Obey Christ Rather Than Traditions

So many Christians are worried about everything more than they are thinking about Christ.

Matthew 6:33-34 "…33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-26 "24 No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?…"

They worry about their jobs and their life.

They worry about the virus and the vaccine.

They worry about the loss of freedom.

They worry about the closing of the church buildings.

They worry about their food.

They worry about the connection with family.

Sadly many Christians worry about not being able to meet for worship in a large building because they have been programed that one cannot worship unless they are in these places.

The modern paid pastor, who is really a hireling, is worried about the people gathering because it diminishes their salary, status and benefits. Of course, they cloak this in ways that make them seem as though they are concerned about their congregations. The pastors are worried about people meeting in their particular building as though there is a violation of the word "not to forsake the gathering together", if they do not show up.

What they are not understanding is that Christ said; "where two or three are gathered there I am in the midst. This is gathering, it does not have to be more than two or three to be worship.

Most Christians have not been encouraged or taught to worship anywhere else except in their large gatherings with a paid hireling. They do not realize they can worship at home with their families and stay in contact with other believers throughout the week without a special building. This is a fulfillment of the command to "not forsake the gathering."

"Do not forsake the gathering together" meant something very different in Christ's day. It meant that we can gather at any time, anywhere, and mostly in the homes of beloved brethren.

The one-man pastor educated by the seminary system has managed to guilt people into thinking they must be under that paid hireling and go to a special building in order to worship.

Sadly too, the "parishioners" are more worried about disappointing their paid hireling than they are about displeasing God.

In our day the paid pastors ought to be teaching and encouraging people to meet in small groups at home, to show them that authentic Christianity is not much like the modern system that is fashioned after the Catholic church. Yes, I said that!!!! The way believers gather today was modeled after the hierarchy system of the Catholic church. We have modern protestant popes and priests only we call them by different titles such as "Pastors" with a capital "P" or "Bishops" who dictate to the people. There is no model of this in the New Testament for the born again believer.

In our day the "pastors", that is elders of the local gathering ought to be teaching those in the flock how they can worship, pray, and sing in a small gathering. Because, I promise you, one day the churches will be closed permanently, God will close them because they have become apostate, teaching doctrines of demons.

We do not need those large gatherings or the buildings, we have Christ and one another.

The modern pastor is agitating their flock to be upset and fight back rather than rest in the arms of Christ and enjoy the newfound freedom to worship in homes as God originally endorsed.

Yes, people are in bondage to their pastors and buildings. They feel a sense of fear when they can't meet the way the modern church has encouraged and intimidated them to meet.

The cultural Christianity of today does not want small gatherings because they cannot hide in one of these. The small gatherings are intimidating to those who wish to hide. The pastors of today have encouraged this form of hiding by building edifices to their leadership. For these paid hirelings the bigger the better. There is a certain amount of theater involved in these gatherings, otherwise, the congregations would stop coming.

I heard one pastor claim that believers could not obey the command to "gather together" because they could not go to the closed church buildings. This is a blatant misuse of the scriptures with the claim it is to obey God.

However, God was the One Who shut the churches to show how dependent the people were on their pastors rather than Christ. The people even use titles like "Paster Whoever" to describe their one-man leader, not realizing that the gift of pastoring was just that, a gift, not a title and that several men in one gathering ought to have this gift. Elevating one man over others is not God's way, He wants all the glory to go to Him, not to one man.

When we meet we ought to be meeting by the leading of the Holy Spirit, not by the leading of a man.

The modern church has become so apostate that very few people understand these principles of gathering around the Lord instead of a man. The apostate church will defend vehemently their own pastor while never defending Christ. They believe their pastor is above correction or criticism because they have made this "man" a god in their own eyes, who can do no wrong. In other words, most Christians in these apostate churches have an idol, that is their pastor.

Do you see why God shut down the churches and removed the pastors from their sphere of influence, and the people from the influence of the pastor. Christ wants the believers to seek Him for themselves, throwing off their co-dependency on the one-man pastor and placing it on Christ.

There ought to be only one Person we are depending on and that is Jesus Christ our Lord. It is not hard, all it takes is asking God to remove from our hearts all those things we believe were wrong traditions that led us away from the principles of Christ. But it takes desiring to know the truth above everyone and everything else in our lives because it may cost us companionship and the love of others.

What you will gain by throwing off tradition to embrace Christ is freedom beyond anything you could imagine. The freedom to walk in truth without the sense of intimidation of others. Yes, they will try to intimidate, mock, and demean us, but it will have no effect because Christ is our companion.

When Christ is our constant companion we have no worries, we have no emotional meltdowns when we lose someone or something of this world. The traditions of men are burdensome, throwing them off is liberating. Even if we are in prison for our faith we are free, no man can imprison our Spirit.

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."

Matthew 15:3

"He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"

Mark 7:3-9

"(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ..."

God does not value the traditions of men!!!! Pretty simple!
We love people as God loves people, but never above Him and His principles. We want to see people saved and going to heaven, but never at the expense of the truth of Christ. If people come to Christ the right way they will be truly saved. If they come the wrong way with a false idea about Christ, they will be lost.

Read the Bible

Doctrine From God Only

Warning: False Prophets!

Womanhood

This is always sad to me because our womanhood is what makes us special. Men used to stand when a woman walked in the room because they were seen as special. If a man was sitting he would offer his chair if there were no others, or go and get her a chair. This was an honor, but now that women have stepped out of their role the men no longer think of them as worthy of honor.

The weaker vessel does not mean they are mentally weak. It meant that their skillset was different from the men. And by the way, the men could not do nor wanted to do what the women were capable of doing. Women were never "less than", they were skilled within their gender role.

Women were treated special and important for the most part, men would even refrain from cursing in front of a woman to spare their delicate feelings, as it was right to do. Now both genders are crass and there is little sense of protecting the woman.

I have experienced men raging at women for differing from them on an issue. Instead of treating them with respect they mocked, demeaned, and raged at any woman who was bold enough to say what she thought. This is the height of arrogance and disrespect.

We see now that the end times are here and the 2 Timothy 3 generation is in full swing, however, believing men do not have to be this way. Those who are born again remain respectful and kind to women. Sadly there are so few of these kinds of men left.

So what is a woman's response to this ill-treatment? My advice is to walk in the Holy Spirit, continue to be led by the Spirit when you speak and ignore the foolishness of crass undisciplined men. Remember they are not worthy of our attention. Ignoring men who act like this is the best course of action.

Proverbs 29:11

"A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."

Proverbs 29:9

"If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet."

Proverbs 12:15-17 "…15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.…"

The following was written by Sarah Vogel
“Our generation is so busy trying to prove that women can do everything men can do, women are losing the unique qualities that set us apart. The God-given femininity & unique way our Creator designed us. Women weren't created to do everything a man can do.... Women were created to do everything a man can't do." - unknown

The lioness does not try to be the lion. She embraces her role as the lioness. She is powerful, strong, and nurturing. She does not mistake her meekness for weakness. The world needs more kind, compassionate, humble, faithful, persevering, confident, fierce, bold, pure, and tender-hearted women.
Be one of them. ~Sarah Vogel

4 Necessary Skills Narcissists Cannot Come To Terms With

Narcissists do not resolve problems because in order to do that one must listen and evaluate themselves, they cannot do either. I lived with them the first 18 years of my life and after I left home they continued to attempt to control me through manipulation of my emotions.

They NEVER listened, nor did they ever validate a good point in me. They worked all the time in everything concerning me to invalidate me when nothing was wrong. If I brought a gift to them they acted as though it was stupid to do so. Instead of allowing the act to create a closer bond they used it to further demean me. They never gave gifts themselves, I didn't care but thought it was strange.

I realized later that giving a gift makes them vulnerable to being treated the way they treated me. They think if they give a gift I would treat them the way they have treated me so they avoid doing anything nice for me.

They couldn't even offer a compliment without an insult attached to it. I never cared about getting a gift from them but I did want them to enjoy what I gave them. Perhaps too, they wanted to take away my joy by acting as though the gift were foolish.

It is impossible to grow a relationship with those who do not want one, their desire is to be above you there is no love involved in this. Love must be involved in developing a relationship. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Simple and Steady Life as We Trust in Christ

We are living in dark days as prophesied in the Word of God. Nothing will get better it will only grow worse.

God told us this is the way it would be at the end of the church age, there is no stopping it. The best thing believer can do is speak of the Lord Jesus Christ often to the unsaved and encourage the saved to keep trusting Christ.

For the born-again believer, this is encouragement that God told us what to expect and to keep trusting in Him. He told us we would be going home soon as we see these things come to pass.

2 Timothy 3:1-13

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived."

These times are "ragingly insane" as a sister told me in recent years. She had researched the word "perilous times" in 2 Timothy and discovered the real meaning was "ragingly insane."

It seems futile and perhaps even foolish to attempt to save this world. There are denominations that believe we have to make the world a righteous place before Christ would come. I wonder how that is working out for them?

Keep in mind that God promised that times would grow worse, the antichrist will rule in the last seven years and the Church would be taken out before the antichrist is revealed.

It is an act of rebellion against God to try to save what God said would be destroyed. If we really believe these are the end of the end days then we will be more concerned about praying for the believers to endure and speaking truth to the unbeliever that they might become born again.

If this is your focus then you will be despised by many people around you including those who say they are Christians and your own family members.

Proverbs 29:27

"An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked."

Mark 13:13

"You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."

Luke 21:16

"You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death."

Luke 12:52-53 "…52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

The encouragement is in knowing what is happening and what to do about it. We must remain strong no matter what others are doing. We must remain faithful to God and His principles even if we are reviled for it.

It is a fact that most people will not accept the things of God or correction from His Word. They have mixed the ways of the world with their wavering faith to live happily in the world.

The joy is great for those who follow Christ but the happiness comes and goes based on circumstances. It is the joy that sustains us through everything.

So what is to be done? We pray we speak the truth and we look up! Yes, this was Christ's command to us for the end times, to look up with expectancy for His coming in the clouds.

Luke 21:28

"28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near.

Our life should not be complicated with politics, the world, and unbelieving family, it can be simple and steady if we only trust in Christ.