We should not allow wicked people to control us, not because we are independent and prideful, but because when they control us we will not be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19
"19 Do not quench the Spirit."
Ephesians 4:30
"30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Allowing anyone but the Holy Spirit control us grieves Him.
John 14:16
"16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,"
When we are deeply affected by wicked people that is a form of control over us. We must learn to never take seriously the antics of the wicked person. When they can affect our witness, destroy our joy and intimidate us into silence, they are in control of us.
Acts 7:51
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you."
Isaiah 40:26
"26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing."
It is Christ Who is all powerful, bullies not so much!!!!
When Christ is our focus the bullies and the naysayers will have no power over our thinking or our joy!
Friday, July 19, 2019
Cult....ure
Notice the word "culture" has another word within it? That word is "cult".
Cult Definition: "a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing."
When we follow the culture we are following people or things not Christ.
Cult Definition: "a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing."
When we follow the culture we are following people or things not Christ.
Go With God Not the Culture
The "Semmelweis" Effect
The "Semmelweis" effect:
When we see what we want to see and hear rather than what is really in front of us.
Our mind often interprets things the way we wish to interpret them based on biases and gossip far more than though analytical thinking.
Those who are analytical in their thinking, look at the information to determine truth are more likely to be rejected in a culture that loves its fantasies far more than it loves truth.
The anti-christ is preparing to deceive many with illusions and promises. He will begin his reign of terror with promises of great things and end with terrible torturous destruction. He will torment the very people he made wonderful promises to while leading them into the fires of hell.
Think about it!!!
When we see what we want to see and hear rather than what is really in front of us.
Our mind often interprets things the way we wish to interpret them based on biases and gossip far more than though analytical thinking.
Those who are analytical in their thinking, look at the information to determine truth are more likely to be rejected in a culture that loves its fantasies far more than it loves truth.
The anti-christ is preparing to deceive many with illusions and promises. He will begin his reign of terror with promises of great things and end with terrible torturous destruction. He will torment the very people he made wonderful promises to while leading them into the fires of hell.
Think about it!!!
America Drunk on Itself
God is Disgusted
Destruction is Near
The Mass Distortion of the Scriptures
2 Peter 3:16
"16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."
Most Christians in America have distorted more of Scripture than they rightly divide. This is the reason so many people have been taken captive by psychological thinking far more than Biblical understanding.
"16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction."
Most Christians in America have distorted more of Scripture than they rightly divide. This is the reason so many people have been taken captive by psychological thinking far more than Biblical understanding.
Christ or Human Tradition, Who or What Will You Follow?
To say "we must speak the gospel to others in a way that they will receive it is not only unbiblical but it is a social gospel based on attempting to get others to like us and therefore like Jesus. It is based on psychology and usually ends up getting the hearer to like their Christian friend but does not convict of sin to be broken to trust Christ.
Matthew 10:22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.…"
When we speak truth to others more often than not it will make them angry. Most people in our day and down through history have rejected Christ.
Our technique to win the lost to Christ has promoted good feelings in the hearer rather than helped them to see their sinfulness and need for salvation. This man made method has created false converts who come to the gathering because they "enjoy" the people and not to worship and bless God.
The modern Christianity bases their view of evangelism on results rather than obedience.
"God did not call me to win, He called me to stand." Donald Wildmon
God showed me many years ago that He was not calling born again believers to impress unbelievers or other church goers. God's mandate for me was to speak truth and leave all the results to Him. In order to live like this we must not be concerned about being liked or accepted by others. And, we must be able to trust that we are nothing more than the messenger, it is God Who works in people.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
I am convinced that the need to see results comes from a spirit of pride. It is human nature to want to brag about having given the gospel or led someone in a prayer.
We live in an apostate age in which those who speak boldly the truth of Christ will be rejected by all even those who attend the same Christian gatherings as we do.
In our present day we will be hated by those in the church who love to believe America will remain great. Sadly their idea of great is a good economy, safe streets, plentiful pleasures and ease of living, but nothing to do with holiness or righteousness.
Those who shout "God Bless America" do not realize what they are doing. America has been blessed by God all these 250 years and yet it has not been grateful. Sliding down the slippery slope of wickedness so rapidly there is no stopping it now, the country demands and clamors for more freedom to sin. Some are attempting to stop a 90 mile an hour freight train with a little white pebble.
Far too many believers are focused on cleaning up the movies, putting prayer back in school and regaining some superficial semblance of morality. The very people who are proposing this "morality" are divorced and remarried as though this is acceptable to God. These people are training their children to enjoy endless pleasure and fun as well as personal fulfillment.
The modern young person does not know how to enjoy a simple walk in the park or throwing a ball to one another in their yard. The pleasure must be big and over the top playing. Electronics have taken the attention away from the families and toward outside influences coming to them through a screen.
Notice how often we are with someone and they are continually checking their phones to make sure they are not missing someone else who is not in front of them. The person in front of them takes second place to the person who is not with them.
The simple things in life no longer satisfy the young people.
We live in world that has mixed paganism, Christianity and personal desires as their mixed religion of choice.
I remember a day when a birthday celebration was just the immediate family and a cake, that was it. Now the children are given large gatherings with cake and many gifts. They expect to be lavishly pummeled with gifts and personal attention on their birthday as though they are all kings and queens for a day.
I have known people who gave their one year old baby gifts and an entire cake to destroy. That baby didn't even remember it, pictures had to be taken to show him later because the parents knew he would have no memory of it. I am not a fan of teaching a child to waste food just to give the adults a big laugh. I am sure there are those who will think I am prudish but this act in these days of nonsense many things like this make no sense to me.
This country cannot recover to return to a simpler life. The young people have been trained to expect and practice continual pleasure and fulfill personal desire. The traditions now are so self focused and play oriented as well as mixed with paganism, that the children of the previous generation who are now adults are passing these silly things on to their children except on steroids.
The birthday celebration was a pagan practice introduced by the Germans in the 1700's, adapted from the pagans who believed that evil spirits prowled on days of changes, that is the days people were born. The modern Christian church has adopted this in the celebration of Christ's birth. Before the Germans introduction of the Christmas tree and the manger scene, born again believers never celebrated the Lord's birth.
Born again believers who followed the Bible celebrated the Lord's Supper only, the celebration that Christ gave, the only celebration that He gave. And yet, the other man made celebrations are the ones that everyone observes, heathen and Christians alike. What's wrong with this picture?
Today we think they are innocent, and they may well be in the minds of most in America, but think for a moment how a tradition that began because of the pagans and adopted by Catholics in Germany has turned into foolishness to honor the person who is born, having led to almost a "need" to have a birthday party. There are people in our country who think someone is mean if they do not celebrate a birthday for someone.
Here goes......How many of you have been to every birthday party in the family but you or none of the family celebrate the Lord's supper, the celebration Christ gave to the born again believers?
It astonishes me that modern Christendom celebrates every man made holiday but neglects the Lord's supper, the one commanded by Christ.
I do not condemn acknowledging someone's birthday, I simply have trouble with the over expression of it as well as making it important while the Lord's Supper is neglected.
The human pagan holidays are loved while the Lord's Supper that celebrates His death and resurrection, the worship we should love, is ignored by most people, even most in the church today.
The beauty of following Christ is that we have the freedom to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We are not obligated to celebrate what the world celebrates or follow the traditions of man. We are free to obey Christ no matter what others may think of us. The important things is "what do we think of God."
Our view of Christ will determine our walk. His word is above all other words and takes priority over any human words!
Mark 7:13-14 "13 Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.” 14 Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand:…"
When we make human traditions more important than God's Word we are in sin.
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