Witless Humanitarian Aid

Matthew 24:43 ""But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into."

When people become prideful and foolish, lacking wisdom and discernment, they invite the enemy to their house thinking in their arrogance that they are doing an humanitarian good deed.

When good works become our focus over what Christ did on the cross, we begin to think we are special adding Christ to all that we do rather than seeking Him for His direction and wisdom.

Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Bringing the enemy into our country knowing their religion is one of war and carnage, is absolutely half-witted. The job of our country's leaders is to first protect the citizens, not to rescue the entire world while placing the populous in serious danger. We are not called to rescue the very people who are hell bent on our demise.

Bringing into our nation those who are bent on destroying us, while turning over to them our resources that citizens spent a lifetime earning and building makes as much sense as sending all available monies to other countries when our own bills are not paid.

Islam has made it clear that they intend to kill everyone who will not submit to Islam while taking over the government in their host country. Since the Koran instructs their people to lie, we cannot trust anyone who claims to be a Muslim.

It is one thing to see an accident on the road, stop to offer assistance to one family and quite another to allow thousands of them into our country with no implementation of rules and standards they would be required to obey.

When we become godless as a culture, all good sense flies out the window, leaving us vulnerable to dictatorship.

Returning to Truth of the Bible

Two things that we have been taught all our lives in the modern churches that are unbiblical and has destroyed loyalty to God, are that we are to love everyone and secondly we are to forgive without repentance.

The Holy Scriptures do not teach this!!!!

God clearly states that He hates the evil doer and will send to hell all those who reject Him.  Would anyone dare to say that sending someone to hell is an act of "love"?

Leviticus 20:23: “And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nations which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I ABHORRED THEM.”

Deuteronomy 25:16: “...ALL THAT DO UNRIGHTEOUSLY ARE AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD.”

Deuteronomy 32:16-20: “They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations they provoked Him to ANGER... And when the Lord saw it [people sacrificing to devils - v.17], HE ABHORRED THEM...”

Proverbs 16:5: “Every one that is proud in heart is an ABOMINATION TO THE LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

I Corinthians 16:22: “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be ANATHEMA MARANATHA [which means ACCURSED, THE LORD COMETH].”

God never says anywhere in His word that we are to forgive before or without repentance.

1 John 1:9 "9  IF we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Acts 3:19 "19  Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come in the presence of the Lord,"

Luke 17:3 ""Be on your guard! IF your brother sins, rebuke him; and IF he repents, forgive him."

Because the culture has taught these false doctrines, there are many people who continue in sin believing that we and God have an obligation to forgive them while they continue to sin without shame over it.

Because our culture has taught that everyone is basically good and God loves everyone, few people are broken over their sinful behavior, even defending it while shouting silliness such as "don't judge me, you don't know my heart."

Matthew 15:19 ""For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders."

Our actions prove what is in the heart!!!!

God clearly states in His Word that we are to repent, we are to forgive when there is repentance, those who will not repent are not forgiven and God hates the evil doer.  These truths ought to frighten the unsaved to their knees in repentance, but instead the apostate churches has lulled the sinner into a false sense of security leading them to believe that God is a sort of Santa that keeps a list, of who is naughty and nice, ignoring his list giving gifts to everyone anyway no matter what they do.

Our culture believes they can spurn the principles of God, malign His character, pretend He loves everyone no matter what they say or think of Him, and He will usher them into heaven with a big hug and smiles just like Santa.

The modern apostate church has lulled non-believers right onto the wide path that leads to hell, while thinking they too are saved by their friendliness to the world.

Matthew 7:13-14 "13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Sadly, many in the apostate church believe they are on their way to heaven but have never been born again. 

Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

When we see the world anxiously adopting the beliefs of the apostate church, we can be sure what the apostate church has taught is not only wrong but an abomination to the Lord.  Whatever the world accepts something, it is likely that what they endorse is evil in the sight of God.

Every non-believer I know thinks that God will not punish their sin that He loves everyone and there is no repentance required to be forgiven. They believe they don't have to turn from sin, because after all, it is just enough to think good thoughts, no need to actually be what we believe about ourselves. We might say this mentality is a product of our cultural attitudes of entitlement.  So many people believe they are entitled to everything they want along with praise for all they do even without evidence that they are what they claim to be.

When we deviate from God's Word, while adopting the standards of the world, we will spread a false gospel, while denying Christ by our evil doctrine.

It is no wonder we have so many false converts and arrogant church leaders, they think they are special and deserve salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pettiness Abounds Among Believers

Excellent!!! This suggests to me that things haven't changed as much as we might think!

Josh Slatton
3 hrs · Wow did I need to read this today....this is so good.

Avoid foolish questions. – Titus 3:9
Our days are few, and are far better spent in devoting ourselves to good works, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. Incessant discussion of subjects of no practical value, do a world of mischief. Our churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser! Therefore, the discussion no more promotes knowledge, than love! It is foolish to sow in so barren a field.

Questions upon . . . points wherein Scripture is silent; mysteries which belong to God alone; prophecies of doubtful interpretation; modes of observing mere human ceremonies, are all foolish! Wise men will avoid them! Our business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions but to avoid them altogether! If we observe the apostle’s precept to be careful to devote ourselves to good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings!

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly answer, such as these:

Am I growing in grace and Christ-likeness?
Does my life adorn the doctrine of my Savior?
What more can I do for Jesus?
Such inquiries as these, urgently demand our attention!

If we have been at all given to arguing and disputing, let us now turn to a service so much more profitable. Let us endeavor to lead others, both by our precept and example, to “avoid foolish questions.”

Charles Spurgeon's Morning Devotional

Commanding Others to do Things Our Own Way

I have to laugh when I see people posting placards that command us to respond and share as if it were a demonstration of our allegiance to them. I see this nearly every day. What happens to me when I see it is the compulsion to deliberately not respond or share. Anyone can "like" and "repost" while meaning none of it, just to fit in, doing so doesn't mean we live what we expressed.

When we use intimidation to cause people to do what we want them to do to feel in control or elevated in the eyes of others, we have demonstrated a lack of love.

Love shares opinions, views and truth without any conditions placed on the reader. God can take something anywhere He wants it to go without our intimidation. It is not our job to coerce others to think as we do or to do as we do. We can have faith that God will work on hearts, His way without us! Unless of course they are delivering heresy or a false gospel then we have a responsibility to remove ourselves.

Intimidation and manipulation to get what we want, even if it's a good thing, is not love, but selfishness coupled with lack of faith. It is also one of the elements of narcissism, when we can't find love for someone unless they do things our way, even then it isn't God's love because we would love and appreciate others even when they don't see things exactly our way.

I attended a Pentecostal gathering once, where I was standing by myself pondering something in my heart. A man walked up to me introduced himself and then told me I should smile, "if you are a Christian" you should be happy." Sadly, this man assumed I was unhappy because I was not wildly smiling as he was. He associated the joy of the Lord with a continual plastic smile to show off to others.
 
I asked him, "Why do you want me to smile?" He continued to act in animated fashion, while sharing that if we have the joy of the Lord we will be smiling. I asked for scripture to support his view and he suddenly had something else to do, bounding off, smiling at everyone passing by to demonstrate his joy. He made a false judgment that I was not spiritual because I was not smiling while attempting to cause bad feelings of failure in me for not doing as he did.

The situation would have been comical if it were not so sad. The purpose of the encounter was not for the man to encourage me to have joy, I already had that, rather the purpose was to cause others in the gathering to focus on him, he worked to manufacture a false superficial and self-elevating persona of joy.

God never told us to "smile", in fact just the opposite will occur when we walk closely with Christ.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 "Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain."

God never told us to be happy, everywhere we see the word "happy" in the modern versions, the original uses a word for "blessed." Being blessed is far different from happiness. Happiness is more associated with feelings based on circumstances rather than the ever present joy a believer has even in times of trial.

James 1:2-8
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
The word "happy" came from the 1300's meaning "happenstance", referring to "good fortune." This word is based on circumstances and feelings, not on peace or joy that comes from deep within the soul.
The word "happy" has replaced the word "blessed" in the modern translation.
Proverbs 3:13 "Happy [is] the man [that] findeth wisdom, and the man [that] getteth understanding." KJV
Proverbs 3:13 "How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding." NASB

The Word blessed in the Greek means: adulation, praise, blessing, gift.

What I notice about this is that happiness is based on feelings, while blessing is based on an inner soul experience that resides even when there is sadness, trials or intense difficulty.

That's why God says; ""2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."
Joy is based on a steadfast assurance of God's protection for our soul even while we are being tortured, beheaded or in our culture, merely the maligning of our character when it is undeserved.
We should not be seeking to be happy or feeling less spiritual when we are sad. Focusing on superficial emotions and even judging others who don't have a show of intense adulation, is someone who is entrenched in a worldly view of life.

There are many times I feel happiness and laugh at something amusing, but that is not an indication of my spirituality. An indication that we possess the joy of the Lord is our response to all aspects of life even hardship.

It is not love to pressure someone to smile when they are experiencing hardship, it is sin to judge someone as lacking joy just because their outer appearance is not what we think it ought to be.
Love of the brethren is caring enough to ask what someone is experiencing to be able to help them, or join in their joy. Assuming things without understanding of the details is arrogant. Believing we know the plight of someone by mere superficial observance is to act like God, knowing all things without having to engage with those we judge.

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."

Love does not seek to elevate self through phony appearances, but rather seeks to know the brethren at the deepest level.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."

1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death."

Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;"

We must remember too, that we can never make a proper judgment of another human being merely from the testimony of others. Often triangulation is going on, especially in families. Triangulation is the practice of repeating matters we have heard, while acting toward the victim as though what we heard was absolutely true.
 
Even when we have observed something someone has done, we cannot judge it without first speaking to the person and listening to all the details. Gossip is when we pass on information when we don't know all the details.

Evil is Now Elevated

Recently as I was pondering the injustice in our culture today, I reflected on the fact that we tend to lean mightily in the direction of the perpetrators of sin while throwing those who speak truth under the bus to avoid hurt feelings.

When feelings become more important than truth, we have lost our moral compass.  When "feeling positive" and "affirmed" take precedence over righteousness and justice we have moved into the realm of fantasy.

Personal pleasure, self elevation and promotion has hijacked our culture so  much so that most people have been intimidated into silence, allowing evil to control everything.
 
To protect and defend selfishness, feelings and pleasure is to negate the principles of God, placing self on the throne.  Our god is ourselves and our bellies.

Proverbs 12:19 "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
Proverbs 28:13 "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."

Psalm 5:6 "You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."
Ephesians 4:25 "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."

John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Galatians 4:16 "Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?"

Jeremiah 13:25 "This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, declares the Lord, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies."

Paris Needs Christ

Somehow, I am missing something in all these emotional affirmations of France and their plight with Islam. I do feel badly for those who have lost family members and for the born again believers that are living under the constant threat of Islamic Jihad.

But I have a problem, many people are coming along side France to console and defend them as though they are completely guiltless in this matter of ungodly terror. Yes, they were the victims who were attacked but can we actually say they have no responsibility in their own turmoil?

In one sense of course they are the victim, however have we forgotten that France kicked God to the curb a long time ago. The concert that the victims of the carnage were attending, was a concert that celebrated the promotion of demonic forces. The pictures of the people in the concert hall revealed satanic hand symbols and lyrics to a song to which they were gyrating, were far from innocent and wholesome.

The name of the band playing that night was "Eagles of Death Metal." The lyrics of their songs were devilish at best, celebrating sin and wickedness. The lyrics to the song that the band was playing at the time of the masacer were as follows:

"Kiss The Devil"

Who'll love the devil?...
Who'll song his song?...
Who will love the devil and his song?...
I'll love the devil!...
I'll sing his song!...
I will love the devil and his song!...
Who'll love the devil?...
Who'll kiss his tongue?...
Who will kiss the devil on his tongue?...
I'll love the devil!...
I'll kiss his tongue!...
I will kiss the devil on his tongue!...
Who'll love the devil?...
Who'll sing his song?...
I will love the devil and his song!...
Who'll love the devil?...
Who'll kiss his tongue?...
I will kiss the devil on his tongue!...
Who'll love the devil?...
Who'll sing his song?...
I WILL LOVE THE DEVIL AND SING HIS SONG!”

God has often used evil armies to come against those that mocked Him. While we can feel a sense of sadness for those who lost family members, perhaps we should direct that sadness more toward those who attended such a concert and very likely died without Christ.

 Our prayer might be that this devastating event will drive relatives and the entire city of Paris to their knees in repentance.

Faith and Spiritual Growth are the Goal

Folks if we love the Lord Jesus Christ and desire to grow in holiness, we must have trials, we must encounter difficult situations and people. Those who preach that we lack faith because we are having obstacles over which to hurl, are unknowingly attempting to rob us of the joy that comes from going through a trial coming out the other side stronger, more spiritual while possessing more faith.

Faith is not increased by avoiding difficulties or seeing miracles. Faith is gained by learning the lessons obtained through experience. It is easy to have faith when we see something with our eyes and hear with our ears. True faith is exercised when we remain faithful, encouraged and calm in the middle of a life calamity.

James 1:2-8
"2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

The greatest lessons I have learned were because of things I had to work though, some very difficult and potentially devastating. The more we seek God through the trials, the greater our wisdom. 

Our culture as a whole has worked to avoid or bail out of things that would have gained them wisdom. Pleasure has replaced wisdom to such a degree that those who love pleasure and flattery, will rage at those who bring good sense to every matter.

2 Timothy 2:22 "So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. "

As a society we have spurned wisdom chasing after pleasure negating that which is most valuable in favor of that which has no value.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
"1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility.
2 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”
3 I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.
4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;
6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.
7 I bought male and female slaves and I had home born slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.
8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.
9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.
10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor.
11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun."

The modern day prosperity preachers say the opposite of what God says. They tell us to chase after money, position and grandiose living, that it is their measure for faith to acquire these things. God tells us through the testimony of Solomon, that all this clamoring after wealth and health, is worldliness, "chasing after the wind", having no value. 

Next time someone attempts to convince you that God does not want you to be poor, sick, or persecuted, repeat these Scriptures to them:

Hebrews 11:35 "Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Hebrews 11:36 Still others had trial of mocking’s and scourging’s, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

Hebrews11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented--

Hebrews11:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, [in] dens and caves of the earth.

Hebrews11:39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

Hebrews11:40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from "

Matthew 6:19 ""Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;"

Mat 6:20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Mat 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

2 Corinthians 11:23 "Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I [am] more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

2Cr 11:24 From the Jews five times I received forty [stripes] minus one.

2Cr 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;

2Cr 11:26 [in] journeys often, [in] perils of waters, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils of [my own] countrymen, [in] perils of the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;

2Cr 11:27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--

2Cr 11:28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
2Cr 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn [with indignation]?
2Cr 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

2Cr 11:31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
2Cr 11:32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;

2Cr 11:33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands"

Luke 21:14 ""Therefore settle [it] in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

Luke 21:15 "for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

Luke 21:16 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put [some] of you to death.

Luke 21:17 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake"

Hmmm!!! Christ was our example and He did not escape poverty and persecution, what would make us think we would. Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn and others spit in the face of God when they write a books encouraging materialism and self focus. 

This may be the best life now for those who are refusing Christ and ultimately will end up in a fiery hell. But for the believer, nothing on this earth should take us captive, not wealth, not health nor the love of all the people that surround us. Our best life is to come when we go before the Savior and hear His Words, "Well done good and faithful servant."

We as believers yearn for our heavenly home and our husband that dwells in us now and will one day take us home.

 Our goal should be to honor God in all our ways while gaining wisdom until He takes us home. Our mission is to become what we should be and spread the Gospel to others.