In two weeks my husband and I have been married 42 years. We were engaged for 2 years before we married. I was sixteen and he was 20 when we met and within two months of meeting we became engaged.
Rodger wanted to finish college in obedience to his father, who wanted him to have a marketable skill before he married, Rodger honored that and we married two years later, he was 22 and I was 18.
God said that marriage was for life, we know that already, but sometimes we allow our emotions to misguide us into saving ourselves from hurt, blinding our eyes to the bigger picture.
Along the way we have experienced good times and hard times. I thank the Lord for all of it because even the hard times taught us many lessons that could not have been learned any other way.
They have not been easy years, but they have been blessed. That sounds strange to say "not easy" and "blessed" in the same sentence.
Often we forget the primary mission in our work of marriage. That mission is to uphold God's standard no matter how difficult it may be.
There is lots of forgiveness and brokenness that has to happen to cement the glue that ties us. The harder things get, the more resolve we should have to battle through the arrows of the devil.
God said HE would never leave us nor forsake us, we need to have that same resolve with our life partner.
You might wonder why I am camping more on the hard times as lessons than on the good times, that is because its easy to brag about the good times, those will keep us together, the challenge is to see the hard times as valuable growth spurts. Anyone can name all the good things, but we need to face the hard things since we have a divorce rate of 60% among evangelical Christians today... we need to see the marriages that will admit everything to help those who think if we are struggling with something then we should give up and find a marriage that will give us happy things to talk about.
Aren't you glad a soldier in battle doesn't think like most people do about marriage these days, they would never save anyone's life they would run at the sight of an enemy gun and go get themselves in a safe place.
We have been hurt, and yes, we have hurt others too. Are our hurts more important than the hurts of our spouse? NO! IF we see ourselves as God sees us, we will not be so quick to think we are the innocent party in anything.
We do many things that harm our spouse, out of lack of faith in Christ. My husband and I have lived together a long time, long enough to realize how insignificant our hurts are in comparison to how much we have hurt God.
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, could we not do the same for our spouses. There were hard years, we were both selfish but looking back, I see the growth and today I can say with certainty that our love has grown for each other through it all, things are better than ever.
When we learn not to expect our spouse to think as we do, allowing them to have their personalities, their thoughts and convictions, then we can be more tolerant in the things that irritate us and even laugh about them.
If we had bailed out when things got hard we would have missed all the wonderful lessons, we would have missed being able to be forgiven and how to forgive.
Marriage is not stars in our eyes and fun all the time, it is work and worth the dedication it takes to reach the "golden years."
Those who cannot admit they needed change, will never see the growth that should happen in marriage. Those who think they are above others, will never progress past infancy in their walk, if they have a walk with Christ.
Again, let us remember that Christ loved us so much that He died for us while we were still in our sin, could we not do as much for our spouse, die daily to self, that our spouse might see Christ in us?
Which would I prefer....to get to the end of my life knowing I fought the good fight, obeying Christ, repenting when it was needed and forgiving when it was needed.
One side point that is crucial to a growing marriage, all those family members who think they know our marriages, need to remember that they do not know a person unless they live with them, they have no business judging another persons marriage based on a few tidbits of information they have heard. In short, if you do not live with a person, make no judgments about the marriage, just keep your nose out of it.
Just a word of caution.
More trouble has been caused in marriages by extended family busy bodies who think they know what is going on and they really don't. Bad unbiblical advice has been given when the facts are misconstrued, or misunderstood, causing many marriage break ups.
Another way that damages marriages is when extended family favors one person over the other in a marriage, get those people out of your life, they are hell bent on harming the marriage through covert unkindnesses to the unfavored one.
Very often the favored party does not see what is going on because they are flattered by the attention. My advice to those who live within marriage is to surround yourself with people who love both husband and wife in the marriage, or at least treat both with equal love and attention.
Seek God in all matters within marriage, if your spouse will not then do it by yourself and leave your spouse to the Lord. God will honor the marriages of those who remain in their marriages for the rest of their lives.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Modern Christian Cult
In the past as a young believer, I thought that a cult was a group of people who negated the deity of Christ, as their main doctrine. It was only as I began to read and study the Bible in my late 20's that I realized that a group of people don't have to deny Christ as God, to be a cult, they simply deny Him by their disobedience against His Word. We have modern "Christian" cults today who would strongly proclaim the deity of Christ, but violate much of God's Word.
Let me qualify that we are to submit to the governing bodies of a gathering, when they obey Christ, when they do not, then we do not have an obligation to obey them. If we find ourselves at logger heads with authority too often, then we should leave, they will not listen and they will not change, it is better to leave them alone and move on.
What would one of these cults look like?
1. Cults add to the Word of God with extra rules that were not written in the cannon of Scripture.
2. Cults have a leader or group of leaders that will not allow discussion on important doctrinal matters by their "underlings." They require complete allegiance to their doctrines without challenge. They monitor very closely the activities of those in their charge and will not allow discussion to clarify matters, they are always right, will not admit their own fallibility.
3. They camp heavily on the woman as one who should not speak of doctrine or spiritual matters to anyone, they are to be mindless and voiceless as they accept all that is fed to them by their superiors. They ignore the women as though they were unimportant and use intimidation to force submission even when their concern is valid. Of course there are cults too, that have women leaders in opposition to the Scriptures, some modern Christian cults have over reacted to the feminist movement by adding rules and twisting Scripture to keep from the pitfalls of our culture.
When we read the Word and pray for leading from the Holy Spirit, we do not have to overreact, we can simply obey God and leave all the results to Him. Christ never "controlled" anyone, He simply stated his truth and allowed others to make the decision. God does tell leaders to put out of the body a sinning brother, however, that has to do with blatant sin and disobedience against the Word. All matters must be diligently researched in the Word to make sure that the action taken is Biblical.
4. Often these cults place such authority over the women and children that they are not allowed to question anything, there is complete obedience to the men required, and even above God.
Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."
5. One of the ear marks of a cult is that they demand complete submission to the governing body to such a degree that those who question them are disciplined through shunning and even putting out, if they do not obey all the rules of their organization.
6. Force, in one form or another, is a common tactic for the cult leaders. Force can range from intimidation by sordid looks to burning at the stake during the inquisition.
Jeremiah 1:8 "Do not be afraid of their faces, For I [am] with you to deliver you," says the LORD."
7. Cults often have clothing mandates for their people, that are not described in Scripture. I was once told by a group we were with that the ladies wore sleeves to their elbow, but above that was immoral, no pants at all for the women and the length of the skirt was to the ankles. When I asked for Scripture on this matter of clothing, they had only one to give that spoke of modesty, even though that scripture had no description of what that modesty looked like.
In this same group as mentioned in point #7, I was told that it was sin if one wore jewelry of any kind and watches were given for marriages instead of rings, presumably because watches were useful and rings were jewelry. Although some of the watches were beautiful. None of these rules were mentioned in Scripture. I brought up Ezekiel 16 to clarify that God blessed His people with jewelry and cosmetics, but the people misused these things. God does not bless with evil things, and the people misusing them does not make the things evil, only the hearts of the people were evil, not the things.
I was once told that the designation in the original language for woman's was "long and flowing", at closer inspection, that would have been the same designation for men, since all men wore tunics and robes same as the women. It became evident to me that if pants should be forbidden, on moral grounds for women, then the men should also never wear pants, but return to robes and tunics. I would not advocate pants for women, I tend to be more comfortable most of the time in dresses and skirts, however, I cannot judge another woman for her clothing unless it was blatantly immoral, most of us know what that looks like and respect for the brothers and sisters in Christ would drive us to be careful not to make a brother or sister fall by our actions.
The following passage pertains to food but the principle for all things still remains.
1 Corinthians 10:23-26
"All things are lawful for me, [fn] but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, [fn] but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's [well-being]. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; for "the earth [is] the LORD's, and all its fullness."
Cults enjoy very stringent rules, the same attitude of the Pharisees that required obedience to man rather than God. The people in these groups like rules because they can check their brains at the door and never have to make a decision about their own walk. Like little children, they do not read their Bibles, pray about matters or seek the Lord, they don't have to, they can just ask their elder and do whatever he says.
I am not against leadership, it is mentioned much in Scripture, I am against the abuse of power that uses meanness and self righteousness to control the people.
Leadership is not "control", it is serving by example, preaching and teaching, not forcing as the Catholic church, Calvin and others have done to force outward obedience rather than fostering inward transformation in Christ.
Obey the leaders when you can, but if they do not obey the Word, then confront them with their sin and if they will not listen, get out as fast as you can.
Let me qualify that we are to submit to the governing bodies of a gathering, when they obey Christ, when they do not, then we do not have an obligation to obey them. If we find ourselves at logger heads with authority too often, then we should leave, they will not listen and they will not change, it is better to leave them alone and move on.
What would one of these cults look like?
1. Cults add to the Word of God with extra rules that were not written in the cannon of Scripture.
2. Cults have a leader or group of leaders that will not allow discussion on important doctrinal matters by their "underlings." They require complete allegiance to their doctrines without challenge. They monitor very closely the activities of those in their charge and will not allow discussion to clarify matters, they are always right, will not admit their own fallibility.
3. They camp heavily on the woman as one who should not speak of doctrine or spiritual matters to anyone, they are to be mindless and voiceless as they accept all that is fed to them by their superiors. They ignore the women as though they were unimportant and use intimidation to force submission even when their concern is valid. Of course there are cults too, that have women leaders in opposition to the Scriptures, some modern Christian cults have over reacted to the feminist movement by adding rules and twisting Scripture to keep from the pitfalls of our culture.
When we read the Word and pray for leading from the Holy Spirit, we do not have to overreact, we can simply obey God and leave all the results to Him. Christ never "controlled" anyone, He simply stated his truth and allowed others to make the decision. God does tell leaders to put out of the body a sinning brother, however, that has to do with blatant sin and disobedience against the Word. All matters must be diligently researched in the Word to make sure that the action taken is Biblical.
4. Often these cults place such authority over the women and children that they are not allowed to question anything, there is complete obedience to the men required, and even above God.
Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men."
5. One of the ear marks of a cult is that they demand complete submission to the governing body to such a degree that those who question them are disciplined through shunning and even putting out, if they do not obey all the rules of their organization.
6. Force, in one form or another, is a common tactic for the cult leaders. Force can range from intimidation by sordid looks to burning at the stake during the inquisition.
Jeremiah 1:8 "Do not be afraid of their faces, For I [am] with you to deliver you," says the LORD."
7. Cults often have clothing mandates for their people, that are not described in Scripture. I was once told by a group we were with that the ladies wore sleeves to their elbow, but above that was immoral, no pants at all for the women and the length of the skirt was to the ankles. When I asked for Scripture on this matter of clothing, they had only one to give that spoke of modesty, even though that scripture had no description of what that modesty looked like.
In this same group as mentioned in point #7, I was told that it was sin if one wore jewelry of any kind and watches were given for marriages instead of rings, presumably because watches were useful and rings were jewelry. Although some of the watches were beautiful. None of these rules were mentioned in Scripture. I brought up Ezekiel 16 to clarify that God blessed His people with jewelry and cosmetics, but the people misused these things. God does not bless with evil things, and the people misusing them does not make the things evil, only the hearts of the people were evil, not the things.
I was once told that the designation in the original language for woman's was "long and flowing", at closer inspection, that would have been the same designation for men, since all men wore tunics and robes same as the women. It became evident to me that if pants should be forbidden, on moral grounds for women, then the men should also never wear pants, but return to robes and tunics. I would not advocate pants for women, I tend to be more comfortable most of the time in dresses and skirts, however, I cannot judge another woman for her clothing unless it was blatantly immoral, most of us know what that looks like and respect for the brothers and sisters in Christ would drive us to be careful not to make a brother or sister fall by our actions.
The following passage pertains to food but the principle for all things still remains.
1 Corinthians 10:23-26
"All things are lawful for me, [fn] but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, [fn] but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's [well-being]. Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; for "the earth [is] the LORD's, and all its fullness."
Cults enjoy very stringent rules, the same attitude of the Pharisees that required obedience to man rather than God. The people in these groups like rules because they can check their brains at the door and never have to make a decision about their own walk. Like little children, they do not read their Bibles, pray about matters or seek the Lord, they don't have to, they can just ask their elder and do whatever he says.
I am not against leadership, it is mentioned much in Scripture, I am against the abuse of power that uses meanness and self righteousness to control the people.
Leadership is not "control", it is serving by example, preaching and teaching, not forcing as the Catholic church, Calvin and others have done to force outward obedience rather than fostering inward transformation in Christ.
Obey the leaders when you can, but if they do not obey the Word, then confront them with their sin and if they will not listen, get out as fast as you can.
Our Culture Loves Praise of Men
Acts 8:9
"But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great."
Acts 8:13
"Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."
Acts 8:18-24
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Act 8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
Act 8:21 "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Act 8:23 "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."
Act 8:24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."
Simon saw the miracles, believe in Christ....but he was not born again, even when he acknowledged that he was not, he did not repent, but only asked that other pray for him to be repentant.
This passage is a perfect picture of all the fakers that exist in our culture today. They want the Lord for their own wealth, health and purposes, but they are not willing to submit to Christ. Their "Christianity" is a means to their own ends, this is the reason they never move from infancy to maturity in their walk.
When we find ourselves continually instructing and arguing with the same people over what seem to be simple matters of the Word, we can discern that they are not born again. Those who fight against instruction, leave when the truth convicts and defame us to others to make themselves feel justified, are those who have not submitted to Christ.
Matthew 15:8 "'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me."
Psalms 50:16 "But to the wicked God says: "What [right] have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Psa 50:17 "Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?"
Psa 50:18 "When you saw a thief, you consented [fn] with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers."
Psa 50:19 "You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit."
Psa 50:20 "You sit [and] speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son."
Psa 50:21 "These [things] you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; [But] I will rebuke you, And set [them] in order before your eyes."
Psa 50:22 "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear [you] in pieces, And [there be] none to deliver:"
Psa 50:23 "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders [his] conduct [aright] I will show the salvation of God."
"But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great."
Acts 8:13
"Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done."
Acts 8:18-24
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Act 8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
Act 8:21 "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
Act 8:23 "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity."
Act 8:24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me."
Simon saw the miracles, believe in Christ....but he was not born again, even when he acknowledged that he was not, he did not repent, but only asked that other pray for him to be repentant.
This passage is a perfect picture of all the fakers that exist in our culture today. They want the Lord for their own wealth, health and purposes, but they are not willing to submit to Christ. Their "Christianity" is a means to their own ends, this is the reason they never move from infancy to maturity in their walk.
When we find ourselves continually instructing and arguing with the same people over what seem to be simple matters of the Word, we can discern that they are not born again. Those who fight against instruction, leave when the truth convicts and defame us to others to make themselves feel justified, are those who have not submitted to Christ.
Matthew 15:8 "'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with [their] lips, But their heart is far from Me."
Psalms 50:16 "But to the wicked God says: "What [right] have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,
Psa 50:17 "Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?"
Psa 50:18 "When you saw a thief, you consented [fn] with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers."
Psa 50:19 "You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit."
Psa 50:20 "You sit [and] speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son."
Psa 50:21 "These [things] you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; [But] I will rebuke you, And set [them] in order before your eyes."
Psa 50:22 "Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear [you] in pieces, And [there be] none to deliver:"
Psa 50:23 "Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders [his] conduct [aright] I will show the salvation of God."
We Did It Our Way
What does God think of false prophets and those who speak presumptuously? How many times have people claimed to know the answers to life's situations, but speak their own opinion apart from God's Word? Too many to count, I think.
How often do we see those who claim to be "Christian", touting great swelling words of their own wisdom and ignore the Words of God, only to become angry when pressed to back up their own opinion with Scripture? Also, too many to count.
Jeremiah 23:28 ""The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD.
Jer 23:29 "[Is] not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer [that] breaks the rock in pieces?
Jer 23:30 "Therefore behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
Jer 23:31 "Behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'
Jer 23:32 "Behold, I [am] against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD"
How many times have we heard "Christians" claim to know right from wrong but speak their opinion that either negates or twists the Word of God? Too many, I think.
Worship of self has caused this rebellion of spirit that rules our land. Believers claim to have "no other gods", but in their lifestyle and actions they elevate themselves and their own opinions above that of Christ.
Jeremiah 25:6 "Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you. Yet you have not listened to Me," says the Lord, "that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt."
We as a nation have taught love of self over all others, to our own harm. We have gotten all that we desire on our own terms and it will be the ruin of our country and has already devastated the family.
Our ruined lives and families are punishment enough if we are thinking people, although we are stubborn and haughty choosing not to see the obvious, we are "willfully ignorant", continuing on in our ways, that have not worked, but they are our ways so we will stay with them no matter how much harm they do. And, so you have the mindset of the American people, foolish to the end.
Albert Einstein's quote: "The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Abortion has momentarily spared a mother some anguish, only to bring greater anguish later when she realizes that her family is missing one she bore. The Social Security system is missing all those people who would have paid into it, supporting the elderly a generation from now, but they are all dead, and cannot help us.
Divorce has momentarily relieved the temporary conflict between two selfish people, but spawned two generations of angry and neglected children who have no regard for their parents or their own children.
Remarriage has momentarily brought superficial happiness to lonely divorced people, only to bring on a greater problem of angry children who will not accept their step parent's authority. Rebellion against all authority is the result of these "blended families."
Pampering and babying lazy people through the welfare system has robbed the social security system that was designed to help people save for their retirement, to receive payments in their aged years, that which they invested, now nearly bankrupt.
2 Thes. 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."
You see.....when we do not follow the ways of Christ, we may momentarily get what we want, but to our own harm....and I fear now.....without recovery.
God has placed into power over us the most wicked governing body this nation has ever known, He only gave us what we wanted, but guaranteed, we will see much worse days as the people become more and more oppressed.....and all because we wanted to do our own ways, rather than God's.
How often do we see those who claim to be "Christian", touting great swelling words of their own wisdom and ignore the Words of God, only to become angry when pressed to back up their own opinion with Scripture? Also, too many to count.
Jeremiah 23:28 ""The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD.
Jer 23:29 "[Is] not My word like a fire?" says the LORD, "And like a hammer [that] breaks the rock in pieces?
Jer 23:30 "Therefore behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who steal My words every one from his neighbor.
Jer 23:31 "Behold, I [am] against the prophets," says the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He says.'
Jer 23:32 "Behold, I [am] against those who prophesy false dreams," says the LORD, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the LORD"
How many times have we heard "Christians" claim to know right from wrong but speak their opinion that either negates or twists the Word of God? Too many, I think.
Worship of self has caused this rebellion of spirit that rules our land. Believers claim to have "no other gods", but in their lifestyle and actions they elevate themselves and their own opinions above that of Christ.
Jeremiah 25:6 "Do not go after other gods to serve them and worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not harm you. Yet you have not listened to Me," says the Lord, "that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt."
We as a nation have taught love of self over all others, to our own harm. We have gotten all that we desire on our own terms and it will be the ruin of our country and has already devastated the family.
Our ruined lives and families are punishment enough if we are thinking people, although we are stubborn and haughty choosing not to see the obvious, we are "willfully ignorant", continuing on in our ways, that have not worked, but they are our ways so we will stay with them no matter how much harm they do. And, so you have the mindset of the American people, foolish to the end.
Albert Einstein's quote: "The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Abortion has momentarily spared a mother some anguish, only to bring greater anguish later when she realizes that her family is missing one she bore. The Social Security system is missing all those people who would have paid into it, supporting the elderly a generation from now, but they are all dead, and cannot help us.
Divorce has momentarily relieved the temporary conflict between two selfish people, but spawned two generations of angry and neglected children who have no regard for their parents or their own children.
Remarriage has momentarily brought superficial happiness to lonely divorced people, only to bring on a greater problem of angry children who will not accept their step parent's authority. Rebellion against all authority is the result of these "blended families."
Pampering and babying lazy people through the welfare system has robbed the social security system that was designed to help people save for their retirement, to receive payments in their aged years, that which they invested, now nearly bankrupt.
2 Thes. 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat."
You see.....when we do not follow the ways of Christ, we may momentarily get what we want, but to our own harm....and I fear now.....without recovery.
God has placed into power over us the most wicked governing body this nation has ever known, He only gave us what we wanted, but guaranteed, we will see much worse days as the people become more and more oppressed.....and all because we wanted to do our own ways, rather than God's.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Walking in the Spirit
There are those
who think that Christianity is a ritual that we do to enhance our life and make
us feel safe. We go to church, pray canned prayers designated by the leader and
sing songs that have little or no theology in them that are based on fleshly modulations
and superficial messages, much like mantra's of the cults, repeating phrases
over and over again.
Matthew 6:7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do. For they think that they are heard by their many words."
Church to the modern world is fun, happiness and enjoyment. If the gathering is too serious we sit waiting for it to be over so that we can get on with our "other" life outside of church. Church is not the people to us, it is the building that we sit in while enjoying our weekly fix of positive narcissistic supply.
I have heard it said that "the church service should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." We are a society that seeks to comfort everyone, no matter the sin they are indulging in or who they are harming by their rebellion. The gospel is not very important to most church goers today, nor is spiritual growth.
All of this foolishness originated from the "self esteem" movement that began in the 70's. There were elements of it earlier than that but they did not become widespread "doctrine" in our culture until the 1970's.
When the culture began to look to the world for affirmation, rather than the Word of God and the Holy Spirit for their wisdom, the church began its downward spiral, I fear to no return. The church began to believe the "experts" in the secular community, who based their false knowledge on psychology that said that everyone is hurting and is merely acting out their inner struggles in terms of wrong behavior.
This belief that all people are basically good and only react to their environment, came straight from the pit of hell. God said the opposite, here is what He said in Jeremiah 17:9 ""The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"
If the church is to overcome the indoctrination of the past 40 years, many who claim to be born again, are going to have to realize that they were never saved from their sin and are not believers but pretenders.
"When we become born again by the Holy Spirit of God, because we responded to His call through the hearing of His Word, then we are commanded to no longer walk in the flesh, but in the Spirit.
Galatians 3:2 "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Matthew 6:7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do. For they think that they are heard by their many words."
Church to the modern world is fun, happiness and enjoyment. If the gathering is too serious we sit waiting for it to be over so that we can get on with our "other" life outside of church. Church is not the people to us, it is the building that we sit in while enjoying our weekly fix of positive narcissistic supply.
I have heard it said that "the church service should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." We are a society that seeks to comfort everyone, no matter the sin they are indulging in or who they are harming by their rebellion. The gospel is not very important to most church goers today, nor is spiritual growth.
All of this foolishness originated from the "self esteem" movement that began in the 70's. There were elements of it earlier than that but they did not become widespread "doctrine" in our culture until the 1970's.
When the culture began to look to the world for affirmation, rather than the Word of God and the Holy Spirit for their wisdom, the church began its downward spiral, I fear to no return. The church began to believe the "experts" in the secular community, who based their false knowledge on psychology that said that everyone is hurting and is merely acting out their inner struggles in terms of wrong behavior.
This belief that all people are basically good and only react to their environment, came straight from the pit of hell. God said the opposite, here is what He said in Jeremiah 17:9 ""The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"
If the church is to overcome the indoctrination of the past 40 years, many who claim to be born again, are going to have to realize that they were never saved from their sin and are not believers but pretenders.
"When we become born again by the Holy Spirit of God, because we responded to His call through the hearing of His Word, then we are commanded to no longer walk in the flesh, but in the Spirit.
Galatians 3:2 "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Even believers
who are born again, have bought into this worldly thinking to some degree or
another. Many believers over the years argued with me when the Lord told
me self esteem was a wicked teaching, they were reading books and listening to
false prophets who claimed things that God did not say.
Gal 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
Gal 3:4 “Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed [it was] in vain?”
Gal 3:5 “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, [does He do it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
Gal 3:6 “just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Gal 3:7 “Therefore know that [only] those who are of faith are sons of Abraham"
We often forget who we are as believers, we forget that Christ lives in us and that He should be controlling our every moment. Often we live our lives in the flesh as though He does not live in us. We quench the Spirit, He wants to lead us into all wisdom, but we do not always listen to Him.
Thes. 5:16 "Rejoice always,”
1Th 5:17 “pray without ceasing,”
1Th 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1Th 5:19 “DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT.”
1Th 5:20 “Do not despise prophecies.”
1Th 5:21 “Test all things; hold fast what is good"
We cannot know the things of God unless we seek His Holy Spirit Who lives in us, for His wisdom. We can read regularly, His word, but if we read for knowledge only, we miss His wisdom. We must read and pray for His wisdom that He might enlighten what we read.
1 Cr. 2:9 “But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
1Cr 2:10 “But God has revealed [them] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
1Cr 2:11 “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God"
Gal 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
Gal 3:4 “Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed [it was] in vain?”
Gal 3:5 “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, [does He do it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
Gal 3:6 “just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Gal 3:7 “Therefore know that [only] those who are of faith are sons of Abraham"
We often forget who we are as believers, we forget that Christ lives in us and that He should be controlling our every moment. Often we live our lives in the flesh as though He does not live in us. We quench the Spirit, He wants to lead us into all wisdom, but we do not always listen to Him.
Thes. 5:16 "Rejoice always,”
1Th 5:17 “pray without ceasing,”
1Th 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1Th 5:19 “DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT.”
1Th 5:20 “Do not despise prophecies.”
1Th 5:21 “Test all things; hold fast what is good"
We cannot know the things of God unless we seek His Holy Spirit Who lives in us, for His wisdom. We can read regularly, His word, but if we read for knowledge only, we miss His wisdom. We must read and pray for His wisdom that He might enlighten what we read.
1 Cr. 2:9 “But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
1Cr 2:10 “But God has revealed [them] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
1Cr 2:11 “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God"
God calls the
Galatians foolish because they were born of the Spirit, but do not seek Him for
their daily walk. We, as the Galatians did, keep God in separate elements
of our life. We think He belongs in a church building on Sunday, rather
than seeking Him everyday for all matters.
Those who are
always looking for miracles to be able to boast about, are missing the bigger
picture. It is a miracle that the Holy Spirit lives in us. It is a
miracle every time we seek Him for wisdom and He opens our eyes a little wider
to the deeper things.
We must stop
desiring to "see with our eyes" and begin trusting the Spirit that
lives in us that no one can see, but is widely sensed by all those who come in
contact with us.
How foolish it is
to seek our own way when we have the God of the universe dwelling in our
bodies, desiring to lead us into all truth, wanting to give us His best and for
eternity!!!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
My God Keeps Me Safe In His Hands
I have had a scripture battle today with those who think they can lose their salvation. I cannot understand why they do, with all the evidence in the word on this subject.
Why do people want the choice to walk away? I am blessed that God will never let me walk away, that Ephesians 1:13-14 has proven God's love to us so completely that I walk in joy that He has sealed me.
Knowing that I am sealed and the Holy Spirit is my guarantee as stated in Ephesians, does not make me feel freedom to sin as I please, just the opposite, I feel continually disgusted by sin and compelled to honor my Lord.
Ecc. 3:14 "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."
We cannot change or undo that which God did. When are we going to understand that Christ's work is supernatural and the natural man has no power over the supernatural, only Christ does.
Is it possible that those who think they can lose their salvation cannot understand the change God makes in us because they have not been changed?
Is it possible that many who claim to be born again, do not understand because they are continually working to save and change themselves in the flesh and have never submitted to Christ?
I was called a heretic and false teacher for bringing the wonderful truth of salvation by grace alone and the security of that.
It seems as though there is more and more of this false doctrine emerging and tenaciously attacking the truth.
Satan loves to make believers fearful of losing what he knows was a gift. The devil is the accuser of the brethren, and he is at the root of this movement to attack believers and their security in the Lord.
Pride is also at the root of the movement to cause believers to feel a need to be in charge of their own salvation, when Christ clearly said, we cannot save ourselves, nor can we keep ourselves.
The devil loves religion, religion promotes self effort. A relationship with Christ is a growing and developing bond with a Holy God that holds us in his hands.
The devil will twist the scriptures for those who depend on themselves for their wisdom rather than Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned."
Why do people want the choice to walk away? I am blessed that God will never let me walk away, that Ephesians 1:13-14 has proven God's love to us so completely that I walk in joy that He has sealed me.
Knowing that I am sealed and the Holy Spirit is my guarantee as stated in Ephesians, does not make me feel freedom to sin as I please, just the opposite, I feel continually disgusted by sin and compelled to honor my Lord.
Ecc. 3:14 "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."
We cannot change or undo that which God did. When are we going to understand that Christ's work is supernatural and the natural man has no power over the supernatural, only Christ does.
Is it possible that those who think they can lose their salvation cannot understand the change God makes in us because they have not been changed?
Is it possible that many who claim to be born again, do not understand because they are continually working to save and change themselves in the flesh and have never submitted to Christ?
I was called a heretic and false teacher for bringing the wonderful truth of salvation by grace alone and the security of that.
It seems as though there is more and more of this false doctrine emerging and tenaciously attacking the truth.
Satan loves to make believers fearful of losing what he knows was a gift. The devil is the accuser of the brethren, and he is at the root of this movement to attack believers and their security in the Lord.
Pride is also at the root of the movement to cause believers to feel a need to be in charge of their own salvation, when Christ clearly said, we cannot save ourselves, nor can we keep ourselves.
The devil loves religion, religion promotes self effort. A relationship with Christ is a growing and developing bond with a Holy God that holds us in his hands.
The devil will twist the scriptures for those who depend on themselves for their wisdom rather than Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned."
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Pride Among The Educated Elite
Some of the most destructive attitudes of the church of Christ
Some people think they have a special knowledge about Christ
because they went to seminary or Bible school.
We have broken up into denominations because of the prideful
attitude that “our group is right and yours is wrong”, rather than coming
together in prayer and study until we can come to a common agreement, we have
camped on what we like and refuse to evaluate it.
Acts 17: 11 “There were more fair
minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things
were so.”
God says that "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask
of God, who gives to ALL liberally and without reproach, and it will be given
to him." James 1:5
God says that "Now concerning things offered to idols:
We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies."
1 Corinthians 8:1
A degree in theology does not make one a Christian nor does
it make a person of greater wisdom than any other man.
The man or woman of God who seeks the Lord with all their
heart can understand as much and sometimes more than someone educated in formal
schooling.
Colleges often teach opinions and false doctrine, leaving
the graduate indoctrinated and smug in thinking that they have obtained all the
knowledge they need for the rest of their lives.
Often the college educated person, relies more on their
professors than they do on Christ for their answers from the Word and for their
learning.
Many Bible school graduates are unapproachable and
unteachable, because their formal training has fostered pride and arrogance.
(Arrogance: elevated opinion of self and contempt for
others).
It is only the man or woman of God who have been born again
and changed by the power of the Holy Spirit who can have wisdom and knowledge
from Christ who lives in them.
If a man attends Bible school but has never been broken over
his sin becoming humbled by the knowledge of his lowliness, then he will be
much more dangerous than the unlearned, because his knowledge is based on human
wisdom and pride.
When we encounter someone who is embarrassed at the mention
of God's word outside of the church gathering, it is a clue that they do not
have a love for Christ that transcends all gatherings and reactions of people.
Until a person realizes their own helplessness before God,
they cannot be born again. It is through
brokenness that we come to Christ, not through our own worthiness.
If we depend on our own goodness and knowledge, then we have
not trusted Christ but ourselves.
2 Peter 3:3 "knowing this first: that scoffers will
come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,"
Perhaps the lust of so many men in leadership is the lust of
power and prestige rather than a deep concern for those they are charged to
shepherd.
When challenged, a wise and humble man or woman will have a
sense of shame and go to prayer and scripture study to see if their challenger
is speaking truth.
When there is instant contempt and fighting on the part of
the one challenged then we know that person is walking fleshly and not in the
power of Christ.
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoever loves instruction loves
knowledge, But he who hates correction [is] stupid."
Proverbs 1:8 “My son, hear the instruction of your father,
and do not forsake the law of your mother.”
All godly men and women are the spiritual fathers and
mothers of those younger than they. Men
and women alike are to teach and train both genders, that there will be a well
rounded instruction from various perspectives.
No one person or gender has all the insights, we need one another to
fill in where each of us lacks.
Proverbs 8:33 "Hear instruction and be wise, And do not
disdain [it]."
Let us all seek Christ for all things, He promised He will
teach us, if our focus is His wisdom, His way. And, above all, let us never
have a sense that we have arrived and need no more instruction from others.
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