Sprouting Good Seed!

I like this poster because had I remained with those who mocked and intimidated with rejection toward me, I would have become like them instead of walking with Christ. The rejection was a blessing. I was free to pursue Him without constant discouragement from those who love their own ways.

Those who are jealous of our walk with Christ will attempt to win us to them through intimidation so that we will give up and follow their ways.

They are really not very bright, since they believe being mean to someone will cause them to look up to them. Perhaps they don't understand the strength of the Holy Spirit in the one who loves Christ. The goal of these people is to remove any influence of good people from our lives by acting as though we owe them attention, often because they are biological family.

When we know that God's family is our family for eternity we have no need to remain with the biological family who works against Christ in us.

I have learned that one on one contact with biological family is better than groups. The reason is that people in ungodly groups draw strength from each other and act more like a mob, thus the term "family mobbings." Very few people can think for themselves, most follow whatever the group does. The one who thinks for themselves is usually the one who is mocked.

We must ask God whether or not to remain in the lives of the ungodly biological family, but often they will not listen to someone they are familiar with, so we leave them to God to bring others.

Mark 6:4-5 "4 Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” 5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them."

Galatians 4:16-18 "…16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18 Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you."

Matthew 10:37-39

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

When we are able to walk away from familiarity to follow Christ then is when we sprout!!!!

Ray Deprow

Divorce is Violence Against a Spouse

I am quite sure that those who divorce and remarry after divorce do not realize they are committing violence by this act of divorce.

God hates divorce and considers it violence.

Malachi 2:16

16 “For I hate divorce,” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “and him who covers his garment with violence,” says the Lord of armies. “So be careful about your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”

Prosperity Preachers are False Preachers

Those who are constantly clamoring after money, preaching a gospel of wealth lack faith. They think money is going to give them all they want and keep them safe. Their trust is in money not in Christ.

Prosperity preachers are worshipers of wealth. They want wealth so they intimidate and guilt others into giving to their ministries so they can live in opulence.

Galatians 1:6–9

"6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed."

These people have a different gospel, a gospel of lusting after whatever you want the way you want it. They are deceitful.

2 Peter 2

2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."

Beware of any preacher who promises wealth or flatters to gain an advantage over you.

Jude 1:16 "16 These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage. "

Flattery is very dangerous, saying things the way the devil said them to Eve such as; "you are exceptional", "you can have whatever you want." These people never encourage you to seek Christ for His will, its always about what "you want."

Proverbs 29:5

"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet."

If we remember that flattery is one of the devil's effective ploys to disarm believers we will see it when it comes and refuse to allow it to shape our thinking.

Job 32:21-22

"I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away."

Romans 16:18

"For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."

The devil tempted Eve and she gave into it. He told her she could be like God. She fell for it and it cost mankind a cursed existence. She was merely a picture of the heart of mankind, with a desire to be as good as or above God, making her own decisions without the counsel and help of God. We see this at work on steroids in our world today.

Do not receive flattery and do not give it out. We can be kind and encouraging without flattering others.

Jude 1:16

"These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain an advantage."