I have no interest in offending anyone's tradition I just like to make good sense out of whatever I do. Before I get those funny looks for being the grinch that stole birthdays, I like to ponder the reasons for things.
I don't like to do things that don't make sense to me. So this is all about how I think with some basis in the Bible. Yes, I have been to birthday parties that I enjoyed and I go if I am invited because it is our culture, however that does not stop me from assessing its value.
Celebrating a dead person's birthday doesn't make sense to me. The person who had the birthday is not there to enjoy it, so we must conclude that all the birthdays arranged for the person when they were alive were for those who liked to arrange them more than for the person being honored. There are those always looking for an emotional high and an excuse for a party.
Christ's birthday was not celebrated, His coming to earth was about why He came. We celebrate the death burial and resurrection of Christ in the Lord's Supper because He told us to and because He saved us from hell.
There was never a mention of a celebration of anyone's birthday in the Bible.
In the past, Christians did not celebrate birthdays because of their connection to paganism.
When a Pharoah was made the king on the day of his coronation this day was seen as his birth as a god. That was the day that was celebrated and only the Pharoah's celebrated the day they were made a god. No one else practiced this phenomenon of the "birthday."
So many things we practice today as a culture had their origins in paganism. I am not going to tell anyone they should not celebrate a birthday in the context of our modern world.
However, notice how holidays and birthdays have become overblown and they all had their origins in paganism. Parents are giving lavish parties for their children every year with buddies from school being invited. They are so frequent that it has become a burden for many people.
If a child's family doesn't have a big party for them they think something is wrong and they are unhappy. Unhappy over what? Unhappy because the world made them think this practice is a must and an expression of love.
It's not bad enough that the parties have become a burden, some people are offended that we didn't' show up for the party of a dead person who isn't even there to enjoy it.
Do what you want to but remember that others have a choice and their choice should be honored. Some people love the quiet uneventful life of the born again believer, enjoying their work, smelling the roses and serving others in need. These people do not have time for constant revelry and gift-giving to people who already have more than they need.
Perhaps gift-giving meant more when people had real needs that they could not afford to buy for themselves. And, gifts were given for no reason except that someone needed something.
I am not sure our culture understands what qualifies as a need anymore. A warm coat when one does not have one is a need. Shoes, when someone does not have them, is a need.
Most gifts given today are not needs they only want and perhaps indulgences. We are a spoiled culture looking for the next uproarious party. When there isn't one around the bend people are bored and must look forward to the next social affair to satisfy their lust for pleasure.
There are also parents who feel pressured by the culture as if they are not good parents if they don't throw a party for their children.
I understand that it's nice to make another person feel a sense of belonging and joy, but why can we not do this with normal everyday acceptance and encouragement for a job well done or for serving others.
Now we are all trapped into the bondage of doing all these social things the culture thinks we should do. Breaking from traditions and culture is very difficult. Since we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings we go along.
I prefer to spend lots of time with people interacting in meaningful ways far more than attending a superficial party in which no one discusses or attends to anything worthwhile except momentary glory for one person for being born.
We see that pleasure has become the goal of our culture. Because everything must be pleasurable there is little attention paid to important and meaningful life experiences between people.
When we get to the marriage supper of the Lamb we will be celebrating our marriage to Christ. He will be the focus and our joy will be meaningful and full. I am so looking forward to celebrating those things that pertain to Him and have great importance in the Kingdom of God.
I am looking forward to celebrating these things with all the other born again believers who value all the same things, that is Christ and His principles.
Hallelujah!!!!!
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
What Does it Sound Like to Hear From God
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.…"
No one has an excuse to be ignorant, we can all ask God all the time, day or night to show us the truth.
The more we ask for truth the more we learn, the wiser we get as well as stronger in our faith.
Many believers today have a weak faith because they refuse to trust God for answers, search His word and even refuse to believe Him when He does speak.
Sadly many Christians do not understand what it is to hear from God because they have not sought Him about anything they do not sense the Holy Spirit. He is more of a concept to them than a person who interacts with them.
After many years of walking with Christ, I can tell when something I think is from Him or is just my flesh. If its from Him it will always agree with the Scriptures. If it is just me I am left unsure and befuddled. I begin to pray for clarity and then the answer comes to me through my thoughts, but it's not just thought, it's serious compelling to do what God wants me to do. No one or nothing can change my mind and I do not rest until I obey Him.
Be very careful to make sure it's from God since the devil can fool us into thinking its God when it is not. This is where prayer comes in, never be impulsive about anything, always pray and seek further confirmation. I am confident that in seeking God the answer will come and you will know for sure whether or not it was God speaking.
I hear prophesies all the time in which the "prophet" had a word from the Lord but that word disagrees with God's Word. We know to ignore anything that leads us to move counter to the Word of God.
I have had some people claim God told them the day of the rapture. We know that dream or vision did not come from God because the Scriptures say that no one will know the day or the hour. God does not violate His own word.
When someone prophesies against the word of God in this manner I no longer trust that person. They are given to a need to be noticed thus causing them to lie against God by speaking something that God never told them.
We also hear prophesies from people who claim a particular day for an earthquake or storm, we know this is a false prophet when the event does not happen.
Here's the thing; as born again believers we have no need of future telling, we walk by faith and trust in the Bible every day. If something is going to happen God will take us where He wants to go without us ever knowing about the storm. Each day is an adventure for the born again believer, we trust Christ even when we don't know what the next day holds.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "…21 You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
Psalm 9:10
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
I do not need to know the events of tomorrow that I have no control over, they are God's business He is in control.
Hallelujah!!!
No one has an excuse to be ignorant, we can all ask God all the time, day or night to show us the truth.
The more we ask for truth the more we learn, the wiser we get as well as stronger in our faith.
Many believers today have a weak faith because they refuse to trust God for answers, search His word and even refuse to believe Him when He does speak.
Sadly many Christians do not understand what it is to hear from God because they have not sought Him about anything they do not sense the Holy Spirit. He is more of a concept to them than a person who interacts with them.
After many years of walking with Christ, I can tell when something I think is from Him or is just my flesh. If its from Him it will always agree with the Scriptures. If it is just me I am left unsure and befuddled. I begin to pray for clarity and then the answer comes to me through my thoughts, but it's not just thought, it's serious compelling to do what God wants me to do. No one or nothing can change my mind and I do not rest until I obey Him.
Be very careful to make sure it's from God since the devil can fool us into thinking its God when it is not. This is where prayer comes in, never be impulsive about anything, always pray and seek further confirmation. I am confident that in seeking God the answer will come and you will know for sure whether or not it was God speaking.
I hear prophesies all the time in which the "prophet" had a word from the Lord but that word disagrees with God's Word. We know to ignore anything that leads us to move counter to the Word of God.
I have had some people claim God told them the day of the rapture. We know that dream or vision did not come from God because the Scriptures say that no one will know the day or the hour. God does not violate His own word.
When someone prophesies against the word of God in this manner I no longer trust that person. They are given to a need to be noticed thus causing them to lie against God by speaking something that God never told them.
We also hear prophesies from people who claim a particular day for an earthquake or storm, we know this is a false prophet when the event does not happen.
Here's the thing; as born again believers we have no need of future telling, we walk by faith and trust in the Bible every day. If something is going to happen God will take us where He wants to go without us ever knowing about the storm. Each day is an adventure for the born again believer, we trust Christ even when we don't know what the next day holds.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 "…21 You may ask in your heart, “How can we recognize a message that the LORD has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and the message does not come to pass or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."
Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
Psalm 9:10
"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
I do not need to know the events of tomorrow that I have no control over, they are God's business He is in control.
Hallelujah!!!
So You Said You Want to go to Hell?
There are those who joke about hell as though they are fantasizing and don't really believe in it. They say they will be there will all their friends.
Those who pretend to believe there is a party in hell often frame things in a way they want to see them instead of how they are really.
Deep in their heart, they know its wrong because when you tell them they are on their way to hell right after they joked about it, they get angry.
Why would you be angry about going somewhere you really believe is a party with all your friends? Why would you get angry being told you are going to the place to which you want to go?
Many who joke about hell know they are on their way there, so in defiance of truth, they attempt to make it sound like a place they want to go, even though they really do not.
These same people who joke about hell and pretend to want to go there will tell us at the funeral of a friend that their friend is in a better place now, they are in heaven. Why don't they ever say their friend is in a better place now in hell.
Also when a heathen is angry with someone they tell them to go to hell, so why? Perhaps because they know hell is a terrible place and want to curse the person they hate.
Just saying!
Those who pretend to believe there is a party in hell often frame things in a way they want to see them instead of how they are really.
Deep in their heart, they know its wrong because when you tell them they are on their way to hell right after they joked about it, they get angry.
Why would you be angry about going somewhere you really believe is a party with all your friends? Why would you get angry being told you are going to the place to which you want to go?
Many who joke about hell know they are on their way there, so in defiance of truth, they attempt to make it sound like a place they want to go, even though they really do not.
These same people who joke about hell and pretend to want to go there will tell us at the funeral of a friend that their friend is in a better place now, they are in heaven. Why don't they ever say their friend is in a better place now in hell.
Also when a heathen is angry with someone they tell them to go to hell, so why? Perhaps because they know hell is a terrible place and want to curse the person they hate.
Just saying!
The Hypocrites Hate the Hypocrites
Unbelievers hate hypocrites who say they are Christians even more than they hate authentic Christians.
Even though they are hypocrites themselves they hate hypocrites who say they are Christians.
If the unsaved world is going to hate us let it be because of Christ not because we have not acted properly.
1 Peter 4:14-16 "…14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. 16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.…"
Even though they are hypocrites themselves they hate hypocrites who say they are Christians.
If the unsaved world is going to hate us let it be because of Christ not because we have not acted properly.
1 Peter 4:14-16 "…14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. 16 But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.…"
The Discomfort of the Ungodly
The Difference Between the Spirit of Narcissism and Spirit of Christ
In another thread, I discussed with another Sister the spirit of narcissism being from the devil.
Those who are controlled by the devil have his characteristics. The devil is a thief, he comes to destroy everything good in defiance of God.
John 10:10
"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and [a]have it abundantly."
Those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God have His characteristics.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 is the description of the last days' selfish and wicked mentality.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
1 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 are seeing an increase in these wicked traits, the fruit of the devil, that is rotten and destructive, in people because the world has rejected Christ. When Christ is absent from everyday life then too are all His attributes.
Those who are born again have entirely different fruit. Their fruit brings love, kindness and everything that is good and glorifying to God and peace for relationships.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentlenesses, self-control; against such things, there is no law."
The fruit of the devil brings laws and rules to control the evil so that it does not grow too immense. Now that there are fewer and fewer people who love Christ we are seeing an uptick in evil more blatantly than ever before.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit needs no laws to control the believers because they are the manifestation of Christ in everyone who has been changed into a new creation by Christ. We no longer have to try real hard to avoid evil because we hate it, hating it is a part of our very nature, the nature of Christ in us.
An authentic born again believer does not defend sin at any time because they hate the sin.
Those who love their families more than God will justify and defend the sin that confronts them. They will defend family members who have acted wickedly and call their sinful actions good. We know who this comes from. The devil is the one who defends and promotes sin.
We know God hates sin because He sends people to hell for their sin when they refuse to believe in Him. And, He gives the believer the power of the Holy Spirit to resist sin. We are also repulsed by it when we become born again if we become tempted in the flesh the Holy Spirit will make us miserable until we confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:5-2:2
God Is Light
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself 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 that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
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."
God is light and the devil is darkness. Those who are not born again like the darkness and without defense against it. Those who are born again love the light and have THE great defense against the darkness, that is the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in them.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 " 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?…"
The good news is that anyone can have this light and power of God to resist the devil. All they have to do is confess they are sinners and desire to be cleansed by Christ.
To repeat: All that is necessary to have this is to ask HIM, confess sin and ask to be changed by Him.
Those who are controlled by the devil have his characteristics. The devil is a thief, he comes to destroy everything good in defiance of God.
John 10:10
"10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and [a]have it abundantly."
Those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit of God have His characteristics.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 is the description of the last days' selfish and wicked mentality.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
“Difficult Times Will Come”
1 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 are seeing an increase in these wicked traits, the fruit of the devil, that is rotten and destructive, in people because the world has rejected Christ. When Christ is absent from everyday life then too are all His attributes.
Those who are born again have entirely different fruit. Their fruit brings love, kindness and everything that is good and glorifying to God and peace for relationships.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentlenesses, self-control; against such things, there is no law."
The fruit of the devil brings laws and rules to control the evil so that it does not grow too immense. Now that there are fewer and fewer people who love Christ we are seeing an uptick in evil more blatantly than ever before.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit needs no laws to control the believers because they are the manifestation of Christ in everyone who has been changed into a new creation by Christ. We no longer have to try real hard to avoid evil because we hate it, hating it is a part of our very nature, the nature of Christ in us.
An authentic born again believer does not defend sin at any time because they hate the sin.
Those who love their families more than God will justify and defend the sin that confronts them. They will defend family members who have acted wickedly and call their sinful actions good. We know who this comes from. The devil is the one who defends and promotes sin.
We know God hates sin because He sends people to hell for their sin when they refuse to believe in Him. And, He gives the believer the power of the Holy Spirit to resist sin. We are also repulsed by it when we become born again if we become tempted in the flesh the Holy Spirit will make us miserable until we confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:5-2:2
God Is Light
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself 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 that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
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."
God is light and the devil is darkness. Those who are not born again like the darkness and without defense against it. Those who are born again love the light and have THE great defense against the darkness, that is the power of the Holy Spirit Who lives in them.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 " 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?…"
The good news is that anyone can have this light and power of God to resist the devil. All they have to do is confess they are sinners and desire to be cleansed by Christ.
To repeat: All that is necessary to have this is to ask HIM, confess sin and ask to be changed by Him.
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