Our culture has lost it's mind!
I heard a news report this morning on the radio instructing parents what to do when their children come home from school and have an "after school meltdown."
The answer of the psychologist was to give them treats, not require them to do homework and distract them with a movie or other activity to allow them some "down time."
After listening for a few minutes I felt the sense that I should go and vomit. This is where our culture has gone, the children must be worshiped, babied and manipulated to be keep them calm and happy.
The idea that they should be trained to honor and respect, learn self discipline in their feelings and do as they are told by the parental authority, has been thrown away, even treated as wrong or bad.
Perhaps children are having "melt downs" after school because the teachers have not been commanding and stern enough.The children come home and think they should be catered to rather than obey their parent.
When a child will not do what he should unless he likes to or is manipulated into through tricks to make him think it's his own idea, then he has not learned obedience, but has learned that he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to.
We didn't have "melt downs" when we were children, if we did it once it was handled with a spanking and we didn't do it again. We learned self control over our feelings at a young age and we never raged at our parents.
Sadly many parents like myself have given up trying to reason with this very selfish and arrogant generation, in favor of the peace we have without them.
This monstrous generation have no honor or respect, nor are they ever embarrassed or saddened by their disrespect and rebellion. The more they are told they are walking in these ways, the harder their hearts become, the more staunch their resolve to make us suffer for speaking about it.
We are living in the 2 Timothy 3 generation. One that cannot be corrected, instructed or disciplined without consequences to the righteous who expect decency.
Our generation as a whole honored our parents, valued them and sought to be a companion to them. The opposite is true now, our children's generation have a sense of entitlement to praise, material goods and even our homes. We can only expect to be treated with love and dignity if we do and say everything this narcissistic generation likes.
I continue to be astonished at the number of rebellious 30 somethings who still live at home. They contribute nothing to the household, cause nothing but trouble for their aging parents and are ungrateful.
Not everyone who remains at home with parents are this way, but most are sucking resources off of their parents while ungratedful to them, rather they demand things, don't give anything back and are angry when they are told no.
It was common and expected that children left home at 18, either to go to college or get their own jobs, in our day. Now the children think they are entitled to the things their parents have, that the parent worked hard for all their lives.
This, my friends, is what the "self esteem" doctrine has created. The churches have been just as guilty as the public institutions in leading children to believe they are so wonderful they should have anything they want and no one should expect anything out of them.
The "me" generation has rejected authority in varying degrees while treating with disrespect anyone who expects them to act decently and with gratefulness. There is no telling them anything, not even if it would help them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 is now here! We are living it, watching it and grieved about it. Thankfully we do not have to live with it in our own homes, we can say "no" while sending them out the door with a hug and prayers.
Remember this generation is one that are masters of manipulation and guilt tripping, we can ignore that and do what is best for them. Stop the coddling, the praise and the fear of losing them to be able to help them go through some hardship that will grow them. Perhaps they will find Christ because of their trials, we prevent that when we will not allow them to go through what is normal to be strengthened. Life is hard, without that hardship, we help children to remain emotional and spiritual babies all their lives.
"3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Accountability Before God
Those who refuse to be accountable to other believers are walking in stubbornness. They are more concerned about being praised and elevated in the eyes of others than they are in pleasing God and being a blessing to others.
Be sure that accountability is based on truth and not personal opinion or guesses about circumstances.
Also everything must be evaluated on the basis of Scripture not on human traditions or personal desires.
James 5:16 "
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Those who do not want to be accountable very often are those doing the most judging on small matters. They do this because they want to hide, avoiding accountability themselves. Narcissists always accuse and attack their targets to take the spotlight off of their own flaws.
Be sure that accountability is based on truth and not personal opinion or guesses about circumstances.
Also everything must be evaluated on the basis of Scripture not on human traditions or personal desires.
James 5:16 "
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Those who do not want to be accountable very often are those doing the most judging on small matters. They do this because they want to hide, avoiding accountability themselves. Narcissists always accuse and attack their targets to take the spotlight off of their own flaws.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Boldness for Christ
"We have met the enemy and he is us." Walt Kelly
The problems in our country today are growing in part, because we, each one of us, didn't speak out boldly on so many occasions that they cannot be counted.
How many times did someone share with us their wrong or rebellious notions and we stood by silently hoping we can just all be friendly?
We have placed friendliness above righteousness more times than we have elevated truth.
We now live in a culture that throws loved ones under the bus because they dared to challenge someone to evaluate their own decision or thinking process. After all didn't Christ tell us to "admonish, rebuke, correct" daily our brothers and sisters?
Hyper-sensitivity to correction or instruction has created monsters that use the "don't judge" mantra as an excuse to treat those who speak truth with covert contempt. Masterfully hiding their intent so that it can be easily denied later, nevertheless causing harm and disunity. When they don't like the message, no matter how it was delivered, they accuse the truth teller of a rude or mean delivery.
Keep in mind that most people interpret the delivery based on their own attitude. If they are angry inside they will accuse us of anger even though we may not have spoken in anger. They see what they want to see, it validates their own anger.
Why do I write about this? It is simple, if we are aware of tactics we are less likely to be caught off guard and react to it rather than responding with reason. Narcissists count on catching us off guard, if they can get us to overreact or retort without thinking, they can use our out of control response as justification for their own contempt.
The same people who have no conscience about the sin they commit will feel justified and conscienceless over their covertly shabby temperament that is directed at those whose aim is to obey God. Willing to be rejected for standing for truth, the truth teller must continue to speak boldly.
There are those who have stood against abortion and divorce and remarriage, who are maligned for their commitment to God's principles. These bold truth tellers are mocked, lied against and rejected because they love Christ more than they love their own lives. They also have more love for others than they do themselves. Rebellious hearts do not see love, they only see their own wounded ego.
Once a truth teller speaks out, it is then, that they see who their friends really are, the ones who say they will go and pray to see if we have spoken truth, are those who walk in love. Those who don't want the truth will fight, argue and reject us.
The haters who mock and demean truth tellers are no different from factions like Islam who behead people for not thinking the way they think. God said if we so much as hate our brother it is the same as committing murder.
Why do so many "Christians" become enraged when we bring the Word of God to a discussion? Perhaps it's because the Word of God is convicting, shinning the light of truth on a resistant rebellious heart is like pouring gasoline on a campfire.
Our culture has been training people for 40 years to love themselves more than anyone else, it has manifested itself in different forms, but causing the same result. Now, the culture as a whole, is hyper-sensitive to any suggestion that there is need for further prayer and evaluation. Anything less than total validation is not acceptable in this self indulged generation.
We have the bacteria of total self exaltation growing, with no cure except Christ. It is only through confessing of our sinfulness and trusting Christ that will change a heart so completely dedicated to self.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Matthew 22:37-39 "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. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
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."
2 Timothy 3:1-2 "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,"
While the devil is busy turning hearts against the born again believer, God is strengthening us, making us more useful and preparing our reward in heaven for our desire to please Him. Might I encourage you......it is going to get worse! "That's the encouragement?" you might ask. Yes, we can be encouraged when we know it isn't about us that they are angry, but rather against God.
If we can see this life as a training camp for the building of spiritual muscles, it is much easier to remain calm and steadfast in the face of daily opposition. It may not seem like it is daily, but behind the scenes in the spiritual realm the devils are busy twisting minds to do his bidding. Thankfully, for believers, Christ lives in us and we have the strength and wisdom of Christ dwelling in us to be able to continue unscathed. Even through emotional ups and downs, we are able to ignore the feelings and carry on in the path God has laid out for us.
The battle seems long, but it is soon over and eternity will be worth it all. Hallelujah!!!
The problems in our country today are growing in part, because we, each one of us, didn't speak out boldly on so many occasions that they cannot be counted.
How many times did someone share with us their wrong or rebellious notions and we stood by silently hoping we can just all be friendly?
We have placed friendliness above righteousness more times than we have elevated truth.
We now live in a culture that throws loved ones under the bus because they dared to challenge someone to evaluate their own decision or thinking process. After all didn't Christ tell us to "admonish, rebuke, correct" daily our brothers and sisters?
Hyper-sensitivity to correction or instruction has created monsters that use the "don't judge" mantra as an excuse to treat those who speak truth with covert contempt. Masterfully hiding their intent so that it can be easily denied later, nevertheless causing harm and disunity. When they don't like the message, no matter how it was delivered, they accuse the truth teller of a rude or mean delivery.
Keep in mind that most people interpret the delivery based on their own attitude. If they are angry inside they will accuse us of anger even though we may not have spoken in anger. They see what they want to see, it validates their own anger.
Why do I write about this? It is simple, if we are aware of tactics we are less likely to be caught off guard and react to it rather than responding with reason. Narcissists count on catching us off guard, if they can get us to overreact or retort without thinking, they can use our out of control response as justification for their own contempt.
The same people who have no conscience about the sin they commit will feel justified and conscienceless over their covertly shabby temperament that is directed at those whose aim is to obey God. Willing to be rejected for standing for truth, the truth teller must continue to speak boldly.
There are those who have stood against abortion and divorce and remarriage, who are maligned for their commitment to God's principles. These bold truth tellers are mocked, lied against and rejected because they love Christ more than they love their own lives. They also have more love for others than they do themselves. Rebellious hearts do not see love, they only see their own wounded ego.
Once a truth teller speaks out, it is then, that they see who their friends really are, the ones who say they will go and pray to see if we have spoken truth, are those who walk in love. Those who don't want the truth will fight, argue and reject us.
The haters who mock and demean truth tellers are no different from factions like Islam who behead people for not thinking the way they think. God said if we so much as hate our brother it is the same as committing murder.
Why do so many "Christians" become enraged when we bring the Word of God to a discussion? Perhaps it's because the Word of God is convicting, shinning the light of truth on a resistant rebellious heart is like pouring gasoline on a campfire.
Our culture has been training people for 40 years to love themselves more than anyone else, it has manifested itself in different forms, but causing the same result. Now, the culture as a whole, is hyper-sensitive to any suggestion that there is need for further prayer and evaluation. Anything less than total validation is not acceptable in this self indulged generation.
We have the bacteria of total self exaltation growing, with no cure except Christ. It is only through confessing of our sinfulness and trusting Christ that will change a heart so completely dedicated to self.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Matthew 22:37-39 "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. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
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."
2 Timothy 3:1-2 "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,"
While the devil is busy turning hearts against the born again believer, God is strengthening us, making us more useful and preparing our reward in heaven for our desire to please Him. Might I encourage you......it is going to get worse! "That's the encouragement?" you might ask. Yes, we can be encouraged when we know it isn't about us that they are angry, but rather against God.
If we can see this life as a training camp for the building of spiritual muscles, it is much easier to remain calm and steadfast in the face of daily opposition. It may not seem like it is daily, but behind the scenes in the spiritual realm the devils are busy twisting minds to do his bidding. Thankfully, for believers, Christ lives in us and we have the strength and wisdom of Christ dwelling in us to be able to continue unscathed. Even through emotional ups and downs, we are able to ignore the feelings and carry on in the path God has laid out for us.
The battle seems long, but it is soon over and eternity will be worth it all. Hallelujah!!!
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Giving the Right Way
When we are evaluating whether or not to give to the homeless or the poor we need to be discerning. If we do not "vet" the homeless and needy, making sure they are not on drugs or alcohol, or homeless by choice because they are lazy.
As an organization, just passing out stuff to anyone is not wise, nor is it Biblical. When we pass out things without evaluating the situation we are merely attempting to make ourselves feel good about giving rather than really showing concern for those in need.
The ridiculous way the city of Portland is handling the homeless is placing a terrible burden on neighborhoods where families reside. These families have children who cannot play in their neighborhoods freely without worry. The homeless in the area urinate on their properties, leave drug needles and other paraphernalia lying around and even approach passers by begging while acting hostile when anyone says no to them. These are not homeless families who happen to be down on their luck, they are people generally who have dropped out of life due to terrible choices. Their greatest need is the Gospel of Christ and instruction in how to get out of their condition.
I am all for feeding someone who approaches me. I never give money but would buy them a sandwich or something to eat. Most people who are homeless in our region are going to waste money on drugs or booze.
2 Thessalonians 3:9-11 "…9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies."…
I have met lots of people who refuse to accept help to clean up their lives but will take anything free they can get their hands on. I also know those who don't need the handout but take it because it is free. We need to be asking questions and directing people to the proper help, not just handing out free stuff because it makes us feel good.
It's easy to hand things out, it is more difficult to offer assistance in the form of training that will bring them a lifestyle of success. Unfortunately most homeless don't want to be helped in this way.
When we depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us in our giving, then it will be pleasing to Him. We want to be generous and loving but we want to do it wisely, God's way.
A wise man once said, "give a man a fish and he eats for one day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime."
As an organization, just passing out stuff to anyone is not wise, nor is it Biblical. When we pass out things without evaluating the situation we are merely attempting to make ourselves feel good about giving rather than really showing concern for those in need.
The ridiculous way the city of Portland is handling the homeless is placing a terrible burden on neighborhoods where families reside. These families have children who cannot play in their neighborhoods freely without worry. The homeless in the area urinate on their properties, leave drug needles and other paraphernalia lying around and even approach passers by begging while acting hostile when anyone says no to them. These are not homeless families who happen to be down on their luck, they are people generally who have dropped out of life due to terrible choices. Their greatest need is the Gospel of Christ and instruction in how to get out of their condition.
I am all for feeding someone who approaches me. I never give money but would buy them a sandwich or something to eat. Most people who are homeless in our region are going to waste money on drugs or booze.
2 Thessalonians 3:9-11 "…9 Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate. 10 For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies."…
I have met lots of people who refuse to accept help to clean up their lives but will take anything free they can get their hands on. I also know those who don't need the handout but take it because it is free. We need to be asking questions and directing people to the proper help, not just handing out free stuff because it makes us feel good.
It's easy to hand things out, it is more difficult to offer assistance in the form of training that will bring them a lifestyle of success. Unfortunately most homeless don't want to be helped in this way.
When we depend on the Holy Spirit to guide us in our giving, then it will be pleasing to Him. We want to be generous and loving but we want to do it wisely, God's way.
A wise man once said, "give a man a fish and he eats for one day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime."
Liberal or Conservative Won't Save You
Liberals (narcissists) hate anything that brings standards that they should follow. They want the freedom to do anything they want without any consequences, their god is freedom itself. Unlike Christianity, freedom for the liberal means no responsibility for anything and anyone who would challenge them is on their hate list.
Even conservatives who share Christian values but despise correction or instruction are willing participants in the destruction of our culture.
"Conservative" does not necessarily mean "Christian", many people can be decent citizens without being Christian, but they will always be somewhat hostile to believers when believers express their opinion about the need to submit to Christ.
This life is not about "Conservative" or "liberal", no one will get into heaven because they claim to be good people no matter which stripe they claim. Only trusting Christ will bring salvation.
When we trust Christ, grateful for His payment for our sin on the cross, confessing that we want Him to change us into a new creation, then and only then will His Holy Spirit come and dwell in us to begin the process of changing us.
We should be growing our entire lives in holiness. However we will only grow in direct proportions to how much we seek Him and submit to Him. Those who do not grow, remaining spiritual babies their entire lives, may have become born again, but have missed the opportunity to grow by ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit and resisting His correction. When we resist the Holy Spirit He will stop talking until we confess the sin of stubbornness.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
Even conservatives who share Christian values but despise correction or instruction are willing participants in the destruction of our culture.
"Conservative" does not necessarily mean "Christian", many people can be decent citizens without being Christian, but they will always be somewhat hostile to believers when believers express their opinion about the need to submit to Christ.
This life is not about "Conservative" or "liberal", no one will get into heaven because they claim to be good people no matter which stripe they claim. Only trusting Christ will bring salvation.
When we trust Christ, grateful for His payment for our sin on the cross, confessing that we want Him to change us into a new creation, then and only then will His Holy Spirit come and dwell in us to begin the process of changing us.
We should be growing our entire lives in holiness. However we will only grow in direct proportions to how much we seek Him and submit to Him. Those who do not grow, remaining spiritual babies their entire lives, may have become born again, but have missed the opportunity to grow by ignoring the promptings of the Holy Spirit and resisting His correction. When we resist the Holy Spirit He will stop talking until we confess the sin of stubbornness.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as one being snatched from the fire. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
1 John 1:8-10 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
Saturday, September 10, 2016
He Who Began A Good Work
Christ died for our sin, there is no time with God, our past present and future is all the same to Christ . His blood covers our sins, we are not judged unsaved because of a sin, we are disciplined but not thrown away.
Philippians 1:5-6 "5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
No man can live up to God's standard of sinlessness in this life. Only Christ in us is sinless and His blood covers us. Just like the account of the Jews protected by the blood smeared on the doorposts when the Spirit of God saw the blood and passed over the Jews for judgement, so are we covered in Christ's blood.
None of my attempts to be good will gain me heaven, before or after salvation. It's all about Christ. When I trusted what He did for me, then He imputed to me His sacrifice on the cross, because you see...I could not die for my sins, it had to be a Sinless Perfect One Who did that, I do not qualify. Just as I cannot die for my sin, how silly to think that I could try real hard to be good to keep salvation that required the death of the perfect sinless God?
I am thankful that Christ took it all upon Himself, that I might be seen as righteous. His righteousness is accounted to me.
Even the smallest sin could have kept us out of heaven, but because of Christ NO sin will keep us out if we have trusted Him. HOWEVER, when we become born again He changes our desires, we no longer want to sin, but we sometimes fail. That's why Christ gave us 1 John 1:9, written to believers.
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
AND, 1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
Only those who belong to Christ have an advocate. They have an advocate because they sin.
We do not want to sin, we hate it, but we fail, that failure does not lose us salvation, it may make us miserable, the consequences may overwhelm us so that we will confess that sin and return to fellowship with Christ.
We cannot lose our salvation if we have been born again into a new creation, but we can lose fellowship with Christ until we confess and return to obedience. When we refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit that lives in us, then He will stop speaking to us until we come back into fellowship with Him through humble submission.
1 Corinthians 1:8-10
"…8 He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.…"
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish (silence) the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
Keep in mind that disobedience to Christ can leave us with very sad and devastating consequences, often life long. We cannot expect to test God and remain unscathed by the affects of sin.
Philippians 1:5-6 "5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
No man can live up to God's standard of sinlessness in this life. Only Christ in us is sinless and His blood covers us. Just like the account of the Jews protected by the blood smeared on the doorposts when the Spirit of God saw the blood and passed over the Jews for judgement, so are we covered in Christ's blood.
None of my attempts to be good will gain me heaven, before or after salvation. It's all about Christ. When I trusted what He did for me, then He imputed to me His sacrifice on the cross, because you see...I could not die for my sins, it had to be a Sinless Perfect One Who did that, I do not qualify. Just as I cannot die for my sin, how silly to think that I could try real hard to be good to keep salvation that required the death of the perfect sinless God?
I am thankful that Christ took it all upon Himself, that I might be seen as righteous. His righteousness is accounted to me.
Even the smallest sin could have kept us out of heaven, but because of Christ NO sin will keep us out if we have trusted Him. HOWEVER, when we become born again He changes our desires, we no longer want to sin, but we sometimes fail. That's why Christ gave us 1 John 1:9, written to believers.
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
AND, 1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
Only those who belong to Christ have an advocate. They have an advocate because they sin.
We do not want to sin, we hate it, but we fail, that failure does not lose us salvation, it may make us miserable, the consequences may overwhelm us so that we will confess that sin and return to fellowship with Christ.
We cannot lose our salvation if we have been born again into a new creation, but we can lose fellowship with Christ until we confess and return to obedience. When we refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit that lives in us, then He will stop speaking to us until we come back into fellowship with Him through humble submission.
1 Corinthians 1:8-10
"…8 He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.…"
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 "…18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish (silence) the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
Keep in mind that disobedience to Christ can leave us with very sad and devastating consequences, often life long. We cannot expect to test God and remain unscathed by the affects of sin.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Nothing or No One Above God
Unity comes when the Holy Spirit is obeyed and when we obey God's principles. Unity is never compromising truth just to get along. It is error that is divisive.
One time many years ago a friend told me that we must compromise the Gospel for the sake of unity. Sadly this is what many people are being taught today.
Who is our god when people's feelings and desires are placed above God? Think about it!
One time many years ago a friend told me that we must compromise the Gospel for the sake of unity. Sadly this is what many people are being taught today.
Who is our god when people's feelings and desires are placed above God? Think about it!
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