Darkness is nothing, it is merely the absence of light. Without Christ there is only darkness in the soul of man. With Christ we possess the light that brings all things good.
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Reviled Because of Christ
I know of those who are so contentious that they negate everything others say and do.
If it isn't what they would do or like they mock it, working to demean anyone who does not do or say what they do or say.
These people are fools, their desire to be superior destroys any chance they have of rational evaluation, as well as any relationship of value.
These people believe they know everything and everyone else is stupid.
Here's what God says about it. If we find ourselves acting or speaking in a superior fashion, then we fit into this category:
Proverbs 29:8-10 "…8 Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger. 9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest. 10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright are concerned for his life.…"
Those who love to elevate themselves above others always mock and demean anything that is not their own idea. They will even use the ideas of others claiming it was theirs in the first place.
These mockers are self righteous and judgmental over things that do not matter and accept no one who doesn't treat them with special honor.
When we meet a mocker, they will see everyone who does not elevate them, as an enemy to be destroyed. This is exactly what the Pharisees did to Christ. They hated Him because He was righteous, because He did good deeds and because He told the truth. They claimed He did and said things that He didn't, to discredit Him in the eyes of others.
Galatians 4:16-17 "16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you will be zealous for them."
They will often attempt to isolate you from those that would benefit and love you, so that you will have no one but them. They are less likely to be able to destroy you, if you have allies.
Arrogant mockers always see righteous people as the enemy and someone to be conquered.
Praise the Lord for His testimony! He was treated in spiteful ways too, when all He did was good and righteous. They concocted lies about Him to isolate him from others.
Matthew 12:23-25 "…23 The crowds were all amazed and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons,” does this man drive out demons. 25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.…"
The same tactics the devil used in Christ's day are the ones they use in our day. Anyone who loves the Lord and tells the truth will be a target for these modern day Pharisees. Those who attack believers unjustly will be divided against one another.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 "…8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and abolish by the majesty of His arrival. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.…"
Those who are rebellious against God also be ravenously against God's children.
1 Peter 4:12-14 "12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
If it isn't what they would do or like they mock it, working to demean anyone who does not do or say what they do or say.
These people are fools, their desire to be superior destroys any chance they have of rational evaluation, as well as any relationship of value.
These people believe they know everything and everyone else is stupid.
Here's what God says about it. If we find ourselves acting or speaking in a superior fashion, then we fit into this category:
Proverbs 29:8-10 "…8 Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger. 9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest. 10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright are concerned for his life.…"
Those who love to elevate themselves above others always mock and demean anything that is not their own idea. They will even use the ideas of others claiming it was theirs in the first place.
These mockers are self righteous and judgmental over things that do not matter and accept no one who doesn't treat them with special honor.
When we meet a mocker, they will see everyone who does not elevate them, as an enemy to be destroyed. This is exactly what the Pharisees did to Christ. They hated Him because He was righteous, because He did good deeds and because He told the truth. They claimed He did and said things that He didn't, to discredit Him in the eyes of others.
Galatians 4:16-17 "16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you will be zealous for them."
They will often attempt to isolate you from those that would benefit and love you, so that you will have no one but them. They are less likely to be able to destroy you, if you have allies.
Arrogant mockers always see righteous people as the enemy and someone to be conquered.
Praise the Lord for His testimony! He was treated in spiteful ways too, when all He did was good and righteous. They concocted lies about Him to isolate him from others.
Matthew 12:23-25 "…23 The crowds were all amazed and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons,” does this man drive out demons. 25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.…"
The same tactics the devil used in Christ's day are the ones they use in our day. Anyone who loves the Lord and tells the truth will be a target for these modern day Pharisees. Those who attack believers unjustly will be divided against one another.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 "…8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and abolish by the majesty of His arrival. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, 10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.…"
Those who are rebellious against God also be ravenously against God's children.
1 Peter 4:12-14 "12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
Never Deny the Experiences of Others
When we deny what we are going through to appear spiritual, we are lying. Tell the truth, while trusting Christ. Chances are good if we deny the truth of our trials to appear superior, we will also deny the trials of others for the same reason.
Romans 12:15
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
We cannot weep with those who weep if we deny their reality. We cannot laugh with those who laugh if we will not also share in all aspects of the lives of others. God wants us to deeply love others, that means we will feel what they feel, we will connect with their struggles as well as their joys.
When Christ sets us free, we are free to express ourselves in truth, knowing that He has the solutions and the strength that we need to endure them.
Never negate another brother or sisters reality, empathize, encourage and pray for, but never judge something that is not sin or negate what they are experiencing.
James 1:2-12
"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.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Romans 12:15
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
We cannot weep with those who weep if we deny their reality. We cannot laugh with those who laugh if we will not also share in all aspects of the lives of others. God wants us to deeply love others, that means we will feel what they feel, we will connect with their struggles as well as their joys.
When Christ sets us free, we are free to express ourselves in truth, knowing that He has the solutions and the strength that we need to endure them.
Never negate another brother or sisters reality, empathize, encourage and pray for, but never judge something that is not sin or negate what they are experiencing.
James 1:2-12
"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.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
The Message of the Eclipse
My husband and I traveled 2 and 1/2 hours to see the eclipse in the path of totality to the apartment of our grandaughter, grandson and their friends.
I had not expected it to be as dramatic as it was. The only real reasons I saw to go, was my husbands interest in science and to be with our grandchildren. The visit was wonderful as well as what followed.
The eclipse was amazing and wonderful, causing me to want to worship as I watched the very power of God through His creation. After it was over we said our goodbyes and traveled 120 miles, normally taking us 2 and 1/2 hours, morphing into 9 hours before we reached home. 20 miles an hour, in most places was the pace at which we crawled along, sometimes stopped for several minutes.
The traffic was horrific but the experience was worth it. I had read writings from so called prophets and prophetesses that this may be a warning from God for America. I didn't think it had that much significance as a "warning", these events happen around the world every year.
It was however a once in a lifetime event for our region. Also, I do not take the "warnings" seriously because God has given me everything I need to know in the Word to trust Him for each day until He takes us home.
As I watched the moon slowly, over a period of about an hour, obscure small bites of the sun, it began to get colder on the one thousand high hill where we were. Then it happened, the sun was gone, with only a tiny sliver of sun showing around the edges, while the temperature dropped dramatically, even becoming chilly, when before that it was hot outside, for less than two minutes.
As the sun was obscured at totality, I felt an amazing sense of wanting to worship. There were about a hundred people in that secluded place, suddenly the crowd erupted in cheers and shouts at the total obliteration of the sun's light except for that sliver of light encasing the edge of the moon. It was an eerie and wonderful cool darkness with just enough light to still be able to see, as a though standing in the shadows.
Then the Lord explained the meaning of this event to me. It was not a warning to us about pending doom, although we deserve it and later it may come.
This was a show of God's power and majesty, the creation He made was obeying His command to show what He demonstrates frequently in nature, that He is all powerful, that His creation is beyond human understanding. Humans have no ability to altar what God has done or what He will do in the future.
Romans 1:19-21 "…19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.…"
This amazing event was God showing, through His creation, Who He is. Perhaps this is just one more demonstration of His power and might to draw the unbelieving heart to Him. He is shouting, "see Who I am."
Most who watched the event did not understand the significance of this, the power of God and His majesty were glorified, but they didn't know it.
The cheers that came from the crowd as the sun was darkened, made me realize that God was showing us another principle at play. That is that the Son of God is being hidden by the world. The more the Son has been removed from the culture, the more loudly they cheer.
The ungodly cheered when Christ was on the cross, they loved that he was, in their minds, "destroyed."
Most people saw this as nothing more than an exciting natural event. But I saw it as much greater than that, not as warning for coming things, but as a demonstration of the heart of man in response to the Savior.
I will repeat what God said in Romans 1, God has been showing us all down through the ages Who He is, but mankind would rather worship self and nature than the God who made both.
Romans 1:20-21 "…20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,…"
Was this a warning for America? I do not believe so, but it was from God that He is the God of creation, showing the world one more time that without Him, we would not exist, this world would not exist and there would be no salvation for man. Christ is the Son that died for us, and the world is blocking Him out.
I had not expected it to be as dramatic as it was. The only real reasons I saw to go, was my husbands interest in science and to be with our grandchildren. The visit was wonderful as well as what followed.
The eclipse was amazing and wonderful, causing me to want to worship as I watched the very power of God through His creation. After it was over we said our goodbyes and traveled 120 miles, normally taking us 2 and 1/2 hours, morphing into 9 hours before we reached home. 20 miles an hour, in most places was the pace at which we crawled along, sometimes stopped for several minutes.
The traffic was horrific but the experience was worth it. I had read writings from so called prophets and prophetesses that this may be a warning from God for America. I didn't think it had that much significance as a "warning", these events happen around the world every year.
It was however a once in a lifetime event for our region. Also, I do not take the "warnings" seriously because God has given me everything I need to know in the Word to trust Him for each day until He takes us home.
As I watched the moon slowly, over a period of about an hour, obscure small bites of the sun, it began to get colder on the one thousand high hill where we were. Then it happened, the sun was gone, with only a tiny sliver of sun showing around the edges, while the temperature dropped dramatically, even becoming chilly, when before that it was hot outside, for less than two minutes.
As the sun was obscured at totality, I felt an amazing sense of wanting to worship. There were about a hundred people in that secluded place, suddenly the crowd erupted in cheers and shouts at the total obliteration of the sun's light except for that sliver of light encasing the edge of the moon. It was an eerie and wonderful cool darkness with just enough light to still be able to see, as a though standing in the shadows.
Then the Lord explained the meaning of this event to me. It was not a warning to us about pending doom, although we deserve it and later it may come.
This was a show of God's power and majesty, the creation He made was obeying His command to show what He demonstrates frequently in nature, that He is all powerful, that His creation is beyond human understanding. Humans have no ability to altar what God has done or what He will do in the future.
Romans 1:19-21 "…19 For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.…"
This amazing event was God showing, through His creation, Who He is. Perhaps this is just one more demonstration of His power and might to draw the unbelieving heart to Him. He is shouting, "see Who I am."
Most who watched the event did not understand the significance of this, the power of God and His majesty were glorified, but they didn't know it.
The cheers that came from the crowd as the sun was darkened, made me realize that God was showing us another principle at play. That is that the Son of God is being hidden by the world. The more the Son has been removed from the culture, the more loudly they cheer.
The ungodly cheered when Christ was on the cross, they loved that he was, in their minds, "destroyed."
Most people saw this as nothing more than an exciting natural event. But I saw it as much greater than that, not as warning for coming things, but as a demonstration of the heart of man in response to the Savior.
I will repeat what God said in Romans 1, God has been showing us all down through the ages Who He is, but mankind would rather worship self and nature than the God who made both.
Romans 1:20-21 "…20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,…"
Was this a warning for America? I do not believe so, but it was from God that He is the God of creation, showing the world one more time that without Him, we would not exist, this world would not exist and there would be no salvation for man. Christ is the Son that died for us, and the world is blocking Him out.
Do We Allow Him?
Isaiah 30:18
God Is Gracious and Just
18 "Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him."
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Bullying the New Norm
Silliness abounds! Bullying is now the new norm.
I wonder what the anarchists would tear down if there were no statues. I have a feeling they are nothing more than bullies and thugs who want something to destroy so they "blame" the statues for all of America's problems when in fact they themselves are the problem.
Rebellion is growing, hate and anger is growing as people step away from the gospel to self righteousness and self exaltation. All those who think they have a right to be "special", are the ones who are destroying the lives of others as well as their possessions.
2 Timothy 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.
6 For among them are those who [c]enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
I wonder what the anarchists would tear down if there were no statues. I have a feeling they are nothing more than bullies and thugs who want something to destroy so they "blame" the statues for all of America's problems when in fact they themselves are the problem.
Rebellion is growing, hate and anger is growing as people step away from the gospel to self righteousness and self exaltation. All those who think they have a right to be "special", are the ones who are destroying the lives of others as well as their possessions.
2 Timothy 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.
6 For among them are those who [c]enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.
10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!
12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Trusting Christ Testing Man
If anyone is trusting the teachings they received in Bible school or seminary, then they are not trusting Christ.
Sadly many people who attend these establishments think they are being told pure unadulterated truth, when often they are being indoctrinated into the thinking of men rather than the teachings of Christ.
They are being trained to believe that those who do not have human institutional training cannot possibly know the truths of the Bible. Even though they would say they don't think like this, they demonstrate that they do, by their arrogance in refusing to listen to anyone led by the Holy Spirit, who has not been trained in these institutions.
All you need is Christ, good teaching is beneficial, but all that comes from the mouth of man must be evaluated by the Word of God. To believe someone simply because they went to an institution that claimed Christianity, is to place one's trust in man rather than Christ.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
For 1700 years after Christ made His sacrifice on the cross, there were no seminaries or Bible schools in the world. Men and Women of God were led by the Holy Spirit, their dependence on Him left them with greater wisdom and devotion to Him than we see today. Authentic believer's faith was greater because they depended entirely on Christ for their guidance.
We have more Bible schools and seminaries today in the world than ever before and far more apostasy among congregations. This is because our reliance on human wisdom and the acceptance of man has dominated our thinking. Very few believers are willing to stand alone to walk with Christ.
Luke 14:25-27
Discipleship Tested
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. "
Sadly many people who attend these establishments think they are being told pure unadulterated truth, when often they are being indoctrinated into the thinking of men rather than the teachings of Christ.
They are being trained to believe that those who do not have human institutional training cannot possibly know the truths of the Bible. Even though they would say they don't think like this, they demonstrate that they do, by their arrogance in refusing to listen to anyone led by the Holy Spirit, who has not been trained in these institutions.
All you need is Christ, good teaching is beneficial, but all that comes from the mouth of man must be evaluated by the Word of God. To believe someone simply because they went to an institution that claimed Christianity, is to place one's trust in man rather than Christ.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
For 1700 years after Christ made His sacrifice on the cross, there were no seminaries or Bible schools in the world. Men and Women of God were led by the Holy Spirit, their dependence on Him left them with greater wisdom and devotion to Him than we see today. Authentic believer's faith was greater because they depended entirely on Christ for their guidance.
We have more Bible schools and seminaries today in the world than ever before and far more apostasy among congregations. This is because our reliance on human wisdom and the acceptance of man has dominated our thinking. Very few believers are willing to stand alone to walk with Christ.
Luke 14:25-27
Discipleship Tested
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. "
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)