The wicked details of what evil people do is not prophesy, it has always been here and it is normal human behavior with the influence of the devil. The devil loves it when we walk around frustrated and angry at what he is doing.
Prophesies are the things God has told us in His Word. We are not given the ugly details by God because it is not needed. We trust God when we see things that happen we recognize the truth. God gave us all that we needed to know what the world will be like. We are living in those times when all that He said is coming true.
The wicked details of what evil people do are not helpful in growing in holiness they only agitate the spirit promoting anger even possibly tempting a weak believer to look a little more at the sin they see.
Psalm 5:3-5…3 In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak, I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation. 4 For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You. 5 The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all workers of iniquity.…
Psalm 101:7 "…6 My eyes favor the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way of integrity shall minister to me. 7 No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence. 8 Every morning I will remove all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off every evildoer from the city of the LORD.…'
We are not to fear evil men, nor should we glorify their acts by dwelling continually on the details of their evil.
Psalm 37:1-11
"37 Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity."
Do not glorify the devil by sharing all his evil exploits with believers.
We ought to be spending our time glorifying God and speaking the truth to believers and unbelievers alike.
I think it is possible there is pride in the heart of those who love knowing evil details. Since they are not doing those highly wicked things they do not self evaluate the small things in their own lives.
Just saying!! We don't tend to self evaluate when we think we are so much better than those other wicked people.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Scripture Convicts
Those who do not want to hear scripture are those who are convicted.
If they were not convicted they would just ignore your posts and allow you to be you. Those who try to change our minds are those who are convicted by what we say.
Titus 1:10-12 "0 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not. 12 As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”…"
1 Timothy 6:5
"and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain."
One of the reasons we see so many "Christians" in our day dismissing and rejecting scripture is because they love their worldly ways. One cannot love their worldly ways and love Jesus Christ at the same time.
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—…"
This passage in John is not a command to obey God's commandments, it is a statement that we will if we belong to Christ. When we love Christ we will live a continual way of life of obedience. When we fail we will confess to be cleansed and grow in holiness.
1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.…"
If we fall temporarily into sin as born again believers we sense a dirtiness that compels us to confess to be cleansed. We cannot remain in any sin comfortably if we are born again.
1 John 1:8-10 "…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
The biggest problem I see in the apostate church is pride. They live fairly decent lives but are so full of pride about it that they never confess when they have been wrong. Their appearance of superiority is greater than their desire to grow in holiness.
No one grows in holiness unless they first are able to confess when things are just not right. Those who love Christ are compelled to confess quickly when they are found to have sinned or have been in error.
Those who justify themselves are those who are deeply prideful. The pride is what needs to be dealt with in us more even than the sin itself. It is the pride that leads to sin and it is the pride that refuses to confess that sin.
Psalm 32:5
"Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah"
There is no forgiveness and cancellation of sin without confession. Even for the born again believer if there is no confession there will be accountability later in heaven as the sin is burned off and there is a lost reward.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
For those who think your sin does not matter anymore, think again. We are going to be held accountble for those things we refused to confess. We will also lose God's fellowship in this life. The Holy Spirit will go silent in us, revealing no more truth to us if we resist His conviction of our sin.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-20 …18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
If they were not convicted they would just ignore your posts and allow you to be you. Those who try to change our minds are those who are convicted by what we say.
Titus 1:10-12 "0 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not. 12 As one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”…"
1 Timothy 6:5
"and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain."
One of the reasons we see so many "Christians" in our day dismissing and rejecting scripture is because they love their worldly ways. One cannot love their worldly ways and love Jesus Christ at the same time.
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—…"
This passage in John is not a command to obey God's commandments, it is a statement that we will if we belong to Christ. When we love Christ we will live a continual way of life of obedience. When we fail we will confess to be cleansed and grow in holiness.
1 John 3:8-10 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.…"
If we fall temporarily into sin as born again believers we sense a dirtiness that compels us to confess to be cleansed. We cannot remain in any sin comfortably if we are born again.
1 John 1:8-10 "…8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…"
The biggest problem I see in the apostate church is pride. They live fairly decent lives but are so full of pride about it that they never confess when they have been wrong. Their appearance of superiority is greater than their desire to grow in holiness.
No one grows in holiness unless they first are able to confess when things are just not right. Those who love Christ are compelled to confess quickly when they are found to have sinned or have been in error.
Those who justify themselves are those who are deeply prideful. The pride is what needs to be dealt with in us more even than the sin itself. It is the pride that leads to sin and it is the pride that refuses to confess that sin.
Psalm 32:5
"Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah"
There is no forgiveness and cancellation of sin without confession. Even for the born again believer if there is no confession there will be accountability later in heaven as the sin is burned off and there is a lost reward.
1 Corinthians 3:14-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
For those who think your sin does not matter anymore, think again. We are going to be held accountble for those things we refused to confess. We will also lose God's fellowship in this life. The Holy Spirit will go silent in us, revealing no more truth to us if we resist His conviction of our sin.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-20 …18 Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Monday, May 18, 2020
The Sin and Pride of America are too Many
What is happening in America is all the sinful abominations that the people are engaging in without shame.
America has the leaders it deserves. We are a country in crisis, not because something has been done to us but because the people are stubborn, wicked and unrepentant. The people have done this to themselves.
The churches are apostate for the most part and have no shame over it.
Jeremiah 6:14-15 "…14 They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. 15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD. "
America has the leaders it deserves. We are a country in crisis, not because something has been done to us but because the people are stubborn, wicked and unrepentant. The people have done this to themselves.
The churches are apostate for the most part and have no shame over it.
Jeremiah 6:14-15 "…14 They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. 15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD. "
Repentance and Forgiveness is Required
We need both repentance and forgiveness. Neither one stands alone, they need each other to be complete. If we do not require repentance than it is an injustice to the victim. If we do not require forgiveness then a repentant sinner cannot reconcile a relationship.
Those who say we must forgive those who are not repentant are placing their psychological way above God's way.
God commanded BOTH repentance and forgiveness.
Luke 17:3-4 " 3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, REBUKE him; and IF HE REPENTS, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times RETURNS TO SAY, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”…"
This is very clear in God's word, we are to forgive when they come to us and confess their sin, not before.
Those who have sinned are to come to ask forgiveness before they can be forgiven.
Giving a pass for sin only empowers sin causing it to grow. Relationships are not restored when someone does not care enough about those they have offended to confess.
Those who say we must forgive those who are not repentant are placing their psychological way above God's way.
God commanded BOTH repentance and forgiveness.
Luke 17:3-4 " 3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, REBUKE him; and IF HE REPENTS, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times RETURNS TO SAY, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”…"
This is very clear in God's word, we are to forgive when they come to us and confess their sin, not before.
Those who have sinned are to come to ask forgiveness before they can be forgiven.
Giving a pass for sin only empowers sin causing it to grow. Relationships are not restored when someone does not care enough about those they have offended to confess.
We Were Going to go Together
I wanted to share this with all of you who are expecting to hear the sound of the trumpet soon.
I have to tell you a little story.
One morning about 2 am, Rodger heard something that sounded like a trumpet.
He grabbed my hand and asked: "is that the trump of God?" I awakened a little more and heard it too. I said: "I don't know."
We were half a sleep and excited that we might be hearing the trumpet of God. Then as we awakened more we realized it was just the sound of a tug boat whistle on the river.
We were disappointed when we didn't go up. We both knew in our hearts that it would happen so fast we would not have time to talk about it, but our hearts were ready and Rodger was going to make sure we went together. I guess you know for sure you believe something when this happens.
I have to tell you a little story.
One morning about 2 am, Rodger heard something that sounded like a trumpet.
He grabbed my hand and asked: "is that the trump of God?" I awakened a little more and heard it too. I said: "I don't know."
We were half a sleep and excited that we might be hearing the trumpet of God. Then as we awakened more we realized it was just the sound of a tug boat whistle on the river.
We were disappointed when we didn't go up. We both knew in our hearts that it would happen so fast we would not have time to talk about it, but our hearts were ready and Rodger was going to make sure we went together. I guess you know for sure you believe something when this happens.
When You Speak Truth
This is true of anyone who speaks out with Scripture to expose error and help believers get back on the right track again, they are reviled by those who are stubborn in the church.
I see more hostility coming from people who say they are "Bible believers" than I do from the heathens. So many in the church today do not know their Bibles or know just enough to sound like they know but neglect most of it.
I am convinced this is because many Christians we encounter have never been born again, so they are hostile toward the truth.
These people are taking the Lord's name in vain by claiming to be Christian when they never trusted Him and don't care about His Word.
Those who have been changed into a new creation by Christ love hearing truth even if it chastises them.
Proverbs 12:1-2 "1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. 2 The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.…"
Psalm 94:12
"Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord,
And whom You teach out of Your law;"
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
2 Timothy 2:12
"If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;"
I see more hostility coming from people who say they are "Bible believers" than I do from the heathens. So many in the church today do not know their Bibles or know just enough to sound like they know but neglect most of it.
I am convinced this is because many Christians we encounter have never been born again, so they are hostile toward the truth.
These people are taking the Lord's name in vain by claiming to be Christian when they never trusted Him and don't care about His Word.
Those who have been changed into a new creation by Christ love hearing truth even if it chastises them.
Proverbs 12:1-2 "1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. 2 The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.…"
Psalm 94:12
"Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord,
And whom You teach out of Your law;"
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
2 Timothy 2:12
"If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;"
Look Up Not Around
My husband made a very good point in our time together over coffee this morning. That point was that Christ commanded, "when you see these things, look up." This was not a suggestion it was a command.
Matthew 24:32-34 "32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.…"
Christ never said look around and find as much dirt and evil as you can and talk about it. He instructed us to look up with great joy and expectation.
We have no need to seek out the conspiracies to find dirt to be able to know the world is evil, it presents itself in our face often. All we have to do is live our lives and see from daily living that there is evil all around us. The details only bring a sense of helplessness that there is nothing we can do to stop it, and there is not!
Knowing the evil exists and is growing should be enough to cause us to warn others with Scripture, not with the details of the evil, but with God's words of warning, they are enough.
When we look around more than we point one another to Christ we are filling our beings with filthy water rather than the pure water of Christ's Words.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
"25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."
2 Corinthians 6:17
"Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,"
Ephesians 5:11
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
God tells us to expose evil when it comes our way this does not mean that we should go looking for filth to view and show to others.
2 John 1:9-11
"Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."
1 Timothy 6:3-5
"If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain."
Matthew 24:32-34 "32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.…"
Christ never said look around and find as much dirt and evil as you can and talk about it. He instructed us to look up with great joy and expectation.
We have no need to seek out the conspiracies to find dirt to be able to know the world is evil, it presents itself in our face often. All we have to do is live our lives and see from daily living that there is evil all around us. The details only bring a sense of helplessness that there is nothing we can do to stop it, and there is not!
Knowing the evil exists and is growing should be enough to cause us to warn others with Scripture, not with the details of the evil, but with God's words of warning, they are enough.
When we look around more than we point one another to Christ we are filling our beings with filthy water rather than the pure water of Christ's Words.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
"25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."
2 Corinthians 6:17
"Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,"
Ephesians 5:11
"Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
God tells us to expose evil when it comes our way this does not mean that we should go looking for filth to view and show to others.
2 John 1:9-11
"Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works."
1 Timothy 6:3-5
"If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain."
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