Exactly, no one has a reason to feel superior or prideful, we can all admit our hearts have been the same. It is only through Christ that we can have victory over this flesh!
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Charm is not a Virtue
Our culture elevated "charm" to the level of a virtue, but the Bible does not. Charm is associated with manipulation and superficial ornament to be taken on and off, it is more of a verb, deliberate action rather than a character quality.
Definitions of Charm:
noun
1. the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration.
"he was captivated by her youthful charm"
2. a small ornament worn on a necklace or bracelet.
verb
noun
1. the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration.
"he was captivated by her youthful charm"
2. a small ornament worn on a necklace or bracelet.
verb
delight greatly.
"the books have charmed children the world over"
"the books have charmed children the world over"
control or achieve by or as if by magic.
"pretending to charm a cobra"
"pretending to charm a cobra"
God says this;
Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."
The Rudeness of Narcissists
An excellent article on tactics of narcissists and those who must control others to feel superior.
http://narcissistschild.blogspot.com/2015/07/rudenessit-can-be-narcissistic-tool.html
http://narcissistschild.blogspot.com/2015/07/rudenessit-can-be-narcissistic-tool.html
Count All Trials As Joy
When we accept God's will, we will have joy through all that He has for us. We share our troubles with other believers for them to pray and to encourage us and them, when things look more difficult than we think we can handle the fellowship of the believers lightens the burden.
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
There are only two reasons we assume we have a right to health, wealth and prosperity, first is that we want to believe it and secondly it is being shoved down our throats every time we turn around in this culture.
Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."
There are only two reasons we assume we have a right to health, wealth and prosperity, first is that we want to believe it and secondly it is being shoved down our throats every time we turn around in this culture.
We are even judged at times for lacking faith or spirituality when we are physically ill or living on meager funds. Those who judge on the basis of these things are arrogant and self righteous, believing they have arrived at spirituality, when in fact they more likely lack it.
We know that God has a purpose in all things, the more we obey Him, the more likely we are to be rejected for our faith, demeaned and lied against. The devil's aim is to minimize our witness of the gospel but God's purpose is to strengthen us through the exercise of faith in Him. Without trials there is no strengthening.
James 1:2-3
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
We know that God has a purpose in all things, the more we obey Him, the more likely we are to be rejected for our faith, demeaned and lied against. The devil's aim is to minimize our witness of the gospel but God's purpose is to strengthen us through the exercise of faith in Him. Without trials there is no strengthening.
James 1:2-3
"2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
Monday, February 15, 2016
Yes Judge!!!
When we don't judge as we are commanded to do, we end up accepting anything.
Notice how so many people use the verses below to justify "don't judge" mantras. It is only the first verse in this passage that says that, it has been plucked out of context to justify acceptance of any and all sin. Let's analyze the rest of the verses below the "don't judge" verse and let's remember that in the original text in Greek, there were no verse divisions, one had to read the entire text to get the meaning.
Matthew 7:1-6
"7 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."
We are told in verse 2-3 how to judge and never elevating self when we are doing the same thing we accuse others of doing. We are not innocent for not judging when we are doing the same thing, both the one being judged and ourselves are guilty of sin, we just have no right to arrogantly judge another for doing the same things we are doing.
In verse 5 we are told to get ourselves right, stop our sinning first and then we can help our brother see his sin.
All sin has already been judged by God. The judgement we are using is not our own, it is God's standard. We are merely the messengers of God to inform those we love, of the sin they are in, the consequences of it and the remedy.
Galatians 6:7-8 "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."
Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
1 John 3:4 "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."
The Remedy:
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
When we are confronted with sin in our lives our response ought to be to feel ashamed, confess it to those who know and to God, asking to be cleansed of that sin, thought Christ.
Today's response to a rebuke is often "don't judge" or "your judging" as though it is wrong to do so. If we do not ever judge circumstances or actions, then we will remain foolish and be of no use to anyone else.
Luke 17:3 ""Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
Matthew 18:15 ""If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother."
When someone staunchly proclaims that we are not to judge them, refuses to listen and remains contemptuous against us, we can be sure that the conversation has been spurned, the party refuses to receive it and it is time to move on.
Matthew 18:17 ""If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
2 Timothy 3:5 ""If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
We are commanded not to keep company with those who claim to be saved but live in sin as a lifestyle.
Romans 16:17-18 "17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
Those who claim to be Christian but will not tolerate a rebuke or correction, cannot learn until their heart of pride is broken into a humble heart of flesh. God is the only One Who can effectively work on them, He knows exactly what is needed, we do not. Sometimes we must get out of God's way so those who walk in rebellion will see only Him.
Notice how so many people use the verses below to justify "don't judge" mantras. It is only the first verse in this passage that says that, it has been plucked out of context to justify acceptance of any and all sin. Let's analyze the rest of the verses below the "don't judge" verse and let's remember that in the original text in Greek, there were no verse divisions, one had to read the entire text to get the meaning.
Matthew 7:1-6
"7 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."
We are told in verse 2-3 how to judge and never elevating self when we are doing the same thing we accuse others of doing. We are not innocent for not judging when we are doing the same thing, both the one being judged and ourselves are guilty of sin, we just have no right to arrogantly judge another for doing the same things we are doing.
In verse 5 we are told to get ourselves right, stop our sinning first and then we can help our brother see his sin.
All sin has already been judged by God. The judgement we are using is not our own, it is God's standard. We are merely the messengers of God to inform those we love, of the sin they are in, the consequences of it and the remedy.
Galatians 6:7-8 "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."
Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."
1 John 3:4 "Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."
The Remedy:
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
When we are confronted with sin in our lives our response ought to be to feel ashamed, confess it to those who know and to God, asking to be cleansed of that sin, thought Christ.
Today's response to a rebuke is often "don't judge" or "your judging" as though it is wrong to do so. If we do not ever judge circumstances or actions, then we will remain foolish and be of no use to anyone else.
Luke 17:3 ""Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him."
Matthew 18:15 ""If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother."
When someone staunchly proclaims that we are not to judge them, refuses to listen and remains contemptuous against us, we can be sure that the conversation has been spurned, the party refuses to receive it and it is time to move on.
Matthew 18:17 ""If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
2 Timothy 3:5 ""If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
We are commanded not to keep company with those who claim to be saved but live in sin as a lifestyle.
Romans 16:17-18 "17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
Those who claim to be Christian but will not tolerate a rebuke or correction, cannot learn until their heart of pride is broken into a humble heart of flesh. God is the only One Who can effectively work on them, He knows exactly what is needed, we do not. Sometimes we must get out of God's way so those who walk in rebellion will see only Him.
Favoritism is Ungodly
This is an excellent article on favoritism. There are those who would actually teach that it is alright to show favoritism in relationships, when in fact the Bible teaches the opposite.
http://remnantreport.com/cgi-bin/imcart/read.cgi?article_id=620&sub=19
http://remnantreport.com/cgi-bin/imcart/read.cgi?article_id=620&sub=19
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Physical Attraction is not Love
What is love? Here is what God says it is:
1 Corinthians 13:4
"Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious, it is not boastful, it is not puffed up."
...
1 Corinthians 13:4
"Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious, it is not boastful, it is not puffed up."
...
Don't see anything physical or fleshly here, the attitude comes first and takes priority over physical attraction. Physical attraction is not a measure of love, someone can be deeply affected by physical beauty without any love at all associated with it.
True love, God's way, is associated with the overall well being of the person who is loved.
1 Corinthians 13:1
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
True love, God's way, is associated with the overall well being of the person who is loved.
1 Corinthians 13:1
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."
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