in His Word.
These people claim to follow the Bible but they resist its truth mixing it with many other forms of false doctrine to satisfy their own lust for pleasure and power.
Pride keeps people angry when there is no reason to be angry.
The devil hates believers, even causing people to believe they are saved when they are not. These are the people who are easily enraged when they are confronted with their sin of pride.
When we encounter someone who has been told they need to rethink their belief or their actions and they rage as a result of the conversation we know we have met a prideful person.
Those who believe they are doing right do not rage at a challenge. They may even listen to the challenge to ponder it if they have not heard the principles presented before.
However the narcissist will rage nearly every time they are confronted. They will mock, demean and reject anyone who brings truth that contradicts their elevated view of themselves.
In short: Narcissists do not listen carefully to learn truth unless its what they want to hear. They rage when they don't like what they have heard.
When God said the angry man does not have ears to hear He does not mean they have no ears, He means they are "sticking their fingers in their ears" to deliberately resist hearing. This is the meaning in the original language.
We see this all the time when we speak to stubborn people. They refuse to answer simple questions when asked and ignore anything you say when they are not raging. They can learn to restrain their actions but the angry mentality remains.
This is the state of our world today, get used to it believers and be prepared to address it Biblically.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"1 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."
Notice God said these people will have a form of godliness, or "religion" but not the relationship with Christ. These people our pridefully holding on to their own self esteem, in so doing they deny God in favor of self. They do not say there is no god. They say they will make their own ideas of what God means in His Word.
These people claim to follow the Bible but they resist its truth mixing it with many other forms of false doctrine to satisfy their own lust for pleasure and power.
Sunday, July 28, 2019
The Beauty of Perseverance
Hearing a quote today from Teddy Roosevelt:
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ...
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. ...
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” ...
“Believe you can and you're halfway there.”
As born again believers we do not consider the opinion of naysayers or the rebellious. We consider only the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 "…12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.”…"
What an incredible freedom we have in our souls when we are led by the Holy Spirit. Nothing and no one can deter us from the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
When we seek God He will not withhold knowledge and wisdom.
Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
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.…"
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ...
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. ...
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” ...
“Believe you can and you're halfway there.”
As born again believers we do not consider the opinion of naysayers or the rebellious. We consider only the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 "…12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.”…"
What an incredible freedom we have in our souls when we are led by the Holy Spirit. Nothing and no one can deter us from the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
When we seek God He will not withhold knowledge and wisdom.
Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
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.…"
False Christians Abound
I have heard many Christians say they believe in the Bible as the word of God but violate more of it than they obey. This is when I say, "actions speak louder than words." Its easy to SAY anything one wants others to believe about them, but to actually live what they believe will cost them friends and even jobs at times.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
God said that all believers will have the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Those who become easily angered when corrected with the Scripture but call themselves Christian are likely pretenders. They have not been born again.
So many "Christians" these days have adopted the words and some of the lifestyle of the Bible to enhance their own position in the world, but have no fervor for truth. They love to feel superior to others and pretend they are humble but the raging that emerges when challenged to rethink their false doctrine they cannot calmly discuss it, they must intimidate and mock.
Pride is at the root of this pretense and rebellion. These people lack love, they have little joy and there is none of the other qualities that come with the indwelt Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5.
The will say that we lack these things as they project onto us their own attitude. We ought to all be evaluating ourselves to see if we are walking in the Spirit. When the Spirit assures us that we are we can dismiss the false accusation of the devil that are spawned from their mind through the devil's influence.
The devil wants us to fear the opinion of men, that might cause him to be able to silence us. However, when we know this tactic we can remain bold and remove ourselves from those who falsely accuse us.
1 Peter 3:16
"Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."
Exodus 23:1
"“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness."
1 Peter 2:1-12
"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ..."
The more you walk with Christ the more you will be rejected and accused of things that are not true. Evaluate what is being said, seek the Holy Spirit and when it is proved that you are being falsely accused move on without regret and without returning.
Be sure they will accuse you of what they are doing to divert the attention from their evil attitudes, ignore them.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
God said that all believers will have the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Those who become easily angered when corrected with the Scripture but call themselves Christian are likely pretenders. They have not been born again.
So many "Christians" these days have adopted the words and some of the lifestyle of the Bible to enhance their own position in the world, but have no fervor for truth. They love to feel superior to others and pretend they are humble but the raging that emerges when challenged to rethink their false doctrine they cannot calmly discuss it, they must intimidate and mock.
Pride is at the root of this pretense and rebellion. These people lack love, they have little joy and there is none of the other qualities that come with the indwelt Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5.
The will say that we lack these things as they project onto us their own attitude. We ought to all be evaluating ourselves to see if we are walking in the Spirit. When the Spirit assures us that we are we can dismiss the false accusation of the devil that are spawned from their mind through the devil's influence.
The devil wants us to fear the opinion of men, that might cause him to be able to silence us. However, when we know this tactic we can remain bold and remove ourselves from those who falsely accuse us.
1 Peter 3:16
"Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."
Exodus 23:1
"“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness."
1 Peter 2:1-12
"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ..."
The more you walk with Christ the more you will be rejected and accused of things that are not true. Evaluate what is being said, seek the Holy Spirit and when it is proved that you are being falsely accused move on without regret and without returning.
Be sure they will accuse you of what they are doing to divert the attention from their evil attitudes, ignore them.
Many Fakers, Many Pretenders
In these last days there will be many fakers, those who Hollywood who would claim to be Christian but their fruit is rotten. They love to pretend they walk the Christian life while at the same time twisting the word of the Bible to say things they like to believe.
These people are not seeking Christ, they are wanting the safety of the gospel without a desire to obey Christ. They disobey more of the Bible than they obey while claiming to love it.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
There are far more Christians in these days who are embarrassed at the mention of the name of Christ than who love to speak of Him. This ought to be a clue, when we love someone we speak of them often.
John 14: 9-11 "…9 Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.…"
These people are not seeking Christ, they are wanting the safety of the gospel without a desire to obey Christ. They disobey more of the Bible than they obey while claiming to love it.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
There are far more Christians in these days who are embarrassed at the mention of the name of Christ than who love to speak of Him. This ought to be a clue, when we love someone we speak of them often.
John 14: 9-11 "…9 Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.…"
Saturday, July 27, 2019
A New Creation in Christ
Born again believers have lost all desire to sin. Even if they do it in weakness they hate it and confess to be cleansed.
Those who defend the sin they love cannot be born again, these are the pretenders who think all they have to do is say they are a Christian and they are in.
When Christ changes us into a new creation we no longer think the same way we did before. The more time we spend with Him in prayer and reading of His Word the more we hate sin and the bolder we become.
When Christ changes us it is forever and the opposite of what we were before.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Those who defend the sin they love cannot be born again, these are the pretenders who think all they have to do is say they are a Christian and they are in.
When Christ changes us into a new creation we no longer think the same way we did before. The more time we spend with Him in prayer and reading of His Word the more we hate sin and the bolder we become.
When Christ changes us it is forever and the opposite of what we were before.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
Wisdom Only Comes with Long Life
Life of Obedience is a Life of Wisdom
What many unbelievers don't realize is that the life of obedience is a life of pure joy. The life of disobedience is filled with superficial happiness based only on each thing the unbeliever does that pleases them.
When an unbeliever is not being pleased they are unhappy. There is no depth of joy that remains through all circumstances even through trials.
The born again believer has joy no matter what is happening to them. There is expectation that all that happens to us adds to our learning and growth, we love this spiritual blessing of wisdom that comes with enduring through our lessons.
James 1:2-8
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
It is my belief that all the lessons born again believers learn now will serve us in the Millennium when we shall rule with Christ. The experiences of this world are not for nothing. They have purpose that will last for eternity.
Psalm 37:30 "30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just."
Proverbs 4:6-7 "6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."
It doesn't make sense that we would be on this earth for 70 or 80 years to learn great wisdom only to have it die with our fleshly bodies. But that's just me and how I think.
Job 12:12
"12 “Wisdom is with aged men,
With long life is understanding."
When an unbeliever is not being pleased they are unhappy. There is no depth of joy that remains through all circumstances even through trials.
The born again believer has joy no matter what is happening to them. There is expectation that all that happens to us adds to our learning and growth, we love this spiritual blessing of wisdom that comes with enduring through our lessons.
James 1:2-8
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
It is my belief that all the lessons born again believers learn now will serve us in the Millennium when we shall rule with Christ. The experiences of this world are not for nothing. They have purpose that will last for eternity.
Psalm 37:30 "30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just."
Proverbs 4:6-7 "6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."
It doesn't make sense that we would be on this earth for 70 or 80 years to learn great wisdom only to have it die with our fleshly bodies. But that's just me and how I think.
Job 12:12
"12 “Wisdom is with aged men,
With long life is understanding."
Rejoicing in Heaven Over One Who Repents
People Pleasers are Not Very Helpful
Narcissists love people pleasers, those who do not take a strong position about anything. People pleasers are not very useful for the Kingdom of God.
Pleasing people usually creates superficial relationships that never go deeper into truth.
When we love the Lord we wish to be kind and loving not at the expense of truth.
A peacemaker is different from peace keeping. Peace keepers will compromise truth to maintain superficial happiness. The peacemaker desires to get to the core of truth that character is changed for the better.
Peace keepers are superficially happy people but they have little depth.
Peacemakers get to the root of a matter for a depth of character improvement.
Peacekeepers rarely grow and change.
Peacemakers seem to be constantly rejected by the superficial world we live in, but will grow to a depth of character that only takes hard decisions and possibility of rejection in order to defend truth.
Peace keeping is of little value, peace making is hard work but produces real solutions to problems.
If you were to take a problem to a peace keeper you would hear things like "oh honey it will all work out." OR, you many notice they are uncomfortable with talking about need for a solution because there is a problem. Peace keepers are not helpful in time of trials.
The peace maker will take us to the Word for the solution, they will pray with us and they will listen intently with interest, but not for making someone feel better, they desire to seek a solution that will change things, either in our own character and the character of others.
Galatians 1:10
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
1 Thessalonians 2:4
"But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."
Pleasing people usually creates superficial relationships that never go deeper into truth.
When we love the Lord we wish to be kind and loving not at the expense of truth.
A peacemaker is different from peace keeping. Peace keepers will compromise truth to maintain superficial happiness. The peacemaker desires to get to the core of truth that character is changed for the better.
Peace keepers are superficially happy people but they have little depth.
Peacemakers get to the root of a matter for a depth of character improvement.
Peacekeepers rarely grow and change.
Peacemakers seem to be constantly rejected by the superficial world we live in, but will grow to a depth of character that only takes hard decisions and possibility of rejection in order to defend truth.
Peace keeping is of little value, peace making is hard work but produces real solutions to problems.
If you were to take a problem to a peace keeper you would hear things like "oh honey it will all work out." OR, you many notice they are uncomfortable with talking about need for a solution because there is a problem. Peace keepers are not helpful in time of trials.
The peace maker will take us to the Word for the solution, they will pray with us and they will listen intently with interest, but not for making someone feel better, they desire to seek a solution that will change things, either in our own character and the character of others.
Galatians 1:10
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
1 Thessalonians 2:4
"But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."
Friday, July 26, 2019
Dull of Hearing is a Choice
Dull of hearing means to "stick ones fingers in their ears."
Hebrews 5:11 "11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing."
We are living in a time when people are sticking their fingers in their ears in choice not to hear. It isn't that they cannot understand or hear, its that they choose not to listen.
Hebrews 5:11 "11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing."
We are living in a time when people are sticking their fingers in their ears in choice not to hear. It isn't that they cannot understand or hear, its that they choose not to listen.
God's Love is Better than Human Love
God's love for us is not based on our performance.
Our love for others is not based on performance.
Those who do not love God and bring nothing but trouble into the lives of believers must be put out, but that does not mean we do not love them. In fact putting them out may cause them to rethink their life and turn to Christ, the greatest love of all, is to help them through discipline.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 "…12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”"
Our love does not end nor is it a manipulation just because someone will not act properly and must be avoided. Our love extends beyond "friendship" to "discipline" that might bring them to a realization that they need to trust Christ.
If you have a neighbor who claimed to be a Christian but remains continually in sin, then the Bible tells us to stay away from them. However if our enemy is in dire distress and grave danger we would rush to their aid no matter how they act. The good Samaritan didn't interview the man laying in the ditch having been beaten, he simply assisted him, paying a bill at the inn to make sure of his safety until he was well. Then the Samaritan went on his way.
This is the principle behind the the doctors creed, "do no harm to anyone" and save anyone's life is it is within their power to do so, even an evil man.
It is not the job of the Christian to excuse sin nor is it the job of the Christian to execute justice on a wicked man, that is for the governing authorities and God. However we are told not to become a close friend with those who act badly and are unrepentant.
There is a misunderstanding in the world today that says that we never leave someone no matter how wicked they are, this is wrong according to God's Word.
To remain with wicked people hoping we will be the influence in their life that makes the difference is playing god ourselves. It is arrogance, false guilt and often enabling.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…
Proverbs 24:1 "1 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; 2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.…"
Jeremiah 17:23
"Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction."
Walking away from a wicked man, leaving them to God is mandated by God.
1 Corinthians 5:5
5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
If we love those who are in rebellion we will let go of them, we will get out of the way so God can work on them. He knows best what their need is and the condition of their heart.
Wicked people will keep believers jumping through hoops endlessly deterring them from the job God has for them. We also enable the wicked man by remaining with them.
Ephesians 5:11
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
Ephesians 5:6-8 "6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,…"
Proverbs 13:19-21 "…19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools. 20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous."
God's love is not the gooy human version based on feelings it is far deeper and much more productive.
If a friend of a man in the wilderness has a limb fall on him from a tree and lodge in his leg, the man must do the hard thing no matter how much it will hurt the friend or what the friend feels about it. He must extract the limb from his friends leg no matter how much pain it will cause.
When we refuse to tell the truth to help our friends who are in sin and spiritual darkness we are messaging our feelings and the feelings of the one who sins, enabling them, even helping them to continue in the thing that will destroy them.
Spiritual injury caused by sin must be dealt with no matter how much emotional pain it may cause. Physical and emotional pain has the uncanny ability to spiritually grow a human being from infancy to maturity. All hardship grows people if we allow it to teach us. There are those who refuse help, these people do not grow or change into anything better and must be left alone in their sin. God knows what to do with them.
If the man in the wilderness would not remove the limb from his friends leg because he was afraid the man may lose his leg or die of gangrene for lack of help. The pain is worth it to save a life. This is the truth about sharing the gospel to unbelievers and truth to stubborn believers. We can only share truth, what the hearer does with it is up to God. When we realize someone is not listening then it is time to move on to others who might.
Matthew 10:14 "“And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet."
When "feelings" are the basis for our actions we will be useless in the work of Christ. It is unpleasant at times to have to let go of a loved one. Often we are judged by less spiritual people who do not understand the love of God and His principles. Leave the reactions of onlookers to Christ and keep moving.
Our world is full of emotionally charged people who help sinful people remain happily in their sin leading down the road to destruction simply to allow everyone to have happy "feelings." The devil uses feelings more than any other medium these days to distract people from the truth. He uses them to debilitate tongues into stagnation that should be moving.
1 John 3:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
If we love with the love of Christ truth will be more important to us than what others might think of us.
Our love for others is not based on performance.
Those who do not love God and bring nothing but trouble into the lives of believers must be put out, but that does not mean we do not love them. In fact putting them out may cause them to rethink their life and turn to Christ, the greatest love of all, is to help them through discipline.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 "…12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”"
Our love does not end nor is it a manipulation just because someone will not act properly and must be avoided. Our love extends beyond "friendship" to "discipline" that might bring them to a realization that they need to trust Christ.
If you have a neighbor who claimed to be a Christian but remains continually in sin, then the Bible tells us to stay away from them. However if our enemy is in dire distress and grave danger we would rush to their aid no matter how they act. The good Samaritan didn't interview the man laying in the ditch having been beaten, he simply assisted him, paying a bill at the inn to make sure of his safety until he was well. Then the Samaritan went on his way.
This is the principle behind the the doctors creed, "do no harm to anyone" and save anyone's life is it is within their power to do so, even an evil man.
It is not the job of the Christian to excuse sin nor is it the job of the Christian to execute justice on a wicked man, that is for the governing authorities and God. However we are told not to become a close friend with those who act badly and are unrepentant.
There is a misunderstanding in the world today that says that we never leave someone no matter how wicked they are, this is wrong according to God's Word.
To remain with wicked people hoping we will be the influence in their life that makes the difference is playing god ourselves. It is arrogance, false guilt and often enabling.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…
Proverbs 24:1 "1 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; 2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.…"
Jeremiah 17:23
"Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction."
Walking away from a wicked man, leaving them to God is mandated by God.
1 Corinthians 5:5
5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
If we love those who are in rebellion we will let go of them, we will get out of the way so God can work on them. He knows best what their need is and the condition of their heart.
Wicked people will keep believers jumping through hoops endlessly deterring them from the job God has for them. We also enable the wicked man by remaining with them.
Ephesians 5:11
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
Ephesians 5:6-8 "6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,…"
Proverbs 13:19-21 "…19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but turning from evil is detestable to fools. 20 He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 21 Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous."
God's love is not the gooy human version based on feelings it is far deeper and much more productive.
If a friend of a man in the wilderness has a limb fall on him from a tree and lodge in his leg, the man must do the hard thing no matter how much it will hurt the friend or what the friend feels about it. He must extract the limb from his friends leg no matter how much pain it will cause.
When we refuse to tell the truth to help our friends who are in sin and spiritual darkness we are messaging our feelings and the feelings of the one who sins, enabling them, even helping them to continue in the thing that will destroy them.
Spiritual injury caused by sin must be dealt with no matter how much emotional pain it may cause. Physical and emotional pain has the uncanny ability to spiritually grow a human being from infancy to maturity. All hardship grows people if we allow it to teach us. There are those who refuse help, these people do not grow or change into anything better and must be left alone in their sin. God knows what to do with them.
If the man in the wilderness would not remove the limb from his friends leg because he was afraid the man may lose his leg or die of gangrene for lack of help. The pain is worth it to save a life. This is the truth about sharing the gospel to unbelievers and truth to stubborn believers. We can only share truth, what the hearer does with it is up to God. When we realize someone is not listening then it is time to move on to others who might.
Matthew 10:14 "“And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet."
When "feelings" are the basis for our actions we will be useless in the work of Christ. It is unpleasant at times to have to let go of a loved one. Often we are judged by less spiritual people who do not understand the love of God and His principles. Leave the reactions of onlookers to Christ and keep moving.
Our world is full of emotionally charged people who help sinful people remain happily in their sin leading down the road to destruction simply to allow everyone to have happy "feelings." The devil uses feelings more than any other medium these days to distract people from the truth. He uses them to debilitate tongues into stagnation that should be moving.
1 John 3:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
If we love with the love of Christ truth will be more important to us than what others might think of us.
God Changed Me and Anyone Who Trusted in Him
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."
If Christ changed you into a new creation then there is no going back. We do not want to go back, we would never go back because our mind has been changed to love Christ.
"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."
If Christ changed you into a new creation then there is no going back. We do not want to go back, we would never go back because our mind has been changed to love Christ.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Remain Strong its Almost Over
There is a tactic of the devil that is being used commonly now. That is for the devil to use people to accuse believers of things that are not true of the believer but are true of the accuser.
When a narcissist accuses you of being unkind because you won't think as they think or do what they do, they are really describing themselves.
Matthew 5:22, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother WITHOUT CAUSE shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
There are reasons to be angry but we should never let that anger fester.
Ephesians 4"25-27 "…25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.…"
There is sinful anger in which those who are angry are jealous and thinking up things to be angry about to justify their hatred. There is anger that comes from contempt over someone's rules and boundaries.
In raising troubled children it is common for the children to assign the label of mean to the parents who have rules and boundaries. Even when those rules and boundaries are there to protect them as well as everyone else in the household. Many adoptive parents encounter an irrational anger toward them that is based in their memories of the natural parent who harmed them in some way.
The role of the "mean parent" is assigned to those who cannot be easily manipulated by the tactics of others. If you look back on your life and see that you attempted to honor God in the raising of your children and they interpreted your discipline and training as "mean", they most likely were in rebellion.
Those who do not like rules and standards are ones who will assign to others their own attitudes. There is need for repentance in the hearts of those who will not submit to authority and training that was ordained by God.
One of the very effective tactics of the narcissist is to accuse others of the very thing the narcissist is doing and the others are not. This brings frustration to the accused. Good news though, we do not have to be frustrated and we do not have to succumb to the tactics by reacting the same way a narcissist would react.
Often the narcissist pushes buttons they know will cause frustration in us that make them look like the innocent one. When we know our enemy, that is the devil who is twisting the minds of the narcissists we do not have to engage with those who will seek our ruin.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"
We are living in very perilous times as 2 Timothy 3 says. These are times of "raging insanity", when many if not most things do not make good sense. Knowing the way people think and the way God wants us to think is vital to our last days here before Christ's return.
The challenge to remain faithful to God's principles while speaking boldly when confronted is continual and seems threatening. We can expect to have few friends. There will be a decreasing number of people who share our desire to obey God.
This rebellious age is full of people who will assign hate to those who are walking in righteousness while coddling and protecting those who love rebellion against God.
2 Peter 3:3-4
"Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
Knowing all this about the last days should bring the born again believer great joy. Sound strange that all this wickedness would bring joy.....it is not the sin and irrational thinking that brings the joy, it is in knowing that when these things occur we will soon be going home.
God is going to deal with this mess in due time. In the mean time we have the strength of the Lord to endure and the hope of the promise of our home going.
Luke 21:27-28 "…27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” "
Brothers and Sisters its almost over, soon we will be at the marriage supper of the Lamb after which we will return with Christ. We will be with Him when He destroys the evil upon the earth.
There is no greater hope than this!!!!!
When a narcissist accuses you of being unkind because you won't think as they think or do what they do, they are really describing themselves.
Matthew 5:22, "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother WITHOUT CAUSE shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
There are reasons to be angry but we should never let that anger fester.
Ephesians 4"25-27 "…25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.…"
There is sinful anger in which those who are angry are jealous and thinking up things to be angry about to justify their hatred. There is anger that comes from contempt over someone's rules and boundaries.
In raising troubled children it is common for the children to assign the label of mean to the parents who have rules and boundaries. Even when those rules and boundaries are there to protect them as well as everyone else in the household. Many adoptive parents encounter an irrational anger toward them that is based in their memories of the natural parent who harmed them in some way.
The role of the "mean parent" is assigned to those who cannot be easily manipulated by the tactics of others. If you look back on your life and see that you attempted to honor God in the raising of your children and they interpreted your discipline and training as "mean", they most likely were in rebellion.
Those who do not like rules and standards are ones who will assign to others their own attitudes. There is need for repentance in the hearts of those who will not submit to authority and training that was ordained by God.
One of the very effective tactics of the narcissist is to accuse others of the very thing the narcissist is doing and the others are not. This brings frustration to the accused. Good news though, we do not have to be frustrated and we do not have to succumb to the tactics by reacting the same way a narcissist would react.
Often the narcissist pushes buttons they know will cause frustration in us that make them look like the innocent one. When we know our enemy, that is the devil who is twisting the minds of the narcissists we do not have to engage with those who will seek our ruin.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"
We are living in very perilous times as 2 Timothy 3 says. These are times of "raging insanity", when many if not most things do not make good sense. Knowing the way people think and the way God wants us to think is vital to our last days here before Christ's return.
The challenge to remain faithful to God's principles while speaking boldly when confronted is continual and seems threatening. We can expect to have few friends. There will be a decreasing number of people who share our desire to obey God.
This rebellious age is full of people who will assign hate to those who are walking in righteousness while coddling and protecting those who love rebellion against God.
2 Peter 3:3-4
"Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
Knowing all this about the last days should bring the born again believer great joy. Sound strange that all this wickedness would bring joy.....it is not the sin and irrational thinking that brings the joy, it is in knowing that when these things occur we will soon be going home.
God is going to deal with this mess in due time. In the mean time we have the strength of the Lord to endure and the hope of the promise of our home going.
Luke 21:27-28 "…27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” "
Brothers and Sisters its almost over, soon we will be at the marriage supper of the Lamb after which we will return with Christ. We will be with Him when He destroys the evil upon the earth.
There is no greater hope than this!!!!!
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Humility Builds Righteousness, Pride Destroys
A man quoted someone else when he said; "evil hates forgiveness."
I never thought about that much in all my years but it is true. Those who hate Christ often hold forgiven sins over other people as though those sins are still active.
As born again believers we love to forgive those who confess their sin. There is great joy that someone is honest and is being cleansed by God because of their desire to be changed. We know how much we had to be forgiven therefore we love to forgive those who are desiring to be forgiven by God and others.
The harshest people toward others are those who remain in their own sin. They often will keep alive things from the past that have been wiped away by the blood of Christ.
The very people who hate forgiveness are in the greatest need of it. The people who will not admit they have sin are those who are also in need of forgiveness.
The same people who want to be forgiven themselves will not repent nor will they extend forgiveness when there is confession.
Probably all of us know people like this, they love their contempt and bask in their idea of superiority over others.
The born again believer cares nothing about being superior to anyone. We know we are all inferior to God and He is the One Who counts.
We can love imperfect people because we are all imperfect ourselves. If Christ can love us while we were still in our sin and even be dedicated to cleansing us if we want it, then we as possessors of the Holy Spirit can love others.
Christ extended forgiveness when there was an expression of confession over sin, we can do the same.
There is only difficulty confessing sin and forgiving others when there is much pride.
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Only a humble person can admit sins and flaws!
Proverbs 16:18
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Proverbs 16:5
"Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished."
Psalm 10:4
"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
Galatians 6:3
"For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."
I never thought about that much in all my years but it is true. Those who hate Christ often hold forgiven sins over other people as though those sins are still active.
As born again believers we love to forgive those who confess their sin. There is great joy that someone is honest and is being cleansed by God because of their desire to be changed. We know how much we had to be forgiven therefore we love to forgive those who are desiring to be forgiven by God and others.
The harshest people toward others are those who remain in their own sin. They often will keep alive things from the past that have been wiped away by the blood of Christ.
The very people who hate forgiveness are in the greatest need of it. The people who will not admit they have sin are those who are also in need of forgiveness.
The same people who want to be forgiven themselves will not repent nor will they extend forgiveness when there is confession.
Probably all of us know people like this, they love their contempt and bask in their idea of superiority over others.
The born again believer cares nothing about being superior to anyone. We know we are all inferior to God and He is the One Who counts.
We can love imperfect people because we are all imperfect ourselves. If Christ can love us while we were still in our sin and even be dedicated to cleansing us if we want it, then we as possessors of the Holy Spirit can love others.
Christ extended forgiveness when there was an expression of confession over sin, we can do the same.
There is only difficulty confessing sin and forgiving others when there is much pride.
Proverbs 11:2
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Only a humble person can admit sins and flaws!
Proverbs 16:18
"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Proverbs 16:5
"Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished."
Psalm 10:4
"In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
Galatians 6:3
"For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself."
When Peace Like A River
Amen, Amen!!!!!! He is in control and we know the conclusion of the matter of life!!!!!!
The Mentality of a Liberal
Liberals are narcissists, that is, people with the mentality of bratty six year olds. There is not reasoning with them! They must have their own way or they will have a tantrum. When the tantrum does not work they will move on to violence against others and then accuse the others of violence.
These are people who are controlled by the devil. Thinking they are acting on their own they are ragingly irrational as well as unreasonable without self control.
Perhaps joking about them relieves the pressure of frustration of having to deal with giant bratty six year olds. Sadly these are the ones who are ruling most things in government today.
The insane are ruling the asylum and it does not appear to be getting better.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days perilous (ragingly insane) 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."
These are people who are controlled by the devil. Thinking they are acting on their own they are ragingly irrational as well as unreasonable without self control.
Perhaps joking about them relieves the pressure of frustration of having to deal with giant bratty six year olds. Sadly these are the ones who are ruling most things in government today.
The insane are ruling the asylum and it does not appear to be getting better.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days perilous (ragingly insane) 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."
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