Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Are Your Prayers Hindered?
1 Peter 3:7
"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
"Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
Trials and Old Age Give Us Away
Trials and old age are good surfacing agents, drawing out the real person that was hiding itself inside.
Trials do not shape a person they reveal them.
God allows trials so that we will see what is really inside of us.
Anyone can be happy and giving when things are going their way all the time. The truth will come out when the trials come.
Romans 5:3-5 "…3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.…"
Trials do not shape a person they reveal them.
God allows trials so that we will see what is really inside of us.
Anyone can be happy and giving when things are going their way all the time. The truth will come out when the trials come.
Romans 5:3-5 "…3 Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.…"
Unity in Christ
They Knew the Word but they didn't Know the Word Giver
"The pharisees knew The Word, but they didn’t know the The Word Giver. Their motive stunk. They knew the facts but could not recognize the Truth when He confronted them. They were frigidly accurate, and coldly used holy words to subjugate lessers." Larry Jones
The Religion of Correctness!
"The religion of many born-agains is correctness. Being right is being noble. Learning is for the purpose of dazzling the less learned. Intellectualism within christianity is using the holy things of God to puff the ego and impress an audience. Remove the audience, be it many or one, and incentive to know The Word evaporates." Larry Jones
What Does Love Look Like?
Whatever we basically are is how we consistently act.
One cannot act against their nature, they can pretend temporarily or with certain people but eventually will revert to what is most comfortable according to their character.
As people grow older they lose the need to impress anyone so their character will often be seen in truth. They will no longer attempt to be seen any particular way they will simply be authentic. They either become sweeter as they get older or they become crabbier depending on what was hanging around inside their soul all their lives.
This has been my observations after many years of being around a narcissistic family structure.
When the mask begins to slip on the narcissist they will deny what they have done and double down on their tactics only more covertly when they have been discovered.
Trials and old age are good surfacing agents, drawing out the real person that was hiding itself inside.
Also it is common for narcissists to hide from those they wish to impress and bully those they think are beneath them only covertly that those they wish to impress will not see how mean they are to those they feel superior. This suggests to me that they know what they do to their targets is sinful, but they enjoy it anyway.
In short the covert narcissist acts as though they think if no one can see or prove their actions they have full permission to continue what is hidden.
This is very sad when it is a "Christian" who acts this way. I have to surmise that if they are content to be unkind when no one is looking they can't possibly believe God sees all that they do.
Which leads to the next question: "are they born again", my guess is that they are not, the Holy Spirit would convict a born again believer of bullying, they would not be able to enjoy the tactic, it would torment them until they 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."
The implication here is that those who will not confess will not be cleansed.
When we have confronted someone we love with their sin against us, it is for the purpose of discussion to resolve a matter. However when we confront to resolve and the person is resistant or silent we know they are not interested in resolving anything. It is time to remove ourselves and leave them to God.
Lovely born again believers want to discuss problems, but the unregenerate man of today hates resolutions to problems, they prefer to wallow in their own self importance without concern for relationships.
John 13:35
"35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
One cannot act against their nature, they can pretend temporarily or with certain people but eventually will revert to what is most comfortable according to their character.
As people grow older they lose the need to impress anyone so their character will often be seen in truth. They will no longer attempt to be seen any particular way they will simply be authentic. They either become sweeter as they get older or they become crabbier depending on what was hanging around inside their soul all their lives.
This has been my observations after many years of being around a narcissistic family structure.
When the mask begins to slip on the narcissist they will deny what they have done and double down on their tactics only more covertly when they have been discovered.
Trials and old age are good surfacing agents, drawing out the real person that was hiding itself inside.
Also it is common for narcissists to hide from those they wish to impress and bully those they think are beneath them only covertly that those they wish to impress will not see how mean they are to those they feel superior. This suggests to me that they know what they do to their targets is sinful, but they enjoy it anyway.
In short the covert narcissist acts as though they think if no one can see or prove their actions they have full permission to continue what is hidden.
This is very sad when it is a "Christian" who acts this way. I have to surmise that if they are content to be unkind when no one is looking they can't possibly believe God sees all that they do.
Which leads to the next question: "are they born again", my guess is that they are not, the Holy Spirit would convict a born again believer of bullying, they would not be able to enjoy the tactic, it would torment them until they 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."
The implication here is that those who will not confess will not be cleansed.
When we have confronted someone we love with their sin against us, it is for the purpose of discussion to resolve a matter. However when we confront to resolve and the person is resistant or silent we know they are not interested in resolving anything. It is time to remove ourselves and leave them to God.
Lovely born again believers want to discuss problems, but the unregenerate man of today hates resolutions to problems, they prefer to wallow in their own self importance without concern for relationships.
John 13:35
"35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
There are Judas's in the Church Today!
Judas was a part of the group serving the Lord. He had tasted the good fruit but was never born again. He was with Christ but covertly rejecting Him when no one else knew.
Notice how the apostles didn't know it would be Judas when Christ said "one of you is a devil." The other apostles asked if it were them because they were worried there might be something wrong with them. Judas never asked that because he knew it was him.
John 6:69-71 "…69 We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.…"
This is true of many church gatherings today, many people in them are of the devil, even the preachers who claim to know Christ. They are so covert that those in the pews do not realize it until something monstrous happens.
Those who have the gift of discernment can tell quickly something is wrong, they will ask for clarification and God will show them the false teaching or prideful attitude of those who love themselves more than they love God.
Matthew 6:5-6 " 5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.…"
Authentic born again believers are not interested in impressing anyone or being superior to anyone. These people do not judge petty things or make guess about actions they think they observe, they are genuinely seeking Christ in all things.
Notice how the apostles didn't know it would be Judas when Christ said "one of you is a devil." The other apostles asked if it were them because they were worried there might be something wrong with them. Judas never asked that because he knew it was him.
John 6:69-71 "…69 We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.…"
This is true of many church gatherings today, many people in them are of the devil, even the preachers who claim to know Christ. They are so covert that those in the pews do not realize it until something monstrous happens.
Those who have the gift of discernment can tell quickly something is wrong, they will ask for clarification and God will show them the false teaching or prideful attitude of those who love themselves more than they love God.
Matthew 6:5-6 " 5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.…"
Authentic born again believers are not interested in impressing anyone or being superior to anyone. These people do not judge petty things or make guess about actions they think they observe, they are genuinely seeking Christ in all things.
Fruit of the Spirit are Character Qualities not Actions
The fruit of the Spirit are not actions, they are character qualities that produce the way we think and they way we act.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Born again believers do not have to try real hard to have the fruit, they love the goodness of Christ because He lives in us. The fruit from Christ comes to them at the moment of salvatin when Christ comes to live in them.
There are many who would claim to have this fruit but the discerning Christian see that it is missing when their Spirit does not connect with the world spirit within someone.
The confusion comes when someone claims to be a Christian but fights to defend and excuse their sin, justifying what they know is sin through human thinking rather than evaluating it according to God's Word.
1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.…"
Born again believers have flaws and warts since they are still in the flesh, but they hate their flesh, they love the Spirit of God Who lives in them. Their desire is to please God!
When our flesh fails in some way momentarily we confess to be cleansed out of deep devotion to Christ and through His prompting. God said that eventually the born again believer will confess sin, be ashamed of it and seek the Lord for cleansing
These passages were written to born again believers:
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."
1 John 5:17-19 "…17 All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one."
Those who fight to defend their sin claiming they are under the blood so they can enjoy their sin, are not born again.
Proverbs 10:17
"17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray."
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Born again believers do not have to try real hard to have the fruit, they love the goodness of Christ because He lives in us. The fruit from Christ comes to them at the moment of salvatin when Christ comes to live in them.
There are many who would claim to have this fruit but the discerning Christian see that it is missing when their Spirit does not connect with the world spirit within someone.
The confusion comes when someone claims to be a Christian but fights to defend and excuse their sin, justifying what they know is sin through human thinking rather than evaluating it according to God's Word.
1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.…"
Born again believers have flaws and warts since they are still in the flesh, but they hate their flesh, they love the Spirit of God Who lives in them. Their desire is to please God!
When our flesh fails in some way momentarily we confess to be cleansed out of deep devotion to Christ and through His prompting. God said that eventually the born again believer will confess sin, be ashamed of it and seek the Lord for cleansing
These passages were written to born again believers:
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."
1 John 5:17-19 "…17 All unrighteousness is sin, yet there is sin that does not lead to death. 18 We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one."
Those who fight to defend their sin claiming they are under the blood so they can enjoy their sin, are not born again.
Proverbs 10:17
"17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray."
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: From Adrian Rogers:
"An unsaved person can sit in church, sing in the choir, and sound holy and righteous. But as soon as he’s back in the world, he’ll return to the sordid sin he enjoyed before. Peter likens the unsaved person who’s religious on the outside to a dog and a pig. You can scrub him clean, brush his teeth, and dress him in a pink ribbon, but he will go right back into the mire. A scrubbing on the outside doesn't change his inner nature. The dog may feel better, and the pig may look better, but neither has been changed. But a person who comes to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior is changed. He doesn’t want the same things anymore. He doesn’t live the same way anymore. He’s been born again into a new life."
"ACTION POINT:
What has changed in your life since you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you different? The Bible says when we are “in Christ,” we become new creatures—for the old has passed away, and all things have become new. Have you experienced that? Then thank Him today!"
"ACTION POINT:
What has changed in your life since you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you different? The Bible says when we are “in Christ,” we become new creatures—for the old has passed away, and all things have become new. Have you experienced that? Then thank Him today!"
Tricks of the Devil
"A seducing spirit is one that leads a man in the wrong direction while fully convincing him that he is right."
2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
The Infamous Brownies
When we discover a prominent well known preacher has gone over to the dark side embracing sin, even endorsing it, as Max Lucado has done, then no matter how good his books or sermons are, we cannot embrace them.
WHY? Because the devil used some good to draw people in and once they were impressed he slips in the real man who is full of sin. Often those who would not otherwise appreciate sin will defend the man who speaks lies just because of the other things they have written.
Many people will defend those who have gone off into false teaching simply because they liked something else the preacher has written or said in the past.
This reminds me of the story of the brownies made by a loving Dad to prove a point.
The father made some lovely brownies for his family. He presented them to his children who were defending movies because there was some good in them.
As he offered the brownies to the children he explained that all the ingredients were good except that he had gone to the yard and took from it a table spoon of dog poo to mix into the large batch of brownies.
He assured them that it was alright to eat the brownies because there was only a little dog poo in them.
Guess what, no one would eat the brownies.
Just because there is a little good in something does not mean it is alright to use that thing, even worse is recommending it to others.
It is one thing to read a book or watch a movie and be honest about its content. Its quite another to defend that book or movie because there was only a little bad in it. And even worse recommend something to others that will tarnish their souls.
By the way, it has been my experience that those who defend books and movies because there is only a little bad, usually twisting the truth, usually there is much more bad but they only see the worst of the worst having been blinded by evil for so long they don't see most of what is wrong in books and movies.
Its one thing to watch movies and read books it quite another to promote and defend them when they might cause another believer to fall. You see, its not all about you or me, it is what is helpful to our Christian siblings to grow in holiness and most of all what pleases God.
I remember years ago Christians were recommending the movie "Saving Private Ryan." I knew there was a problem with it because of the rating that was given to it. These Christians told me I should watch it, more than one, even several said I should watch it. Finally I rented it for the purpose of evaluating it so I could show the believers what was wrong.
I began the movie with pen and paper in hand as I would listen to every word, agonizingly I sat through that long movie writing down, cuss words, the Lord's name in vain, sexual jokes, and other filthy words I cannot say here. When the movie was over and the list was complete I had found over 68 occurrences in 2 and a half hours of filth and blasphemy. This does not even mention the many scenes of intense gore throughout the movie.
Interestingly the Christians who recommended this movie to me assured me there was nothing bad in it, that only a couple of cuss words but other than that it was really good. They used the excuse that it was authentic to what really happened in WW2. I set out to prove they were wrong and they were.
So what was wrong, why did these born again believers not see all that I saw and wrote down? Why did they use the excuse that something was authentic to justify looking at filth?
1 Timothy 4:2 "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"
Now days most people watch shows and read books, but when they adamantly defend something wrong because they personally liked it, then are seering their own conscience.
Never defend a writer because of past writings when he is promoting evil. His past writings become null and void to me when he has gone off into heresy and blasphemy to fit into the world.
WHY? Because the devil used some good to draw people in and once they were impressed he slips in the real man who is full of sin. Often those who would not otherwise appreciate sin will defend the man who speaks lies just because of the other things they have written.
Many people will defend those who have gone off into false teaching simply because they liked something else the preacher has written or said in the past.
This reminds me of the story of the brownies made by a loving Dad to prove a point.
The father made some lovely brownies for his family. He presented them to his children who were defending movies because there was some good in them.
As he offered the brownies to the children he explained that all the ingredients were good except that he had gone to the yard and took from it a table spoon of dog poo to mix into the large batch of brownies.
He assured them that it was alright to eat the brownies because there was only a little dog poo in them.
Guess what, no one would eat the brownies.
Just because there is a little good in something does not mean it is alright to use that thing, even worse is recommending it to others.
It is one thing to read a book or watch a movie and be honest about its content. Its quite another to defend that book or movie because there was only a little bad in it. And even worse recommend something to others that will tarnish their souls.
By the way, it has been my experience that those who defend books and movies because there is only a little bad, usually twisting the truth, usually there is much more bad but they only see the worst of the worst having been blinded by evil for so long they don't see most of what is wrong in books and movies.
Its one thing to watch movies and read books it quite another to promote and defend them when they might cause another believer to fall. You see, its not all about you or me, it is what is helpful to our Christian siblings to grow in holiness and most of all what pleases God.
I remember years ago Christians were recommending the movie "Saving Private Ryan." I knew there was a problem with it because of the rating that was given to it. These Christians told me I should watch it, more than one, even several said I should watch it. Finally I rented it for the purpose of evaluating it so I could show the believers what was wrong.
I began the movie with pen and paper in hand as I would listen to every word, agonizingly I sat through that long movie writing down, cuss words, the Lord's name in vain, sexual jokes, and other filthy words I cannot say here. When the movie was over and the list was complete I had found over 68 occurrences in 2 and a half hours of filth and blasphemy. This does not even mention the many scenes of intense gore throughout the movie.
Interestingly the Christians who recommended this movie to me assured me there was nothing bad in it, that only a couple of cuss words but other than that it was really good. They used the excuse that it was authentic to what really happened in WW2. I set out to prove they were wrong and they were.
So what was wrong, why did these born again believers not see all that I saw and wrote down? Why did they use the excuse that something was authentic to justify looking at filth?
1 Timothy 4:2 "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"
Now days most people watch shows and read books, but when they adamantly defend something wrong because they personally liked it, then are seering their own conscience.
Never defend a writer because of past writings when he is promoting evil. His past writings become null and void to me when he has gone off into heresy and blasphemy to fit into the world.
Are You Changed?
I know so many "Christians" who have exchanged the old lifestyle for a better one but maintained the angst in their spirit that has always been there.
When Christ changes us into a new creation we do not continually operate from a selfish and mean spirited character. We no longer think the same way we thought before.
If you claim to be a Christian but you still practice superiority or snarkiness over everything then you have not been changed and must come to a place of repentance.
When Christ cleans us up He changes us completely, the old way of thinking is gone and is replaced with the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "…15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
When Christ changes us into a new creation we do not continually operate from a selfish and mean spirited character. We no longer think the same way we thought before.
If you claim to be a Christian but you still practice superiority or snarkiness over everything then you have not been changed and must come to a place of repentance.
When Christ cleans us up He changes us completely, the old way of thinking is gone and is replaced with the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "…15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
Are you changed or have you white washed the barn leaving all the original broken wood underneath to emerge eventually? Christianity is not a white washing to appear better, it is a completely remade spirit, The Spirit!
Matthew 23:26-28 …"26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.…"
Matthew 23:26-28 …"26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.…"
Are You a Pretender or Are You Authentic?
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: From Adrian Rogers:
"An unsaved person can sit in church, sing in the choir, and sound holy and righteous. But as soon as he’s back in the world, he’ll return to the sordid sin he enjoyed before. Peter likens the unsaved person who’s religious on the outside to a dog and a pig. You can scrub him clean, brush his teeth, and dress him in a pink ribbon, but he will go right back into the mire. A scrubbing on the outside doesn't change his inner nature. The dog may feel better, and the pig may look better, but neither has been changed. But a person who comes to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior is changed. He doesn’t want the same things anymore. He doesn’t live the same way anymore. He’s been born again into a new life."
"ACTION POINT:
What has changed in your life since you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you different? The Bible says when we are “in Christ,” we become new creatures—for the old has passed away, and all things have become new. Have you experienced that? Then thank Him today!"
"An unsaved person can sit in church, sing in the choir, and sound holy and righteous. But as soon as he’s back in the world, he’ll return to the sordid sin he enjoyed before. Peter likens the unsaved person who’s religious on the outside to a dog and a pig. You can scrub him clean, brush his teeth, and dress him in a pink ribbon, but he will go right back into the mire. A scrubbing on the outside doesn't change his inner nature. The dog may feel better, and the pig may look better, but neither has been changed. But a person who comes to know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior is changed. He doesn’t want the same things anymore. He doesn’t live the same way anymore. He’s been born again into a new life."
"ACTION POINT:
What has changed in your life since you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you different? The Bible says when we are “in Christ,” we become new creatures—for the old has passed away, and all things have become new. Have you experienced that? Then thank Him today!"
The Spectrum
Every human being is narcissistic but on a spectrum from a little bit to extreme. Only Christ can cure this sinful nature. In our culture today this sinfulness of self worship is increasing as God said it would.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
We see this mentality of self above everyone else becoming more intense as the end times comes to a close.
People are growing more wicked and as they do they will justify their mean and calculated actions as though they were deserved.
In the church the attendees will no longer listen to good doctrine or the teaching of the Holy Spirit. In fact many will fight against truth claiming they love God.
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.…"
Most who say they are Christians will be following their sinful nature and the devil rather than Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Where is the hope? The hope is in Jesus Christ. Those who are pretenders need to ask God if they are born again, they need to ask for God to reveal the anger and hate within them to be able to see truth and repent.
For the born again believer the hope is in knowing this wicked world is coming to an end soon and we will be going home to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb never to be in this misery again.
Hallelujah!!!
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
We see this mentality of self above everyone else becoming more intense as the end times comes to a close.
People are growing more wicked and as they do they will justify their mean and calculated actions as though they were deserved.
In the church the attendees will no longer listen to good doctrine or the teaching of the Holy Spirit. In fact many will fight against truth claiming they love God.
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.…"
Most who say they are Christians will be following their sinful nature and the devil rather than Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Where is the hope? The hope is in Jesus Christ. Those who are pretenders need to ask God if they are born again, they need to ask for God to reveal the anger and hate within them to be able to see truth and repent.
For the born again believer the hope is in knowing this wicked world is coming to an end soon and we will be going home to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb never to be in this misery again.
Hallelujah!!!
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