In the face of my unresolved medical dilemma, I can praise the Lord that He already has the answer! Praise His Name
"On mine arm shall they trust." -Isaiah 51:5
In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God.
Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time.
Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.
-Charles H Spurgeon
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft
Proverbs 1:8 "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"
Someone might ask, "why do some believers seem so negative, always pointing out flaws and warning people about things, when the rest of the world sees nothing wrong?" The Answer: Perhaps it is because the Word of God is replete with warnings and admonitions.
It also makes sense that love has more to do with redirecting the behavior of wayward children, in these last days of apostasy, than it does with praise ro goodness. 2 Timothy 3 tells us all about the rebellion of the last days.
Since we know the world is in rebellion against God and believers are influenced by the world, we are faced with warning unbelievers of the dangers of not trusting Christ while also face with warning the believers of the discipline of God for disobedience. It makes sense that most of what goes on in the world, even the world of the believer is outside the will of God and needs correction, rebuke and admonition, to help others either become born again or to help believers to come back in line with God's principles to avoid, discipline with consequences for the believer.
Philippians 3:2 "2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;"
1 Corinthians 3:15 "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
Those who resist correction and instruction, believing they know all there is to know, will not be able to learn, they stagnate for a period of time and then very quickly regress into rebellion and disobedience. Little does the rebel realize that every act of disobedience brings with it consequences, sometimes very serious life long consequences and even eternal consequences.
1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..."
Proverbs 17:11, "An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him."
Psalms 68:6, "...the rebellious dwell in a dry land."
Proverbs 20:20, "Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness."
Psalms 78:8, "And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God."
Ezekiel 3:26, "And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house."
Ezekiel 12:2, "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house."
Isaiah 30:1-9
"1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! (The rebellious run to the ungodly for advise, counseling and support)
3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever:
9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:"
Someone might ask, "why do some believers seem so negative, always pointing out flaws and warning people about things, when the rest of the world sees nothing wrong?" The Answer: Perhaps it is because the Word of God is replete with warnings and admonitions.
It also makes sense that love has more to do with redirecting the behavior of wayward children, in these last days of apostasy, than it does with praise ro goodness. 2 Timothy 3 tells us all about the rebellion of the last days.
Since we know the world is in rebellion against God and believers are influenced by the world, we are faced with warning unbelievers of the dangers of not trusting Christ while also face with warning the believers of the discipline of God for disobedience. It makes sense that most of what goes on in the world, even the world of the believer is outside the will of God and needs correction, rebuke and admonition, to help others either become born again or to help believers to come back in line with God's principles to avoid, discipline with consequences for the believer.
Philippians 3:2 "2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;"
1 Corinthians 3:15 "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
Those who resist correction and instruction, believing they know all there is to know, will not be able to learn, they stagnate for a period of time and then very quickly regress into rebellion and disobedience. Little does the rebel realize that every act of disobedience brings with it consequences, sometimes very serious life long consequences and even eternal consequences.
1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..."
Proverbs 17:11, "An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him."
Psalms 68:6, "...the rebellious dwell in a dry land."
Proverbs 20:20, "Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness."
Psalms 78:8, "And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God."
Ezekiel 3:26, "And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house."
Ezekiel 12:2, "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house."
Isaiah 30:1-9
"1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! (The rebellious run to the ungodly for advise, counseling and support)
3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever:
9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:"
Pretenders Abound
Many people who claim to be born again are attempting to fool others through phony smiles and pretend kindness, but in fact have never been born again. These people can fool others, but they cannot fool God. And, often they cannot fool the discerning believer who walks with God.
Eventually what is really in their heart will come out, they will have no control over the rage that inhabits their heart, it will show itself at the first sign of a perceived threat to their own self righteousness. The anger they have against God and His people can only be contained a little while then it must emerge.
Matthew 15:8
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."
Many of these people have degrees in theology, they say and do all the things they think will impress others, learning many facts, but they lack the most important thing of all in their hearts and that is the love of God.
Their favorite method for controlling others is intimidation, angry looks and mean words, all the while denying what they do. They cannot tolerate anyone who cannot be manipulated by them.
Matthew 22:36-40
"36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and [a]foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
The pretender looks good on the outside, even has much knowledge about things, but the one thing they lack is the very thing God said was the most important.
These self righteous people feed off of the accolades of others, it is unthinkable to be in the presence of anyone who does not elevate them as special.
2 Timothy 3:7
"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
The concern of the pretender is more about their own appearances, what they say, what they do and how they look, without concern for their inner man. As long as they appear righteous, they are content to be superficial spiritually.
Matthew 23:27-28
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
These fakers never break the civil laws, they work hard, they say the right things, wear the right cloths, but they disobey God in the most important two commandments of all, the Love of God and the love of the brethren.
These self righteous people only love those who elevate them, there is no love for those who would challenge them to greater holiness, in fact there is nothing but contempt for those who love them through instruction and correction.
Watch out for these people, they will concoct lies to demean and discredit you, because of their contempt for everything you stand for in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:13
"But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
Embrace those who love Christ, who share in your desire for holiness, and run like the wind from those who would continually attempt to undermine truth, they bring no good thing while bringing only drama and strife.
Romans 2:4
"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"
Pray for those in rebellion to repent, ask the Lord to bring whatever difficulty is necessary to bring them to their knees. No one ever comes to Christ because they have everything they want, but they more often seek God when they are forced to their knees through difficulty.
Revelation 3:19
"'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent."
2 Corinthians 7:1-13
"7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.
3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.
4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.
5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.
6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.
8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—
9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this [e]godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. 13 For this reason we have been comforted."
Eventually what is really in their heart will come out, they will have no control over the rage that inhabits their heart, it will show itself at the first sign of a perceived threat to their own self righteousness. The anger they have against God and His people can only be contained a little while then it must emerge.
Matthew 15:8
"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."
Many of these people have degrees in theology, they say and do all the things they think will impress others, learning many facts, but they lack the most important thing of all in their hearts and that is the love of God.
Their favorite method for controlling others is intimidation, angry looks and mean words, all the while denying what they do. They cannot tolerate anyone who cannot be manipulated by them.
Matthew 22:36-40
"36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and [a]foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
The pretender looks good on the outside, even has much knowledge about things, but the one thing they lack is the very thing God said was the most important.
These self righteous people feed off of the accolades of others, it is unthinkable to be in the presence of anyone who does not elevate them as special.
2 Timothy 3:7
"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
The concern of the pretender is more about their own appearances, what they say, what they do and how they look, without concern for their inner man. As long as they appear righteous, they are content to be superficial spiritually.
Matthew 23:27-28
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
These fakers never break the civil laws, they work hard, they say the right things, wear the right cloths, but they disobey God in the most important two commandments of all, the Love of God and the love of the brethren.
These self righteous people only love those who elevate them, there is no love for those who would challenge them to greater holiness, in fact there is nothing but contempt for those who love them through instruction and correction.
Watch out for these people, they will concoct lies to demean and discredit you, because of their contempt for everything you stand for in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:13
"But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
Embrace those who love Christ, who share in your desire for holiness, and run like the wind from those who would continually attempt to undermine truth, they bring no good thing while bringing only drama and strife.
Romans 2:4
"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"
Pray for those in rebellion to repent, ask the Lord to bring whatever difficulty is necessary to bring them to their knees. No one ever comes to Christ because they have everything they want, but they more often seek God when they are forced to their knees through difficulty.
Revelation 3:19
"'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent."
2 Corinthians 7:1-13
"7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.
3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.
4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.
5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within.
6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.
8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—
9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this [e]godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the offender nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. 13 For this reason we have been comforted."
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Pragmatism, the Enemy of the Cross
Pragmatism: Assessing a matter in term of success rather than accuracy.
It is not alright to use unbilbical or inaccurate methods just because they work. The devil loves to use lies to deceive people, he can make something look right because it worked, but using an untruth to tell the truth ends up being untruth.
When we do things in a sinful way to bring about good, we have dishonored and defamed God. God cares how we do things, to use our own methods because they work is like saying God didn't know how to do it, we know better than He, how something should be done.
Acts 5:29 "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
Many people add to God's word in terms of methods and practices to help God, they fear that preaching God's Word will cause people to think for themselves, the rules are what matter to these Pharisees, they lack faith therefore feel a need to burden others with more rules than God gave.
Leadership is not about keeping people in line our own way, leadership is about preaching truth and letting the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the people. If someone chooses to disobey God's principles, then God needs to work more in their heart, our extra Biblical rules won't change their heart.
Forcing people to follow particular rules not given in the Bible does not change their hearts, it merely makes them look good on the outside. It is better to allow their real selves to emerge so that the light of truth from the Bible will expose their hearts, then they can see what God needs to change in them.
Matthew 23:4 ""They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger."
The best way to help a brother or sister in the Lord is to tell the truth, and pray that the Lord will work in their hearts, the extra rules and burdens do not change hearts.
It is not alright to use unbilbical or inaccurate methods just because they work. The devil loves to use lies to deceive people, he can make something look right because it worked, but using an untruth to tell the truth ends up being untruth.
When we do things in a sinful way to bring about good, we have dishonored and defamed God. God cares how we do things, to use our own methods because they work is like saying God didn't know how to do it, we know better than He, how something should be done.
Acts 5:29 "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."
Many people add to God's word in terms of methods and practices to help God, they fear that preaching God's Word will cause people to think for themselves, the rules are what matter to these Pharisees, they lack faith therefore feel a need to burden others with more rules than God gave.
Leadership is not about keeping people in line our own way, leadership is about preaching truth and letting the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the people. If someone chooses to disobey God's principles, then God needs to work more in their heart, our extra Biblical rules won't change their heart.
Forcing people to follow particular rules not given in the Bible does not change their hearts, it merely makes them look good on the outside. It is better to allow their real selves to emerge so that the light of truth from the Bible will expose their hearts, then they can see what God needs to change in them.
Matthew 23:4 ""They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger."
The best way to help a brother or sister in the Lord is to tell the truth, and pray that the Lord will work in their hearts, the extra rules and burdens do not change hearts.
Go Back To The Source
When the KJV of the Bible speaks of Christ's hands and feet, it is slightly inaccurate. The hands in the original Greek language extended to above the wrist. IF we are to be accurate we would say "wrist" where Christ was pierced, not hand, in our English understanding. If the Lord had been pierced in the hand as we understand the hand, the nails would have torn loose, but when placed in the between the wrist bones, they would have held, as they did.
One of the reasons is matters is that there was a little boy who supposedly came back from heaven after dying saying that he saw the nail prints in the Savior's hands, we know from this that he did not see heaven or the Savior. If he had seen accurately he would have described the wrist not the hand. He was merely repeating what he had been inaccurately taught.
If we are to accurately understand God's Word, we will have to go back to the original languages often. The English versions are not clear enough in many things.This will be true of every translation.
One of the reasons is matters is that there was a little boy who supposedly came back from heaven after dying saying that he saw the nail prints in the Savior's hands, we know from this that he did not see heaven or the Savior. If he had seen accurately he would have described the wrist not the hand. He was merely repeating what he had been inaccurately taught.
If we are to accurately understand God's Word, we will have to go back to the original languages often. The English versions are not clear enough in many things.This will be true of every translation.
Friday, March 13, 2015
There is Danger in Loving Self
Those who evaluate themselves by their accomplishments, monetary wealth, physical beauty or clothing styles, cannot be humble. A self focus, only brings arrogance and self worth elevated above the standards of God. As long as these people "appear" wonderful they are satisfied with that.
Those who love Christ want more than appearances, they want truth down to their very bones. They are the same whether they are alone or with people, they do not change character or responses because of who they are with.
Ephesians 4:31-32
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Someone once said, "the better we know God the less we have to prove."
Those who continually act superior to others, lack faith and confidence about their walk with the Lord and must work to prove they are better through intimidation, demeaning and disrespect.
When we walk with the Lord, we know our lowly position, while also knowing His power, we can walk with confidence, knowing we have nothing to prove except Christ. Self is not an issue, Christ and His principles are everything, we are irrelevant, except to glorify Him.
John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Those who love Christ want more than appearances, they want truth down to their very bones. They are the same whether they are alone or with people, they do not change character or responses because of who they are with.
Ephesians 4:31-32
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Someone once said, "the better we know God the less we have to prove."
Those who continually act superior to others, lack faith and confidence about their walk with the Lord and must work to prove they are better through intimidation, demeaning and disrespect.
When we walk with the Lord, we know our lowly position, while also knowing His power, we can walk with confidence, knowing we have nothing to prove except Christ. Self is not an issue, Christ and His principles are everything, we are irrelevant, except to glorify Him.
John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Dying To Self Takes Christ
We cannot die to self unless we are submitted to Christ.
James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Not everyone is called to die a death in the body, but physically for someone else, we are called to serve, but even more so than that we are called to die spiritually to our own desires at the risk of rejection, to bring truth, the greatest form of love entrusted to us, is that which cannot be measured or seen but changes lives. the truth of God's Word. We help no one by withholding truth to be loved by men.
Galatians 2;20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 5:24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Mark 8:35 "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."
John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
We cannot be used fully of God unless we first set aside our own desires and resolve to obey Him. Many people claim to be obeying the principles of the Bible but in fact, with close inspection, are actually disobey most of it.
We see the violations of selflessness daily in the acceptance of divorce and remarriage, the violation of the order of the worship service, the mandates about leadership, the ignoring of the practice of head covering and many other things that show a rebellion against the Word, using circular and pragmatic arguments to justify disobedience.
Nearly everyone thinks they are following the Bible when the reality is, that they are following very little of God's principles, to maintain their friendships and family.
Matthew 10:38 "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
Philippians 2:1-11 "1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
It would be good to evaluate everything we think and believe, through prayer and scripture reading, to discern whether or not we have trusted Christ, or whether we have trusted human wisdom and tacked a little of the Bible onto our humanistic form of Christianity.
Humility is necessary for us to do this, if we are someone who can never say they were wrong to another person, then we will never be able to say it to an unseen God.
James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
Is your goal to be elevated by men or to be lifted up by God?
James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Not everyone is called to die a death in the body, but physically for someone else, we are called to serve, but even more so than that we are called to die spiritually to our own desires at the risk of rejection, to bring truth, the greatest form of love entrusted to us, is that which cannot be measured or seen but changes lives. the truth of God's Word. We help no one by withholding truth to be loved by men.
Galatians 2;20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 5:24 "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Mark 8:35 "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."
John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."
We cannot be used fully of God unless we first set aside our own desires and resolve to obey Him. Many people claim to be obeying the principles of the Bible but in fact, with close inspection, are actually disobey most of it.
We see the violations of selflessness daily in the acceptance of divorce and remarriage, the violation of the order of the worship service, the mandates about leadership, the ignoring of the practice of head covering and many other things that show a rebellion against the Word, using circular and pragmatic arguments to justify disobedience.
Nearly everyone thinks they are following the Bible when the reality is, that they are following very little of God's principles, to maintain their friendships and family.
Matthew 10:38 "And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."
Philippians 2:1-11 "1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
It would be good to evaluate everything we think and believe, through prayer and scripture reading, to discern whether or not we have trusted Christ, or whether we have trusted human wisdom and tacked a little of the Bible onto our humanistic form of Christianity.
Humility is necessary for us to do this, if we are someone who can never say they were wrong to another person, then we will never be able to say it to an unseen God.
James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
Is your goal to be elevated by men or to be lifted up by God?
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