When we say we are "Baptist", "Presbyterian", "Pentecostal", "Anglican", "Methodist", "Mennonite", "Quaker" and many others, we are saying we are following a system rather than Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
"10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.
12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”
13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name.
16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void"
One of the hardest things in our culture is to get people to understand that the body of Christ is not divided. Those who choose to divide over a particular aspect of Bible doctrine, are showing that they are "pickers and choosers", making one element of the Word more important than others.
When we follow Christ, we love all the brethren, we are not divided on the important matters of salvation and holiness. Our response to everyone ought to be to go to the Word, getting out our Bibles when there is a disagreement seeking and praying together. I don't remember the last time I saw this happen. Each one in a discussion tells their opinion, walking away never having cracked their Bible open to discuss it. In other words, all opinions are acceptable and everyone remains in their ignorance, just to keep the peace.
Those who deeply love the Lord cannot get enough of the Word and sharing it with one another. There is no desire to argue, but a quest for the truth so come closer to God and one another. What a blessing it is when believers share in the Word with one another.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Friday, July 17, 2015
Avoid a Trouble Maker
God says:
Matthew 7:6 ""Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
This verses is akin to a quote from George Bernard Shaw which says:
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."
There are many people who love to argue, even if their statements don't make sense as long as they think they are winning by frustrating their target, they are in seventh heaven.
The best thing to do with these arguers is to walk away when we realize we are in a struggle with a swine. God expects us to be able to discern these people and disengage when it is clear they are attempting to start a fight.
Satan uses the swine to cause frustration and render our witness ineffective. Arguing with a hostile and arrogant person has no value whatever, we need to excuse ourselves and keep away from them.
Titus 3:10 "Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,"
http://counselingoneanother.com/2011/09/07/who-is-the-factious-man-of-titus-310/
Matthew 7:6 ""Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
This verses is akin to a quote from George Bernard Shaw which says:
"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."
There are many people who love to argue, even if their statements don't make sense as long as they think they are winning by frustrating their target, they are in seventh heaven.
The best thing to do with these arguers is to walk away when we realize we are in a struggle with a swine. God expects us to be able to discern these people and disengage when it is clear they are attempting to start a fight.
Satan uses the swine to cause frustration and render our witness ineffective. Arguing with a hostile and arrogant person has no value whatever, we need to excuse ourselves and keep away from them.
Titus 3:10 "Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,"
http://counselingoneanother.com/2011/09/07/who-is-the-factious-man-of-titus-310/
Calvinsim Doctrines of Demons
It makes no sense for a just and loving God to create human beings with no choice to obey Him, and then punish them for not choosing!!!! This is the face of Calvinism, some have been created for hell without a choice and some for heaven also without a choice! These are the doctrines of demons.
We Don't Have To Error
Many people use this same excuse over and over again to justify disobedience, that we should error on the side of grace. My question is why do we have to error, we have the Holy Spirit in us, we can pray and read His word and find the truth and then stand firmly by it without reservation.
It has been my experience that those who use the excuse to "error on the side of grace" often want to do things their own way, otherwise why would they be angry that we corrected them, when our intent is that they learn to do things God's way?
If our aim is to please God then wouldn't we want to learn what that way is in all circumstances? Wouldn't we be blessed and excited when someone who might know a little more than us, would show us a better way, God's way? I know I am excited and pleased when another brother or sister shows me an error in thinking that opens up a whole new way of thinking. After all isn't it about learning and growing in holiness?
The law is there to show us our sin, when we become born again the Law Giver lives in us and gives us the desire to obey His principles. Here is what God said in the New Testament, the age of Grace:
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
1 John 5:2 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments."
2 TIM 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 3:17 That the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 TIM 4:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
2 TIM 2:24,25 And the Lord's bond servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.
Someone who is unwilling to learn from the correction of a brother or sister in the Lord walks in pride.
Proverbs 26:12 "Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."
We should not be surprised in this age of arrogance, when most people are enraged when we correct them. The entire being of many people is so self consumed, they cannot bear to hear anything but praise.........which I might add is a form of self worship.
I love God's principles and want all those who claim to be believers to love them too!
It has been my experience that those who use the excuse to "error on the side of grace" often want to do things their own way, otherwise why would they be angry that we corrected them, when our intent is that they learn to do things God's way?
If our aim is to please God then wouldn't we want to learn what that way is in all circumstances? Wouldn't we be blessed and excited when someone who might know a little more than us, would show us a better way, God's way? I know I am excited and pleased when another brother or sister shows me an error in thinking that opens up a whole new way of thinking. After all isn't it about learning and growing in holiness?
The law is there to show us our sin, when we become born again the Law Giver lives in us and gives us the desire to obey His principles. Here is what God said in the New Testament, the age of Grace:
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
1 John 5:2 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments."
2 TIM 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 3:17 That the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 TIM 4:2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
2 TIM 2:24,25 And the Lord's bond servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.
Someone who is unwilling to learn from the correction of a brother or sister in the Lord walks in pride.
Proverbs 26:12 "Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."
1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world."
We should not be surprised in this age of arrogance, when most people are enraged when we correct them. The entire being of many people is so self consumed, they cannot bear to hear anything but praise.........which I might add is a form of self worship.
I love God's principles and want all those who claim to be believers to love them too!
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Following Christ Alone!
Many brothers and sisters in the Lord are facing friends and family who have spurned their warnings and correction. They are pressured by society to stay in contact along with their own sense that they will be alone if they do anything to alienate these people.
When we do things God's ways we remove the pressure of the culture, while learning and experiencing the blessing of peace in our lives. Often we have to endure unsaved loved ones and their constant drama and lifestyle nonsense, but we don't have to stay in it, we can minimize the contact and reduce the evil that invades our existence.
We don't ever stop loving them, but we have to learn to love them from afar while demonstrating faith that God can work in them without us. It makes no sense at all to continue to bang our heads against a brick wall, knowing that the banging isn't making any dents in the bricks.
Relationships have a purpose for the believer, one is to bring the gospel to the unsaved and next the spiritual growth of believers. When the unbeliever doesn't want what we offer then we must move on. When the believer is stubborn and resistant to instruction, correction, rebuke and encouragement in righteousness, then we are to walk away, leaving them to God.
Faith is demonstrated when we can leave someone to God while carrying on our lives as the Lord has directed us......according to the Word.
Ezekiel 3:19 ""Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself."
Jeremiah 7:16 ""As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you."
Jeremiah 11:14 ""Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster."
Isaiah 26:10
"But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord
Mark 10:28-30
"28 Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."
29 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake,
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life."
Matthew 10:37
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
We wish our families would join us in our journey to walk with Christ, but if they will not, then we have to keep focused on our journey even if they do not follow.
When we do things God's ways we remove the pressure of the culture, while learning and experiencing the blessing of peace in our lives. Often we have to endure unsaved loved ones and their constant drama and lifestyle nonsense, but we don't have to stay in it, we can minimize the contact and reduce the evil that invades our existence.
We don't ever stop loving them, but we have to learn to love them from afar while demonstrating faith that God can work in them without us. It makes no sense at all to continue to bang our heads against a brick wall, knowing that the banging isn't making any dents in the bricks.
Relationships have a purpose for the believer, one is to bring the gospel to the unsaved and next the spiritual growth of believers. When the unbeliever doesn't want what we offer then we must move on. When the believer is stubborn and resistant to instruction, correction, rebuke and encouragement in righteousness, then we are to walk away, leaving them to God.
Faith is demonstrated when we can leave someone to God while carrying on our lives as the Lord has directed us......according to the Word.
Ezekiel 3:19 ""Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself."
Jeremiah 7:16 ""As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you."
Jeremiah 11:14 ""Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster."
Isaiah 26:10
"But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord
Mark 10:28-30
"28 Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You."
29 Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake,
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life."
Matthew 10:37
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."
We wish our families would join us in our journey to walk with Christ, but if they will not, then we have to keep focused on our journey even if they do not follow.
The Unsaved Know There Is A God
God put the knowledge of Him in everyone's heart, mankind knows there is a God and refuses Him. Those who say unbelievers have an excuse because they can't know the truth, that is not the truth, they do know and choose. Why would a non-believer go to hell if he was not accountable because he didn't know? Of course they know, that's why they are hostile to those who warn them. If they didn't know and didn't feel conviction they wouldn't become hostile.
Titus 1:16 "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed."
1 John 2:24 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
These verses show that man knows about God but chooses to remain in control of their own lives rather than trust Him.
Romans 1:28 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
Titus 1:16 "They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed."
1 John 2:24 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
These verses show that man knows about God but chooses to remain in control of their own lives rather than trust Him.
Romans 1:28 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
It's Coming Are We Ready?
https://www.facebook.com/ShepardSmith/videos/10153367050185490/?pnref=story
For some time now my husband and I have been wondering why the Lord was holding off in punishing the Pacific Northwest for its wickedness. It is possible He is saving the worst for this area of the country.
1. Oregon was the first state to legalize abortion in 1968 before the Roe-v-Wade decision (5 years before).
2. No fault divorce was legalized in Oregon in 1970.
3. In recent years assisted suicide has been legalized in Washington and Oregon.
4. Legalization of gambling.
5. Legalization of same se'x marrige.
6. 11,000 riders in the naked bike ride in Portland Oregon.
7. The mayor of Portland had sex with an underage boy while never being prosecuted for it and even being elected again after the dust settled.
8. The governments of Oregon and Washington refuse to allow the execution of legally convicted people who should have been executed for their crimes.
9. The legalization of medical and recreational Marijuana.
10. This region has the lowest church attendance in the nation, an indication of lack of interest in God or morality.
11. Seattle and Portland are cities that pride themselves as in the top 15 most liberal cities in the nation.
This region defies God on every level, without conscience over it even proud of their evil.
Jeremiah 6:15 ""Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."
1. Oregon was the first state to legalize abortion in 1968 before the Roe-v-Wade decision (5 years before).
2. No fault divorce was legalized in Oregon in 1970.
3. In recent years assisted suicide has been legalized in Washington and Oregon.
4. Legalization of gambling.
5. Legalization of same se'x marrige.
6. 11,000 riders in the naked bike ride in Portland Oregon.
7. The mayor of Portland had sex with an underage boy while never being prosecuted for it and even being elected again after the dust settled.
8. The governments of Oregon and Washington refuse to allow the execution of legally convicted people who should have been executed for their crimes.
9. The legalization of medical and recreational Marijuana.
10. This region has the lowest church attendance in the nation, an indication of lack of interest in God or morality.
11. Seattle and Portland are cities that pride themselves as in the top 15 most liberal cities in the nation.
This region defies God on every level, without conscience over it even proud of their evil.
Jeremiah 6:15 ""Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD."
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