Monday, September 17, 2018
Friday, September 14, 2018
The Truck is Coming
Funny how people would not call it "negative" if we were shouting at them to run because a truck was coming at them in the street. They would even thank us that we saved their life.
However, when we warn them about their lost state for the unbeliever or the sin in the life of a believer we are called too negative or fanatical.
The joy in the born again believer is great even when we are maligned, mocked and discarded for our love of Christ and His Word.
We ought to be speaking "Bibleze", everyday all the time for every situation.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
However, when we warn them about their lost state for the unbeliever or the sin in the life of a believer we are called too negative or fanatical.
The joy in the born again believer is great even when we are maligned, mocked and discarded for our love of Christ and His Word.
We ought to be speaking "Bibleze", everyday all the time for every situation.
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Thursday, September 13, 2018
Positive Affirmations Keep People Stuck
"Positive Affirmations" as so many psychologists claim are helpful to a low self esteem, do not work and tend to keep us stuck in the past or the unproductive present.
God tells us to evaluate ourselves, when we can see ourselves in truth we can confess that and are ready for a change in ourselves that move us toward productivity. When we confess to God our flaws then He can work in us, growing us in holiness.
We are not wonderful, we need work and the confession of that moves us toward improvement. Improvement is far more valuable than ruminating on what we think we are or want to pretend we are.
Those who are able to admit flaws and sins are the ones who will move forward in cleansing to become the person God wants us to be.
Those who cannot admit their flaws openly, the ones who think they must appear perfect to become the god in the eyes of others, will not grow. These people are stuck in a fantasy world of make believe. Their goal is to "appear" better than others, self elevation is their motivation.
Those who are humble and desire to improve will be praying for God to show them their flaws while trusting that He will do a work in them. The more we obey of God's word because we desire to be changed by Him, the more we will grow.
Those who obey God's word for appearances sake only, will not grow, they will only have a thin veneer of righteousness that is easily disrupted at the slightest storm.
Those who obey God to be loyal to Him will see a strength in themselves that grows every day. They know that strength is not themselves but Christ working in them. These people are happier and more fulfilled because they are not concerned with what others think of them, only what God thinks of them.
John 14:20
"In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you."
Romans 8:10
"If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness."
Those who walk in the Spirit will be those who have a love greater than any half hearted deed to glorify self. Self is not on the throne in those who love Him, He is on the throne of their lives.
Ephesians 3:17-19
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
God tells us to evaluate ourselves, when we can see ourselves in truth we can confess that and are ready for a change in ourselves that move us toward productivity. When we confess to God our flaws then He can work in us, growing us in holiness.
We are not wonderful, we need work and the confession of that moves us toward improvement. Improvement is far more valuable than ruminating on what we think we are or want to pretend we are.
Those who are able to admit flaws and sins are the ones who will move forward in cleansing to become the person God wants us to be.
Those who cannot admit their flaws openly, the ones who think they must appear perfect to become the god in the eyes of others, will not grow. These people are stuck in a fantasy world of make believe. Their goal is to "appear" better than others, self elevation is their motivation.
Those who are humble and desire to improve will be praying for God to show them their flaws while trusting that He will do a work in them. The more we obey of God's word because we desire to be changed by Him, the more we will grow.
Those who obey God's word for appearances sake only, will not grow, they will only have a thin veneer of righteousness that is easily disrupted at the slightest storm.
Those who obey God to be loyal to Him will see a strength in themselves that grows every day. They know that strength is not themselves but Christ working in them. These people are happier and more fulfilled because they are not concerned with what others think of them, only what God thinks of them.
John 14:20
"In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you."
Romans 8:10
"If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness."
Those who walk in the Spirit will be those who have a love greater than any half hearted deed to glorify self. Self is not on the throne in those who love Him, He is on the throne of their lives.
Ephesians 3:17-19
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
The Babies that Hate to Lose
Back in the day when we were in elementary school we were taught what is called "sportsmanship", that is to say we show joy for the other person who did better than we did no matter how we felt about losing. Don't tell me this next generation is a good one. Sure there may be some who are, but for the most part this is the most selfish self absorbed bunch of whinny babies I have ever seen. Here is an article that tells about the woman who won and those who acted like babies'
"For anyone who doesn’t know this is Naomi Osaka. She is 20 years old and on Saturday night she became the US Open champion. She received no coaching, broke zero rackets, and treated the umpire and her opponent with respect throughout. Unfortunately nobody is talking about her." 🎾💪🏼🏆
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Born Again or Merely a Church Attendee?
When I have asked people if they are born again their response was, " I go to ....thus and such church." I explained to them that church attendance does not save anyone, which led into the gospel message. I don't think I was preaching to the choir. Sadly this is the state of many people who attend churches every week.
John 3:3 "3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
There are many non-believers in the church buildings who think they are going to heaven but will hear these frightening words unless they repent and trust Christ.
Matthew 7: 21-23 "
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
John 3:3 "3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
There are many non-believers in the church buildings who think they are going to heaven but will hear these frightening words unless they repent and trust Christ.
Matthew 7: 21-23 "
"21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Monday, September 10, 2018
The Gospel the Right Way
If you have to be very careful to not offend others when giving the gospel then you are presenting a false gospel in the flesh. We ought to be warning people in these last days to take a good look at their sinfulness and realize their need for the Savior.
Any worry about the delivery of the gospel is relying on self instead of the Holy Spirit leading.
When the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin they either become angry or ashamed, but they never go away feeling good about themselves.
If your goal is to make people like you by keeping them happy in the exchange, then they will not feel convicted nor will they see a need to be made into a new creation.
Those who make others feel comfortable no matter their life, will merely enable them to continue without any sense of shame. Without shame over sinfulness there can be no salvation.
Romans 1:15-17 "15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. 17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”…"
Jeremiah 8:11-13 "…11 They dress the wounds of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. 12 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all, not even enough to blush. Therefore they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD. 13 I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.”…"
Ezekiel 3:17-19 "…17 Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 18 If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die ,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.…"
Notice that Ezekiel warned the people that they were wicked and what would happen to them if they did not repent. This is a picture of how the believers should express the gospel today to those who are perishing.
The modern gospel merely enables the unbeliever to feel loved, happy and fat no matter what they are doing, thereby keeping them stuck in their sin without hope. Their hope is in how many people they can surround themselves with who will validate them. Their hope can never be in Christ as long as they do no see their sinfulness.
When God says "urge them", it is very strong language. There is no urging when the encounters are merely happy happy praising and flattering.
2 Corinthians 5:20
"Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore (urge) you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God."
Any worry about the delivery of the gospel is relying on self instead of the Holy Spirit leading.
When the Holy Spirit convicts men of sin they either become angry or ashamed, but they never go away feeling good about themselves.
If your goal is to make people like you by keeping them happy in the exchange, then they will not feel convicted nor will they see a need to be made into a new creation.
Those who make others feel comfortable no matter their life, will merely enable them to continue without any sense of shame. Without shame over sinfulness there can be no salvation.
Romans 1:15-17 "15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. 17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”…"
Jeremiah 8:11-13 "…11 They dress the wounds of the daughter of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. 12 Are they ashamed of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all, not even enough to blush. Therefore they will fall among the fallen. When I punish them, they will collapse, says the LORD. 13 I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the tree, and even the leaf will wither. Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.”…"
Ezekiel 3:17-19 "…17 Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 18 If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die ,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.…"
Notice that Ezekiel warned the people that they were wicked and what would happen to them if they did not repent. This is a picture of how the believers should express the gospel today to those who are perishing.
The modern gospel merely enables the unbeliever to feel loved, happy and fat no matter what they are doing, thereby keeping them stuck in their sin without hope. Their hope is in how many people they can surround themselves with who will validate them. Their hope can never be in Christ as long as they do no see their sinfulness.
When God says "urge them", it is very strong language. There is no urging when the encounters are merely happy happy praising and flattering.
2 Corinthians 5:20
"Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore (urge) you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God."
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