In my personal experience all the "Pentecostals" I have known in our region of the country are emotionally driven. They depend more on their emotions for the moment than they do on Scripture.
In fact they will fight to defend sin when faced with Scripture, believing their emotions make the sin alright. Sort of like narcissists who believer their "feelings are facts." We need to read God's Word, believe it and then obey it even if it goes against our feelings.
John 14:15-16 "15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"
Those who say they love God but deny His Scriptures are lying. They want to believe of themselves as good people that see many miracles but they are willing to accept false miracles and false doctrines to "feel" spiritual.
The born again believer is more concerned about seeking God, hearing from Him and obeying His Word than they are in superficial hype and false miracles.
Matthew 16:4
"4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away."
Those who walk in faith need not grandiose signs other than the signs God already gave us in His Word.
Often those who seek after another sign for their eyes to see and their emotions to embrace have little to no faith in the Bible they claim to read. They disobey more of the scripture than they obey to defend worldly excuses to disobey God. And worse yet they often lie against God by claiming the Scriptures say things God never said. They do not rightly divide the word to discern God's truth.
2 Timothy 2:14-16
An Unashamed Workman
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,"
When reading God's word we must pray, study and dig for the truth. If Christ in us is not the One teaching us our studies are in vain.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Will Your Name Remain in the Book of Life?
All the names of every person were written in the book of life. Many have been blotted out.....why?.
1 Timothy 2:3-5 "…3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"
Only when a person dies is his name blotted out of the book of life when they reject Christ. Those who are born again and sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise until He comes for us will not be blotted out. They remain in that book for eternity.
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.…"
1 John 2:19-20 "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.…"
Judas was a pretender who was never born again, he had tasted the good fruit of Christ but never trusted in Him.
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?…"
All those who are born again are over-comers. Those who claim to be "Christians" will not overcome and that will be the proof they never belonged to Christ in the first. place.
1 Timothy 2:3-5 "…3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"
Only when a person dies is his name blotted out of the book of life when they reject Christ. Those who are born again and sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise until He comes for us will not be blotted out. They remain in that book for eternity.
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.…"
1 John 2:19-20 "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.…"
Judas was a pretender who was never born again, he had tasted the good fruit of Christ but never trusted in Him.
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?…"
All those who are born again are over-comers. Those who claim to be "Christians" will not overcome and that will be the proof they never belonged to Christ in the first. place.
In the Line of Fire!
Are you in the line of fire right now? Are you IN the fire right now? Read Daniel 3 and learn to trust in Christ.
Daniel 13:13-25
"13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Saved in Fiery Trial
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. "
22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
"13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
Saved in Fiery Trial
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. "
22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
Daniel 3: If the Three Hebrew Boys can do it, So Can You!
God allows us our choices and when our choices are against Him, He allows us to be happy in them, but that does not make them safe. "Feelings" are not a measure of truth, the devil is very good at making our feelings think we are safe when we are in grave danger.
John 12:48 (Rejecting Jesus Christ, the scariest place to be)
"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day."
John 8:44
"44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
The human condition is that every person is either of God or the devil. The devil makes many believe they are happy and safe when just the opposite is the truth. Christ brings truth and great joy.
Our Spirit is only safe when we are in Christ. Even when we suffer for doing what is right we maintain that everylasting joy in the middle of our tears. Those who are not in Christ are on their way to hell, the devil knows this. He is dedicated to lying to anyone who rejects Christ. Making them believe they are having their own ideas but in reality they are being influenced by the unseen demonic forces.
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"
The only way to resist the devil is to have the Spirit of God living in us. The way to have the Spirit of God living in us is to confess sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ into a new creation. When this happens the thoughts and desires change to the opposite of what they were before. We no longer live for self but we live for Christ. Who lives in us.
Bottom line: Everyone is controlled by either the devil or by God. No one is in control of their own life. If someone is of the devil they are not safe but on their way to hell, no matter how they feel. Those who are in Christ are safe from the evil one and are on their way to heaven because they trusted Christ.
Many people who think they are safe because they are making their own choices don't realize that their choices are not based in wisdom but in the flesh which is controlled by the devil.
Our bodies are not safe no matter what we do, but our Spirit is safe in Christ. We suffer like the rest of the world in physical ill health at times but we remain joyful in the midst of it because we know this world is not all their is, our real home and our new body comes later when this life is over.
Those who are in Christ will be persecuted by others for our faith, but our Spirit gives us strength for this short time on earth. AND, it is short compared to eternity. I can tell you from experience that at 67 years of age there have been many trials and physical challenges but my Spirit grows in joy and wisdom every day as I depend on Christ for His strength, strength I would not have except for Him.
Rather than enjoying superficial happiness and sin, it is best to admit that sin to be cleansed by Christ. Once someone does this their is no more happiness in sin.
James 1:15 "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."
James 1:2-3 "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
Hallelujah!!! May many who read this realize how wonderful it is to be in Christ, that He paid the penalty of sin for us. All anyone has to do is admit their sinfulness, ask to be cleansed by Christ and watch how He changes perspectives and lives, and best of all eternity for everyone who will believe in Christ.
Our circumstances do not always change when we trust in Christ but our perspective about those circumstances do change while we have the strength in Him to go through them with Him. He always goes through with us.
For those of you who have difficult marriages, there is no need to bail out to save yourself, you can pray that God make you what you should be through it all.
Daniel 3, find the account there, in which Christ walked in the fire with the young Hebrew men.
John 12:48 (Rejecting Jesus Christ, the scariest place to be)
"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day."
John 8:44
"44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
The human condition is that every person is either of God or the devil. The devil makes many believe they are happy and safe when just the opposite is the truth. Christ brings truth and great joy.
Our Spirit is only safe when we are in Christ. Even when we suffer for doing what is right we maintain that everylasting joy in the middle of our tears. Those who are not in Christ are on their way to hell, the devil knows this. He is dedicated to lying to anyone who rejects Christ. Making them believe they are having their own ideas but in reality they are being influenced by the unseen demonic forces.
1 Peter 5:7-9 "…7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.…"
The only way to resist the devil is to have the Spirit of God living in us. The way to have the Spirit of God living in us is to confess sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ into a new creation. When this happens the thoughts and desires change to the opposite of what they were before. We no longer live for self but we live for Christ. Who lives in us.
Bottom line: Everyone is controlled by either the devil or by God. No one is in control of their own life. If someone is of the devil they are not safe but on their way to hell, no matter how they feel. Those who are in Christ are safe from the evil one and are on their way to heaven because they trusted Christ.
Many people who think they are safe because they are making their own choices don't realize that their choices are not based in wisdom but in the flesh which is controlled by the devil.
Our bodies are not safe no matter what we do, but our Spirit is safe in Christ. We suffer like the rest of the world in physical ill health at times but we remain joyful in the midst of it because we know this world is not all their is, our real home and our new body comes later when this life is over.
Those who are in Christ will be persecuted by others for our faith, but our Spirit gives us strength for this short time on earth. AND, it is short compared to eternity. I can tell you from experience that at 67 years of age there have been many trials and physical challenges but my Spirit grows in joy and wisdom every day as I depend on Christ for His strength, strength I would not have except for Him.
Rather than enjoying superficial happiness and sin, it is best to admit that sin to be cleansed by Christ. Once someone does this their is no more happiness in sin.
James 1:15 "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death."
James 1:2-3 "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
Hallelujah!!! May many who read this realize how wonderful it is to be in Christ, that He paid the penalty of sin for us. All anyone has to do is admit their sinfulness, ask to be cleansed by Christ and watch how He changes perspectives and lives, and best of all eternity for everyone who will believe in Christ.
Our circumstances do not always change when we trust in Christ but our perspective about those circumstances do change while we have the strength in Him to go through them with Him. He always goes through with us.
For those of you who have difficult marriages, there is no need to bail out to save yourself, you can pray that God make you what you should be through it all.
Daniel 3, find the account there, in which Christ walked in the fire with the young Hebrew men.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
They Went Out From Us
Yes, and then they will begin to persecute their Christian friends whom they used to like but no longer love.
The very things they appreciated about their godly friends irritate and anger them. This has to mean they never had the values of their Christian friends, they were merely playing a role to stay connected, but there was no real commitment. As soon as they became weary of the standards of their godly friends they begin the personal attacks.
These pretenders must convey to others that their friend was always mean, bad or wrong to justify their new found contempt for them.
We know authentic friendship by the way they stand by us as we grow and mature over time. Pretenders don't grow nor do they change, they remain as they always have been, playing the religious game until they grow weary of the pretense.
1 John 2:19
"19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that [a]it would be shown that they all are not of us."
Karen Puff Rosenkrantz shared this:
Those who refuse to obey or respect God's Word will fall under a powerful delusion. At first they will wink at their sin and justify it. But soon they will actively seek out a message of easy grace. They will invent a grace that is far beyond what God intended. His grace never leads to license—it always leads to repentance. ~ David Wilkerson
The very things they appreciated about their godly friends irritate and anger them. This has to mean they never had the values of their Christian friends, they were merely playing a role to stay connected, but there was no real commitment. As soon as they became weary of the standards of their godly friends they begin the personal attacks.
These pretenders must convey to others that their friend was always mean, bad or wrong to justify their new found contempt for them.
We know authentic friendship by the way they stand by us as we grow and mature over time. Pretenders don't grow nor do they change, they remain as they always have been, playing the religious game until they grow weary of the pretense.
1 John 2:19
"19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that [a]it would be shown that they all are not of us."
Karen Puff Rosenkrantz shared this:
Those who refuse to obey or respect God's Word will fall under a powerful delusion. At first they will wink at their sin and justify it. But soon they will actively seek out a message of easy grace. They will invent a grace that is far beyond what God intended. His grace never leads to license—it always leads to repentance. ~ David Wilkerson
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Who is the Foolish Person?
- Ignores Reproof (Proverbs 17:10, 19:25)
- Despises Instruction (Proverbs 1:7, 15:5)
- Perceives Himself as Always Right (Proverbs 12:15)
- Sees Mischief as Sport (Proverbs 10:23)
- Makes a Mockery of Sin (Proverbs 14:9)
- Is Quick Tempered (Proverbs 12:16, 14:17, 27:3)
- Meddles in the Affairs of Others (Proverbs 20:3)
- Despises His Parents (Proverbs 15:20, 19:13)
Proverbs 17:10 "A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding, than a hundred blows into a fool."
Proverbs 19:25 "Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd, but reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge. "
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 15:5 "A fool rejects his fathers's discipline but he who regards reproof is sensible."
Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel."
Proverbs 10:23 "Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding."
Proverbs 14:9" Fools mock sin, but among the upright there is good will.
Proverbs 12:16 "A fools anger is known at once, but a prudent man conceals dishonor."
Proverbs 14:17 "A quick tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hatred."
Proverbs 27:3 "A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them."
Proverbs 20:3 "Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel."
Proverbs 15:20 "A wise son makes a father glad, but the foolish despises his mother."
Proverbs 19:13 "A foolish son is destruction to his father, and the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping."
God Hates Divorce, Simple!!!!
Yes, and why would anyone want to do what God hates unless God is irrelevant to them. Far too many people have the idea that God wouldn't want them to suffer in this life with someone who is difficult. If that were true then He would never have written these scriptures to us.
James 1:2-8
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 [f]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."
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 [f]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."
Our culture often throws away opportunities to be noble and strong by bailing out of trials. When we bail out of a trial in defiance of God we miss the wonderful lessons God has for us. We gain wisdom, strength and determination from seeing through the trials with Christ beside us.
Having been married nearly 50 years now I can tell you that remaining in a marriage through the hard things progresses to an even greater bond between two people. Spoiled brats want what they want right now. Mature adults see the potential beyond the trials, often soldiering on through them to a wonderful blessing on the other side.
Even the worst trials in any marriage can be endured and resolved if we just keep seeking God in everything. Bailing out of trials to avoid pain merely leaves us weak leading to more weakness.
Those who bail out of marriages often forget one thing, they are taking themselves into the next relationship. If we have not changed then many of the same trials are going to show up in the next spouse.
Keep in mind there is no blessing from God on a re-marriage after divorce, because it is adultery as God said. You can give all the excuses in the world why God didn't mean that for you, but the reality is that He did mean it for everyone.
The problem is that most people do not seek Christ in prayer and fasting through difficult marriage relationships, they just have their tantrum, refuse to take their lumps in difficult situations and bolt. They leave no time for God to work things out and they will not evaluate themselves to see if they are part of the problem.
Do you want to obey God in marriage? If so then seek Him all the time for everything. He has the answers for you. Never go to friends and family for advice, most of them will just believe your sob story, whether it is true or not and tell you to bail out. Seek Christ only!!!!
SEEK CHRIST ONLY!!!!!!! How to do that? Resolve to obey His word, pray and fast for the Lord to work things out.
We are in a battle and we have a Supreme Commander, that is Jesus Christ. Doing what He says even if we don't understand it will bring His blessing. Also, remember that His blessing is not necessarily in this life or the way we want things. His blessing might be as simple as the great joy we have in obeying Him as well as a very close relationship to Him.
I am so glad Navy Seals don't bail out of battles while obeying those in command over them.!!! I am glad that bridge builders look at the structural plans of their endeavor while building the bridge.
Our marching orders are in the Word of God and the plans for our life are outlined there. The principles are clear the specifics will be given to us by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.
Flying by the seat of ones pants based on momentary feelings is foolish and destructive.
Proverbs 12:14-16 "…14 By fruitful speech a man will be filled with good things, and the work of a man’s hands will reward him. 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult."
“A wise man may look ridiculous in the company of fools.” Thomas Fuller
Many foolish people will attempt to counsel you to do the wrong things, ignore them.
Proverbs 18:2-3
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn.
2 A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes,
And with dishonor comes scorn.
Our world doesn't know it but "dishonor comes when there is divorce and remarriage. The problem is that our world refuses to see this allowing those who do not know the Word of God to embrace the lies that life will be better if we disobey God. So they lie and pretend that God allows it. Yes, He does allow it for the "hard hearted" person.
Isaiah 32:6A
6 For a fool speaks nonsense,
And his heart inclines toward wickedness:
To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord,"
6 For a fool speaks nonsense,
And his heart inclines toward wickedness:
To practice ungodliness and to speak error against the Lord,"
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