Not Social Clubs but Gatherings of Edification

"If you find a perfect church when you join it, it won't be perfect anymore. so don't look for the perfect church."

 
I am weary of hearing this foolishness. It keeps many people from leaving ungodly, worldly gatherings when those in attendance dishonor God and embrace ritual mixed with paganism.

 
The people of God are to seek the face of God, expecting and encouraging obedience to God's Word. When a gathering has the mindset of tolerating sin and sinful attitudes because "no one is perfect," they are endorsing unholiness instead of encouraging holiness.

 
I am convinced that we are not to join any group just because they say they are a Christian church. God never commanded us to attend just to attend. He told us to gather with like minded people who will help us grow in holiness, as well as speak the gospel to the unsaved world.

 
The modern churches have worked to bring the ungodly into the gathering while fostering tolerance for sin to keep the unsaved returning.

 
Ephesians 5:10-12 "…10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.…"

Believers cannot have fellowship with those who do not love Christ. Our gatherings of believers are not for unbelievers. God told us to "go into the world and make disciples", not bring them into our gathering. Once someone is born again then they can come in as brothers and sisters in Christ.

 
The gospel is for the unsaved world; those within the gathering of believers come together to edify and equip one another to go out and share the gospel within their own communities. Unfortunately, most "Christians" today consider evangelism for an elect few or the leadership, but the mandate was to all of us who have trusted Christ.

 
We can't all travel the world, but we can live out our faith within our communities and share with others as we go about our business. Then, if someone becomes born again,n they will be invited to join, but nothing in the gathering should be "dumbed down" for the new believer. Everyone can share in the growth of a new believer through teaching, each one as they are led by the Holy Spirit.

 
If we obey the scriptures in this, the gatherings will not become superficial social clubs.

Troubled by not Distressed

THE BEREAN CALL

Samuel G Whiteside  · ordnspSote7658a7a412ha97taff694u57g0g10752lu1m2f60att4fim566  · 

Samuel G Whiteside

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COMFORT IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

With Jesus we just get the truth, his words are are always what we need to hear not always what we want to hear, he tells us that in this life we "will" face afflictions, in other words he's telling us that following Jesus does not make us exempt from the troubles that this fallen world will give us through our lives, we will all die, we will all lose people we love we may feel depression the Lord does not lie he tells us life will be hard!

John 16:33

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

With his truth he also brings a promise that he will be with us through it all, bringing a peace that will be a foundation for us to be able get through this hard life

This truth is evidently shown in every believer I have ever known, and every person that was a child of God in the Bible, everyone faces these trials but through Christ they always find the strength to go on, God upholds us with his right hand he keeps out spirits strong especially when we go through the hard times.

Isaiah 41:10

fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.

Don't get me wrong it's not all doom and gloom God also promises us blessings in life and again we see this in every believers lives but ultimately Jesus words are to comfort us for the times when life gets us down, the promise of salvation and an eternal life that is free from tribulations and troubles is awaiting us all so I think that does our minds and spirits good, that is where we find our rest even in life..

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I believe all of these promises because they have been proven in my own life, I have been very blessed but I live a simple life I am married I have children, I work and I take care of my family and I enjoy the love within my own house, that is the blessings God has giving me but life still hits hard since I have been walking with God I have lost loved ones I have watched my family go through illnesses there is not one part of my new life that was not promised would happen.

It's so important for us to trust God's word for the tribulations and not just the blessings we receive, in doing so we won't have a mindset of "where is God now" instead we will have a mindset of "God is with me he will get me through this and everything will be ok"

That is where my strength lies and that's why I always encourage fellow believers to keep reading the word of God we are to keep each other strong through encouragement

◄ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ►

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

I hope and pray this can help or encourage someone in the loving name of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Victor Who Returns | Dr. David Jeremiah

Standing Strong and Remaining Blameless

Many years ago, a non-Christian friend "accused" me of changing as though it was a bad thing. She didn't like the new me after I trusted Christ. She preferred the old me, full of sin and sadness.

 
I am convinced the new me, full of forgiveness from God and joy living in His Spirit, was convincing to her. She did things to attempt to derail my walk with him, I presume with the hope that I would return to the old me.

 
There has been more than one person in my life who did this, and they were all family. One "Christian" who seemed to be jealous of the new me said, "Remember how you used to be?" in an accusatory tone. As though she didn't want me to sense the forgiveness of Christ and experience the freedom from past forgiven sins.

 
I never figured out what this got her, but it produced a wall between us that will never come down unless there is repentance from the jealousy and bitterness.
These interactions were very telling; one person was not born again, the other claimed to be a Christian but acted like the unsaved person who was also jealous of the new me.

Instead of sharing in the blessing of being changed by Christ, they attempted to heap guilt upon me to destroy my peace and joy. It didn't work because when Christ changes us, it is real and permanent, and no attack of the devil will destroy it. And, it was the devil using these two women to discourage and accuse.

 
Revelation 12:10 "
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night."

No born-again believer would be jealous of the changed heart of another believer; they would rejoice with them. So, from that time to this, I have been praying for these two women to be born again, trust in Christ, and be cleansed of their jealousy and bitterness.

 
Until that happens, we can have no fellowship; we cannot walk together in solidarity because we are not walking the same path.

 
Amos 3:3 " 3 Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?"

2 Corinthians 6:14
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?"

My prayer has been that those who do not know Christ will find Him, submit to Him in repentance, and be changed by Him. If this happens, then we will have sweet fellowship as sisters in Christ walking the same path.

 
Do not be discouraged when you become saved and encounter friends and family who would rather believe you were not changed than share in your joy of being made a new creation by Christ. IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN because the devil hates the new us too, and will use those closest to us to attempt to derail our faith.

 
The stronger we become in the Lord the more He will reveal who are our brothers and sisters and who are the unsaved or pretenders, it will become clear.

 
Matthew 10:34-36
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to turn a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a person’s enemies will be the members of his household."

We are peaceful because we Christ lives in us, but those who come against us are not peaceful, they are angry and often out of control emotionally.

Romans 12:18
"18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people."

We need not fight with those who try to produce arguments, but we do not capitulate either. We speak the truth and leave their response to it to the Lord. Their response is on them and not our fault or business. The fault lies with them, and it is God's business.

 
Often, when a nonbeliever is angry, they will attempt to blame others for their own anger. Anyone who becomes angry is an angry person on the inside, and it is all on them.

 
Romans 12:19 "19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord."

Proverbs 16:7
"When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him."

When the enemy wants to fight, we let them fight alone without response. Unreasonable people will never discuss anything rationally; they are all about controlling people, never about learning about them or from them.

 
Once we learn the tactics of the devil through his use of human beings, we don't have to take anything personally; we dismiss it as God's business and remain blameless.

Hallelujah!!!!