Friday, June 1, 2018
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Pretense or Genuine
If we are godly on the inside it will show on the outside. The inside comes first. So often ritualistic people attempt to clean up someone's outside before there is a heart change. Only managing to cover up the darkness that is inside, leaving everyone believing everything is alright. When we cover up the darkness on the inside to please others, we are walking in hypocrisy.
When Christ makes a change in someone, then that change will be permanent and real. When someone tries to pretend on the outside without a heart change, then it does not last and those watching become shocked that the one who looked so good returned to their vomit eventually.
Man cannot keep up pretenses, eventually they will fall back to the old unregenerate self for all to see.
When Christ does the cleaning we are changed never to return to what we were in the past. Hallelujah!!!!
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
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."
When Christ makes a change in someone, then that change will be permanent and real. When someone tries to pretend on the outside without a heart change, then it does not last and those watching become shocked that the one who looked so good returned to their vomit eventually.
Man cannot keep up pretenses, eventually they will fall back to the old unregenerate self for all to see.
When Christ does the cleaning we are changed never to return to what we were in the past. Hallelujah!!!!
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
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."
Mark 3 Enlightens Us
Mark 3: read it to learn how you will be treated when you seek to follow Christ.
Mark 3 is a perfect example of the lengths to which rebellious people will go to silence those who uphold righteousness.
The Pharisees were hell bent on making Jesus Christ look like the bad guy when all He did was good His entire life.
When He healed the sick, they criticized Him for healing on the Sabbath and assigned to Him the power of the devil in casting out demons. I suspect that they were jealous that He healed at all, they had no power to do it, so they undermined His reputation through their accusations and gossip.
This is what we can expect as believers. We will do good things and be accused of evil motives or faulty thinking, when actually we obeyed God.
If you set a nice table for guests you will be accused of putting on heirs. If we choose to avoid wicked family gatherings we will be accused of snobbery. When we choose not to attend the wedding of divorced and remarried people we will be criticized, even called hateful and judgmental. Notice they are judging that we are judging. Irrational and controlling people are never consistent because everything they do is based on emotion rather than reasonable facts.
All one has to do as a born again believer is obey Christ and you find yourself under attack.
I recall the time a friend's family decided not to have a television anymore. They found it distracting to the family time and school work, not to mention all the evil that the children thought they wanted to watch.
After the decision to throw out the television, without telling anyone else about it, the relatives came to their home, noticed it was gone, asking why. After receiving the answer the relatives called the parents self righteous, even saying they thought they were better than everyone else.
Sometimes I am astonished that believers will judge someone over the removal of a television but those same people will become enraged if anyone else calls them to account over real and damaging sin in their lives.
Was removing the television from their home a wicked or self-righteous thing? NO, it was a personal choice for the family that pertained to them alone, and yet they were "judged" for their own choice in their own home.
When extended family feel free to judge non-sin issues merely to appear superior, that is when it is time to remove the family from those who would undermine our personal choices in order to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is convicting to those who love their rebellion. Those who want to be free from conviction of any kind will rage at us for our own personal choices.
I noticed too over the years that those who judge on non-sin issues, usually about home decorating or clothing styles, have little depth when it comes to spiritual matters, even though they claim to be "Christian."
Those who love to act superior over us based on our own personal choices for our life that are not sin, are themselves self-righteous. These people hate that we are moving forward in spiritual growth, leaving behind all the bondages of the superficial life style.
Narcissists always want us to be inferior to them and they are enraged when we do not follow their way. The anger builds inside of them, this is why they rage at the silliest things, they are releasing their anger, sort of like a relief valve. They cannot hold in the contempt very long, it must be released for them to "feel" better, but only for that one time, it will have to be released again, the next time we make our own choices.
Proverbs 29:9 "If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest."
The purpose of these little essays? Its simple, when we understand the enemy we are not in bondage to their tricks. When we are confident that we are obeying Christ, the enemy has no power over our decisions and we do not live in fear of the reactions of others over our own personal choices.
Hallelujah!!!!
Mark 3 is a perfect example of the lengths to which rebellious people will go to silence those who uphold righteousness.
The Pharisees were hell bent on making Jesus Christ look like the bad guy when all He did was good His entire life.
When He healed the sick, they criticized Him for healing on the Sabbath and assigned to Him the power of the devil in casting out demons. I suspect that they were jealous that He healed at all, they had no power to do it, so they undermined His reputation through their accusations and gossip.
This is what we can expect as believers. We will do good things and be accused of evil motives or faulty thinking, when actually we obeyed God.
If you set a nice table for guests you will be accused of putting on heirs. If we choose to avoid wicked family gatherings we will be accused of snobbery. When we choose not to attend the wedding of divorced and remarried people we will be criticized, even called hateful and judgmental. Notice they are judging that we are judging. Irrational and controlling people are never consistent because everything they do is based on emotion rather than reasonable facts.
All one has to do as a born again believer is obey Christ and you find yourself under attack.
I recall the time a friend's family decided not to have a television anymore. They found it distracting to the family time and school work, not to mention all the evil that the children thought they wanted to watch.
After the decision to throw out the television, without telling anyone else about it, the relatives came to their home, noticed it was gone, asking why. After receiving the answer the relatives called the parents self righteous, even saying they thought they were better than everyone else.
Sometimes I am astonished that believers will judge someone over the removal of a television but those same people will become enraged if anyone else calls them to account over real and damaging sin in their lives.
Was removing the television from their home a wicked or self-righteous thing? NO, it was a personal choice for the family that pertained to them alone, and yet they were "judged" for their own choice in their own home.
When extended family feel free to judge non-sin issues merely to appear superior, that is when it is time to remove the family from those who would undermine our personal choices in order to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is convicting to those who love their rebellion. Those who want to be free from conviction of any kind will rage at us for our own personal choices.
I noticed too over the years that those who judge on non-sin issues, usually about home decorating or clothing styles, have little depth when it comes to spiritual matters, even though they claim to be "Christian."
Those who love to act superior over us based on our own personal choices for our life that are not sin, are themselves self-righteous. These people hate that we are moving forward in spiritual growth, leaving behind all the bondages of the superficial life style.
Narcissists always want us to be inferior to them and they are enraged when we do not follow their way. The anger builds inside of them, this is why they rage at the silliest things, they are releasing their anger, sort of like a relief valve. They cannot hold in the contempt very long, it must be released for them to "feel" better, but only for that one time, it will have to be released again, the next time we make our own choices.
Proverbs 29:9 "If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest."
The purpose of these little essays? Its simple, when we understand the enemy we are not in bondage to their tricks. When we are confident that we are obeying Christ, the enemy has no power over our decisions and we do not live in fear of the reactions of others over our own personal choices.
Hallelujah!!!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
They Must Worship Themselves
Anyone who thinks they never sin after salvation must worship themselves. Just blocked another "sinless perfection" advocate, who actually had the gall to tell me he never sins. My answer: He sins by believing he never sins.
1 John 1:9-10…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.
It must be awful being married to someone who believes they never sin, there must never be any apologies or confessions and that means no cleansing. Oops!
If we never sinned after salvation then there would be no need for Christ's blood to pay for or cover our sins.
1 John 1:9-10…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.
It must be awful being married to someone who believes they never sin, there must never be any apologies or confessions and that means no cleansing. Oops!
If we never sinned after salvation then there would be no need for Christ's blood to pay for or cover our sins.
Go Into the Closet
I became ravenous soon after I became born again. Sad though, as I grew in the Lord, all those other Christians that I elevated seemed superficial, they were no help at all and even became jealous at my new life.
The closer I became to the Lord over the years the fewer believers I had for friends. I though this; "now that I am born again I will be close to the Christian family members", just the opposite happened.
Those that saw my new fanaticism to actually obey the Scriptures were irritated, even jealous when I would correct their wrong thinking with Scripture.
There was a lady that wanted to impress me. She had gone to a "prayer seminar" on how to pray. This lady told me she wanted to be a better prayer, or "prayer warrior", as she put it.
I looked at the notebook from her seminar with exhaustion, it was many pages on how to pray. Included in it was the "prayer walk", praying over the bridges as one walked around town. Then it taught how to walk the neighborhood and pray for the people. There was no need to actually speak to the neighbors unless the Lord led, just walk through and pray.
I was so overwhelmed with this ritual that I finally said, "if I thought praying was that hard I would just give up." I had read the prayer the Lord gave us, the principles in it in a short paragraph, that's all I needed.
I saw no scriptural basis for the "prayer walk", just the same kind of ritual that I came out of when I left the Catholic church.
Of course I was treated as though I were just ignorant about prayer, after all, I wasn't as spiritual as the other family members so they paid me no mind.
There were many instances like this in which the superficial and ritualistic protestant church goers were practicing that I could not enjoy or join with them. It wasn't very long before I found myself being avoided, ignored and even mocked at times for not fawning all over their rituals and superiority.
I was relieved as I grew in the Lord that living the Christ like walk was very simple, the prayer was heart felt and in my own words according to the model Christ gave us. I don't walk bridges, but I do pray for the neighborhood. I don't light candles or use mantras, I just speak my thoughts to God all the time throughout the day. As He speaks to me I rejoice that He actually spoke to ME, little ole nothing me, that's just how much He loves me.
He is not looking for fancy ways to pray or mantras, He is looking for a heart that wants to communicate with Him.
Giving human formulas does not help people, it just overwhelms those who just want to love their Lord.
My advice is just to get rid of all the human formulas, the fancy seminars to fit in, just read the word, talk to God and love His fellowship.
Matthew 6:6-8 "…6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.…"
Did we get this? God never said to go over the bridges and neighborhoods to pray, He said to go into your room alone where no one can see you. Hmmm!!!!! That ought to tell us something about the neighborhood prayer ritual.
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]"
There it is, God's direction in our prayers!!!! Nothing more than this is needed.
The closer I became to the Lord over the years the fewer believers I had for friends. I though this; "now that I am born again I will be close to the Christian family members", just the opposite happened.
Those that saw my new fanaticism to actually obey the Scriptures were irritated, even jealous when I would correct their wrong thinking with Scripture.
There was a lady that wanted to impress me. She had gone to a "prayer seminar" on how to pray. This lady told me she wanted to be a better prayer, or "prayer warrior", as she put it.
I looked at the notebook from her seminar with exhaustion, it was many pages on how to pray. Included in it was the "prayer walk", praying over the bridges as one walked around town. Then it taught how to walk the neighborhood and pray for the people. There was no need to actually speak to the neighbors unless the Lord led, just walk through and pray.
I was so overwhelmed with this ritual that I finally said, "if I thought praying was that hard I would just give up." I had read the prayer the Lord gave us, the principles in it in a short paragraph, that's all I needed.
I saw no scriptural basis for the "prayer walk", just the same kind of ritual that I came out of when I left the Catholic church.
Of course I was treated as though I were just ignorant about prayer, after all, I wasn't as spiritual as the other family members so they paid me no mind.
There were many instances like this in which the superficial and ritualistic protestant church goers were practicing that I could not enjoy or join with them. It wasn't very long before I found myself being avoided, ignored and even mocked at times for not fawning all over their rituals and superiority.
I was relieved as I grew in the Lord that living the Christ like walk was very simple, the prayer was heart felt and in my own words according to the model Christ gave us. I don't walk bridges, but I do pray for the neighborhood. I don't light candles or use mantras, I just speak my thoughts to God all the time throughout the day. As He speaks to me I rejoice that He actually spoke to ME, little ole nothing me, that's just how much He loves me.
He is not looking for fancy ways to pray or mantras, He is looking for a heart that wants to communicate with Him.
Giving human formulas does not help people, it just overwhelms those who just want to love their Lord.
My advice is just to get rid of all the human formulas, the fancy seminars to fit in, just read the word, talk to God and love His fellowship.
Matthew 6:6-8 "…6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.…"
Did we get this? God never said to go over the bridges and neighborhoods to pray, He said to go into your room alone where no one can see you. Hmmm!!!!! That ought to tell us something about the neighborhood prayer ritual.
Matthew 6:9-13
9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]"
There it is, God's direction in our prayers!!!! Nothing more than this is needed.
Only Christ is Good
Those who love Christ also love doing what is right. If someone still struggles with doing right they might not be born again. When we fail God we hate it and want to confess, start again and do better.
Those who find it impossible to admit their flaws, who hide to protect their false persona, are living fleshly.
It should come easy for the born again believer to tell the truth about themselves, good, bad and ugly.
2 Timothy 4:1-22
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ..."
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."
Those who find it impossible to admit their flaws, who hide to protect their false persona, are living fleshly.
It should come easy for the born again believer to tell the truth about themselves, good, bad and ugly.
2 Timothy 4:1-22
"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ..."
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."
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