There are those family members who have spent their entire lives denigrating and demeaning others for the purpose of elevating self, even believers are guilty of this.
As you grew up you were perplexed that they continued to bring up things you did in your childhood that are not happening anymore, as though they had nothing in their past that could be used this way. I hear things like this frequently in my encounters with believers. It is not bad enough that they are bent on reminding us, they also spread gossip, even lying about us, feeling self-righteous that they were not as bad as those they malign.
Childhood was a place where these self-absorbed people felt elevated above others with the encouragement of the adults in their life. There was no training in love, kindness or self-sacrifice, only continual praise and gratification, solidifying their superior view of themselves.
Now for the encouragement, God has something to hold against every single person on the face of the earth. No one has measured up to His standard on any level. Those who think they had something to offer Him, are fooling themselves and very likely never knew the love of Christ in their own hearts. There can be no love in the heart of one who feels a need to be admired for their talents and accomplishments while demonstrating superiority in the presence of those they think do not “measure up” to their worldly idea of respect and honor. Why is this encouragement? It is comforting to know that we don’t have to measure up to God or anyone else. We can trust Christ that He can work in us in every way that is necessary, it does not depend on us, but on Him. Past sins or flaws get to stay in the past, forever.
John 6:37
“"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
Acts 10:34-35
“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Romans 12:1
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
We can also choose to walk away from those who torment our lives with manipulation. If they are believers, we can choose to have our relationship with them in heaven, while free from the drama they bring in this life. We cannot help those who will not listen, nor can we help those who are elevated in their own eyes. God will have to deal with them, while we move on to those who want to hear the message of Christ.
Titus 3:10
“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,”
1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
Our love for the brethren is not based on talents, accomplishments or outer beauty, nor is it based on past sins that have been removed, rather it is based on Christ, the Perfect One. We have fellowship with one another because of Him, and no one has anything of value to offer Him or anyone else that counts for eternity.
Romans 3:18-28
“18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness is given through faith in[b] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished
26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
Meditate on Christ daily, leaving behind the past to press on toward the goal, leaving behind the past may include leaving behind the people who would attempt to keep us stuck in the former life that no longer has any power over us.
Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Let No Man Deceive You
The phrase "claim God's blessing over your life", is meaningless. What is God's blessing? We have no right to demand anything from God. He may have some very difficult lessons for us that we need to go through to become more holy. To claim anything from God is the same as saying, "God you owe us."
A bratty child of the king would say that because he was a child of the king, everyone should give him what he wants, whether or not it is good for him or others. God is much more concerned with our spiritual growth than our physical happiness.
We enjoy the material and physical blessings God gives us and we praise Him for them, but if that is all we do, then we are missing the point of this life. We are called to grow in holiness, desiring "Spiritual blessings."
The greatest blessing God could give us is a spirit more dedicated to Him, and that comes through training, sometimes very harsh training. We are in boot camp on this earth, that's how we learn and become strong.
James 1:2-16
"1 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.
6 But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.
9 The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing,
10 and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.”
11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.
13 No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14 Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:
17 all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
18 He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
The greatest blessings from God are spiritual. Too often the "blab it and grab it" crowd replace the spiritual blessings of this passage with physical and material. Sometimes we have to suffer physical ill health to receive a spiritual blessing. The more we have to trust Christ because of hardship the greater becomes our faith.
The worldly Christianity thinks that blessing is always what we want, when we want it, this mentality is that of a spoiled child who demands things from God and becomes discouraged and depressed when God doesn't give the kind of blessing they wanted. The focus is often this material world rather than the spiritual.
Those who blame the devil for everything don't realize that the devil can do nothing without God's permission as with the account of Job in the First Testament. When we blame the devil it is the same as blaming God, because God has given him permission to do what he does and could stop him at any time, but he doesn't, so that we will see ourselves through our reactions and attitudes as we go through whatever God has for us.
Through our trials we learn to pay attention more to God for help. We learn things we could not learn if we didn't have the trial and we may be a blessing to others watching, who see our strength no matter what, and want to know where that strength comes from. We mature through trials, there is little growth when things are easy.
Then comes great joy when we went through with God. We stayed the course, kept the faith and in the end will reap the reward.
Galatians 6:9
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
A bratty child of the king would say that because he was a child of the king, everyone should give him what he wants, whether or not it is good for him or others. God is much more concerned with our spiritual growth than our physical happiness.
We enjoy the material and physical blessings God gives us and we praise Him for them, but if that is all we do, then we are missing the point of this life. We are called to grow in holiness, desiring "Spiritual blessings."
The greatest blessing God could give us is a spirit more dedicated to Him, and that comes through training, sometimes very harsh training. We are in boot camp on this earth, that's how we learn and become strong.
James 1:2-16
"1 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.
6 But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.
9 The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his high standing,
10 and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.”
11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.
13 No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.
14 Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:
17 all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
18 He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
The greatest blessings from God are spiritual. Too often the "blab it and grab it" crowd replace the spiritual blessings of this passage with physical and material. Sometimes we have to suffer physical ill health to receive a spiritual blessing. The more we have to trust Christ because of hardship the greater becomes our faith.
The worldly Christianity thinks that blessing is always what we want, when we want it, this mentality is that of a spoiled child who demands things from God and becomes discouraged and depressed when God doesn't give the kind of blessing they wanted. The focus is often this material world rather than the spiritual.
Those who blame the devil for everything don't realize that the devil can do nothing without God's permission as with the account of Job in the First Testament. When we blame the devil it is the same as blaming God, because God has given him permission to do what he does and could stop him at any time, but he doesn't, so that we will see ourselves through our reactions and attitudes as we go through whatever God has for us.
Through our trials we learn to pay attention more to God for help. We learn things we could not learn if we didn't have the trial and we may be a blessing to others watching, who see our strength no matter what, and want to know where that strength comes from. We mature through trials, there is little growth when things are easy.
Then comes great joy when we went through with God. We stayed the course, kept the faith and in the end will reap the reward.
Galatians 6:9
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
God Knows Who Is Who
I felt a need to clarify what I believe about the status of believers in particular situations. Sin is Sin!!!!! No exceptions to that!
If I never listened to any preachers who believed in exceptions for divorce, I wouldn't listen to anyone. I don't agree with almost everyone on that subject, many very good preachers are deceived about this matter.
Our culture has been brain washed to believe that divorce and remarriage is perfectly alright, and that the second marriage is an actual marriage, I do not agree with this position, however, I do not say that someone is necessarily "not born again" because they are in this condition. I know this will send up red flags for some who believe that this particular sin is deal breaker for their salvation. I do not subscribe to this position.
Every single person I know and have ever known other than facebook friends are lax on divorce and remarriage.
There are many people who believe you can lose your salvation or staunch Calvinists who think you don't choose to be born again. I do not count all these people as unsaved because they hold wrong doctrine.
Sadly there are those who are teaching salvation by works, when they say if you are divorced or remarried, you cannot be saved. I do not subscribe to that, for sure it is sin and God will discipline His children when they will not do as they should.
I see the divorce and remarriage among believers the same way I see the patriarchs of the Bible having several wives. They were godly men based on their faith, but they violated the Levitical laws by "heaping up for themselves many wives."
Solomon was saved and a man of God but had 300 wives, he disobediently allowed those wives to engage in pagan worship and even joined them. At the end of his life he admitted his foolishness and taught against the very things that he did. God blessed him because of his faith, but his flesh was weak.
God knows that often we go with our flesh and the sin of the culture around us, but our standing with the Lord remains, we are His children.
We fail, we fall, we stumble, all the while God is training and chastising us. When we realize that God never goes back on His promises, even when we do, we see His loving character.
2 Timothy 2:13
"If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
Most divorced and remarried people are not born again, just as most people who say they are believers are not born again. But some of those we see sinning are born again, they will be chastised and eventually turn from their sin.
1 John 2:1 " My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
Hebrews 12:6
“For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives."
Revelation 3:19
“As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. “
Heberews 12:6-7
“6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
The mistake some believers make is that the believe that God bases our salvation on our works, so they conclude that we can lose by committing sin what we did not earn by obedience.
Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Too many people are attempting to figure out who is saved and who is not, it is not our job to do that.
Romans 10:6
“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)”
When someone claims to be a believer then we are to speak to them, going through the steps laid out in the Bible for church discipline. We do not discipline non-believers, we leave them to the Lord. We give the gospel to those who do not claim to be a Christian, and we chastise, rebuke and discipline those who claim to be believers.
Matthew 18:15
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
Matthew 18:17
“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
We might want to challenge a believer with Matthew 7:21-23, to see if they were ever really born again.
But we cannot always know for sure who is saved and who is not.
Matthew 7:21-23
“21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Preach the gospel and against sin and leave the final judgment about a person’s salvation to the Lord.
For those who fear that knowing God remains faithful will cause believer to use these facts as excuses to sin, are forgetting that what is in a man’s heart will come out, we do not change the condition of a man’s heart by intimidating them into obedience.
If I never listened to any preachers who believed in exceptions for divorce, I wouldn't listen to anyone. I don't agree with almost everyone on that subject, many very good preachers are deceived about this matter.
Our culture has been brain washed to believe that divorce and remarriage is perfectly alright, and that the second marriage is an actual marriage, I do not agree with this position, however, I do not say that someone is necessarily "not born again" because they are in this condition. I know this will send up red flags for some who believe that this particular sin is deal breaker for their salvation. I do not subscribe to this position.
Every single person I know and have ever known other than facebook friends are lax on divorce and remarriage.
There are many people who believe you can lose your salvation or staunch Calvinists who think you don't choose to be born again. I do not count all these people as unsaved because they hold wrong doctrine.
Sadly there are those who are teaching salvation by works, when they say if you are divorced or remarried, you cannot be saved. I do not subscribe to that, for sure it is sin and God will discipline His children when they will not do as they should.
I see the divorce and remarriage among believers the same way I see the patriarchs of the Bible having several wives. They were godly men based on their faith, but they violated the Levitical laws by "heaping up for themselves many wives."
Solomon was saved and a man of God but had 300 wives, he disobediently allowed those wives to engage in pagan worship and even joined them. At the end of his life he admitted his foolishness and taught against the very things that he did. God blessed him because of his faith, but his flesh was weak.
God knows that often we go with our flesh and the sin of the culture around us, but our standing with the Lord remains, we are His children.
We fail, we fall, we stumble, all the while God is training and chastising us. When we realize that God never goes back on His promises, even when we do, we see His loving character.
2 Timothy 2:13
"If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
Most divorced and remarried people are not born again, just as most people who say they are believers are not born again. But some of those we see sinning are born again, they will be chastised and eventually turn from their sin.
1 John 2:1 " My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
Hebrews 12:6
“For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives."
Revelation 3:19
“As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. “
Heberews 12:6-7
“6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
The mistake some believers make is that the believe that God bases our salvation on our works, so they conclude that we can lose by committing sin what we did not earn by obedience.
Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Too many people are attempting to figure out who is saved and who is not, it is not our job to do that.
Romans 10:6
“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)”
When someone claims to be a believer then we are to speak to them, going through the steps laid out in the Bible for church discipline. We do not discipline non-believers, we leave them to the Lord. We give the gospel to those who do not claim to be a Christian, and we chastise, rebuke and discipline those who claim to be believers.
Matthew 18:15
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”
Matthew 18:17
“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
We might want to challenge a believer with Matthew 7:21-23, to see if they were ever really born again.
But we cannot always know for sure who is saved and who is not.
Matthew 7:21-23
“21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Preach the gospel and against sin and leave the final judgment about a person’s salvation to the Lord.
For those who fear that knowing God remains faithful will cause believer to use these facts as excuses to sin, are forgetting that what is in a man’s heart will come out, we do not change the condition of a man’s heart by intimidating them into obedience.
Everyone that chooses to sin as an excuse are not seeking the heart of God and are very likely not saved. Let God show them their own heart, through their response to correction. We cannot manipulate others into a right heart. We can tell them the truth, what comes out will show others and them their own heart.
Those who are born again will not fight and argue to justify sin, they will search God for the truth and eventually turn from their sin. They will be ashamed until they repent.
1 John 3:9
“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.”
Those who are born again will not fight and argue to justify sin, they will search God for the truth and eventually turn from their sin. They will be ashamed until they repent.
1 John 3:9
“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.”
Monday, January 5, 2015
"The Most Dangerous Cult
You'll never guess what is the most dangerous cult in the world today!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jryW79H8Xvg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jryW79H8Xvg
Choose You This Day Whom You Will Serve
Do you love the world or God? You can't do both!
James 4:3-5
"…3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many[a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
James 4:3-5
"…3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
Matthew 7:21-23
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many[a]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Obey Only Christ
I was recently chastised by an anonymous family member for not "reconciling" with other family members. Sadly these people claim to be believers but play fast and loose with sin as though it were a physical or mental ailment rather than the offense to God that it is.
When relationships take priority over obedience to God's principles, we have human idols in our hearts. I desire a relationship with family, but that can only be possible if we walk the same path. My family is the family of Christ who are kindred Spirits with the Spirit of God that lives in me.
Bio family can be the biggest hindrance to a close walk with the Lord. If they do not want Christ, or say they do, but demonstrate that they don't, then they will pressure us to do things against our Lord. They will judge our righteous actions as evil and gossip against us when they know little about us.
The hardest people for us to reach with the gospel or the principles of Christ, are those who are bio family. They expect total acceptance no matter how much they profane the name of Christ.
It doesn't matter what they do to us, God has our back, however, it is agonizing to watch them destroy their lives through bitterness and hate while rejecting what Christ did for them on the cross.
Amos 3:1-10
"1 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10 For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces"
Only two things can happen when we keep company with those who have no desire to obey the Lord: the first things that can happen is the continual contact with non-believers or superficial believers is a compromise to principles of God. It always seems to be that evil overtakes good when good compromises.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
The second thing that happens when we keep company with those who don't love the Lord, is that there tends to be continual drama and conflict. The unsaved or the superficial Christian attempts to dissuade us from the holy walk we desire. They place pressure on us to accept the unacceptable.
The more we stand our ground, determined to obey God, the angrier the rebellious heart becomes. There are times when the Lord is working on someone's heart and He is telling us to hang in there. There are other times when the Lord tells us to move on because the heart of a person is hardening more in their resistance.
It has been my resolve to ignore the voice of the world that wants us to play their games of manipulation, hoping someone will like you and therefore like the Lord. Sadly far too many people are playing this game in the church, truth has been watered down to such a degree that those hearing think they are being encouraged in sin.
The time is short, the Lord is coming soon, we must speak the truth boldly without reservation.
Remember that Christ in you can tell you what you need to do, do not let the world, or disobedient Christians intimidate you though accusations, to do things the world's way. Seek God in all things, He will tell you what to do, then stay strong to obey Him.
When relationships take priority over obedience to God's principles, we have human idols in our hearts. I desire a relationship with family, but that can only be possible if we walk the same path. My family is the family of Christ who are kindred Spirits with the Spirit of God that lives in me.
Bio family can be the biggest hindrance to a close walk with the Lord. If they do not want Christ, or say they do, but demonstrate that they don't, then they will pressure us to do things against our Lord. They will judge our righteous actions as evil and gossip against us when they know little about us.
The hardest people for us to reach with the gospel or the principles of Christ, are those who are bio family. They expect total acceptance no matter how much they profane the name of Christ.
It doesn't matter what they do to us, God has our back, however, it is agonizing to watch them destroy their lives through bitterness and hate while rejecting what Christ did for them on the cross.
Amos 3:1-10
"1 Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
10 For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces"
Only two things can happen when we keep company with those who have no desire to obey the Lord: the first things that can happen is the continual contact with non-believers or superficial believers is a compromise to principles of God. It always seems to be that evil overtakes good when good compromises.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
The second thing that happens when we keep company with those who don't love the Lord, is that there tends to be continual drama and conflict. The unsaved or the superficial Christian attempts to dissuade us from the holy walk we desire. They place pressure on us to accept the unacceptable.
The more we stand our ground, determined to obey God, the angrier the rebellious heart becomes. There are times when the Lord is working on someone's heart and He is telling us to hang in there. There are other times when the Lord tells us to move on because the heart of a person is hardening more in their resistance.
It has been my resolve to ignore the voice of the world that wants us to play their games of manipulation, hoping someone will like you and therefore like the Lord. Sadly far too many people are playing this game in the church, truth has been watered down to such a degree that those hearing think they are being encouraged in sin.
The time is short, the Lord is coming soon, we must speak the truth boldly without reservation.
Remember that Christ in you can tell you what you need to do, do not let the world, or disobedient Christians intimidate you though accusations, to do things the world's way. Seek God in all things, He will tell you what to do, then stay strong to obey Him.
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