Proverbs 23:26
"26 Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes [a]delight in my ways."
Hosea 6:6 6 "For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
God does not want us to add our own rituals in worship to Him. He wants us to seek the Holy Spirit and determine to walk as Christ walked.
Those who must have their human rituals to feel spiritual have replaced dedication to Christ with dedication to their rituals that make them feel and appear spiritual. Still, in actuality, they detract from the Holy Spirit, depending on themselves and their actions instead of on Christ.
When our eyes are fixed on Christ, we will do His will and not our own. We will want to consult with Him for everything before acting on our own desires.
Sometimes I wonder how many things we missed that would have been blessings because we did our own thing instead of consulting the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:27 "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him."
Ephesians 4:30 "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
1 Corinthians 2:14 "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
1 Corinthians 2:4 "And my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,"
There is no greater counselor than the Holy Spirit!!!!
Monday, May 11, 2026
True Confession always results in True Transformation
It is not true confession and forgiveness if it does not result in reconciliation.
Often, someone will say they are sorry, but their behavior does not change. We are not required to forgive them when they lie and are not sorry for their own actions.
Many people are sorry for the trouble that comes from their actions, but not that they did the offense. This is not repentance; when someone is truly sorry, they forsake their sinful ways, not just say they are sorry. Their behavior changes because their hearts have changed.
There is only spiritual and emotional growth when someone admits their flaw or sin, desiring to be cleansed from it. Without this, the behavior remains the same, and what was said is only words to manipulate others to pretend all was made right, and everything will return to the old status.
James 5:16 "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."Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy."
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Saying words never mend anything, pretending something is over without confession, never mends anything. The only thing that happens when there is manipulation using words to disarm and pretending something never happened only fosters and escalates distrust.
This is why God required that we confess what we did that offended someone else and desire to be changed so that we do not practice the offense again.
Remember too that confession of sin requires naming specifically what was done and that there was regret for doing it, not for the consequences but for the harm that was done to others.
Regretting consequences does not cleanse, only regretting the harm one does and passionately hating having offended others. Without that regret of harming others, there is only pretense and self-preservation.
Those who never confess offenses never grow emotionally or spiritually; they remain immature until they learn to care whether or not they harm others.
1 Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Often, someone will say they are sorry, but their behavior does not change. We are not required to forgive them when they lie and are not sorry for their own actions.
Many people are sorry for the trouble that comes from their actions, but not that they did the offense. This is not repentance; when someone is truly sorry, they forsake their sinful ways, not just say they are sorry. Their behavior changes because their hearts have changed.
There is only spiritual and emotional growth when someone admits their flaw or sin, desiring to be cleansed from it. Without this, the behavior remains the same, and what was said is only words to manipulate others to pretend all was made right, and everything will return to the old status.
James 5:16 "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."Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy."
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Saying words never mend anything, pretending something is over without confession, never mends anything. The only thing that happens when there is manipulation using words to disarm and pretending something never happened only fosters and escalates distrust.
This is why God required that we confess what we did that offended someone else and desire to be changed so that we do not practice the offense again.
Remember too that confession of sin requires naming specifically what was done and that there was regret for doing it, not for the consequences but for the harm that was done to others.
Regretting consequences does not cleanse, only regretting the harm one does and passionately hating having offended others. Without that regret of harming others, there is only pretense and self-preservation.
Those who never confess offenses never grow emotionally or spiritually; they remain immature until they learn to care whether or not they harm others.
1 Peter 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Transformed by Christ Creates a Hatred for Sin
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
What is the fruit?
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
The fruit is not work; it is the character qualities of Christ that only those who are born again can discern. Works do flow out of this, and a lifestyle does flow from it, but the fruit is separate from works. Even evil people can do good works this is not the evidence that they are born again and have been transformed by Christ.
1 John 3:9 "No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God."
Believers do sin at times and must confess it to be cleansed. It is in confessing and the regret that we have offended God that leads to Spiritual growth.
1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body."
As someone once said, "Christians are not sinless, but we do sin less.", Because we hate sin and want to walk in righteousness, we are in a battle with the flesh. Those who are not saved do not battle the flesh; they make excuses, pretend they did nothing wrong, and even blame others for their sin.
1 John 3:7 "Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous."
Many "Christians" do not practice sin on the outside that others can see, but they hold grudges, and they treat with disrespect anyone who will challenge them about their misdeeds and offenses. They use covert rudeness to be able to deny their offensive attitudes.
Unsaved people who have not been transformed by Christ but are very familiar with church speak learn to hide the big sins and use covert rudeness and haughtiness to control the emotions of others. They think as long as they can deny what they said or did it lets them off the hook and even justifies them.
Romans 6:12-13 "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. / Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness."
Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. / It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,"
Ephesians 6:12 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Our struggle is constant until God takes us home. Those who do not struggle have never been born again; they simply deny and justify their sin.
Romans 12:9 "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."
Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."
You Will Know Them by Their Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
What is the fruit?
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
The fruit is not work; it is the character qualities of Christ that only those who are born again can discern. Works do flow out of this, and a lifestyle does flow from it, but the fruit is separate from works. Even evil people can do good works this is not the evidence that they are born again and have been transformed by Christ.
1 John 3:9 "No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God."
Believers do sin at times and must confess it to be cleansed. It is in confessing and the regret that we have offended God that leads to Spiritual growth.
1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body."
As someone once said, "Christians are not sinless, but we do sin less.", Because we hate sin and want to walk in righteousness, we are in a battle with the flesh. Those who are not saved do not battle the flesh; they make excuses, pretend they did nothing wrong, and even blame others for their sin.
1 John 3:7 "Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous."
Many "Christians" do not practice sin on the outside that others can see, but they hold grudges, and they treat with disrespect anyone who will challenge them about their misdeeds and offenses. They use covert rudeness to be able to deny their offensive attitudes.
Unsaved people who have not been transformed by Christ but are very familiar with church speak learn to hide the big sins and use covert rudeness and haughtiness to control the emotions of others. They think as long as they can deny what they said or did it lets them off the hook and even justifies them.
Romans 6:12-13 "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. / Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness."
Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. / It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,"
Ephesians 6:12 "12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Our struggle is constant until God takes us home. Those who do not struggle have never been born again; they simply deny and justify their sin.
Romans 12:9 "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good."
Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Follow Christ not Worldly Psychology
Once again, psychology gets it wrong when it proclaims that "hurt people hurt people." It is irrational and devilish to use this as an excuse.
I know many people who were deeply hurt by others who treat others better because they hate hurting people.
Hurting others is a choice. Anyone who harms others because they were hurt is exacting revenge on those who never harmed them. It is irrational to harm those who never harmed us. Even revenge against those who hurt us is against God.
Luke 6:27-28 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
Psychology says we are to forgive those who are not repentant for our own sake, but we don't have to remain friends. This too is foolishness. We are to forgive when someone confesses in order to restore a relationship.
Luke 17:3-5 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”…"
Psychology says, "believe in yourself, trust in yourself", when God says to trust in Him alone.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.…"
Psychology says people are basically good, which is total nonsense. If this were true, there would be no crime in the world.
God says, Jeremiah 17:9 " 9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
Psychology says it is child abuse to use physical discipline to train a child. But God said; Proverbs 13:24 "24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
Many things we were taught over the years about life came from Freudian psychology directly contrary to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Freud sought to discount and disprove God; in so doing, he created a belief system opposite of the principles of God. It caused many people to do the easy thing instead of the right thing. It caused people to place their trust in feelings and reactions instead of good scriptural sense.
Isn't it time to re-evaluate everything secular religion taught us and begin praying for wisdom from God to retrain ourselves to think with the mind of Christ?
I know many people who were deeply hurt by others who treat others better because they hate hurting people.
Hurting others is a choice. Anyone who harms others because they were hurt is exacting revenge on those who never harmed them. It is irrational to harm those who never harmed us. Even revenge against those who hurt us is against God.
Luke 6:27-28 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
Psychology says we are to forgive those who are not repentant for our own sake, but we don't have to remain friends. This too is foolishness. We are to forgive when someone confesses in order to restore a relationship.
Luke 17:3-5 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” 5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”…"
Psychology says, "believe in yourself, trust in yourself", when God says to trust in Him alone.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.…"
Psychology says people are basically good, which is total nonsense. If this were true, there would be no crime in the world.
God says, Jeremiah 17:9 " 9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"
Psychology says it is child abuse to use physical discipline to train a child. But God said; Proverbs 13:24 "24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently."
Many things we were taught over the years about life came from Freudian psychology directly contrary to the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Freud sought to discount and disprove God; in so doing, he created a belief system opposite of the principles of God. It caused many people to do the easy thing instead of the right thing. It caused people to place their trust in feelings and reactions instead of good scriptural sense.
Isn't it time to re-evaluate everything secular religion taught us and begin praying for wisdom from God to retrain ourselves to think with the mind of Christ?
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