Saturday, May 18, 2019
They've Learned to Lie!
Wicked people and even now Christians have learned to lie and say their sin is good. "bad will be called good and good will be called bad." Isaiah! That's where we are right now.
There is no longer any shame in the hearts of most people over their sin. There are cultural traditions now that have become so entrenched that most do not even consider these practices sin even when the Bible is clear about it.
Many Christians choose to rationalize sin because to stand strongly against it would lose them the love and respect of their own families. In other words, the family takes priority over the mandates of a Holy God!!!!
Isaiah 5:20-21 "20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.…"
Jeremiah 6:15 "15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD. "
There was a time when everyone was ashamed of sin and everyone knew what sin was, there were no disagreements on this matter of sin. Even if they would not stop their sin, they would hide it because they knew it was wrong. Now we live in a time when they not only do not hide it they flaunt and defend it, fighting bitterly to justify it. Even beyond this they love to villainize anyone who will not bow to their idea of right and wrong. They become angry if anyone makes them feel guilty about their sin. Why would anyone become angry at being told they are sinning unless they know they are, they just don't want to hear it.
Right is wrong and wrong is right in our culture today. Everything is evaluated on the basis of how someone will "feel" rather than what is right in God's eyes.
If we say to someone something is sin, it is likely people will call you mean for declaring God's truth. They do not consider what they are doing is mean or rude, only those who say it is are the evil ones.
We are living in the days of opposites, why is that? Because the devil is working in the minds of men to entice them to embrace all that is opposing God. The devil will cause people to rationalize their sin, even calling it good while bludgeoning anyone who will not fall in line to think as they think.
Psalm 2:1-3 "1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: 3“ Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”…"
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…
Since we know these end times are going to be very difficult for authentic born again believers we can be prepared for what is coming. We prepare by knowing the word of God and praying for strength to resist the temptation to capitulate to the culture.
When we become very strong we are not likely to be taken in by flattery or rage. We will be steady and resolute in our walk with Christ willing to be rejected to follow Him.
Who is more important to us will be seen in whom we obey man or God.
There is no longer any shame in the hearts of most people over their sin. There are cultural traditions now that have become so entrenched that most do not even consider these practices sin even when the Bible is clear about it.
Many Christians choose to rationalize sin because to stand strongly against it would lose them the love and respect of their own families. In other words, the family takes priority over the mandates of a Holy God!!!!
Isaiah 5:20-21 "20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.…"
Jeremiah 6:15 "15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD. "
There was a time when everyone was ashamed of sin and everyone knew what sin was, there were no disagreements on this matter of sin. Even if they would not stop their sin, they would hide it because they knew it was wrong. Now we live in a time when they not only do not hide it they flaunt and defend it, fighting bitterly to justify it. Even beyond this they love to villainize anyone who will not bow to their idea of right and wrong. They become angry if anyone makes them feel guilty about their sin. Why would anyone become angry at being told they are sinning unless they know they are, they just don't want to hear it.
Right is wrong and wrong is right in our culture today. Everything is evaluated on the basis of how someone will "feel" rather than what is right in God's eyes.
If we say to someone something is sin, it is likely people will call you mean for declaring God's truth. They do not consider what they are doing is mean or rude, only those who say it is are the evil ones.
We are living in the days of opposites, why is that? Because the devil is working in the minds of men to entice them to embrace all that is opposing God. The devil will cause people to rationalize their sin, even calling it good while bludgeoning anyone who will not fall in line to think as they think.
Psalm 2:1-3 "1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: 3“ Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”…"
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…
Since we know these end times are going to be very difficult for authentic born again believers we can be prepared for what is coming. We prepare by knowing the word of God and praying for strength to resist the temptation to capitulate to the culture.
When we become very strong we are not likely to be taken in by flattery or rage. We will be steady and resolute in our walk with Christ willing to be rejected to follow Him.
Who is more important to us will be seen in whom we obey man or God.
The Picture Stands Even Today
Marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church. When we take marriage lightly thinking it can easily be dissolved by man, we are negating the power of Christ to work in our lives and keep us saved.
The divorce and remarriage mentality elevates sin to a right and an idol.
To fight and argue to defend that which is sin means we place our own desires above the principles and commands of God.
When someone twists the scripture to justify the sin of divorce and remarriage they are calling God a liar.
1 John 5:10
"The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son."
When we don't believe God on divorce and remarriage its the same as denying Him.
1 John 1:10
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
Jeremiah 8:8
"How can you say, 'We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made it into a lie."
1 John 5:9-11 "9 Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son. 11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.…"
When someone does not believe God they are demonstrating that they do not believe in Christ. It was Christ Who authored the entire Bible, He is the Authority for all things.
The divorce and remarriage mentality elevates sin to a right and an idol.
To fight and argue to defend that which is sin means we place our own desires above the principles and commands of God.
When someone twists the scripture to justify the sin of divorce and remarriage they are calling God a liar.
1 John 5:10
"The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son."
When we don't believe God on divorce and remarriage its the same as denying Him.
1 John 1:10
"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."
Jeremiah 8:8
"How can you say, 'We are wise, And the law of the LORD is with us'? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made it into a lie."
1 John 5:9-11 "9 Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony that God has given about His Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony God has given about His Son. 11 And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.…"
When someone does not believe God they are demonstrating that they do not believe in Christ. It was Christ Who authored the entire Bible, He is the Authority for all things.
The Modern Christian
The "Christians" of our day treat anyone shamefully who speaks about the evils of divorce and remarriage. Not only do they exclude us as though we were evil, they even gossip to turn others against us.
And, they don't even think of these sins as sins at all. They justify their sin because they are uncomfortable if they didn't have this option.
There are many Christians around the world who are suffering for their adherence to the principles of Christ. Some are even dying for their dedication to Christ, but Americans cannot stand one moment of discomfort in minor ways to preserve families.
When the world, "fake Christians" see us as the enemy because they must defend their favorite sin, then how on earth could anyone convince a fallen unsaved world that God's standard is higher than theirs.
How could we convince an unsaved world that we could die for Christ when we cannot die to self to preserve a marriage?! How could our children see Christ as anyone to be desired when they see no change or difference in the lives of those who claim to be Christian?!
Who is the apostate church fooling? Sadly they are fooling most people. They are conveying to the world that sin does not matter, that everyone goes to heaven even if they reject Christ.
Did you know to reject the principles of Christ in the Bible is the same as rejecting Him? YES IT IS!!!!!
And, they don't even think of these sins as sins at all. They justify their sin because they are uncomfortable if they didn't have this option.
There are many Christians around the world who are suffering for their adherence to the principles of Christ. Some are even dying for their dedication to Christ, but Americans cannot stand one moment of discomfort in minor ways to preserve families.
When the world, "fake Christians" see us as the enemy because they must defend their favorite sin, then how on earth could anyone convince a fallen unsaved world that God's standard is higher than theirs.
How could we convince an unsaved world that we could die for Christ when we cannot die to self to preserve a marriage?! How could our children see Christ as anyone to be desired when they see no change or difference in the lives of those who claim to be Christian?!
Who is the apostate church fooling? Sadly they are fooling most people. They are conveying to the world that sin does not matter, that everyone goes to heaven even if they reject Christ.
Did you know to reject the principles of Christ in the Bible is the same as rejecting Him? YES IT IS!!!!!
Whatever is in the Heart!
This is true, but we do not have to give into that which plagues us every day.
Romans 7:15-20
"15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me."
There are those who would use this passage as an excuse to continue enjoying sin. The sad reality is that those who use this excuse are probably not born again.
Just take a good look at the attitude of Paul here in the passages. He hates it when he sins, therefore he fights against the sin that dwells in his body.
1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother."
If we sin we have an advocate and can be cleansed of that sin, all it takes is a desire to be cleansed and faith that God will do it for you.
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."
Our Advocate, that is the Holy Spirit, works in us to sanctify us. The cleansing is an ongoing process as we confess more we sin less. Those who do not believe they sin after salvation will not be confessing their sin, therefore they will not grow in holiness. These people stagnate and even regress over time, their heart becomes hardened to their own conscience.
Those who do not believe they ever sin after salvation are far worse off than those who know they do and confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:7-8 "…7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
When we keep close accounts, confessing to be cleansed we will have fellowship with Christ. If we do not do this then we will not lose salvation but we will lose fellowship. The Holy Spirit will stop speaking to stubborn hearts.
Psalm 66:18, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear."
If we want God to be in constant communication with us, then we must confess sin as soon as we notice it happening within us. Sin does not have to be an action. Sin begins in the heart before it is an action. Temptation is not sin, but giving into temptation long enough to ponder it in our hearts will give birth to it outwardly eventually. Eliminate the sin in the heart before it becomes an action, then we will avoid many pitfalls and much relationship destruction.
Our thought life drives our actions. Whatever is in our thoughts will eventually become actions if we do not confess it while it is still a thought.
Proverbs 4:23
"23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life."
If you are raging at someone then there is anger in the heart. If you are blessing those around you with empathy, then there is love in the heart. These things cannot be faked, eventually any pretense will emerge for all to see.
Romans 7:15-20
"15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me."
There are those who would use this passage as an excuse to continue enjoying sin. The sad reality is that those who use this excuse are probably not born again.
Just take a good look at the attitude of Paul here in the passages. He hates it when he sins, therefore he fights against the sin that dwells in his body.
1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother."
If we sin we have an advocate and can be cleansed of that sin, all it takes is a desire to be cleansed and faith that God will do it for you.
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."
Our Advocate, that is the Holy Spirit, works in us to sanctify us. The cleansing is an ongoing process as we confess more we sin less. Those who do not believe they sin after salvation will not be confessing their sin, therefore they will not grow in holiness. These people stagnate and even regress over time, their heart becomes hardened to their own conscience.
Those who do not believe they ever sin after salvation are far worse off than those who know they do and confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:7-8 "…7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
When we keep close accounts, confessing to be cleansed we will have fellowship with Christ. If we do not do this then we will not lose salvation but we will lose fellowship. The Holy Spirit will stop speaking to stubborn hearts.
Psalm 66:18, "If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear."
If we want God to be in constant communication with us, then we must confess sin as soon as we notice it happening within us. Sin does not have to be an action. Sin begins in the heart before it is an action. Temptation is not sin, but giving into temptation long enough to ponder it in our hearts will give birth to it outwardly eventually. Eliminate the sin in the heart before it becomes an action, then we will avoid many pitfalls and much relationship destruction.
Our thought life drives our actions. Whatever is in our thoughts will eventually become actions if we do not confess it while it is still a thought.
Proverbs 4:23
"23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life."
If you are raging at someone then there is anger in the heart. If you are blessing those around you with empathy, then there is love in the heart. These things cannot be faked, eventually any pretense will emerge for all to see.
The Lovelessness of the Tribulation
The tribulation is going to be completely loveless, hate filled and dangerous all the time. When the Holy Spirit is removed, the restraints on sin will be off.
If you think things are bad now, they are nothing compared to what is coming when God takes out His church.
If non-believers would take a few minutes to ponder prophesy they would realize that it is the Holy Spirit living in Christians that is holding back evil.
I once had a sister in law call a group of people "Bible thumpers" as though they were a big problem. There was a group of Christians who were influencing a small country school to keep something evil out of the school.
I told this sister in law that it is the Christians and the Holy Spirit that was keeping the school safe from ideas that destroy people. Of course I was hated from then on because now I was one of those "Bible thumpers."
I have never "thumped" a Bible, but I want to live by God's principles which are written there. Those who live by the principles of God have a far better life and eternity than those who reject Christ and His Word.
Authentic believers in Christ bring love, the kind of love that lasts for eternity and effects life on earth in a far better way. Those who are bitter and rebellious don't want solutions they just want their own way.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "…16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.…"
If you think things are bad now, they are nothing compared to what is coming when God takes out His church.
If non-believers would take a few minutes to ponder prophesy they would realize that it is the Holy Spirit living in Christians that is holding back evil.
I once had a sister in law call a group of people "Bible thumpers" as though they were a big problem. There was a group of Christians who were influencing a small country school to keep something evil out of the school.
I told this sister in law that it is the Christians and the Holy Spirit that was keeping the school safe from ideas that destroy people. Of course I was hated from then on because now I was one of those "Bible thumpers."
I have never "thumped" a Bible, but I want to live by God's principles which are written there. Those who live by the principles of God have a far better life and eternity than those who reject Christ and His Word.
Authentic believers in Christ bring love, the kind of love that lasts for eternity and effects life on earth in a far better way. Those who are bitter and rebellious don't want solutions they just want their own way.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 "…16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.…"
"Fair" is not a concept in God's Language
Did you know there is no Hebrew word for "fair" in God's Word. Our God does not think in terms of "fairness."
So many people think in terms of "fair"! Where were they when Christ was being nailed to the cross for the sins of others?
Where does jealousy come from? It comes from a heart that thinks it ought to have what others have without having to work for it.
James 4:2-3
2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
So many people think in terms of "fair", where were they when Christ was killed for the sins of others?
So many people think in terms of "fair"! Where were they when Christ was being nailed to the cross for the sins of others?
Where does jealousy come from? It comes from a heart that thinks it ought to have what others have without having to work for it.
James 4:2-3
2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
So many people think in terms of "fair", where were they when Christ was killed for the sins of others?
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