I was watching an interesting fiction show tonight in which there was a vaccine being administered to the people of the world to protect them from a virus. Unbeknownst to the people of the earth that vaccine contained elements that would make people sterile to prevent any more pregnancies. The idea was to limit the population of the earth.
So much of this sounds very familiar.
Down through the years, I have noticed that many of the science fiction stories had elements of them that eventually were invented.
Since I believe a man cannot have an original creative idea on his own, everything that was placed in man's brain to be able to conjure up can be done. However, God is the One Who controls the timing of it.
We are watching things now in our world that are fulfilling the prophecy God gave us in the Bible.
We need not worry about all this, the believers will be protected and before the worst of it, will be taken home to glory.
Now is the time to look up, when our redemption draws near.
Matthew 24:32-34 "32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.…"
Friday, May 8, 2020
Two Cannot Walk Together Who Are Not Agreed
If our families are not born again then we as born again believers have no connection with them. They are not our real family. We do pray for them as we would any lost soul who needs salvation, but they cannot take priority over Jesus Christ in our lives. Unsaved family members will work to diminish our walk with Christ. They will not agree on most things, they do not think the way we think.
Those who have been born again think nearly the opposite of those who have not been transformed into a new creation by Christ. How we process information as a born again believer often aggravates and angers the unregenerate soul.
We wish our families would trust Christ and come with us on this narrow path, but until they do, they cannot be a huge part of our lives.
Luke 14:25-34
Discipleship Tested
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?"
Those who have been born again think nearly the opposite of those who have not been transformed into a new creation by Christ. How we process information as a born again believer often aggravates and angers the unregenerate soul.
We wish our families would trust Christ and come with us on this narrow path, but until they do, they cannot be a huge part of our lives.
Luke 14:25-34
Discipleship Tested
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?
29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,
30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?"
Love is More than Deeds
I remember back when I was Catholic I never had the sense that anyone in the church actually loved anyone else. There were people who did good works but the works were done to earn their way to heaven so it didn't matter about the person they were doing them for, only that they got a reward or points to get themselves to heaven.
Religion is selfish, its all about one's own self aggrandizement. It cannot be the pure kind of love that born again believers have for the brethren.
Those who are born again will get rewards for good deeds but that's not why they do them. The born again believer loves to please His Father and loves those He cares for, it not about earning anything it's about loving God and loving people.
1 John 3:13-15 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.…'
1 Corinthians 13:2-3 "2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.…"
Religion is selfish, its all about one's own self aggrandizement. It cannot be the pure kind of love that born again believers have for the brethren.
Those who are born again will get rewards for good deeds but that's not why they do them. The born again believer loves to please His Father and loves those He cares for, it not about earning anything it's about loving God and loving people.
1 John 3:13-15 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.…'
1 Corinthians 13:2-3 "2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.…"
They Laughed at Noah Too
Most of the world laugh at and mock those who warn, but remember they did that to Noah for over 100 years! We all know how that turned out.
“He that hath ears to hear...”
“He that hath ears to hear...”
Growing in Holiness has a Requirement
Some may say we are negative all the time for our warnings and scripture quoting. It does sound that way to those who are stubborn. However to the one who loves to obey and the one who is searching to learn truth it is music to their ears.
Correction is a blessing to those who learn from it. Those who despise correction cannot and will not grow, they remain stagnant in their walk because growing in holiness is not nearly as important as appearing right.
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
There is no need to correct or respond when someone is walking the right road except to say, "good keep going."
The most urgent warnings are for those who might not be saved or who are walking in disobedience to their own destructions. Its amazing to me when people are hostile toward correction that would grow them or save them from the fires of hell.
A doctor might tell you the bad news first about cancer in your body, then the good news is "we have to cut it out." Both things could sound negative to the hearer but both are designed to inform for the solution of healing.
No one wants to hear that they have cancer, and no one likes to hear that it must be cut out but they must hear it.
The cancer of sin in our hearts must be exposed and cut out. The only way this can happen is if the patient first admits there is a cancer of sin dwelling within them. Then they must seek Christ to have it removed through prayer and hatred for that sin.
Everyone has to do this from time to time in order to grow in holiness. The more we refuse to face our sin and the more we resist confessing it the less we grow and in many cases there is regression.
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 reverse of this verse is, "if we do not confess our sins we will not be cleansed." Sin grows when it is not confessed and removed.
James 1:15 "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."
The more someone refuses to confess, the more often they ignore their own sin the more they regress into it and even other sins. What strides were made for a while will diminish the longer one waits to confess. If ignored long enough there is a hardening of the heart.
Ephesians 4:18
"They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
Hebrews 3:8
"Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,"
To live a healthy and Spirit-filled life one must confess every single time they have a conviction of the Holy Spirit that they have sinned or when the Holy Spirit uses someone else to expose that sin.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
1 Corinthians 11:29-31 "…29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.…"
Correction is a blessing to those who learn from it. Those who despise correction cannot and will not grow, they remain stagnant in their walk because growing in holiness is not nearly as important as appearing right.
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
There is no need to correct or respond when someone is walking the right road except to say, "good keep going."
The most urgent warnings are for those who might not be saved or who are walking in disobedience to their own destructions. Its amazing to me when people are hostile toward correction that would grow them or save them from the fires of hell.
A doctor might tell you the bad news first about cancer in your body, then the good news is "we have to cut it out." Both things could sound negative to the hearer but both are designed to inform for the solution of healing.
No one wants to hear that they have cancer, and no one likes to hear that it must be cut out but they must hear it.
The cancer of sin in our hearts must be exposed and cut out. The only way this can happen is if the patient first admits there is a cancer of sin dwelling within them. Then they must seek Christ to have it removed through prayer and hatred for that sin.
Everyone has to do this from time to time in order to grow in holiness. The more we refuse to face our sin and the more we resist confessing it the less we grow and in many cases there is regression.
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 reverse of this verse is, "if we do not confess our sins we will not be cleansed." Sin grows when it is not confessed and removed.
James 1:15 "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."
The more someone refuses to confess, the more often they ignore their own sin the more they regress into it and even other sins. What strides were made for a while will diminish the longer one waits to confess. If ignored long enough there is a hardening of the heart.
Ephesians 4:18
"They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart."
Hebrews 3:8
"Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,"
To live a healthy and Spirit-filled life one must confess every single time they have a conviction of the Holy Spirit that they have sinned or when the Holy Spirit uses someone else to expose that sin.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
1 Corinthians 11:29-31 "…29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.…"
Seek Truth Only
I don't want to know anything about what evil people are doing. Knowing what they are doing does not build up my faith, it only dirties it.
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."
We must be speaking things of the Word of God, not indulging in the things of the world. Educating someone about evil in the world does nothing but tear down their faith.
Hebrews 3:13
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Romans 14:19
"Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
Romans 15:2
"Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification."
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
Ephesians 4:16
"from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
Hebrews 10:24
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"
1 Peter 3:8-18
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
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 4:29
"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."
We must be speaking things of the Word of God, not indulging in the things of the world. Educating someone about evil in the world does nothing but tear down their faith.
Hebrews 3:13
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Romans 14:19
"Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
Romans 15:2
"Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification."
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
Ephesians 4:16
"from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
Hebrews 10:24
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"
1 Peter 3:8-18
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
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."
No Need to Know Many Things
I don't want to know anything about what evil people are doing. Knowing what they are doing does not build up my faith, it only dirties it.
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."
We must be speaking things of the Word of God, not indulging in the things of the world. Educating someone about evil in the world does nothing but tear down their faith.
Hebrews 3:13
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Romans 14:19
"Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
Romans 15:2
"Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification."
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
Ephesians 4:16
"from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
Hebrews 10:24
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"
1 Peter 3:8-18
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
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 4:29
"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."
We must be speaking things of the Word of God, not indulging in the things of the world. Educating someone about evil in the world does nothing but tear down their faith.
Hebrews 3:13
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Romans 14:19
"Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another."
Romans 15:2
"Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification."
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
Ephesians 4:16
"from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."
Hebrews 10:24
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"
1 Peter 3:8-18
"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
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."
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