This was given to all believers, men women and children. No special class of people will have more wisdom simply because of their class, age or gender!
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Blind Obedience to Human Authority is Sin
When God said "obey the elders" in the church gathering he was not saying to obey all that they want. The original language conveys this truth:
"be persuaded by the truth they proclaim."
In the case of obedience to elders in the church and husbands at home, we are to listen to them, evaluate what is said. If what is said lines up with truth from God's Word then we are to obey the truth of God's Word.
Following elders or husbands blindly no matter what they tell us to do is not only not Biblical it is foolish.
If we love our elders and if we love our husbands we will support them when they obey God and decline to obey them when they do not obey God.
We are never to be more loyal to a man, no matter who that man is, than we are to Christ.
Blind loyalty to a man is Satan's tool to destroy the one who chooses not to think for themselves and with the mind of Christ. Those who are blindly loyal hardly ever evaluate anything. They remain comfortable with whatever keeps the false peace of compromise.
The command to think with the mind of Christ is not just for the men, it is for the women too, even the children who are born again.
I have known many women who disobey God to obey their husband's false gospel. When this happens the husband is the god of the woman's life, not the God of the Bible. Both are in jeopardy of God's discipline and even wrath.
I can never forget a man who counseled a new believer, a woman, that she should obey her husband who wanted her to look at hard porn in their home because he was the leader. This was Satanic and evil. The damage that porn does to the delicate conscience of a new believer will drive her further from her husband if she becomes strong in the Lord or it has the potential of causing that woman to fall into worse immorality. Not to mention her personal witness to her husband of her dedication to Christ.
A woman can win an unsaved husband through her submission to Christ.
My advice to that new believer would have been to respectfully decline and remove herself from the room. If the husband were a believer doing this then it is the believing wife's responsibility to declare that it not be done in their home. If the believing husband would not comply then more drastic measures must be take to smash all the videos and the television to prevent evil from coming into her home. She is the keeper of her home and must take a stand with a believing husband.
Its hard to believe but there are many "professing Christians" who are indulging in porn these days, even pastors. The wives of these men need to demand that it be removed and never brought back into their home.
Ungodly pretenders will use the "submission card" to intimidate women into doing evil. Ladies you must become strong in the Lord and protect your home.
Job 11:14 "If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;"
"be persuaded by the truth they proclaim."
In the case of obedience to elders in the church and husbands at home, we are to listen to them, evaluate what is said. If what is said lines up with truth from God's Word then we are to obey the truth of God's Word.
Following elders or husbands blindly no matter what they tell us to do is not only not Biblical it is foolish.
If we love our elders and if we love our husbands we will support them when they obey God and decline to obey them when they do not obey God.
We are never to be more loyal to a man, no matter who that man is, than we are to Christ.
Blind loyalty to a man is Satan's tool to destroy the one who chooses not to think for themselves and with the mind of Christ. Those who are blindly loyal hardly ever evaluate anything. They remain comfortable with whatever keeps the false peace of compromise.
The command to think with the mind of Christ is not just for the men, it is for the women too, even the children who are born again.
I have known many women who disobey God to obey their husband's false gospel. When this happens the husband is the god of the woman's life, not the God of the Bible. Both are in jeopardy of God's discipline and even wrath.
I can never forget a man who counseled a new believer, a woman, that she should obey her husband who wanted her to look at hard porn in their home because he was the leader. This was Satanic and evil. The damage that porn does to the delicate conscience of a new believer will drive her further from her husband if she becomes strong in the Lord or it has the potential of causing that woman to fall into worse immorality. Not to mention her personal witness to her husband of her dedication to Christ.
A woman can win an unsaved husband through her submission to Christ.
My advice to that new believer would have been to respectfully decline and remove herself from the room. If the husband were a believer doing this then it is the believing wife's responsibility to declare that it not be done in their home. If the believing husband would not comply then more drastic measures must be take to smash all the videos and the television to prevent evil from coming into her home. She is the keeper of her home and must take a stand with a believing husband.
Its hard to believe but there are many "professing Christians" who are indulging in porn these days, even pastors. The wives of these men need to demand that it be removed and never brought back into their home.
Ungodly pretenders will use the "submission card" to intimidate women into doing evil. Ladies you must become strong in the Lord and protect your home.
Job 11:14 "If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;"
Satan Loves to Devalue
Satan is an abuser he loves to devalue and destroy human beings. If he can keep those who love God in a state of frustration and fear he can reduce their effectiveness for Christ. This is why we must trust Christ, see His truth and move forward, giving the narcissist no foot hold in our lives by listening to them.
When we base our worth or effectiveness on what others might think of us we will not be able to carry out God's plan for us as His children.
The abuser only thinks they know you, they have an idea of us that is only a concoction in their own mind, its not you at all. They choose to believe what they want to believe about you, not what is real. This is Satan's ploy to keep God's children fearful of rejection.
Envious people are very unhappy people bent on destroying those whom they envy. Satan is an envious being, angry that he could not be like God and even attempting to overthrow God. This shows us just how foolish he was. He was with God and should have known better, that God was far more infinitely powerful than he is.
This is the case with narcissists too, they have such a high view of their own importance that they cannot see how beggarly they are in reality. They believe they are superior to others therefore excusing themselves for their rudeness toward their targets.
Satan believed he was superior to the God Who made him. He was so infected with jealousy that he indoctrinated himself by his own thoughts that he could achieve the highest power.
Satan goes to the throne of grace every day accusing the brethren.
Revelation 12:10 "10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them day and night before our God. "
Competitiveness is a demonstration of a need to be superior to others. There is no problem for one compete with themselves to improve at something. The problem comes when we feel a need to defeat others to be superior to them.
I see this in athletes all the time, they have a need to be better, faster and bigger than those around them. When they use physical prowess as a means of evaluating themselves they are missing the more important aspect of our being and that is the spiritual.
There is an aspect of sports that promotes team cooperation, this is good, to see the team as the purpose for doing well. Being an asset to the group to accomplish the goal is "others" focused. When a team thinks in terms of supporting one another to accomplish a goal, then there is true sportsmanship. Yes, the goal is to win but winning should never demean or destroy others to meet that goal.
In family dynamics we will often see a spirit of competitiveness to be superior. When this happens we as believers must resist the temptation to play the game. We must remain true to God's principles no matter how anyone else is acting.
Proverbs 6:12-16
"A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:"
We must train our minds to think like Christ while ignoring personal attacks, unless they are executed by believers who need a rebuke to get back to godliness.
Proverbs 28:1-28
"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely. ..."
Praise the Lord, we can live in this world without becoming like it.
Psalm 37:1
"Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!"
Hebrews 13:6
"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Hallelujah!!!!
When we base our worth or effectiveness on what others might think of us we will not be able to carry out God's plan for us as His children.
The abuser only thinks they know you, they have an idea of us that is only a concoction in their own mind, its not you at all. They choose to believe what they want to believe about you, not what is real. This is Satan's ploy to keep God's children fearful of rejection.
Envious people are very unhappy people bent on destroying those whom they envy. Satan is an envious being, angry that he could not be like God and even attempting to overthrow God. This shows us just how foolish he was. He was with God and should have known better, that God was far more infinitely powerful than he is.
This is the case with narcissists too, they have such a high view of their own importance that they cannot see how beggarly they are in reality. They believe they are superior to others therefore excusing themselves for their rudeness toward their targets.
Satan believed he was superior to the God Who made him. He was so infected with jealousy that he indoctrinated himself by his own thoughts that he could achieve the highest power.
Satan goes to the throne of grace every day accusing the brethren.
Revelation 12:10 "10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them day and night before our God. "
Competitiveness is a demonstration of a need to be superior to others. There is no problem for one compete with themselves to improve at something. The problem comes when we feel a need to defeat others to be superior to them.
I see this in athletes all the time, they have a need to be better, faster and bigger than those around them. When they use physical prowess as a means of evaluating themselves they are missing the more important aspect of our being and that is the spiritual.
There is an aspect of sports that promotes team cooperation, this is good, to see the team as the purpose for doing well. Being an asset to the group to accomplish the goal is "others" focused. When a team thinks in terms of supporting one another to accomplish a goal, then there is true sportsmanship. Yes, the goal is to win but winning should never demean or destroy others to meet that goal.
In family dynamics we will often see a spirit of competitiveness to be superior. When this happens we as believers must resist the temptation to play the game. We must remain true to God's principles no matter how anyone else is acting.
Proverbs 6:12-16
"A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:"
We must train our minds to think like Christ while ignoring personal attacks, unless they are executed by believers who need a rebuke to get back to godliness.
Proverbs 28:1-28
"The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely. ..."
Praise the Lord, we can live in this world without becoming like it.
Psalm 37:1
"Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!"
Hebrews 13:6
"So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Hallelujah!!!!
Saturday, January 5, 2019
You Can Hear From the Holy Spirit Through Prayer
It always amazes me when Christians say we should just leave conviction to the Holy Spirit instead of telling people their sinfulness. They don't seem to realize that the Holy Spirit speaks through us. We are His hands, feet and mouth piece. I am quite sure than many Christians have never sensed the promptings of the Holy Spirit speak to them because they never consult Him about anything.
When we have heard from Him there is no mistaking His voice. He speaks in quiet but strong promptings deep in our soul. Its not a feeling, fear or audible voice, but clearly it is Him.
Those who hear from the Holy Spirit know when it is him speaking or just their flesh, there is a distinct difference that is unmistakable.
John 3:5-6
"5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Titus 3:6
"6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,"
Acts 2:38
"38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit was given to us as a seal of our salvation as well as our counselor, protector, teacher, comforter and much more.
John 14:26
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
1 Corinthians 2:9-13
"But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."
John 16:13
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."
John 14:17
"Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Ephesians 1:12-14
"…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
The Holy Spirit is not an idea, a thought or anything intangible, He is a person sent by God to dwell in believers as everything that is needed to live the Christian life as well as our guarantee of salvation, our inheritance.
He corrects us when we sin to bring us back to obedience.
John 16:8
“When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment”
John 16:14
“He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you”
When we have heard from Him there is no mistaking His voice. He speaks in quiet but strong promptings deep in our soul. Its not a feeling, fear or audible voice, but clearly it is Him.
Those who hear from the Holy Spirit know when it is him speaking or just their flesh, there is a distinct difference that is unmistakable.
John 3:5-6
"5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
Titus 3:6
"6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,"
Acts 2:38
"38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit was given to us as a seal of our salvation as well as our counselor, protector, teacher, comforter and much more.
John 14:26
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
1 Corinthians 2:9-13
"But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."
John 16:13
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."
John 14:17
"Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Ephesians 1:12-14
"…12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.…"
The Holy Spirit is not an idea, a thought or anything intangible, He is a person sent by God to dwell in believers as everything that is needed to live the Christian life as well as our guarantee of salvation, our inheritance.
He corrects us when we sin to bring us back to obedience.
John 16:8
“When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment”
John 16:14
“He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you”
Infected by the Apostate Church
The apostate churches are infecting individuals and these individuals are taking their hostility to family members.
These churches mock and resist Bible truth while isolating those who will not succumb to their false brand of Christianity.
When we do not walk in lockstep with the world we can expect to be targeted for ruination of our reputations.
The world has no problem with lying and believing lies, it is preferred over truth. When we find ourselves on the other side of apostate thinking then we will be culled out as the bad ones.
Matthew 10:21-23
"…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.…"
These churches mock and resist Bible truth while isolating those who will not succumb to their false brand of Christianity.
When we do not walk in lockstep with the world we can expect to be targeted for ruination of our reputations.
The world has no problem with lying and believing lies, it is preferred over truth. When we find ourselves on the other side of apostate thinking then we will be culled out as the bad ones.
Matthew 10:21-23
"…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.…"
Friday, January 4, 2019
Evangelism is Different From Friendship
Amen!
God clearly does not want us walking among those who resist Him. He is our best friend and we must be loyal to Him. Evangelism to win souls is far different than having relationships with the ungodly.
God clearly does not want us walking among those who resist Him. He is our best friend and we must be loyal to Him. Evangelism to win souls is far different than having relationships with the ungodly.
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