Saturday, February 29, 2020
Jesus Christ is Everything!
There is a video that sounds like a Christian one, I posted it yesterday to watch it later. I had to remove it because as I watched it much of the bible was quoted but not once was Jesus Christ mentioned as the way to God the Father. I don't know who made the video but I am always suspect when God is spoken of but Jesus Christ is never mentioned.
I took the video down not because bad things were in it but because Jesus Christ was not mentioned as the way to salvation. It was heavily focused on sin or good deeds as though these were the ways to gain salvation.
No one gains salvation through good deeds, they become born again by trusting in Christ as the payment for their sin. After this happens Christ comes to live in us changing us into an entirely new creation. We are no longer the same person we were before.
Then after this Christ in us begins the cleansing process, the residue of a sinful nature is chipped away at as we confess our sin, He then forgives and cleanses us from it.
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."
We have to confess to be cleansed, just as any relationship must include confession and forgiveness. If one of these elements is left out then the relationship cannot be restored.
If we sin as born again believers and do not confess we will regress in our walk. The more we confess with each onset of sinful attitude or action, the more we lose interest in that sin. When we do not confess out of pride, then God will not hear our prayers, we hinder the relationship and the Holy Spirit in us goes silent until we confess.
James 4:1-10
1 "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
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.
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
God disciplines those who are born again when they sin.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
I took the video down not because bad things were in it but because Jesus Christ was not mentioned as the way to salvation. It was heavily focused on sin or good deeds as though these were the ways to gain salvation.
No one gains salvation through good deeds, they become born again by trusting in Christ as the payment for their sin. After this happens Christ comes to live in us changing us into an entirely new creation. We are no longer the same person we were before.
Then after this Christ in us begins the cleansing process, the residue of a sinful nature is chipped away at as we confess our sin, He then forgives and cleanses us from it.
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."
We have to confess to be cleansed, just as any relationship must include confession and forgiveness. If one of these elements is left out then the relationship cannot be restored.
If we sin as born again believers and do not confess we will regress in our walk. The more we confess with each onset of sinful attitude or action, the more we lose interest in that sin. When we do not confess out of pride, then God will not hear our prayers, we hinder the relationship and the Holy Spirit in us goes silent until we confess.
James 4:1-10
1 "What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
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.
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
God disciplines those who are born again when they sin.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
Stubbornness Leads to Hell
There seems to be a tactic for those who don't like to listen. Just as with some children having been warned if they live a certain way bad things will happen to them. Then when the bad things come because they didn't listen, they claim their parent didn't warn them. I have heard this story from parents who felt frustrated for being accused of not teaching their children something they knew they did teach them.
The "gnashing of teeth" the bible speaks about is the gritting of the teeth by people who remain angry that God assigned them to hell. Even though they made the choice to go to hell because they refused to listen or believe in Christ, they blame others as though they had no choice in the matter. There is no excuse for choosing to go to hell by refusing Christ. Everyone who becomes born again by believing in Christ chooses it, they are getting what they chose.
Rebellious people often want to do things their own way even if it ruins their life or their eternity. Yes, it is irrational and stubborn, bringing only misery on themselves. Those who trust in Christ do it because they know what He is offering, eternal life with a perfect love in paradise.
Since God created us He knows what is best for us and what makes us the most joyful. Parents get a glimpse of how God must feel when people reject Him to have their own way only to end up ruined.
Why does this happen, rational thinking people figure it out, its pretty simple. The devil deceives them, when God or man warns them they do not listen because what they are doing appeals to their emotions and their fleshly fallen nature. They refuse to think independently of their emotions and tricks of the devil. They do not consult with God to find the truth. The more they ignore God and enjoy foolishness the less likely they are to be convinced that what they do destroys them.
The cement of rebellion solidifies in their minds so much so that they can no longer get back any rational thinking if it were ever there.
There is an old saying; "they cut their own nose off to spite their face."
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The "gnashing of teeth" the bible speaks about is the gritting of the teeth by people who remain angry that God assigned them to hell. Even though they made the choice to go to hell because they refused to listen or believe in Christ, they blame others as though they had no choice in the matter. There is no excuse for choosing to go to hell by refusing Christ. Everyone who becomes born again by believing in Christ chooses it, they are getting what they chose.
Rebellious people often want to do things their own way even if it ruins their life or their eternity. Yes, it is irrational and stubborn, bringing only misery on themselves. Those who trust in Christ do it because they know what He is offering, eternal life with a perfect love in paradise.
Since God created us He knows what is best for us and what makes us the most joyful. Parents get a glimpse of how God must feel when people reject Him to have their own way only to end up ruined.
Why does this happen, rational thinking people figure it out, its pretty simple. The devil deceives them, when God or man warns them they do not listen because what they are doing appeals to their emotions and their fleshly fallen nature. They refuse to think independently of their emotions and tricks of the devil. They do not consult with God to find the truth. The more they ignore God and enjoy foolishness the less likely they are to be convinced that what they do destroys them.
The cement of rebellion solidifies in their minds so much so that they can no longer get back any rational thinking if it were ever there.
There is an old saying; "they cut their own nose off to spite their face."
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Friday, February 28, 2020
The Narcissistic Liberals
For those liberals who think homemakers cannot think for themselves.
Those who follow the liberal agenda are the ones who do not think for themselves. They are more concerned about impressing people than they are about taking care of important matters in their families.
Liberals elevate women who go into the teaching profession as having a career and yet the women at home are teaching, as well as many other diverse jobs that are never spoken of by the liberals, I guess it's the paycheck and prestige that the liberals covet.
Liberals are not satisfied speaking for themselves and doing what they wish to do, they must mock and intimidate women who have made a different choice than they.
Liberals are basically narcissists, they cannot validate anyone who is not just like them. They tend to pretend that all women want what they want and should do what they do. They even lie and "speak for all women", when they are in a public forum.
I am here to tell you that women's libbers do not speak for me. I know many other women who feel as I do about this, they have told me so. We are women who think for ourselves and are not intimidated into doing what others do just to appear superior or special. We are content to live and believe as we choose no matter what anyone else thinks.
Narcissistic liberals hate those who have proven to be happy being homemakers and supporters of their husbands and children. Have you ever asked why women's libbers must work to convince women to leave the duties of their homes, place their children in the hands of others to teach them and neglect the support of their husbands? Its really quite simple, the devil hates families. Women's libbers are controlled by the devil. They think their thoughts are their own but in fact, they have been whispered to just as Eve was in the garden where the devil convinced her to distrust God and all His ways.
For as long as mankind has been around the devil has worked to turn Adam and Eve against each other and against God through selfishness and bondage to sin.
If the devil can fool the people into thinking they should hate their God-given roles in favor of something more exotic, he will manage to move them out of their roles and into the trap that brings bondage, while convincing them they are freer. It's an illusion that the devil foists on anyone who is weak-minded. He uses peer pressure on those who are more invested in being liked or seen as special than they understand the blessing of the family.
Women are in bondage more than ever in our culture. When they work for someone else in a career they must obey the boss to keep their job. Why is this any less bondage than managing a household?
A woman at home makes her own schedule, shops when she pleases for the goods for the household, decorates, meal plans make the rules for the household as well as everything else that needs to be taken care of within the household. She also does volunteer work, encourages those within her household to excel in whatever their personal bent happens to be. She works alongside her husband in his ventures.
It is a myth that the career woman is freer than the homemaker. The homemaker according to the Proverbs 31 woman is very creative and makes many of her own decisions. She consults with her husband in some areas but is the manager of the home. And he consults with her at times, they are a team. His part is to earn the money and run the government and her job is to be the help in these accomplishments. When a woman does her job at home her husband is freed up to dedicate his time to these other things. He trusts her to run the household while he is running a business.
Her husband does not dictate what she can and cannot do but she consults with him as anyone in any position would do to clarify needs and responsibilities. The husband also needs to consult with his wife at times to see a perspective he may not have. Together they are a stronger force than if each one did only their own thing. No one, no matter what job it is, works completely alone without input from others.
The husband is the head of the household, he leads by teaching and kindness, not by coercion or intimidation. She follows her husband when he is obeying God and corrects him when he steps off the path to help him return to the path. The husband does the same for his wife. No man or woman is an island unto themselves. All members of a team work together if they are to win the prize.
The devil loves to take what is good and productive and destroy it. One of his names is the destroyer, Abaddon in Hebrew meaning "destroyer."
In these days of apostasy, the devil has attempted to make believers feel foolish about doing what is right through the mocking and intimidation of the unsaved. Sadly we see this within the church too. Even more disturbing is that Christians have fallen into many of the same traps.
Those who are mostly focused on this world and worldly success will pressure others to follow the culture. If you find yourself being demeaned, mocked and avoided for your choice to obey God, you can count it all joy that you are obeying Him.
James 1:2-8
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Those who follow the liberal agenda are the ones who do not think for themselves. They are more concerned about impressing people than they are about taking care of important matters in their families.
Liberals elevate women who go into the teaching profession as having a career and yet the women at home are teaching, as well as many other diverse jobs that are never spoken of by the liberals, I guess it's the paycheck and prestige that the liberals covet.
Liberals are not satisfied speaking for themselves and doing what they wish to do, they must mock and intimidate women who have made a different choice than they.
Liberals are basically narcissists, they cannot validate anyone who is not just like them. They tend to pretend that all women want what they want and should do what they do. They even lie and "speak for all women", when they are in a public forum.
I am here to tell you that women's libbers do not speak for me. I know many other women who feel as I do about this, they have told me so. We are women who think for ourselves and are not intimidated into doing what others do just to appear superior or special. We are content to live and believe as we choose no matter what anyone else thinks.
Narcissistic liberals hate those who have proven to be happy being homemakers and supporters of their husbands and children. Have you ever asked why women's libbers must work to convince women to leave the duties of their homes, place their children in the hands of others to teach them and neglect the support of their husbands? Its really quite simple, the devil hates families. Women's libbers are controlled by the devil. They think their thoughts are their own but in fact, they have been whispered to just as Eve was in the garden where the devil convinced her to distrust God and all His ways.
For as long as mankind has been around the devil has worked to turn Adam and Eve against each other and against God through selfishness and bondage to sin.
If the devil can fool the people into thinking they should hate their God-given roles in favor of something more exotic, he will manage to move them out of their roles and into the trap that brings bondage, while convincing them they are freer. It's an illusion that the devil foists on anyone who is weak-minded. He uses peer pressure on those who are more invested in being liked or seen as special than they understand the blessing of the family.
Women are in bondage more than ever in our culture. When they work for someone else in a career they must obey the boss to keep their job. Why is this any less bondage than managing a household?
A woman at home makes her own schedule, shops when she pleases for the goods for the household, decorates, meal plans make the rules for the household as well as everything else that needs to be taken care of within the household. She also does volunteer work, encourages those within her household to excel in whatever their personal bent happens to be. She works alongside her husband in his ventures.
It is a myth that the career woman is freer than the homemaker. The homemaker according to the Proverbs 31 woman is very creative and makes many of her own decisions. She consults with her husband in some areas but is the manager of the home. And he consults with her at times, they are a team. His part is to earn the money and run the government and her job is to be the help in these accomplishments. When a woman does her job at home her husband is freed up to dedicate his time to these other things. He trusts her to run the household while he is running a business.
Her husband does not dictate what she can and cannot do but she consults with him as anyone in any position would do to clarify needs and responsibilities. The husband also needs to consult with his wife at times to see a perspective he may not have. Together they are a stronger force than if each one did only their own thing. No one, no matter what job it is, works completely alone without input from others.
The husband is the head of the household, he leads by teaching and kindness, not by coercion or intimidation. She follows her husband when he is obeying God and corrects him when he steps off the path to help him return to the path. The husband does the same for his wife. No man or woman is an island unto themselves. All members of a team work together if they are to win the prize.
The devil loves to take what is good and productive and destroy it. One of his names is the destroyer, Abaddon in Hebrew meaning "destroyer."
In these days of apostasy, the devil has attempted to make believers feel foolish about doing what is right through the mocking and intimidation of the unsaved. Sadly we see this within the church too. Even more disturbing is that Christians have fallen into many of the same traps.
Those who are mostly focused on this world and worldly success will pressure others to follow the culture. If you find yourself being demeaned, mocked and avoided for your choice to obey God, you can count it all joy that you are obeying Him.
James 1:2-8
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
The Holocaust of 1944!!!
When we visited the holocaust museum in Israel it was absolutely haunting as we stood in a darkened domed room. Every two seconds or so a face of one of the children would light up on the ceiling and their name was called out. I cried as I watched each face come upon that dome. There were so many children, only the devil could do a thing like this. I am convinced those little ones are with God today and perhaps one day we will meet them in heaven.
History does repeat because the generation who were not alive at the time do not take it nearly as seriously as the one who experienced that time in history. I was born only a few years after all this mess, but I heard about it many times as the television showed what happened after the war.
The most astounding film I ever saw, the most gruesome and devastating I ever saw was called; "Let My People Go."
I was familiar with bullying most of my life but this was beyond human bullying it was demonic.
History does repeat because the generation who were not alive at the time do not take it nearly as seriously as the one who experienced that time in history. I was born only a few years after all this mess, but I heard about it many times as the television showed what happened after the war.
The most astounding film I ever saw, the most gruesome and devastating I ever saw was called; "Let My People Go."
I was familiar with bullying most of my life but this was beyond human bullying it was demonic.
ON THIS DAY IN 1944, 800 GYPSY CHILDREN ARE GASSED AT AUSCHWITZ
The Holy Spirit Our Righteousness
Anyone who has the Holy Spirit will be convicted immediately of their sin.
However, if we ignore Him He can go silent and allow the consequences of our stubbornness to teach us.
Our prayers will not be answered as long as we are in sin and we will regress in wisdom. I have seen it so many times, that believers who will not listen to a rebuke from God's word suddenly seem to have lost their discernment and the right-thinking until the consequences become so big that they can no longer ignore the discipline from God through consequences.
If the sin is not dealt with before they die then there are lost rewards in heaven.
1 Corinthians 2:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
13 their work will be shown for what it is because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;
20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,
23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Unsaved people will be judged and go to hell for not trusting in Christ. The born again believers will be judged according to their rewards not according to salvation. Those deeds done by Christ in us will remain, anything done in the flesh will burn off and not be counted for a reward.
Even good deeds that God never told us to do will not be counted. Only those deeds that Christ did in us will be counted.
James 1:12 (ESV)
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Some people will have little reward and others a lot, that decision is entirely up to God.
As for me, I want to bless God as much as I can just because I love Him because He loved me so much that He died to pay for my sin. There is no greater love than this!!!
John 15:12-15 "12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.…"
However, if we ignore Him He can go silent and allow the consequences of our stubbornness to teach us.
Our prayers will not be answered as long as we are in sin and we will regress in wisdom. I have seen it so many times, that believers who will not listen to a rebuke from God's word suddenly seem to have lost their discernment and the right-thinking until the consequences become so big that they can no longer ignore the discipline from God through consequences.
If the sin is not dealt with before they die then there are lost rewards in heaven.
1 Corinthians 2:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw,
13 their work will be shown for what it is because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;
20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,
23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.
2 Corinthians 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil."
Unsaved people will be judged and go to hell for not trusting in Christ. The born again believers will be judged according to their rewards not according to salvation. Those deeds done by Christ in us will remain, anything done in the flesh will burn off and not be counted for a reward.
Even good deeds that God never told us to do will not be counted. Only those deeds that Christ did in us will be counted.
James 1:12 (ESV)
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Some people will have little reward and others a lot, that decision is entirely up to God.
As for me, I want to bless God as much as I can just because I love Him because He loved me so much that He died to pay for my sin. There is no greater love than this!!!
John 15:12-15 "12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.…"
Obedience to God is First, Ask Sapphira!
"It is easier to fool people than to convince people they have been fooled." Mark Twain
All the lies that have been accepted within the Church are difficult to remove because they are based on appealing to emotion rather than rational thinking.
Many people in many gatherings have been intimidated into relying on the "pastors" rather than the Holy Spirit Who lives in them.
Those who rely on people will be caught up in much deception and false doctrine. Those who trust the Holy Spirit will have wisdom greater than most and will be seen as trouble makers by the many.
The church is full of narcissists in our day. Many people are proud of their allegiance to a man, the preacher while demeaning those who may have great wisdom but are seen as someone who does not have a degree, therefore, they cannot know the truth.
2 Timothy 3 is a description of the end times apostate church. God said these people would have a form of religion but deny the real God. As born again believers we do not have religion, we have a relationship with Christ and He lives in us. We do not indulge in meaningless feel-good rituals as most people do, we live each day trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and train us.
And, make no mistake, the protestant church has as many wrong beliefs and rituals as does the Catholic church, but since they are different from the Catholics they think they don't have any.
We used to hear this in the Catholic church, "only the priests can know" mentality restricted people and intimidated them into falling in line with false doctrine. Now in the protestant church, the people treat the hierarchy, that is "pastors" of the gatherings the same way we used to treat the priests, as though they could do no wrong and no one should question them.
God's church does not recognize "pastors" as the authority, it is not a title or a position, it is a calling and according to scripture, there should be two or more in the gathering.
When we rely on men we have an idol, even if that man is your husband. Wives must share their Holy Spirit views with their husbands, especially when the husband is beginning down the wrong path. Since husbands just like wives are not perfect they too need accountability and input when they have tunnel vision. We all have tunnel vision and need input from one another at times.
There are as many women as men who are on the wrong path thinking they are popular so they must be right. The truth is there is a God-ordained order in the church, men are to lead and women are to be the support.
"Helpmeet" has the connotation of being a counselor and advisor to the men. Support when the man is obeying God and a counselor when the men may have a blindspot.
We are never to obey anyone, pastor or husband when they are disobeying God.
Ananias and Sapphira is a good example in which the wife, Sapphira obeyed her husband and died along with him. Perhaps the story would have been different if the wife had attempted to talk her husband out of lying they might have both lived. Or if the wife refused to disobey God but the husband would remain stubborn then I am confident the wife would have lived while the husband died.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 "…8 If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life."
Ezekiel 18:20-21 "20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of the father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him. 21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.…"
A woman is not responsible for the sins of her husband unless she declines to influence him to do what is right. If she will not speak up and goes along with the sin of the husband she will be responsible too. The sinning husband will be responsible for influencing the wife to sin and also for his own sin.
A woman will be counted as righteous when she obeys God even if her husband will not listen to her.
Each individual is responsible before God to obey Him. No one will be able to say at the judgment; "but Lord my husband told me to do it." We know from the account of Ananias and Sapphira that obeying anyone else in sin is to disobey God.
Acts 5:29 " 29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. "
Ladies if you love your husband you will tell him the truth of God and if he does not listen then you must stop speaking and go over his head to Christ, leaving there with him while continuing to walk in obedience to Christ yourself.
All the lies that have been accepted within the Church are difficult to remove because they are based on appealing to emotion rather than rational thinking.
Many people in many gatherings have been intimidated into relying on the "pastors" rather than the Holy Spirit Who lives in them.
Those who rely on people will be caught up in much deception and false doctrine. Those who trust the Holy Spirit will have wisdom greater than most and will be seen as trouble makers by the many.
The church is full of narcissists in our day. Many people are proud of their allegiance to a man, the preacher while demeaning those who may have great wisdom but are seen as someone who does not have a degree, therefore, they cannot know the truth.
2 Timothy 3 is a description of the end times apostate church. God said these people would have a form of religion but deny the real God. As born again believers we do not have religion, we have a relationship with Christ and He lives in us. We do not indulge in meaningless feel-good rituals as most people do, we live each day trusting the Holy Spirit to guide and train us.
And, make no mistake, the protestant church has as many wrong beliefs and rituals as does the Catholic church, but since they are different from the Catholics they think they don't have any.
We used to hear this in the Catholic church, "only the priests can know" mentality restricted people and intimidated them into falling in line with false doctrine. Now in the protestant church, the people treat the hierarchy, that is "pastors" of the gatherings the same way we used to treat the priests, as though they could do no wrong and no one should question them.
God's church does not recognize "pastors" as the authority, it is not a title or a position, it is a calling and according to scripture, there should be two or more in the gathering.
When we rely on men we have an idol, even if that man is your husband. Wives must share their Holy Spirit views with their husbands, especially when the husband is beginning down the wrong path. Since husbands just like wives are not perfect they too need accountability and input when they have tunnel vision. We all have tunnel vision and need input from one another at times.
There are as many women as men who are on the wrong path thinking they are popular so they must be right. The truth is there is a God-ordained order in the church, men are to lead and women are to be the support.
"Helpmeet" has the connotation of being a counselor and advisor to the men. Support when the man is obeying God and a counselor when the men may have a blindspot.
We are never to obey anyone, pastor or husband when they are disobeying God.
Ananias and Sapphira is a good example in which the wife, Sapphira obeyed her husband and died along with him. Perhaps the story would have been different if the wife had attempted to talk her husband out of lying they might have both lived. Or if the wife refused to disobey God but the husband would remain stubborn then I am confident the wife would have lived while the husband died.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 "…8 If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life."
Ezekiel 18:20-21 "20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of the father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him. 21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.…"
A woman is not responsible for the sins of her husband unless she declines to influence him to do what is right. If she will not speak up and goes along with the sin of the husband she will be responsible too. The sinning husband will be responsible for influencing the wife to sin and also for his own sin.
A woman will be counted as righteous when she obeys God even if her husband will not listen to her.
Each individual is responsible before God to obey Him. No one will be able to say at the judgment; "but Lord my husband told me to do it." We know from the account of Ananias and Sapphira that obeying anyone else in sin is to disobey God.
Acts 5:29 " 29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. "
Ladies if you love your husband you will tell him the truth of God and if he does not listen then you must stop speaking and go over his head to Christ, leaving there with him while continuing to walk in obedience to Christ yourself.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
God Hates Mixing!
God hates mixing paganism with His worship. The Jews did that when God chastised them for the holidays they claimed were dedicated to Him.
Amos 5:21-23 God says the following:
21 “I hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.
23 “Take away from Me the noise of your songs;
I will not even listen to the sound of your harps."
Our Christian culture in America and now around the world are not blessed by God!
Just because so many enjoy the traditions and they attach the name of Christ to them does not make them alright with Him.
It matters how we worship and gather for Christ. Just doing whatever you like without regard to God's desires is not acceptable to God.
Ezekiel 14:1-11
"Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity Should I be consulted by them at all?.
"Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols, in order to lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are estranged from Me through all their idols."' "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations. "For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I the LORD will be brought to answer him in My own person. "I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people. "
"So you will know that I am the LORD. "But if the prophet is prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the LORD, who have prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel."
"They will bear the punishment of their iniquity; as the iniquity of the inquirer is, so the iniquity of the prophet will be, in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions Thus they will be My people, and I shall be their God,"' declares the Lord GOD."
When we worship God in our own way to preserve human traditions we are indulging in our own idolatry, desiring to do it our own way without regard to what God loves. An idol does not have to be a false god, it can be and often is now what we love more than God.
I hear lots of talk about the holidays and little about Jesus Christ from those who say they are Christians.
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
America has been taken captive by their traditions that do not honor God but make people feel proud and happy at their own concoctions.
Amos 5:21-23 God says the following:
21 “I hate, I reject your festivals,
Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings.
23 “Take away from Me the noise of your songs;
I will not even listen to the sound of your harps."
Our Christian culture in America and now around the world are not blessed by God!
Just because so many enjoy the traditions and they attach the name of Christ to them does not make them alright with Him.
It matters how we worship and gather for Christ. Just doing whatever you like without regard to God's desires is not acceptable to God.
Ezekiel 14:1-11
"Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity Should I be consulted by them at all?.
"Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols, in order to lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are estranged from Me through all their idols."' "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations. "For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I the LORD will be brought to answer him in My own person. "I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people. "
"So you will know that I am the LORD. "But if the prophet is prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the LORD, who have prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel."
"They will bear the punishment of their iniquity; as the iniquity of the inquirer is, so the iniquity of the prophet will be, in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions Thus they will be My people, and I shall be their God,"' declares the Lord GOD."
When we worship God in our own way to preserve human traditions we are indulging in our own idolatry, desiring to do it our own way without regard to what God loves. An idol does not have to be a false god, it can be and often is now what we love more than God.
I hear lots of talk about the holidays and little about Jesus Christ from those who say they are Christians.
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
America has been taken captive by their traditions that do not honor God but make people feel proud and happy at their own concoctions.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
No Need to Know, Just be Ready
On another post, I saw a video of a little girl who claims to know the day of the rapture and it is supposed to be in March.
I wish people would stop doing this!!! We don't need to know the day. If we believe God He said we would not know the day or the hour. That settles it!!!!
God expressly said no one will know the day or the hour. Just because a little girl had a dream does not mean it was from God. Sadly if this does not happen then the faith of weak believers will be shaken. We walk by faith, not by sight.
I remember a few years ago a little boy who claimed he had gone to heaven and back. He wrote a book with the help of his father. A few years later he admitted it was all a made-up story. Children love these kinds of games in which they are the star for a moment in time.
Do not pay any attention to these dreams and predictions. If you want to believe God then we need no more than what He said.
Matthew 24:36-44
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Be Ready for His Coming
42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44 For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
I wish people would stop doing this!!! We don't need to know the day. If we believe God He said we would not know the day or the hour. That settles it!!!!
God expressly said no one will know the day or the hour. Just because a little girl had a dream does not mean it was from God. Sadly if this does not happen then the faith of weak believers will be shaken. We walk by faith, not by sight.
I remember a few years ago a little boy who claimed he had gone to heaven and back. He wrote a book with the help of his father. A few years later he admitted it was all a made-up story. Children love these kinds of games in which they are the star for a moment in time.
Do not pay any attention to these dreams and predictions. If you want to believe God then we need no more than what He said.
Matthew 24:36-44
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Be Ready for His Coming
42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44 For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."
The Consequences of Sin
Those who are saved and loved by God who sin will see the consequences of that sin even after they confess it and are cleansed.
David was the apple of God's eye even when he sinned with Bathsheba. However he was punished for his sin with her, their child that was conceived in sin before her husband was killed by David, died.
Also, God would not allow David to build the temple because there was bloodshed counted to his household. He never lost his salvation, but the consequences for him in this life were devastating.
1 Samuel 12:13-14 "13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”…"
God punished David after he repented but also forgave him. He needed for all of mankind down through the ages to never take sin lightly or flippantly. God blessed the baby by taking him home to Himself.
Ananias and Saphirrah were killed by God for lying to the Holy Spirit but they remained saved. Unsaved people do not lie to the Holy Spirit, they don't know Him. It is only born again people who have the Holy Spirit who think they can get away with something. They thought if they could impress people it was just a small insignificant lie. However, God sees everything and didn't allow the couple to get away with lying. It caused fear in all the other believers, so they would not want the same thing to happen to them.
Acts 5:1-11
The fate of Ananias and Sapphira
5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things."
Never lie for anyone, tell the truth and work to convince the one who wants to lie, to tell the truth. I wonder if Sappirah had refused, perhaps her husband would have changed his mind and the two of them would have lived.
Wives have an obligation to the Lord and to their husbands to convince them to do right when they are not thinking rightly.
If Ananias had lied all by himself without the help of Sapphirah God would have only taken his life. God is a just God, He does not judge a wife for the sins of the husband.
Deuteronomy 24:16
“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin."
God is consistent and just all the time.
David was the apple of God's eye even when he sinned with Bathsheba. However he was punished for his sin with her, their child that was conceived in sin before her husband was killed by David, died.
Also, God would not allow David to build the temple because there was bloodshed counted to his household. He never lost his salvation, but the consequences for him in this life were devastating.
1 Samuel 12:13-14 "13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”…"
God punished David after he repented but also forgave him. He needed for all of mankind down through the ages to never take sin lightly or flippantly. God blessed the baby by taking him home to Himself.
Ananias and Saphirrah were killed by God for lying to the Holy Spirit but they remained saved. Unsaved people do not lie to the Holy Spirit, they don't know Him. It is only born again people who have the Holy Spirit who think they can get away with something. They thought if they could impress people it was just a small insignificant lie. However, God sees everything and didn't allow the couple to get away with lying. It caused fear in all the other believers, so they would not want the same thing to happen to them.
Acts 5:1-11
The fate of Ananias and Sapphira
5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things."
Never lie for anyone, tell the truth and work to convince the one who wants to lie, to tell the truth. I wonder if Sappirah had refused, perhaps her husband would have changed his mind and the two of them would have lived.
Wives have an obligation to the Lord and to their husbands to convince them to do right when they are not thinking rightly.
If Ananias had lied all by himself without the help of Sapphirah God would have only taken his life. God is a just God, He does not judge a wife for the sins of the husband.
Deuteronomy 24:16
“Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin."
God is consistent and just all the time.
Looking at the Word Rather than Circumstances
These verses are only a small portion of the evidence needed to prove that Christ did it all on the cross, that we could have not possibly added any help to our salvation, His sacrifice covered it all. The confusion happens because people appear to walk away from Christ or they claim to be Christian but do not obey Him.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
John 6:37
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
John 10:28
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."
John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life."
Romans 11:29
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
Ephesians 2:8
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
1 John 5:10-13
"Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life."
John 6:40
"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Ephesians 1:13-14
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
God never breaks a promise and we cannot break His promise.
2 Timothy 2:12-13 "…12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; 13if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. "
The evidence that we were born again is that we do endure. Those who don't endure were pretenders, they were never born again.
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.’"
If anyone can find me the passages in the scriptures that tell us how many sins we must break, or how big they are, or which ones specifically, that would cause us to lose our salvation, then I will take a look at them. However, you will find no scriptures telling us how big, how many and which specific sins will cause God to take His Holy Spirit from us.
In fact, there is no example in the dispensation of grace, the new testament, in which God removed His Holy Spirit from someone.
We see God sending His Holy Spirit and leaving someone in the Old Testament before Christ died. After Christ died and sent His Holy Spirit to live in every born again believer, there was never an account of the Holy Spirit leaving the born again believer.
Christ said clearly that He disciplines those He loves, this means believers do sin at times, or there would be no need for discipline.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
When God's children disobey and sin, they will be chastised and receive consequences, sometimes life long consequences. And, if they do not confess to be cleansed they will suffer a loss of rewards in heaven, but they remain saved.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
Sometimes it's hard to discern who is saved and who is not these days because believers can be influenced by the world even though they are born again. Then we also have the pretenders who were never born again defending their sin and rejecting the Word of God and yet they still attend church gatherings.
Matthew 13:24-30
Tares among Wheat
24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.
26 But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.
27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.
30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Matthew 13:3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
So you see, the wheat can look like tares and the tares can appear to be wheat until they begin to whither, growing weary of the pretense and walking away. This is why we have so much confusion about eternal security, people are looking at circumstances rather than what the bible actually says.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
John 6:37
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."
John 10:28
"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."
John 5:24
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life."
Romans 11:29
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
Ephesians 2:8
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
1 John 5:10-13
"Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life."
John 6:40
"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Ephesians 1:13-14
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."
God never breaks a promise and we cannot break His promise.
2 Timothy 2:12-13 "…12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; 13if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. "
The evidence that we were born again is that we do endure. Those who don't endure were pretenders, they were never born again.
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.’"
If anyone can find me the passages in the scriptures that tell us how many sins we must break, or how big they are, or which ones specifically, that would cause us to lose our salvation, then I will take a look at them. However, you will find no scriptures telling us how big, how many and which specific sins will cause God to take His Holy Spirit from us.
In fact, there is no example in the dispensation of grace, the new testament, in which God removed His Holy Spirit from someone.
We see God sending His Holy Spirit and leaving someone in the Old Testament before Christ died. After Christ died and sent His Holy Spirit to live in every born again believer, there was never an account of the Holy Spirit leaving the born again believer.
Christ said clearly that He disciplines those He loves, this means believers do sin at times, or there would be no need for discipline.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
When God's children disobey and sin, they will be chastised and receive consequences, sometimes life long consequences. And, if they do not confess to be cleansed they will suffer a loss of rewards in heaven, but they remain saved.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
Sometimes it's hard to discern who is saved and who is not these days because believers can be influenced by the world even though they are born again. Then we also have the pretenders who were never born again defending their sin and rejecting the Word of God and yet they still attend church gatherings.
Matthew 13:24-30
Tares among Wheat
24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
25 But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.
26 But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.
27 The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.
30 Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
Matthew 13:3 And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow;
4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up.
5 Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up because they had no depth of soil.
6 But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out.
8 And others fell on the good soil and *yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.
9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
So you see, the wheat can look like tares and the tares can appear to be wheat until they begin to whither, growing weary of the pretense and walking away. This is why we have so much confusion about eternal security, people are looking at circumstances rather than what the bible actually says.
Correction and Rebuke are Blessings from God
There are many people now who believe we should never correct someone else. My guess is that these same people don't want to be corrected. I am not afraid of correction, if someone does so with me I evaluate whether or not it is true without being offended. If I am wrong I will correct my sins and mistakes, if I am not guilty then I will dismiss the criticism.
Criticisms are blessings from God, they either make us stronger when we have been falsely accused or they redirect us when we have been wrong about something. Those who refuse to be corrected most often remain childlike in their life experience. Everyone must be corrected, rebukes and retrained if they are to grow into mature adults.
1 Timothy 5:20
"As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
We are to correct, rebuke and admonish daily those who are born again believers. To not do so is to enable them to continue in sin. We are responsible for those who are in the body.
2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
James 5:20
"Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Carmen, there is no scriptural basis for not speaking to others about their flaws and sins. If we love them we speak the truth, there must be support for obedience and lack of support for disobedience.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 "…8 If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life."
I was once told by an older woman that I should not tell people they are wrong, while she was in the process of telling me I was wrong for telling others they were wrong. The belief that we should not rebuke or correct people cannot be consistent. At some point, those who believe we should not correct others will be speaking hypocritically because life is full of correction. IF we love people we will obey God and correct them.
Criticisms are blessings from God, they either make us stronger when we have been falsely accused or they redirect us when we have been wrong about something. Those who refuse to be corrected most often remain childlike in their life experience. Everyone must be corrected, rebukes and retrained if they are to grow into mature adults.
1 Timothy 5:20
"As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
We are to correct, rebuke and admonish daily those who are born again believers. To not do so is to enable them to continue in sin. We are responsible for those who are in the body.
2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
James 5:20
"Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Carmen, there is no scriptural basis for not speaking to others about their flaws and sins. If we love them we speak the truth, there must be support for obedience and lack of support for disobedience.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 "…8 If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life."
I was once told by an older woman that I should not tell people they are wrong, while she was in the process of telling me I was wrong for telling others they were wrong. The belief that we should not rebuke or correct people cannot be consistent. At some point, those who believe we should not correct others will be speaking hypocritically because life is full of correction. IF we love people we will obey God and correct them.
"Why our church no longer plays Bethel or Hillsong music," Pastor explai...
"Why our church no longer plays Bethel or Hillsong music," Pastor explai...
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
My Eyes Were Opened a Little More
My eyes were opened in the last few years when I encountered someone who expected that they should have whatever they want, even what everyone else had without having to work for it.
This person called himself a Christian and even knew portions of his Bible. Sadly he used his Bible to find loopholes for sin.
Here's the story: This young man got into a discussion with me about the nature of stealing. He thought that if a woman was waiting for a bus, put her purse down because it was heavy and then walked away forgetting the purse while getting on the bus, that purse was now available to anyone who found it.
A sort of "finders keepers losers weepers" mentality. You know, the mindset of a rotten spoiled six-year-old who was a bully.
So I asked the young man why he thought this, his answer was astounding.
He said that if the woman were stupid enough to forget her purse then she deserved to have it stolen. Then he explained that it was allowed to take the purse because the woman forgot it. I wanted to know why he didn't think perhaps the thief was stupid enough to take what didn't belong to him.
After listening to the young man I said to him; "I cannot be around you because I can no longer trust you. What if that purse were mine or my friends, I would know that you wouldn't go out of your way to return the lost property."
Then I said; "I would guess that if it were your wallet you would be angry that someone didn't return it to you." Again, his response was astounding, he said, "of course that would be stealing."
Does anyone notice the double standard of the runaway narcissist? They excuse bad behavior by blaming the victim but are enraged if the same thing were done to them. God calls this hypocrisy.
What is even more astounding than this one conversation is that many people think this way in our country today. It is not bad or wrong if you can get away with it.
Another example of this was a person who was showing me their new watch. This person's father had purchased a watch at Walmart. When he arrived home he couldn't find it in the bag. He assumed the watch was not placed in the bag by the clerk. Believing this he went back to the store, showed the receipt to the clerk and that it was not in the bag.
The clerk promptly believed the father and gave him another watch. Upon arriving home the second time he bent over in the car to get the keys he dropped and saw the missing watch under the seat. The first watch had fallen out of the bag and rolled under the seat of the car.
Here's the problem, the father gave the watch to his adult child rather than returning one of them to the store. I counseled the child that she should return the watch herself, that taking it was aiding in the father's stealing it. She could not wrap her mind around the fact that it was stealing to keep what one did not pay for.
This woman claimed to be a Christian so I rebuked her and encouraged her to return the watch. The next time I saw her she was still wearing that watch. So jokingly I said, that is wrong and I hope it breaks. About a week later I saw her again, she was not wearing the watch, feeling hopeful that she had done the right thing, I asked her where it was. She laughed a little and said that it stopped working.
Sadly she never believed me even after the watch was not working anymore.
So many people measure their sin by what they can get away with or who will accept the sin. Everyone in the watch woman's life thought I was being silly for telling her it was stealing to take what you did not pay for. Because of the influences in her life she went with those who allowed for stealing and rejected me for speaking righteousness to her. I was now the mean person in her life, but not only that in the lives of her friends.
When we walk with Christ every day, all that we do is evaluated in terms of what He would think about it. Most of the time we don't even have to evaluate right from wrong we just already know it by the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Strong evidence that someone might not be saved is their lack of conscience over doing something that displeases and defies God's ways. Even their anger at being challenged to obey God is the next clue.
This mentality of entitlement is growing as we progress toward the end of the church age. Those who care nothing at all about God will believe if something falls under their eyes, it must belong to them as long as they don't get caught. But even then they will make up an excuse as to why they had a good reason to do it.
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 29:9
"9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution. 10 Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.…"
Those who love God and have become wise will be the ones rejected in our age. Sinful rebellious people hate those who follow Christ.
Don't let it discourage you, just be full of joy that you are pleasing God and confess quickly when you discover you have not obeyed Him. Then the joy will return and more growth has occurred.
This person called himself a Christian and even knew portions of his Bible. Sadly he used his Bible to find loopholes for sin.
Here's the story: This young man got into a discussion with me about the nature of stealing. He thought that if a woman was waiting for a bus, put her purse down because it was heavy and then walked away forgetting the purse while getting on the bus, that purse was now available to anyone who found it.
A sort of "finders keepers losers weepers" mentality. You know, the mindset of a rotten spoiled six-year-old who was a bully.
So I asked the young man why he thought this, his answer was astounding.
He said that if the woman were stupid enough to forget her purse then she deserved to have it stolen. Then he explained that it was allowed to take the purse because the woman forgot it. I wanted to know why he didn't think perhaps the thief was stupid enough to take what didn't belong to him.
After listening to the young man I said to him; "I cannot be around you because I can no longer trust you. What if that purse were mine or my friends, I would know that you wouldn't go out of your way to return the lost property."
Then I said; "I would guess that if it were your wallet you would be angry that someone didn't return it to you." Again, his response was astounding, he said, "of course that would be stealing."
Does anyone notice the double standard of the runaway narcissist? They excuse bad behavior by blaming the victim but are enraged if the same thing were done to them. God calls this hypocrisy.
What is even more astounding than this one conversation is that many people think this way in our country today. It is not bad or wrong if you can get away with it.
Another example of this was a person who was showing me their new watch. This person's father had purchased a watch at Walmart. When he arrived home he couldn't find it in the bag. He assumed the watch was not placed in the bag by the clerk. Believing this he went back to the store, showed the receipt to the clerk and that it was not in the bag.
The clerk promptly believed the father and gave him another watch. Upon arriving home the second time he bent over in the car to get the keys he dropped and saw the missing watch under the seat. The first watch had fallen out of the bag and rolled under the seat of the car.
Here's the problem, the father gave the watch to his adult child rather than returning one of them to the store. I counseled the child that she should return the watch herself, that taking it was aiding in the father's stealing it. She could not wrap her mind around the fact that it was stealing to keep what one did not pay for.
This woman claimed to be a Christian so I rebuked her and encouraged her to return the watch. The next time I saw her she was still wearing that watch. So jokingly I said, that is wrong and I hope it breaks. About a week later I saw her again, she was not wearing the watch, feeling hopeful that she had done the right thing, I asked her where it was. She laughed a little and said that it stopped working.
Sadly she never believed me even after the watch was not working anymore.
So many people measure their sin by what they can get away with or who will accept the sin. Everyone in the watch woman's life thought I was being silly for telling her it was stealing to take what you did not pay for. Because of the influences in her life she went with those who allowed for stealing and rejected me for speaking righteousness to her. I was now the mean person in her life, but not only that in the lives of her friends.
When we walk with Christ every day, all that we do is evaluated in terms of what He would think about it. Most of the time we don't even have to evaluate right from wrong we just already know it by the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Strong evidence that someone might not be saved is their lack of conscience over doing something that displeases and defies God's ways. Even their anger at being challenged to obey God is the next clue.
This mentality of entitlement is growing as we progress toward the end of the church age. Those who care nothing at all about God will believe if something falls under their eyes, it must belong to them as long as they don't get caught. But even then they will make up an excuse as to why they had a good reason to do it.
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 29:9
"9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution. 10 Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.…"
Those who love God and have become wise will be the ones rejected in our age. Sinful rebellious people hate those who follow Christ.
Don't let it discourage you, just be full of joy that you are pleasing God and confess quickly when you discover you have not obeyed Him. Then the joy will return and more growth has occurred.
They Don't Believe God
The Corruption is in the Heart
For those who think we can "get our country back again", let me say this:
Our country is not coming back. The sin is so deep and wide it will not abate.
The corruption of the government is only a surface problem. The sins in the hearts of nearly all the people are so rampant it cannot be measured.
I have Christians becoming angry at me when I quote the Bible, God's word, against divorce and remarriage as though this practice of dissolving a marriage and getting a new "hook up" is their sacred cow. They value their freedom to do what they want above God's truth. They love what God hates.
The Christians in this country do not care what God says, so He is taking the country down, step by step and day by day. Our families are destroyed, even those who do not divorce and remarry are affected because the rest of the family pressures them to accept the divorces and remarriages of others in the family. Those who are maligned and tormented by others are those who believe truth.
The sin is in the Christian church, and they will not listen to the truth. They want their wall, their economy, their freedom and their king they think will save them, but they do not want God.
Even those who say they are Bible-believing Christians disobey more of God's commands than they obey. What part of them is bible-believing?
When more Christians become embarrassed and angry at the mention of the principles of the word of God, that is our clue about how much they love Him. He is nothing more than something to say to most Christians today. He is something to run to when nothing else is working out and He is someone they use to elevate self.
There are so many Christians and non-Christians alike using the same phrases, "we are praying for you", without knowing what prayer is or to whom we must pray to be heard. There are Christians judging non-Christians as being saved because they use these phrases without any evidence that these people are born again. The superficiality of the modern church is so full, it is considered mean to warn people about things that are not of God but only appear to be so.
The terminology of the Christians is being adopted by the world but they do not mean the same things. The non-believers don't pray, they just say they will, its like a greeting to them. And, if any of them do, they believe just thinking something is a prayer, they pray to themselves or false gods, but not through Christ to the Father.
If you were to ask the unbeliever who they pray to they would say to god, but they don't know Who God is, or if He even hears. We know this by how many will speak to the dead relatives as though they can hear them. They are "praying" to their relatives and count that as praying.
If you want to test my musings to see if they are right, just talk about Christ a lot all the time everywhere and watch the responses of those hearing. It may surprise you that you will become a pariah (an outcast), someone people begin avoiding.
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.…
Our country is not coming back. The sin is so deep and wide it will not abate.
The corruption of the government is only a surface problem. The sins in the hearts of nearly all the people are so rampant it cannot be measured.
I have Christians becoming angry at me when I quote the Bible, God's word, against divorce and remarriage as though this practice of dissolving a marriage and getting a new "hook up" is their sacred cow. They value their freedom to do what they want above God's truth. They love what God hates.
The Christians in this country do not care what God says, so He is taking the country down, step by step and day by day. Our families are destroyed, even those who do not divorce and remarry are affected because the rest of the family pressures them to accept the divorces and remarriages of others in the family. Those who are maligned and tormented by others are those who believe truth.
The sin is in the Christian church, and they will not listen to the truth. They want their wall, their economy, their freedom and their king they think will save them, but they do not want God.
Even those who say they are Bible-believing Christians disobey more of God's commands than they obey. What part of them is bible-believing?
When more Christians become embarrassed and angry at the mention of the principles of the word of God, that is our clue about how much they love Him. He is nothing more than something to say to most Christians today. He is something to run to when nothing else is working out and He is someone they use to elevate self.
There are so many Christians and non-Christians alike using the same phrases, "we are praying for you", without knowing what prayer is or to whom we must pray to be heard. There are Christians judging non-Christians as being saved because they use these phrases without any evidence that these people are born again. The superficiality of the modern church is so full, it is considered mean to warn people about things that are not of God but only appear to be so.
The terminology of the Christians is being adopted by the world but they do not mean the same things. The non-believers don't pray, they just say they will, its like a greeting to them. And, if any of them do, they believe just thinking something is a prayer, they pray to themselves or false gods, but not through Christ to the Father.
If you were to ask the unbeliever who they pray to they would say to god, but they don't know Who God is, or if He even hears. We know this by how many will speak to the dead relatives as though they can hear them. They are "praying" to their relatives and count that as praying.
If you want to test my musings to see if they are right, just talk about Christ a lot all the time everywhere and watch the responses of those hearing. It may surprise you that you will become a pariah (an outcast), someone people begin avoiding.
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 Narcissists and Their Slander
I just read an article about a woman who was being accused of neglecting her baby by putting the baby on the floor next to her feet while she sat in a chair at the airport. The mother was looking at her phone.
The accusation was that the mother was neglecting that baby even though it was happily laying on a clean blanket at its mother's feet.
This is the kind of foolishness and drama narcissists love to start. I saw the picture of the mother and the baby. The accusation was neglect, there was no neglect, the mother was right there every minute.
Narcissists cannot rest unless they are picking at someone about nothing. They can make a molehill into a mountain at the drop of a hat.
Apparently, the post was taken down and the woman gave her explanation. At one point she had been on the floor with the baby but got up to sit in the chair. The baby was quiet, maybe sleeping or happily laying there.
Sometimes I get so weary of the problems narcissists create with their relentless lust for drama at the expense of the reputations of others.
My suggestion, do not believe a narcissist unless you saw something for yourself, and even then, be sure you know all the facts before passing on anything the narcissist might say about what you think you saw.
Proverbs 20:19
"Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
Almost always those secrets that the narcissist has blabbered were not accurate but embellished with a much worse scenario not even close to the truth. They love to judge a person's character without enough information to be able to be accurate.
Do not listen to these narcissists and if you happen to hear before you can walk away, never repeat what you heard or even believe them.
The accusation was that the mother was neglecting that baby even though it was happily laying on a clean blanket at its mother's feet.
This is the kind of foolishness and drama narcissists love to start. I saw the picture of the mother and the baby. The accusation was neglect, there was no neglect, the mother was right there every minute.
Narcissists cannot rest unless they are picking at someone about nothing. They can make a molehill into a mountain at the drop of a hat.
Apparently, the post was taken down and the woman gave her explanation. At one point she had been on the floor with the baby but got up to sit in the chair. The baby was quiet, maybe sleeping or happily laying there.
Sometimes I get so weary of the problems narcissists create with their relentless lust for drama at the expense of the reputations of others.
My suggestion, do not believe a narcissist unless you saw something for yourself, and even then, be sure you know all the facts before passing on anything the narcissist might say about what you think you saw.
Proverbs 20:19
"Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
Almost always those secrets that the narcissist has blabbered were not accurate but embellished with a much worse scenario not even close to the truth. They love to judge a person's character without enough information to be able to be accurate.
Do not listen to these narcissists and if you happen to hear before you can walk away, never repeat what you heard or even believe them.
The Foolishness of the Narcissist
Some of the people who call others names are really describing themselves. Narcissists believe everyone is like them. They know they are liars so they call others liars. They know they have a mean spirit so they call others mean. No one must be better than them, so they assign to others what they are and the others are not.
I was once told I seemed angry. I was not angry but the person talking to me was folding his arms, his face was turning red and he had one leg folded over the other swinging it. He had an angry look on his face along with all these other gyrations. His response was so classic of a narcissist I could hardly believe what I was seeing. He was accusing me of what he felt and I did not.
The purpose of these accusations is to cause us to become angry at the injustice so the narcissist can say "see I was right, you are angry."
We are seeing more of these tactics in our day. The best way to answer someone like this is calmly, "you are describing yourself" and then walk away.
If the narcissist can get you to act the same way they are acting they count themselves as having proven that you are no different from them. The narcissist knows they are nasty people but don't want to admit it, so they assign their own traits to the one for whom they have contempt.
Narcissists hate truth and they had to admit anything negative or that needs improvement about themselves. This is why they must bring down anyone who acts in kind and truthful ways. Bringing the decent person down to their level makes them feel two things, one; is powerful and two; someone to blame for their bad character and behavior.
There is no reason to fear the narcissist, they are pitful characters with continual bad feelings. They must goad others into bad behavior so they can feel better about themselves. When we know they are in a constant conviction of their sin and sadness at their character we can be less reactive and more compassionate.
This does not mean we should coddle them or stay in company with them, it just means that we may not feel angry at them but rather sorrow for them. After all, it is misery to walk around desperately needing to elevate self to feel of value.
Those who love God know they are nothing special, only Christ is special. We have no need to be anything but what we are, that is someone who has trusted Christ and walk in His love.
1 Corinthians 6:10-11 "…10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1"
As born again believers we know what we were, dead in sin before we came to Christ. After that we knew that He is our righteousness, we walk with Him. He continually cleanses us, redirects us and counsels us. We depend on Him, not ourselves.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
1 John 1:6-8 "…6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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.…"
Every time a born again believer confesses a sin they admit they are in need of cleansing. Then Christ will do what we ask, to become more holy by that cleansing.
God will not cleanse us of something we refuse to admit is a problem. He will allow consequences in our life until we confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:9 "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."
See that tiny little very big word; "IF." We must confess to be cleansed.
It is not beneficial to anyone to become like the narcissist by responding in kind. "In-kind" means to act in response the way they are hoping we will, the way they would react to any criticism, in anger and shock.
Being led by Christ is a wonderful place to be, we have no need to prove ourselves, we can admit when we are wrong, we can evaluate criticism and pray that God will show us. Pride cannot be a part of the born again believers' life. Pride is at the root of every human problem. The devil instilled pride in Eve in the garden and has been whispering in the ears of every person after that until this very day.
Titus 3:9-11 "9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law because these things are pointless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.…"
Divisive people are those who cannot stand to appear wrong, they fight over the silliest things. Reject friends for not elevating them as special and are a continual problem wherever they go.
God says to rebuke then and then avoid them. We are to seek to live in peace with all men. That doe snot mean we give up our standards to appease those who are fighters, it means to avoid the trouble makers who love their fights.
Proverbs 16:3-4 "…3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. "
When we answer back to those who love to fight, we give them one more thing to fight with, they love it. Silence truly is golden when dealing with a narcissist. More information is food for the narcissist it drives their hunger for conflict.
Proverbs 16: 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.…"
Speak truth to a fool and then answer nothing else when he attempts to fight. He deserves only the truth once when it is clear he wants to fight, reject him and walk away.
Proverbs 18:2
"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."
I was once told I seemed angry. I was not angry but the person talking to me was folding his arms, his face was turning red and he had one leg folded over the other swinging it. He had an angry look on his face along with all these other gyrations. His response was so classic of a narcissist I could hardly believe what I was seeing. He was accusing me of what he felt and I did not.
The purpose of these accusations is to cause us to become angry at the injustice so the narcissist can say "see I was right, you are angry."
We are seeing more of these tactics in our day. The best way to answer someone like this is calmly, "you are describing yourself" and then walk away.
If the narcissist can get you to act the same way they are acting they count themselves as having proven that you are no different from them. The narcissist knows they are nasty people but don't want to admit it, so they assign their own traits to the one for whom they have contempt.
Narcissists hate truth and they had to admit anything negative or that needs improvement about themselves. This is why they must bring down anyone who acts in kind and truthful ways. Bringing the decent person down to their level makes them feel two things, one; is powerful and two; someone to blame for their bad character and behavior.
There is no reason to fear the narcissist, they are pitful characters with continual bad feelings. They must goad others into bad behavior so they can feel better about themselves. When we know they are in a constant conviction of their sin and sadness at their character we can be less reactive and more compassionate.
This does not mean we should coddle them or stay in company with them, it just means that we may not feel angry at them but rather sorrow for them. After all, it is misery to walk around desperately needing to elevate self to feel of value.
Those who love God know they are nothing special, only Christ is special. We have no need to be anything but what we are, that is someone who has trusted Christ and walk in His love.
1 Corinthians 6:10-11 "…10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1"
As born again believers we know what we were, dead in sin before we came to Christ. After that we knew that He is our righteousness, we walk with Him. He continually cleanses us, redirects us and counsels us. We depend on Him, not ourselves.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
1 John 1:6-8 "…6 If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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.…"
Every time a born again believer confesses a sin they admit they are in need of cleansing. Then Christ will do what we ask, to become more holy by that cleansing.
God will not cleanse us of something we refuse to admit is a problem. He will allow consequences in our life until we confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:9 "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."
See that tiny little very big word; "IF." We must confess to be cleansed.
It is not beneficial to anyone to become like the narcissist by responding in kind. "In-kind" means to act in response the way they are hoping we will, the way they would react to any criticism, in anger and shock.
Being led by Christ is a wonderful place to be, we have no need to prove ourselves, we can admit when we are wrong, we can evaluate criticism and pray that God will show us. Pride cannot be a part of the born again believers' life. Pride is at the root of every human problem. The devil instilled pride in Eve in the garden and has been whispering in the ears of every person after that until this very day.
Titus 3:9-11 "9But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, arguments, and quarrels about the law because these things are pointless and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive man after a first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a man is corrupt and sinful; he is self-condemned.…"
Divisive people are those who cannot stand to appear wrong, they fight over the silliest things. Reject friends for not elevating them as special and are a continual problem wherever they go.
God says to rebuke then and then avoid them. We are to seek to live in peace with all men. That doe snot mean we give up our standards to appease those who are fighters, it means to avoid the trouble makers who love their fights.
Proverbs 16:3-4 "…3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. "
When we answer back to those who love to fight, we give them one more thing to fight with, they love it. Silence truly is golden when dealing with a narcissist. More information is food for the narcissist it drives their hunger for conflict.
Proverbs 16: 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.…"
Speak truth to a fool and then answer nothing else when he attempts to fight. He deserves only the truth once when it is clear he wants to fight, reject him and walk away.
Proverbs 18:2
"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."
Monday, February 24, 2020
6 Common Behaviors of Toxic People *NEW*
The Bible addresses these things with answers on what the actions and mentalities look like and how to handle a person who allows their flesh and the devil to control them. Even seculars who don't know God see the increase in evil.
2 Timothy 3 explains it all!
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Yes, Sending Someone to Hell is an Act of Hatred
Hell is an act of hatred toward sin and those who are indwelt by sin. One cannot separate the man from his sin. Man is what he does, says and believes. We are not able to do, say or believe something that is not in our character.
Isaiah 59:1-3 "1Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. 2But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear. 3For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.…"
Isaiah 1:15
"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood."
Psalm 26:4-6 "…4I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. 5I hate the mob of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. 6I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,…"
Micah 3:4
"Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done."
God does not hide His face from those He loves. But He does hide from those who have rejected Him.
Psalm 27:8-10 "…8 My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek. 9 Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, the God of my salvation. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me."
Written for Israel but applicable for born again believers today. We do not have the promises for Israel as Gentiles, but we do know that the character of God remains the same for all those who love Him. All things were not written to us but all things were written for us, for our learning to discern the character of God and how He operates.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Isaiah 59:1-3 "1Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. 2But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear. 3For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.…"
Isaiah 1:15
"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood."
Psalm 26:4-6 "…4I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. 5I hate the mob of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. 6I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,…"
Micah 3:4
"Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done."
God does not hide His face from those He loves. But He does hide from those who have rejected Him.
Psalm 27:8-10 "…8 My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek. 9 Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, the God of my salvation. 10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me."
Written for Israel but applicable for born again believers today. We do not have the promises for Israel as Gentiles, but we do know that the character of God remains the same for all those who love Him. All things were not written to us but all things were written for us, for our learning to discern the character of God and how He operates.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Saturday, February 22, 2020
The Preachers are Going Down
Don't be surprised if your favorite preacher flips on you, doing a 180 when you thought you knew him so well. This is happening regularly now as God exposes the inner hearts of those who were pretending to love Christ but never became born again.
Matthew 7:15
"15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
The prominent preachers are falling like flies at the poison they are embracing. We are living in the last days of apostasy, more people will speak lies than are speaking the truth.
More people will love sin than love righteousness and more people will believe they are good than are actually good.
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."
We are encountering many people who attend churches all over this country but become enraged when we explain their doctrines are doctrines of devils rather than truth from God. Even when we prove it to them they remain angry and will even exact revenge when possible.
Do not be surprised by any of this. The beauty of it all is that we know this is what is coming and it means we will be going home soon.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come” (ragingly insane times)
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."
Matthew 7:15
"15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
The prominent preachers are falling like flies at the poison they are embracing. We are living in the last days of apostasy, more people will speak lies than are speaking the truth.
More people will love sin than love righteousness and more people will believe they are good than are actually good.
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."
We are encountering many people who attend churches all over this country but become enraged when we explain their doctrines are doctrines of devils rather than truth from God. Even when we prove it to them they remain angry and will even exact revenge when possible.
Do not be surprised by any of this. The beauty of it all is that we know this is what is coming and it means we will be going home soon.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come” (ragingly insane times)
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."
Forcing People Does Not Change Hearts
Muslims are narcissists, they do not allow anyone to exist who does not think the way they want them to think. All other religions are based on forcing rules, most of which were not given by the Bible. They all want to burden people with things to do to earn their salvation. When Christ died He did it for us! He paid the penalty that we do not have to pay or earn.
Born again believers share the truth of Christ because they have love, but they sense no inclination to force anyone. Christ never forced anyone, He merely told the truth and left the decision up to the hearer.
Any "Christian" who rages because someone doesn't believe them, may not be born again. Born again believers operate from love and kindness. We may rebuke the stubborn heart and then remove ourselves but we do no harm and we do not manipulate people for the desired outcome.
When someone won't listen we pray for them and let God do His work on them. We share the gospel of peace with others so they may experience the wonderful life and inheritance that comes from knowing Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all."
Isaiah 26:3
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
As born again believers we love people, our hope is that they find Christ so they can be saved from their sin the way Christ saved all of us.
Born again believers share the truth of Christ because they have love, but they sense no inclination to force anyone. Christ never forced anyone, He merely told the truth and left the decision up to the hearer.
Any "Christian" who rages because someone doesn't believe them, may not be born again. Born again believers operate from love and kindness. We may rebuke the stubborn heart and then remove ourselves but we do no harm and we do not manipulate people for the desired outcome.
When someone won't listen we pray for them and let God do His work on them. We share the gospel of peace with others so they may experience the wonderful life and inheritance that comes from knowing Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all."
Isaiah 26:3
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
As born again believers we love people, our hope is that they find Christ so they can be saved from their sin the way Christ saved all of us.
They Must Force Others
The narcissist is not content to do as he pleases, he must force everyone else to think the way he thinks. This is why he never listens to those with opposing ideas, even if they are righteous and good. In fact, if an opposing idea comes from the mouth of someone the narcissist hates, he must pretend that person is bad for having a different view. And, he will not stop there, he will attempt to turn all the targets friends against them in retaliation for daring to be authentically themselves.
The Narcissist never shares information they simply expel their opinion expecting those who hear to bow to him. We must share our views but we are not responsible to force anyone to believe them. Never take these narcissists seriously. They are all about manipulation and intimidation, there is frequently no depth of character for them. They remain on a superficial judgemental level all of their lives judging things they know nothing about but pretend they know everything.
Proverbs 12:14-16 "…14 By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.…"
The Narcissist never shares information they simply expel their opinion expecting those who hear to bow to him. We must share our views but we are not responsible to force anyone to believe them. Never take these narcissists seriously. They are all about manipulation and intimidation, there is frequently no depth of character for them. They remain on a superficial judgemental level all of their lives judging things they know nothing about but pretend they know everything.
Proverbs 12:14-16 "…14 By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.…"
Friday, February 21, 2020
Hang the Human Traditions and Be Free
The ritual and cost of a burial with all the fancy trappings are not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. These are paganistic rituals based on making sure the body does not degrade. The services now look more like paganistic ancestor worship with all the pictures of their life while people actually speak to the dead person as though they can really hear.
Its a sort of lack of faith to think that God told us we will return to dust but do everything we can to prevent that from happening as though God cannot put us back together. It might even be denying that we will have a new body, why else would we need to preserve the old one.
1 Corinthians 13:3 "And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing."
It is also a lack of understanding that once a person dies they can no longer hear you or see you. They are gone, for the born again believer we celebrate that death because we know they were born again and really are in a better place than here and that we will see them again.
I do not attend the funerals of those who were not born again. God said; "let the dead bury the dead." I cannot bring myself to say: "he is in a better place" to relatives when the life of their loved one demonstrated clearly that they rejected Christ.
Luke 9:59-61
"…59 Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”…:
In this passage the man mentioned had a living father, he wanted to wait for his father to die before following Christ. Christ clearly instructed him to leave his father to follow him and allow the unsaved in the family to bury his father.
If we look into the Word of God searcing for truth we find that so very much of what we do as believers in Christ have no basis in the Word of God. Follow the traditions of men if you must, but don't say everyone must do what you do if it is not clearly described in the Word.
Some people say Christ was buried, so our culture puts people in the ground with dirt over them. But this is not how Christ was buried. If we are going to use Him as an example of how to bury someone then we would need to find caves in mountains in which to place the bodies.
God never gave us clear mandates as to how to bury our dead. He left this matter up to personal choice. The sad thing is that many people are offended if we don't do it the way our ancestors have been doing it for hundreds of years as though that fact is proof it is the way it "should" be done.
Born again believers have many choices that are not spelled out in the Word, we have no obligation to be buried the way everyone else says to do it, we can choose for ourselves as led by the Holy Spirit.
It is amazing how simple and stress-free the born again life is when we scrape away all the man-made meaningless traditions that are a burden to us.
I rejoice in the simplicity of the Christian walk. No longer bowing to traditions of men I am at peace with God.
Its a sort of lack of faith to think that God told us we will return to dust but do everything we can to prevent that from happening as though God cannot put us back together. It might even be denying that we will have a new body, why else would we need to preserve the old one.
1 Corinthians 13:3 "And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing."
It is also a lack of understanding that once a person dies they can no longer hear you or see you. They are gone, for the born again believer we celebrate that death because we know they were born again and really are in a better place than here and that we will see them again.
I do not attend the funerals of those who were not born again. God said; "let the dead bury the dead." I cannot bring myself to say: "he is in a better place" to relatives when the life of their loved one demonstrated clearly that they rejected Christ.
Luke 9:59-61
"…59 Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”…:
In this passage the man mentioned had a living father, he wanted to wait for his father to die before following Christ. Christ clearly instructed him to leave his father to follow him and allow the unsaved in the family to bury his father.
If we look into the Word of God searcing for truth we find that so very much of what we do as believers in Christ have no basis in the Word of God. Follow the traditions of men if you must, but don't say everyone must do what you do if it is not clearly described in the Word.
Some people say Christ was buried, so our culture puts people in the ground with dirt over them. But this is not how Christ was buried. If we are going to use Him as an example of how to bury someone then we would need to find caves in mountains in which to place the bodies.
God never gave us clear mandates as to how to bury our dead. He left this matter up to personal choice. The sad thing is that many people are offended if we don't do it the way our ancestors have been doing it for hundreds of years as though that fact is proof it is the way it "should" be done.
Born again believers have many choices that are not spelled out in the Word, we have no obligation to be buried the way everyone else says to do it, we can choose for ourselves as led by the Holy Spirit.
It is amazing how simple and stress-free the born again life is when we scrape away all the man-made meaningless traditions that are a burden to us.
I rejoice in the simplicity of the Christian walk. No longer bowing to traditions of men I am at peace with God.
No casket, no cost: Tennesseans go back to 'natural' burial
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