Salt never loses its flavor it just gets watered down so its not as intense.
Matthew 5:13-16
Disciples and the World
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Darkness is nothing its merely the absence of light.
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Ecclesiastes 2:13
"And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness."
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Our Language Reveals Our Heart
Using letters or words with letters missing to express the filthy or blasphemous words the world uses without actually spelling them out is a desire within the heart to be like the world.
If you want to put aside the ways of the world then do not use their words, leaving letters out or using acronyms does not remove the word itself, everyone seeing it hears that word in their head even if letters are missing. Believers, don't try to fit into the world.
1 John 2:15-17
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Ephesians 5:4
"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."
If you want to put aside the ways of the world then do not use their words, leaving letters out or using acronyms does not remove the word itself, everyone seeing it hears that word in their head even if letters are missing. Believers, don't try to fit into the world.
1 John 2:15-17
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Ephesians 5:4
"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."
We Hate the Sin We Do!
It is not true that a born again believer never sins. God says in that passage referenced here means "no child of God keeps on sinning." The truth is that born again believers hate their sin, they are convicted until they confess to be cleansed.
The unsaved justify their sin, fight to defend it and refuse to confess to be cleansed. These are those who were never born again.
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?…"
1 John 1:9 was written to believers only!
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."
1 John 3:8-10 "8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.…"
The truth is believers do sin, hate their sin and eventually confess to be cleansed. Non believers love their sin, defend it and refuse to confess to be cleansed. SIMPLE!
The unsaved justify their sin, fight to defend it and refuse to confess to be cleansed. These are those who were never born again.
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?…"
1 John 1:9 was written to believers only!
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."
1 John 3:8-10 "8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.…"
The truth is believers do sin, hate their sin and eventually confess to be cleansed. Non believers love their sin, defend it and refuse to confess to be cleansed. SIMPLE!
It is all Dependent on Christ in Us
All born again believers endure to the end because they are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise as the Bible says. However, those who do not endure are those who were never born again.
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
1 John 2:19
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that [a]it would be shown that they all are not of us.
Our cultural Christianity is confused about this because they have been taught they must work real hard to maintain a salvation they did not earn in the first place.
They are also confused because they observe so many people claiming to be Christians who turn back from their faith returning to their vomit as the Scripture says.
No one who has been changed into a new creation by Christ could ever return to their old life of sin.
Psalm 78:8,9
"And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God…"
These are the times we are living in, so many want to be safe having all their needs met so they come to God without repentance, without love and without salvation while claiming to be a Christian.
Just like Judas these people hang around with God's people but never trust in Christ. They want salvation selfishly without a desire to be holy and without the Holy Spirit. There are many of these in our world today!
Sadly these people think they are saved because they attend a church gathering or do good deeds or merely say things superficially without depth of understanding.
Romans 1:30-32 "…30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.…"
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.”’”
Many parents agonize in our day because they sowed good seed into the hearts of their children only to watch the world influence them, entice them and take them away into all manner of disrespect for God and others.
The planter must be content to have planted, God will bring the increase or He will leave the rebellious one to flounder in their sin until the sin become so burdensome that they repent. We are not called to have results, we are called to plant and leave the rest to God.
Hallelujah, what a relief to know that no one has to be perfect or special to plant, only obedient.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8 "…6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.…"
Ephesians 1:12-14 "…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
1 John 2:19
19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that [a]it would be shown that they all are not of us.
Our cultural Christianity is confused about this because they have been taught they must work real hard to maintain a salvation they did not earn in the first place.
They are also confused because they observe so many people claiming to be Christians who turn back from their faith returning to their vomit as the Scripture says.
No one who has been changed into a new creation by Christ could ever return to their old life of sin.
Psalm 78:8,9
"And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God…"
These are the times we are living in, so many want to be safe having all their needs met so they come to God without repentance, without love and without salvation while claiming to be a Christian.
Just like Judas these people hang around with God's people but never trust in Christ. They want salvation selfishly without a desire to be holy and without the Holy Spirit. There are many of these in our world today!
Sadly these people think they are saved because they attend a church gathering or do good deeds or merely say things superficially without depth of understanding.
Romans 1:30-32 "…30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. 31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them.…"
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.”’”
Many parents agonize in our day because they sowed good seed into the hearts of their children only to watch the world influence them, entice them and take them away into all manner of disrespect for God and others.
The planter must be content to have planted, God will bring the increase or He will leave the rebellious one to flounder in their sin until the sin become so burdensome that they repent. We are not called to have results, we are called to plant and leave the rest to God.
Hallelujah, what a relief to know that no one has to be perfect or special to plant, only obedient.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8 "…6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.…"
We Must Ask in Faith and Humility
Galatians 6:7-9 "…7 Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. 8 The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.…"
How do we know what and when to sow? The answer is simple, ask God, the Holy Spirit will tell anyone who wants to know.
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
How do we know what and when to sow? The answer is simple, ask God, the Holy Spirit will tell anyone who wants to know.
James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)