"Selfishly motivated forgiveness is not rooted in agape love. Agape love, a reflection of God’s perfect love, seeks the welfare of the person loved—even when it means entering into painful honesty." From the Article "The Dangers of Superficial Love"
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Is Unconfessed Sin Hindering Your Prayers?
Sadly there are those who are using the principle that our sins are covered in the blood as born again believers to excuse sin in believers.
I deal with it all the time, that sin is not dealt with in the gatherings because God has covered their sin in His blood. How odd it seems to me since Christ did not die that terrible death and rise from the dead to make sin guilt free.
Christ died to give those who have Christ living in them able to resist, to turn from sin and grow in holiness.
Those who want to justify their sin using the grace of God are sinning by doing so.
Romans 6:1-2 "1 What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?…"
An authentic born again believer hates sin, they are deeply convicted if they commit it and ask to be cleansed of it.
1 John 1:9 was written to believers. Remember the words "IF WE CONFESS." These are the words Christians like to omit when talking about forgiveness.
"9 IF WE CONFESS our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God disciplines those whom He loves because He cannot have fellowship with His children who are in sin.
Hebrews 12:5-7…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…
God will not hear the prayers of those who are sinning, even as born again believers.
Isaiah 1:14-16 "…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
1 Peter 3:7
"7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so THAT YOUR PRAYERS NOT BE HINDERED."
1 Peter 4:7
"7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PRAYERS."
1 Peter 3:7
"7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
Matthew 18:15-16 " 15“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
We confront people about their sin to help them resolve a relationship and cleanse themselves of it by confessing to God and others.
Sin is growing in the church because those who say they are Christians are refusing to confess their sin. Rather they defend it, even willing to break fellowship with those who adhere to the rule of discipline set by Chris in His Word.
Since the onset of psychology taught in the university all over the country the word "sin" has become a bad word. The idea that people only do bad things because they are hurting has been solidified in the minds of most people.
We do not automatically do bad things because we have been hurt. Lots of people who have been hurt do not hurt others. Hurting others is a choice coming from a wicked heart. Excuse making for bad behavior causes that bad behavior to grow. This is where we are in our culture today. Sin has been ignored thus creating a culture that embraces it as good.
If your prayers do not seem to be answered its possible you are living in unconfessed sin.
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
I deal with it all the time, that sin is not dealt with in the gatherings because God has covered their sin in His blood. How odd it seems to me since Christ did not die that terrible death and rise from the dead to make sin guilt free.
Christ died to give those who have Christ living in them able to resist, to turn from sin and grow in holiness.
Those who want to justify their sin using the grace of God are sinning by doing so.
Romans 6:1-2 "1 What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?…"
An authentic born again believer hates sin, they are deeply convicted if they commit it and ask to be cleansed of it.
1 John 1:9 was written to believers. Remember the words "IF WE CONFESS." These are the words Christians like to omit when talking about forgiveness.
"9 IF WE CONFESS our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
God disciplines those whom He loves because He cannot have fellowship with His children who are in sin.
Hebrews 12:5-7…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…
God will not hear the prayers of those who are sinning, even as born again believers.
Isaiah 1:14-16 "…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts; they have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"
1 Peter 3:7
"7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so THAT YOUR PRAYERS NOT BE HINDERED."
1 Peter 4:7
"7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR PRAYERS."
1 Peter 3:7
"7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."
Matthew 18:15-16 " 15“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16“But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. 17“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
We confront people about their sin to help them resolve a relationship and cleanse themselves of it by confessing to God and others.
Sin is growing in the church because those who say they are Christians are refusing to confess their sin. Rather they defend it, even willing to break fellowship with those who adhere to the rule of discipline set by Chris in His Word.
Since the onset of psychology taught in the university all over the country the word "sin" has become a bad word. The idea that people only do bad things because they are hurting has been solidified in the minds of most people.
We do not automatically do bad things because we have been hurt. Lots of people who have been hurt do not hurt others. Hurting others is a choice coming from a wicked heart. Excuse making for bad behavior causes that bad behavior to grow. This is where we are in our culture today. Sin has been ignored thus creating a culture that embraces it as good.
If your prayers do not seem to be answered its possible you are living in unconfessed sin.
James 5:15-16 "…15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."
Clearing Up The Confusion!
Why are so many people confused about the nature of salvation security?
The confusion comes because many people say they are Christians and then walk away as Judas did. Judas was a pretender much like the ones we have in all the gatherings today. He was with Christ but never gave his life to Christ. He was never born again. Judas even felt remorse for betraying a "good man" as he saw it. But he was never saved. Evil people can feel remorse, they like to think of themselves as a good person, so when it is obvious that they did evil they feel a betrayal of self. Depression comes upon those who discover their true nature.
Even unsaved human beings have a conscience that was given to them at birth. This is not salvation, having a conscience comes to everyone but it becomes seared when someone rejects Christ. Those who are not born again may feel temporary remorse but not because they offended a Holy God. They feel remorse because they wanted to think of themselves as good and the actions they took prove they were not.
Many have deluded themselves into thinking they are a good person, they cannot be saved because their pride loves themselves. They add "Christ" to their own desires hoping to use Him for safety and prosperity, but they do not love Him. They treat people the same way, using them until they don't get something they want, then they throw them away. Pretenders in the church remain there to gain "narcissistic supply", there is no love for the people that are there nor is there love for God.
Narcissistic supply is a term used to describe a person who uses people who provide accolades, praise, happiness to them. These narcissists do not provide these things to others but demand it from others.
Born again believers never use or throw away people. They withdraw from narcissists who refuse to seek Christ, who use others and are not repentant, but then they pray for them.
Remaining companions with a narcissist only validates their evil character or when challenged to take a good long look at themselves they will rage and cause problems for the believer.
We cannot help those who are deeply dedicated to self, they must come to the end of themselves through the consequences God brings. We must separate from them to protect our families and our own walk with Christ.
Constant exposure to them will cause us to become like them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
There are more narcissists today than there were one generation ago and more emerging every day as we are moving into the end times. We see that the tolerance of the believer who think if they are just nice to wicked people has caused the believer to emulate the narcissist in many ways they are not even aware of because the culture does not chastise these behaviors or ways of thinking.
1 Corinthians 2:16 …15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
1 John 2:18-20 "18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.…"
John 15:15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you."
Because we are friends of Christ, His Bride, we will think the way He does and our companions must be those who thinks the way He does.
The confusion comes because many people say they are Christians and then walk away as Judas did. Judas was a pretender much like the ones we have in all the gatherings today. He was with Christ but never gave his life to Christ. He was never born again. Judas even felt remorse for betraying a "good man" as he saw it. But he was never saved. Evil people can feel remorse, they like to think of themselves as a good person, so when it is obvious that they did evil they feel a betrayal of self. Depression comes upon those who discover their true nature.
Even unsaved human beings have a conscience that was given to them at birth. This is not salvation, having a conscience comes to everyone but it becomes seared when someone rejects Christ. Those who are not born again may feel temporary remorse but not because they offended a Holy God. They feel remorse because they wanted to think of themselves as good and the actions they took prove they were not.
Many have deluded themselves into thinking they are a good person, they cannot be saved because their pride loves themselves. They add "Christ" to their own desires hoping to use Him for safety and prosperity, but they do not love Him. They treat people the same way, using them until they don't get something they want, then they throw them away. Pretenders in the church remain there to gain "narcissistic supply", there is no love for the people that are there nor is there love for God.
Narcissistic supply is a term used to describe a person who uses people who provide accolades, praise, happiness to them. These narcissists do not provide these things to others but demand it from others.
Born again believers never use or throw away people. They withdraw from narcissists who refuse to seek Christ, who use others and are not repentant, but then they pray for them.
Remaining companions with a narcissist only validates their evil character or when challenged to take a good long look at themselves they will rage and cause problems for the believer.
We cannot help those who are deeply dedicated to self, they must come to the end of themselves through the consequences God brings. We must separate from them to protect our families and our own walk with Christ.
Constant exposure to them will cause us to become like them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 " 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
There are more narcissists today than there were one generation ago and more emerging every day as we are moving into the end times. We see that the tolerance of the believer who think if they are just nice to wicked people has caused the believer to emulate the narcissist in many ways they are not even aware of because the culture does not chastise these behaviors or ways of thinking.
1 Corinthians 2:16 …15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
1 John 2:18-20 "18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20 You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.…"
John 15:15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you."
Because we are friends of Christ, His Bride, we will think the way He does and our companions must be those who thinks the way He does.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Beware of the Enticements
Authentic Confession Brings Cleansing
Those who openly confess their sins and speak of the change Christ did in them are the freest people on earth and forever.
Those who forgive unrepentant sinners before they have a chance to confess to be cleansed are robbing them of the opportunity to be completely free of the stain of their sin.
Those who say we must forgive the unrepentant for our own sake are selfish, they are not thinking about the need for confession in those who are in bondage to their sin.
To confine someone to their secrets by letting them off the hook is the same as preaching a "repentless" gospel. Those who do not repent to be changed into a new creation by Christ are robbed of the wonderful cleansing that brings joy and a clear conscience.
Those who rob others of truth participate in their lack of joy, their continual condemnation that they will never be free of until they confess to be cleansed by Christ.
The greatest bondage to any human being is in their soul as they lie and hide to protect their sin.
John 8:35-27 "…35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you."
When we become a born again believer we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise. We are sons and daughters being trained every day to become Christlike. We are disciplined by God as He seeks to make us freer today than He did yesterday.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
Speaking truth to believer and unbeliever alike is the kindest thing we can do for one another. Truth, not necessarily what everyone wants to hear but what is best for all of us.
Ephesians 4:24-26 "…24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,…"
Those who forgive unrepentant sinners before they have a chance to confess to be cleansed are robbing them of the opportunity to be completely free of the stain of their sin.
Those who say we must forgive the unrepentant for our own sake are selfish, they are not thinking about the need for confession in those who are in bondage to their sin.
To confine someone to their secrets by letting them off the hook is the same as preaching a "repentless" gospel. Those who do not repent to be changed into a new creation by Christ are robbed of the wonderful cleansing that brings joy and a clear conscience.
Those who rob others of truth participate in their lack of joy, their continual condemnation that they will never be free of until they confess to be cleansed by Christ.
The greatest bondage to any human being is in their soul as they lie and hide to protect their sin.
John 8:35-27 "…35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants, but you are trying to kill Me because My word has no place within you."
When we become a born again believer we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise. We are sons and daughters being trained every day to become Christlike. We are disciplined by God as He seeks to make us freer today than He did yesterday.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
Speaking truth to believer and unbeliever alike is the kindest thing we can do for one another. Truth, not necessarily what everyone wants to hear but what is best for all of us.
Ephesians 4:24-26 "…24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,…"
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