Why do we have so many people on meds for conditions that didn't seem to exist 60 years ago?
I know that the Pharmaceutical industry is just that, an "industry." They are dedicated to making more drugs that people think they need to depend on. There have been a lot of good meds coming from that industry in the past, but now I see far too many people on meds that either don't seem to help or cause worse problems.
I am convinced that the whole matter of "ADHD" and other disorders are invented by these companies to be able to sell more drugs. Most diagnosis of things like ADHD are symptomatic, not based on scientific tests that can be done to determine what is causing it.
I also am convinced that many of the disorders of today are demonic, no drug can touch it.
I have known people who were on depression meds for a couple of months and they don't work anymore, so a new drug has to be introduced. One woman I knew had been on four different depression meds, when one didn't work she had to switch to another. Nothing seemed to work. I believe that's because demons are involved, meds don't work on the spiritual.
The doctors label the disorder of depression as chemical imbalances in the brain that need drugs to correct it and yet the drugs only work short term. If the drugs were to straighten out the chemical imbalance they why do they not continue to work.
I am convinced that demonic activity can cause chemical imbalances in the brain. Recalling the story in the bible about the person who was hunched over who was straightened up when the devils were cast out, helped me to come to this understanding. Demons can and do cause illnesses and distresses, we know this too from the account of Job.
The psychological industry has convinced many marriages to break up to solve the problems in the marriage. This does not solve problems it just splits the people to carry their problems to other people when they remarry.
All of the problems of life, in marriage and depression are answered in the pages of the Bible. My guess is that most of the people on depression meds and those in marriage problems never turned to God for their help. They went to heathens and pagans to give them answers when God was waiting for them to get on their knees before Him to discover His answers.
We do not see as many miracles in this culture as we could be seeing, because there is a lack of faith in God in the land.
Matthew 15:57-58 "…57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” 58 And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief."
Mark 6:4-6 "…4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is without honor only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household.” 5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them. 6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.…"
Do you have faith to wait, wait and wait some more in anticipation that God will work. We know it isn't God's will for us to be depressed, so we can expect Him to work on our behalf.
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Deuteronomy 31:8 "8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Psalm 30:11
"11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,"
Psalm 34:17-18
"17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Saturday, August 31, 2019
The Pagans and the Heathens Love These Things
If the pagans and heathens love it you can be sure something is wrong with it.
One of the strangest things I have encountered in all my years after becoming born again is the responses I receive from other Christians when asked to participate in certain holidays and I must politely decline.
So many Christians are so indoctrinated that Christmas, Halloween and Easter are Christian holidays that they are astonished and appalled when someone does not think of the holidays as anything in which a believer should participate.
Today in our culture there are those who are attempting to incorporate astrology into Christianity, as well as Hindu practices of Yoga, cultic practices of the ouji board and other paganistic events and rituals that fly in God's face, while defying the Bible which is the same as negating God's commands.
The attempt to incorporate heathen and pagan practices into Christianity began way back at the time of Christ and even before Christ came, there were attempts to appease God on His feasts by doing the feasts with paganism in mind. The devil has been working all along to dilute the Christian experience through deceptive means. He loves to take a pagan practice and make it look alright merely by adding Christ's name to it.
The Jews did this with the Jewish feast days, they treated their feast days the way Christians treat the holidays. The Jews were told to celebrate the feasts but no the way God commanded. Similarly in reverse God never commanded the human holidays we celebrate today and yet many attempt to make them Christian by placing the name of Christ on them anyway.
In the case of the Jewish feast days the Jews practiced those days for God but perverted them to pleasure oriented man centered celebrations, that had little to do with God.
Amos 5:21-23
"21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols."
Once a generation of people have been raised on a tradition it is nearly impossible to convince them of the truth. It is only through their desire to seek Christ that their eyes will be open to all these useless and abominable practices that they can begin to see the truth of all of it.
We have homosexual priest and minsters in churches that claim to be Christian. One day our culture will accept that as for God, just as they have the holidays that claim to be about Him but in fact are tools of the devil.
Just because a person decides to tack God's name on something does not make it pleasing to God. To claim we do something for God only has meaning if it was He Who commanded it.
Isaiah 31:1-2 "1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. 2 Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; He does not call back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers.…"
Those who wish to fit in with the world while at the same time want the protection of the Lord are fooling themselves. They think that all they have to do is claim something is from God and God will do their bidding and bless it.
Isaiah 9:13
But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
The people of our day are no different from the people of the past, they all do what is right in their own eyes based on human tradition. They refuse to seek the Lord to see if He is pleased with what they are doing. They refuse to seek the Lord before going through with their own plans. They demand that God bless their plans, expecting blessing even when what they do defies His own word.
Ezekiel 29:16
Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.'"
Egypt is a euphemism for wickeness. Those who went down to Egypt for their help were turning to the pagans for safety rather than God. They were desiring to please the pagans instead of pleasing God.
Where do we as modern Christians go when we are entrenched in the culture? We go to psychologists, we go to rituals and myths to comfort us in our fears, as well as feed our desire for fantasy and pleasure. Most do not think of going to God first for answers.
My only challenge to those who wish to please God is to seek God in all your practices. Diligently seek Him no matter who is watching, no matter who accepts the decision you have made to consult with God on all matters in your life.
I can tell you from experience that most people will not be on board with you in your decision to seek God. They will even attempt to discourage you from doing what you know God has told you to do. The things you will hear from God will be very different sometimes opposite of what the culture expects of you.
When this happens we have to ask ourselves this question: "will I follow God to please Him or will I follow men to be accepted by them."
Galatians 1:10 "10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. "
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
1 Thessalonians 2:4
"Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts."
One last thought, it is quite possible that our Christian witness has been tarnished by negating God to follow the culture.
Acts 4:13
"When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus."
Psalms 118:8-9
"(8) It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. (9) It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes."
One of the strangest things I have encountered in all my years after becoming born again is the responses I receive from other Christians when asked to participate in certain holidays and I must politely decline.
So many Christians are so indoctrinated that Christmas, Halloween and Easter are Christian holidays that they are astonished and appalled when someone does not think of the holidays as anything in which a believer should participate.
Today in our culture there are those who are attempting to incorporate astrology into Christianity, as well as Hindu practices of Yoga, cultic practices of the ouji board and other paganistic events and rituals that fly in God's face, while defying the Bible which is the same as negating God's commands.
The attempt to incorporate heathen and pagan practices into Christianity began way back at the time of Christ and even before Christ came, there were attempts to appease God on His feasts by doing the feasts with paganism in mind. The devil has been working all along to dilute the Christian experience through deceptive means. He loves to take a pagan practice and make it look alright merely by adding Christ's name to it.
The Jews did this with the Jewish feast days, they treated their feast days the way Christians treat the holidays. The Jews were told to celebrate the feasts but no the way God commanded. Similarly in reverse God never commanded the human holidays we celebrate today and yet many attempt to make them Christian by placing the name of Christ on them anyway.
In the case of the Jewish feast days the Jews practiced those days for God but perverted them to pleasure oriented man centered celebrations, that had little to do with God.
Amos 5:21-23
"21 I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols."
Once a generation of people have been raised on a tradition it is nearly impossible to convince them of the truth. It is only through their desire to seek Christ that their eyes will be open to all these useless and abominable practices that they can begin to see the truth of all of it.
We have homosexual priest and minsters in churches that claim to be Christian. One day our culture will accept that as for God, just as they have the holidays that claim to be about Him but in fact are tools of the devil.
Just because a person decides to tack God's name on something does not make it pleasing to God. To claim we do something for God only has meaning if it was He Who commanded it.
Isaiah 31:1-2 "1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. 2 Yet He too is wise and brings disaster; He does not call back His words. He will rise up against the house of the wicked and against the allies of evildoers.…"
Those who wish to fit in with the world while at the same time want the protection of the Lord are fooling themselves. They think that all they have to do is claim something is from God and God will do their bidding and bless it.
Isaiah 9:13
But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
The people of our day are no different from the people of the past, they all do what is right in their own eyes based on human tradition. They refuse to seek the Lord to see if He is pleased with what they are doing. They refuse to seek the Lord before going through with their own plans. They demand that God bless their plans, expecting blessing even when what they do defies His own word.
Ezekiel 29:16
Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.'"
Egypt is a euphemism for wickeness. Those who went down to Egypt for their help were turning to the pagans for safety rather than God. They were desiring to please the pagans instead of pleasing God.
Where do we as modern Christians go when we are entrenched in the culture? We go to psychologists, we go to rituals and myths to comfort us in our fears, as well as feed our desire for fantasy and pleasure. Most do not think of going to God first for answers.
My only challenge to those who wish to please God is to seek God in all your practices. Diligently seek Him no matter who is watching, no matter who accepts the decision you have made to consult with God on all matters in your life.
I can tell you from experience that most people will not be on board with you in your decision to seek God. They will even attempt to discourage you from doing what you know God has told you to do. The things you will hear from God will be very different sometimes opposite of what the culture expects of you.
When this happens we have to ask ourselves this question: "will I follow God to please Him or will I follow men to be accepted by them."
Galatians 1:10 "10 Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. "
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
1 Thessalonians 2:4
"Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts."
One last thought, it is quite possible that our Christian witness has been tarnished by negating God to follow the culture.
Acts 4:13
"When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus."
Psalms 118:8-9
"(8) It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. (9) It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes."
Friday, August 30, 2019
After Repentance Comes Rejoicing
Hebrews 12:11
"11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
May all those who are stubborn of heart, resistant to correction and full of their self righteousness be ashamed and repent.
May the blessing of discipline of the Lord descend upon them so that they will see the majesty of God and their need for Christ.
May the Lord be magnified in the repentance as all of heaven rejoices over those who were once lost and rebellious but now have become born again.
Luke 15:7 "7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent. "
"11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
May all those who are stubborn of heart, resistant to correction and full of their self righteousness be ashamed and repent.
May the blessing of discipline of the Lord descend upon them so that they will see the majesty of God and their need for Christ.
May the Lord be magnified in the repentance as all of heaven rejoices over those who were once lost and rebellious but now have become born again.
Luke 15:7 "7 In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent. "
The Future for the Born Again Believer
I look very much forward to this time. We were made for the light and for love, when those things are absent in a world like this there is a sense of wanting to go where we can find Christ the Light and Goodness.
Trudi Gretsinger Wrote the following:
There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky no more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore
What a day glorious day that will be
There'll be no sorrow there no more burdens to bear
No more sickness no pain no more parting over there
And forever I will be with the One who died for me
What a day glorious day that will be
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon His face
The One who saved me by His grace
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day glorious day that will be......
Trudi Gretsinger Wrote the following:
There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come
No more clouds in the sky no more tears to dim the eye
All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore
What a day glorious day that will be
There'll be no sorrow there no more burdens to bear
No more sickness no pain no more parting over there
And forever I will be with the One who died for me
What a day glorious day that will be
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see
And I look upon His face
The One who saved me by His grace
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land
What a day glorious day that will be......
Those Who Continue to Drift From Truth
Sadly one more preacher that I could have respected for some things, has said things that have deeply disappointed me.
Todd Friel had some very good videos on Christian character and other practical things, so I listened with joy to these things. However I recently discovered that he is in the same camp as John MacArthur on his staunch belief in "Calvinism."
MacArthur and Friel believe the same thing about taking the mark of the beast in the end times. They have defended the belief that one can take the mark of the beast and still be saved. This is antithetical to the Biblical teaching.
Revelation 13:9 " 9 And a third angel followed them, calling out in loud a voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, "
We either believe God or we believe MacArthur and Friel!
Also both of these men hold fast to the five points of Calvinism also antithetical to the teaching of the Bible.
Is it possible that much of this false teaching is also being propagated within the "Masters University" of which John MacArther has been the president?
In these last days we are seeing more preachers fall to false doctrine, especially those who have had a measure of prominence over their lifetime.
Many years ago we heard good things from MacArthur, with little or no mention of Calvinism in his early years, at least not publicly.
It seems that prominent men have been kissed with popularity for so long, they lose their desire for truth and choose their widespread approval over God's truth. I wonder if they stick their fingers in the air to see which way the wind is blowing before declaring what their theology will be.
Calvinism, Reform and many other false doctrines are gaining speed these days as we race toward the end of the church age.
There is no man that any of us can trust in terms of proper doctrine. As soon as we think we find someone, if we listen long enough we will discover something seriously wrong that had been hidden.
When we listen to preachers we really need to do it with the Scriptures in mind first while evaluating the preacher. So many people get it backward, they listen first to the preacher and then interpret the Bible according to that preacher.
We have a much greater teacher than any on earth, that is Jesus Christ Who lives in us. He can teach us every single thing we need to know. If God sends a preacher who brings an understanding we had not heard of, we need to go to the Word of God and evaluate it according to that, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
If you have faith enough to seek the Holy Spirit in all things you will not be fooled by false teachers.
Todd Friel had some very good videos on Christian character and other practical things, so I listened with joy to these things. However I recently discovered that he is in the same camp as John MacArthur on his staunch belief in "Calvinism."
MacArthur and Friel believe the same thing about taking the mark of the beast in the end times. They have defended the belief that one can take the mark of the beast and still be saved. This is antithetical to the Biblical teaching.
Revelation 13:9 " 9 And a third angel followed them, calling out in loud a voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, "
We either believe God or we believe MacArthur and Friel!
Also both of these men hold fast to the five points of Calvinism also antithetical to the teaching of the Bible.
Is it possible that much of this false teaching is also being propagated within the "Masters University" of which John MacArther has been the president?
In these last days we are seeing more preachers fall to false doctrine, especially those who have had a measure of prominence over their lifetime.
Many years ago we heard good things from MacArthur, with little or no mention of Calvinism in his early years, at least not publicly.
It seems that prominent men have been kissed with popularity for so long, they lose their desire for truth and choose their widespread approval over God's truth. I wonder if they stick their fingers in the air to see which way the wind is blowing before declaring what their theology will be.
Calvinism, Reform and many other false doctrines are gaining speed these days as we race toward the end of the church age.
There is no man that any of us can trust in terms of proper doctrine. As soon as we think we find someone, if we listen long enough we will discover something seriously wrong that had been hidden.
When we listen to preachers we really need to do it with the Scriptures in mind first while evaluating the preacher. So many people get it backward, they listen first to the preacher and then interpret the Bible according to that preacher.
We have a much greater teacher than any on earth, that is Jesus Christ Who lives in us. He can teach us every single thing we need to know. If God sends a preacher who brings an understanding we had not heard of, we need to go to the Word of God and evaluate it according to that, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."
If you have faith enough to seek the Holy Spirit in all things you will not be fooled by false teachers.
Love Your God to the Last Breath (David Wilkerson)
Love Your God to the Last Breath (David Wilkerson)
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Was the Old Really Changed or Just Hidden Better
Some people get out of drugs, they clean up their life but the old residue of pride and rebellion becomes modified into a Christianized form. The resistance of obedience to God's Word in much more subtle ways continues. In short the sinful nature seems to have remained even though the crime ends.
Some people exchange their crime for a better life and a form of religion that keeps them out of trouble and makes them LOOK better to those around them, but the rebellion against God remains.
I have seen people who didn't commit crime anymore but continued to be mean spirited and arrogant as though the only thing they no longer did was the crime, they still act angry and superior.
Narcissistic people can learn what works in a culture. They learn to be more sneaky in their attacks, their covert acts allow them plausible deniability as they pretend they didn't do anything when they deliberately hurt others.
The bottom line here is this; if the only thing that has changed is outer behavior while the inner man remains spiteful and mean, then there needs to be some self reflection to see if they were actually born again or just pretending to have a better life.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Some people exchange their crime for a better life and a form of religion that keeps them out of trouble and makes them LOOK better to those around them, but the rebellion against God remains.
I have seen people who didn't commit crime anymore but continued to be mean spirited and arrogant as though the only thing they no longer did was the crime, they still act angry and superior.
Narcissistic people can learn what works in a culture. They learn to be more sneaky in their attacks, their covert acts allow them plausible deniability as they pretend they didn't do anything when they deliberately hurt others.
The bottom line here is this; if the only thing that has changed is outer behavior while the inner man remains spiteful and mean, then there needs to be some self reflection to see if they were actually born again or just pretending to have a better life.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
The Roaring Lion Roams
I am convinced that devils are influencing the minds of people to be angry and mean to others they fear. They fear the Holy Spirit and they fear strength.
Wild animals become dangerous when they are fearful. We see this all the time. Those who need to feel powerful over others will attack in various ways those they perceive as stronger and more confident than they.
Devils are as active today as they were 2000 years ago. They work to destroy the testimony of the believer while causing unbelievers to torment the believer.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
Eve experienced this in the garden when the devil caused her to doubt God, even disbelieving God so she would disobey Him. The devil appealed to Eve's baser nature to feel special and powerful.
When the devil wants to destroy the born again believer he sends his minions to cause anger in those who are close to the believer. If he can remove all the believers support systems, he thinks he will be able to undermine the faith of the believer and ruin their testimony. The devil does not understand that the born again believer does not operate from his/her own strength, he/she has the strength of Christ living in them. The devil cannot harm them.
1 John 4:4
"4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."
1 John 5:18
"18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him."
The devil causes lies to generate hatred toward those he despises. The best way to harm a born again believer is to cause those who should love the believer to despise them through distortions and half truths.
Those who are pretenders create rules that God never gave to oppress and frustrate the believer who is obeying God.
I once encountered a family of Christians who believed that the husband could do no wrong because he was the leader of the family.
When the husband wanted to watch a movie that had filthy language in it, the wife stood against the movie, saying that she could not watch it and that her husband should not either.
The pretenders treated the woman contemptuously for speaking the truth about the movie because in their mind the woman should obey her husband even if he is causing her to disobey God in order to obey her husband.
Never did the pretenders stand with the mother for her declaration that the movie is not something believer should be watching, but rather treated her shamefully for saying anything. Its probable that the pretenders wanted to see the movie too and used the disobedience of the husband as an excuse to watch what they should not watch.
There is a very foolish and damaging doctrine afoot that states that the woman should obey her husband even when he encourages the wife to sin against God for his own pleasure. They say God has a purpose in all things even sin.
This is a damnable lie from the father of lies. If we obey our husband instead of God we are making our husband the god of our lives, he becomes the false god that we worship over Jesus Christ. If we do not stand against sin we help it grow.
When the husband oppresses the wife to obey him in sin, he is disobeying the word that tells him to love his wife in understanding. He as the leader will be accountable for frustrating the wife through demanding her to sin.
This world is full of non-believers who want to sin and encourage others to sin, this is expected from those who do not know God. The very sad thing is that many born again believers are living in families in which everyone in the family claims to be Christian but who will oppress and demean the strong believer who chooses to walk uprightly.
These same pretenders will think up a reason to accuse the believer of something to make them seem as the bad ones for standing for truth.
Brothers and Sisters we are living in difficult times for the born again believer. The devil has increased his pressure upon the believer to give up their standards to have friends. They are pressured to give up their faith, their joy and their freedom in order to obey the god of this world. And, the pressure often comes from those within the church itself.
The pretender would like you to believe that you are the problem when you stand strong for Christ......don't believe them it is merely the devil whispering lies in their ears and their choosing to believe him.
2 Timothy 3 is a picture of the state of the apostate church in these end time. We must be strong in the power of Christ and resist the temptation to give into the threats and mistreatment of the pretenders.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
2 Timothy 4:2-4
"…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
The more we stand strong the stronger we become! Strong muscles come from painful exercise. This is true of the spiritual life too, we become stronger as we practice our faith.
Romans 5:3-5
"…3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."
The pretender would like you to believe that you are the problem when you stand strong for Christ......don't believe them it is merely the devil whispering lies in their ears and their choosing to believe him.
Wild animals become dangerous when they are fearful. We see this all the time. Those who need to feel powerful over others will attack in various ways those they perceive as stronger and more confident than they.
Devils are as active today as they were 2000 years ago. They work to destroy the testimony of the believer while causing unbelievers to torment the believer.
1 Peter 5:8-9
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
Eve experienced this in the garden when the devil caused her to doubt God, even disbelieving God so she would disobey Him. The devil appealed to Eve's baser nature to feel special and powerful.
When the devil wants to destroy the born again believer he sends his minions to cause anger in those who are close to the believer. If he can remove all the believers support systems, he thinks he will be able to undermine the faith of the believer and ruin their testimony. The devil does not understand that the born again believer does not operate from his/her own strength, he/she has the strength of Christ living in them. The devil cannot harm them.
1 John 4:4
"4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."
1 John 5:18
"18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him."
The devil causes lies to generate hatred toward those he despises. The best way to harm a born again believer is to cause those who should love the believer to despise them through distortions and half truths.
Those who are pretenders create rules that God never gave to oppress and frustrate the believer who is obeying God.
I once encountered a family of Christians who believed that the husband could do no wrong because he was the leader of the family.
When the husband wanted to watch a movie that had filthy language in it, the wife stood against the movie, saying that she could not watch it and that her husband should not either.
The pretenders treated the woman contemptuously for speaking the truth about the movie because in their mind the woman should obey her husband even if he is causing her to disobey God in order to obey her husband.
Never did the pretenders stand with the mother for her declaration that the movie is not something believer should be watching, but rather treated her shamefully for saying anything. Its probable that the pretenders wanted to see the movie too and used the disobedience of the husband as an excuse to watch what they should not watch.
There is a very foolish and damaging doctrine afoot that states that the woman should obey her husband even when he encourages the wife to sin against God for his own pleasure. They say God has a purpose in all things even sin.
This is a damnable lie from the father of lies. If we obey our husband instead of God we are making our husband the god of our lives, he becomes the false god that we worship over Jesus Christ. If we do not stand against sin we help it grow.
When the husband oppresses the wife to obey him in sin, he is disobeying the word that tells him to love his wife in understanding. He as the leader will be accountable for frustrating the wife through demanding her to sin.
This world is full of non-believers who want to sin and encourage others to sin, this is expected from those who do not know God. The very sad thing is that many born again believers are living in families in which everyone in the family claims to be Christian but who will oppress and demean the strong believer who chooses to walk uprightly.
These same pretenders will think up a reason to accuse the believer of something to make them seem as the bad ones for standing for truth.
Brothers and Sisters we are living in difficult times for the born again believer. The devil has increased his pressure upon the believer to give up their standards to have friends. They are pressured to give up their faith, their joy and their freedom in order to obey the god of this world. And, the pressure often comes from those within the church itself.
The pretender would like you to believe that you are the problem when you stand strong for Christ......don't believe them it is merely the devil whispering lies in their ears and their choosing to believe him.
2 Timothy 3 is a picture of the state of the apostate church in these end time. We must be strong in the power of Christ and resist the temptation to give into the threats and mistreatment of the pretenders.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
2 Timothy 4:2-4
"…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
The more we stand strong the stronger we become! Strong muscles come from painful exercise. This is true of the spiritual life too, we become stronger as we practice our faith.
Romans 5:3-5
"…3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."
The pretender would like you to believe that you are the problem when you stand strong for Christ......don't believe them it is merely the devil whispering lies in their ears and their choosing to believe him.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Seek Christ Not Man
Amen! The whole one man pastor system has stagnated the growth of many. When the congregation expects to be taught by someone else instead of seeking God through prayer and His Word themselves, they have created a false god. Rather than following Christ they follow a man who they think can be the only one who knows truth. Christ lives in each born again believer, He is the One with all the answers we are to seek Him not a man.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Heirs Together, Not Master and Slave
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."
"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."
Boasting Reveals a Sad Truth
Crisis does not make us who we are, it reveals who we are. This is why God brings trials into our lives, so that we can see what needs fixing. Those who blame others for their own flaws will not be able to see what is reveals to be able to more forward in their development.
Those that don't believe there is needed self reflection do not grow emotionally or spiritually.
Those who boast about themselves have no time to reflect on the broken parts of themselves. They are so satisfied with who they think they are, they remain in the same old flaws they had since their youth.
Sadly though, no one stagnates as they grow older without introspection, they regress into even more childish behavior. If we are not moving forward in our life we will regress.
1 Peter 2
As Newborn Babes
"2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
As Living Stones
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture:"
“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
"7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,"
“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”
8 and,
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;
"for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed."
"9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Those that don't believe there is needed self reflection do not grow emotionally or spiritually.
Those who boast about themselves have no time to reflect on the broken parts of themselves. They are so satisfied with who they think they are, they remain in the same old flaws they had since their youth.
Sadly though, no one stagnates as they grow older without introspection, they regress into even more childish behavior. If we are not moving forward in our life we will regress.
1 Peter 2
As Newborn Babes
"2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
As Living Stones
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For this is contained in Scripture:"
“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
"7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,"
“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,”
8 and,
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;
"for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed."
"9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."
2 Timothy 3 and 4 Reminds Us!
2 Timothy 3 and 4
God said it would be this way! I am thankful He told us, it makes it a little easier knowing we are not the crazy ones, but the tried and true ones who love His ways.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
NO, we are not wrong just because everyone else is going off the reservation. Few are there who say they are Christians will stay true to Christ in these last days. This helps us remain calm while all the rest of the world is in chaos and insanity.
God said it would be this way! I am thankful He told us, it makes it a little easier knowing we are not the crazy ones, but the tried and true ones who love His ways.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
NO, we are not wrong just because everyone else is going off the reservation. Few are there who say they are Christians will stay true to Christ in these last days. This helps us remain calm while all the rest of the world is in chaos and insanity.
Whom Do We Love More; God or Man?
“If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26
I no longer just do things on my own as I did when I was very young. I consult with God about everything. Even when I have a disruption in my day I know its the Lord and I take a new turn to go the way He said. Obeying Him takes priority over everything even personal relationships.
Luke 14:26 "“If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."
When we place any human being over Christ even our husbands we have an idol. The best blessing we can be to our husbands is to counsel and encourage him in the way of the Lord.
"Helpmeet" means coach or counselor. Every police chief needs their DCPI and every king needs their advisers. These are all picture of God's order.
No man is an island and no man has all the answers. The man is enhanced by the perspective of his wife as is the wife by her husband.
I no longer just do things on my own as I did when I was very young. I consult with God about everything. Even when I have a disruption in my day I know its the Lord and I take a new turn to go the way He said. Obeying Him takes priority over everything even personal relationships.
Luke 14:26 "“If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."
When we place any human being over Christ even our husbands we have an idol. The best blessing we can be to our husbands is to counsel and encourage him in the way of the Lord.
"Helpmeet" means coach or counselor. Every police chief needs their DCPI and every king needs their advisers. These are all picture of God's order.
No man is an island and no man has all the answers. The man is enhanced by the perspective of his wife as is the wife by her husband.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Disrespect is Common in these Last Days
Disrespect can be as simple as a young woman or man treating an older woman like a child. We are not stupid, we have lived long and know much, treat us with the respect that is due us for our many years. To dishonor the older women is the same as dishonoring God.
This instruction does not just pertain to bio mothers but all younger women toward the older women.
Proverbs 1:7-9 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck."
Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:5,
"I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well."
Then in 3:14–15 Paul says,
"You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them [that is, your mother Eunice and through her from your grandmother Lois]; and that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures [because your mother taught them to you] which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
This instruction does not just pertain to bio mothers but all younger women toward the older women.
Proverbs 1:7-9 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching; indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head, and ornaments about your neck."
Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:5,
"I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well."
Then in 3:14–15 Paul says,
"You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them [that is, your mother Eunice and through her from your grandmother Lois]; and that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures [because your mother taught them to you] which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
The Change Will be Noticed by Others
If there has not been a change in the way someone thinks after becoming a Christian then there has not been a born again experience.
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."
The way we think drives the way we operate in life. If sin is still predominant and there is defensiveness of it, then the "Christian" was never changed into a new creation by Christ, they were merely saying words to be accepted or to think more highly of themselves.
When someone has heard the truth and listened they will be sorrowful over their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ into His likeness. When someone becomes a Christian they lose that self elevation and become more humble knowing they were filth before Christ changed them.
There can be no residue pride about self when we realized what despicable people we were before Christ changed us.
Romans 3:10-12
10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Anyone who still believes they are a good person, that their sins were not so bad can not be born again.
John 3:3 "3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
Romans 6:4-6
"4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin."
Christ didn't die so that we could remain in and enjoy sin, He died that we might have the means to destroy sin living within us, that is His Holy Spirit.
Those who defend sin because we are under grace are using grace wrongly as an excuse to continue in sin. They cannot be born again and be so flippant with Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Repent all of you who still love and justify your sin.
Galatians 3:27
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.:
Colossians 3:10
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"
If you claim to be a Christian but still love your sin, even defending it to justify it, then you were likely never born again.
Think about it, pray about it and repent.
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."
The way we think drives the way we operate in life. If sin is still predominant and there is defensiveness of it, then the "Christian" was never changed into a new creation by Christ, they were merely saying words to be accepted or to think more highly of themselves.
When someone has heard the truth and listened they will be sorrowful over their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ into His likeness. When someone becomes a Christian they lose that self elevation and become more humble knowing they were filth before Christ changed them.
There can be no residue pride about self when we realized what despicable people we were before Christ changed us.
Romans 3:10-12
10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Anyone who still believes they are a good person, that their sins were not so bad can not be born again.
John 3:3 "3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
Romans 6:4-6
"4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin."
Christ didn't die so that we could remain in and enjoy sin, He died that we might have the means to destroy sin living within us, that is His Holy Spirit.
Those who defend sin because we are under grace are using grace wrongly as an excuse to continue in sin. They cannot be born again and be so flippant with Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Repent all of you who still love and justify your sin.
Galatians 3:27
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.:
Colossians 3:10
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"
If you claim to be a Christian but still love your sin, even defending it to justify it, then you were likely never born again.
Think about it, pray about it and repent.
Lukewarmness is Lostness
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)