John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
Freedom in Christ is the greatest place to be, free from the affects of intimidation from those who don't want to obey Christ.
Freedom from false guilt for not following the culture.
Freedom from the guilt of a conscience that must continually justify itself to be able to sleep at night.
Freedom to obey the Lord without any regrets!!!!
How many of you are experiencing this freedom? I sure am!
No amount of ridicule, intimidation or pressure could make me return to the bondage of compliance with a runaway culture.
Hallelujah, I am free indeed!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
By God's Power and Might
So often we are more focused on the mechanics of ritual than we are on the spirit of worship. God said that we are to worship in "Spirit and in Truth."
Outward expressions of worship are not necessarily evidence of a heart submitted to Christ. Often ritualistic body language is nothing more than an emotional response to outer stimuli, usually in groups of people while hardly ever alone at home.
I am convinced that the spiritual life of those who are expressive in gatherings, is not nearly what is in their heart while alone at home, because those I have met those who display their emotions in public, and are not living obedient lives otherwise. There are some who are consistent both in gatherings and at home, but few.
Our culture places more emphasis on outward show of emotion than on inner spiritual character. We know this by their reaction when they are encouraged to obey God. Most of them use the words like, "don't judge", a lot when challenged to evaluate their sinful lifestyle.
There is an attitude that "I can live as I please, as long as I say the right things." I find more believers who mouth words than those who actually walk the walk. I also see more believers who believe they are all right with God, but are hostile when confronted with a sinful attitude or lack of obedience in a "sacred cow" area of their lives.
1 Samuel 15:22 "Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams."
Our sacrifices of emotionalism in worship is not pleasing to God unless there has been a life of obedience outside the gatherings.
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Hebrews 13:17 (KJV) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
1 Peter 4:16-17 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
When we roll our eyes at those in authority over us, when asked to do something, our spirit is in disobedience even if we do what we are told. I encountered this often when raising children. In front of me, they often would reluctantly do as I say and when my back was turned there were facial expressions and whispering that indicated a heart that was in rebellion.
Most children have done this, sadly some never grow out of it, continuing the same response to life that they had when they were children. The only difference between a child and an adult is that the child has to hide it so as not to be punished for it, but the adult can openly show disdain and rebellion without punishment, while making all those around them miserable because of their selfishness.
We think because we are adults we no longer have to submit to anyone any more, we can just let everything fly and be pleased that no one was able to control us.
We are controlled even when we think we are not. We are either controlled by the devil and his minions or we are controlled by Christ. When we follow our feelings in getting what we want our own way, the devil is manipulating our thinking, making us believe we are in control. Selfishness in someone shows they are not in control of themselves. They are controlled by their emotions and by the devil who manipulates us.
If we are to have "self control", we will have to ask the Lord to work it in us, shear will power will not make us able to resist temptation, only the power of God will give us the self-control we need to be obedient to Him.
Proverbs 25:28 "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
2 Peter 1:5-7 "2 Peter 1:5-7King James Version (KJV)
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
God redeems us and works in us that we might have His power to resist sin and have self control.
Outward expressions of worship are not necessarily evidence of a heart submitted to Christ. Often ritualistic body language is nothing more than an emotional response to outer stimuli, usually in groups of people while hardly ever alone at home.
I am convinced that the spiritual life of those who are expressive in gatherings, is not nearly what is in their heart while alone at home, because those I have met those who display their emotions in public, and are not living obedient lives otherwise. There are some who are consistent both in gatherings and at home, but few.
Our culture places more emphasis on outward show of emotion than on inner spiritual character. We know this by their reaction when they are encouraged to obey God. Most of them use the words like, "don't judge", a lot when challenged to evaluate their sinful lifestyle.
There is an attitude that "I can live as I please, as long as I say the right things." I find more believers who mouth words than those who actually walk the walk. I also see more believers who believe they are all right with God, but are hostile when confronted with a sinful attitude or lack of obedience in a "sacred cow" area of their lives.
1 Samuel 15:22 "Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams."
Our sacrifices of emotionalism in worship is not pleasing to God unless there has been a life of obedience outside the gatherings.
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Hebrews 13:17 (KJV) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
1 Peter 4:16-17 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
When we roll our eyes at those in authority over us, when asked to do something, our spirit is in disobedience even if we do what we are told. I encountered this often when raising children. In front of me, they often would reluctantly do as I say and when my back was turned there were facial expressions and whispering that indicated a heart that was in rebellion.
Most children have done this, sadly some never grow out of it, continuing the same response to life that they had when they were children. The only difference between a child and an adult is that the child has to hide it so as not to be punished for it, but the adult can openly show disdain and rebellion without punishment, while making all those around them miserable because of their selfishness.
We think because we are adults we no longer have to submit to anyone any more, we can just let everything fly and be pleased that no one was able to control us.
We are controlled even when we think we are not. We are either controlled by the devil and his minions or we are controlled by Christ. When we follow our feelings in getting what we want our own way, the devil is manipulating our thinking, making us believe we are in control. Selfishness in someone shows they are not in control of themselves. They are controlled by their emotions and by the devil who manipulates us.
If we are to have "self control", we will have to ask the Lord to work it in us, shear will power will not make us able to resist temptation, only the power of God will give us the self-control we need to be obedient to Him.
Proverbs 25:28 "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
2 Peter 1:5-7 "2 Peter 1:5-7King James Version (KJV)
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."
God redeems us and works in us that we might have His power to resist sin and have self control.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Evaluating Our Beliefs is an Ongoing Process
Matthew 18:15-20
15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
For as long as I can remember believers, including myself believed that verse 20 was the indication that we should always be gathered with others to pray or worship. I cannot count the number of times I have read these verses and missed that the two ideas were one. I had separated the "gathered together", verse 20, from the message of church discipline. And, many have separated verse 20 from the statement that "whatever you ask in My name it shall be done for them", from the church discipline.
And, yet, we see from these passages that the Lord was telling us that we should come together to evaluate sin in the body and agree on what is to be done. These verses are not speaking of coming together to worship, rather coming together to handle a sin matter. They also are telling us that whatever our decision about the sin matter, will be in the Lord's will sense we are seeking Him for what is to be done.
The statement "whatever we ask in His name", has nothing to do with getting whatever we want from God as long as we use the name of Christ. All these verses that we have taken out of context are directly related to church discipline.
It is no wonder that we have missed this, since almost all our lives we have heard the verses alone out of context. Our minds are programmed to see those verses alone. WE HAVE BEEN WRONG!
These verses separated from one another seem to indicate that there is no power in our prayer unless we are gathered together. We know this can't be true because Christ prayed alone, and so did the prophets. Some of my best times in prayer have been alone with God. There are no distractions by the words of others, that sometimes we may not even agree with. I take comfort in knowing that God prays on our behalf, since we really don't know how we should pray. It is good to pray with others from time to time, but that does not mean that we should always pray with others.
Romans 8:26 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;"
This mini study because of the challenge of another believer, has motivated me to look more closely at the context of any verse, guess what...I thought I was doing that, until I encounter a verse that was ingrained in my head from the beginning of my new birth in Christ, seen a particular way. The grooves in our brains, formed by continual repetition are nearly solidified, if we do not heed the challenges by fellow brothers and sisters, we remain in our ignorance.
Some of the grooves in our head that are nearly solidified from constant use and indoctrination by our culture might be as follows:
Christmas
Easter
Don't Judge
Self esteem teachings
one man pastorship in churches
worship teams
forgiving others for our own sake
let the Holy Spirit expose sin rather than speaking to people.
Giving ten percent of our "tithes" to God
Eating meat is a sin
It is kind to tell bereaved family at funerals that their deceased family member went to heaven.
The church is the new Israel
We must reform the church
We must make sure our delivery in witnessing is palatable to the hearer so they will receive it.
It is inappropriate to witness at funerals, weddings, birthdays or any other gathering where people are wanting to just enjoy their time.
There are many more of these grooves in our heads that need to be cleared out in order to more fully honor God.
Can any of you name some that are not listed here? This might be a great time to begin asking questions, the first one being, "what am I believing that is not Biblical?"
15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.
19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
For as long as I can remember believers, including myself believed that verse 20 was the indication that we should always be gathered with others to pray or worship. I cannot count the number of times I have read these verses and missed that the two ideas were one. I had separated the "gathered together", verse 20, from the message of church discipline. And, many have separated verse 20 from the statement that "whatever you ask in My name it shall be done for them", from the church discipline.
And, yet, we see from these passages that the Lord was telling us that we should come together to evaluate sin in the body and agree on what is to be done. These verses are not speaking of coming together to worship, rather coming together to handle a sin matter. They also are telling us that whatever our decision about the sin matter, will be in the Lord's will sense we are seeking Him for what is to be done.
The statement "whatever we ask in His name", has nothing to do with getting whatever we want from God as long as we use the name of Christ. All these verses that we have taken out of context are directly related to church discipline.
It is no wonder that we have missed this, since almost all our lives we have heard the verses alone out of context. Our minds are programmed to see those verses alone. WE HAVE BEEN WRONG!
These verses separated from one another seem to indicate that there is no power in our prayer unless we are gathered together. We know this can't be true because Christ prayed alone, and so did the prophets. Some of my best times in prayer have been alone with God. There are no distractions by the words of others, that sometimes we may not even agree with. I take comfort in knowing that God prays on our behalf, since we really don't know how we should pray. It is good to pray with others from time to time, but that does not mean that we should always pray with others.
Romans 8:26 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;"
This mini study because of the challenge of another believer, has motivated me to look more closely at the context of any verse, guess what...I thought I was doing that, until I encounter a verse that was ingrained in my head from the beginning of my new birth in Christ, seen a particular way. The grooves in our brains, formed by continual repetition are nearly solidified, if we do not heed the challenges by fellow brothers and sisters, we remain in our ignorance.
Some of the grooves in our head that are nearly solidified from constant use and indoctrination by our culture might be as follows:
Christmas
Easter
Don't Judge
Self esteem teachings
one man pastorship in churches
worship teams
forgiving others for our own sake
let the Holy Spirit expose sin rather than speaking to people.
Giving ten percent of our "tithes" to God
Eating meat is a sin
It is kind to tell bereaved family at funerals that their deceased family member went to heaven.
The church is the new Israel
We must reform the church
We must make sure our delivery in witnessing is palatable to the hearer so they will receive it.
It is inappropriate to witness at funerals, weddings, birthdays or any other gathering where people are wanting to just enjoy their time.
There are many more of these grooves in our heads that need to be cleared out in order to more fully honor God.
Can any of you name some that are not listed here? This might be a great time to begin asking questions, the first one being, "what am I believing that is not Biblical?"
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Do Not Deny Others The Blessing
For those who have been born again.
I know you did not become born again without confessing your sin and desiring forgiveness.
Why would you deny others this very important blessing?
Having to face our sin, own it, and become cleansed from it, is a blessing. All those who have done it are free from the guilt of their sin, not because we forgave them but because they saw the need and answered the call of repentance.
May we stop forgiving people to feel better about ourselves, and obey God His way, not the way of the world. May we have a greater concern for the welfare of others, than we do for our own feelings.
I know you did not become born again without confessing your sin and desiring forgiveness.
Why would you deny others this very important blessing?
Having to face our sin, own it, and become cleansed from it, is a blessing. All those who have done it are free from the guilt of their sin, not because we forgave them but because they saw the need and answered the call of repentance.
May we stop forgiving people to feel better about ourselves, and obey God His way, not the way of the world. May we have a greater concern for the welfare of others, than we do for our own feelings.
Forgiveness is for the Purpose of Reconciliation
I hear this all the time, "if I don't forgive I will become bitter." Where is that in the Bible?
I feel no resentment toward those who have offended me and are not sorry. It is a psychological teaching that makes our culture think that it automatically follows that if we "say" we forgive, then the process has occurred.
When I encounter an offender, I don't treat them any differently than anyone else on the street. The thing I feel the most is sorrow that they don't see their sin and that God has not yet forgiven them.
I have no right to forgive what God has not forgiven, that makes me better than God.
God says "IF they repent forgive them." He also says "IF they come to you and ask seven times in a day." Notice in all the verses about forgiveness, the offender is coming to ask for forgiveness. No where will you find one scripture that says forgive them even if they are not repentant.
Our ultimate example is Christ. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, but we were not yet forgiven, He extended forgiveness, but we have to want it. Throwing your forgiveness at the unrepentant person does nothing.
If you want to avoid bitterness toward someone, stop trying to throw your forgiveness into the air hoping it will land on the offender, and just pray for them.
If we have a heart for the lost and for the sinning brethren, then we will not be bitter, we will be on our knees. When there is love for mankind in our hearts, bitterness is not a part of our thinking, but reconciliation to God is first and foremost.
When we do not require repentance for sin, we leave the offender in a place of comfort with his sin, allowing him to believe it wasn't so bad after all. Every encounter teaches, we must continually obey the principles of God for anyone to grow.
Yes, by all means be ready to forgive when someone comes to ask, desire that they repent so that the relationship will be restored. Pray to this end, seek it, even if it means having to confront the sin, perhaps the offender doesn't realize they have sinned and need to be shown.
We need to stop throwing God's principles of operation under the bus in favor of the psychological mantras of our modern day. Man's way only leaves everyone feeling comfortable in their sin, God's way brings conviction and repentance. When we shortcut the principles to be able to "feel better", we miss the blessings of changed lives.
1 John 1:9 "IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Luke 17:3-4 "3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and IF HE REPENTS, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, SAYING I REPENT’ forgive him.”
I feel no resentment toward those who have offended me and are not sorry. It is a psychological teaching that makes our culture think that it automatically follows that if we "say" we forgive, then the process has occurred.
When I encounter an offender, I don't treat them any differently than anyone else on the street. The thing I feel the most is sorrow that they don't see their sin and that God has not yet forgiven them.
I have no right to forgive what God has not forgiven, that makes me better than God.
God says "IF they repent forgive them." He also says "IF they come to you and ask seven times in a day." Notice in all the verses about forgiveness, the offender is coming to ask for forgiveness. No where will you find one scripture that says forgive them even if they are not repentant.
Our ultimate example is Christ. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, but we were not yet forgiven, He extended forgiveness, but we have to want it. Throwing your forgiveness at the unrepentant person does nothing.
If you want to avoid bitterness toward someone, stop trying to throw your forgiveness into the air hoping it will land on the offender, and just pray for them.
If we have a heart for the lost and for the sinning brethren, then we will not be bitter, we will be on our knees. When there is love for mankind in our hearts, bitterness is not a part of our thinking, but reconciliation to God is first and foremost.
When we do not require repentance for sin, we leave the offender in a place of comfort with his sin, allowing him to believe it wasn't so bad after all. Every encounter teaches, we must continually obey the principles of God for anyone to grow.
Yes, by all means be ready to forgive when someone comes to ask, desire that they repent so that the relationship will be restored. Pray to this end, seek it, even if it means having to confront the sin, perhaps the offender doesn't realize they have sinned and need to be shown.
We need to stop throwing God's principles of operation under the bus in favor of the psychological mantras of our modern day. Man's way only leaves everyone feeling comfortable in their sin, God's way brings conviction and repentance. When we shortcut the principles to be able to "feel better", we miss the blessings of changed lives.
1 John 1:9 "IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Luke 17:3-4 "3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and IF HE REPENTS, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, SAYING I REPENT’ forgive him.”
We Are Only The Messengers
Let all those who say they are born again, evaluate what they do and what they believe, according to the Scriptures, so as to remove from our lives all those things that we love because of the feelings they give us.
How much of what we do is based on what we get out of it, or how it makes us "feel?"
God wants us to follow His principles to glorify Him, we don't always understand what He is doing, but we can obey anyway. The more we obey, the more our faith builds.
We also don't know what is in the future. Will someones become born again, that we don't know about, because we obeyed God? Will someone's life be saved because we obeyed, even though we never know about it?
We cannot see into the future, nor can we see into the hearts of all those we come in contact with. If we have faith we can know that God will use whatever we do in obedience to Him, and no one knows to what extend, that is His business.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
2 Corinthians 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Isaiah 55:11 "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
No matter what we go through, people may hate us for speaking truth, they may disregard us in various ways because they don't like our message, none of that matters, God already knows about it and He will take care of the results, after all, it is His work, we are merely the messengers.
How much of what we do is based on what we get out of it, or how it makes us "feel?"
God wants us to follow His principles to glorify Him, we don't always understand what He is doing, but we can obey anyway. The more we obey, the more our faith builds.
We also don't know what is in the future. Will someones become born again, that we don't know about, because we obeyed God? Will someone's life be saved because we obeyed, even though we never know about it?
We cannot see into the future, nor can we see into the hearts of all those we come in contact with. If we have faith we can know that God will use whatever we do in obedience to Him, and no one knows to what extend, that is His business.
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
2 Corinthians 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
Isaiah 55:11 "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
No matter what we go through, people may hate us for speaking truth, they may disregard us in various ways because they don't like our message, none of that matters, God already knows about it and He will take care of the results, after all, it is His work, we are merely the messengers.
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