Often those who are closest to us, fain love, until we move out of the real of superficiality, desiring wisdom, then they begin to disappear. One by one friends leave because anything of depth frightens them away.
Christ will never leave us, He is the provider of that depth that we desire, there will never be a closer friend.
Proverbs 18:24
"24 A man of too many friends comes to [a]ruin,
But there is a [b]friend who sticks closer than a brother."
John 15:15 ""No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you."
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Strength Is Demonstrated in Boldness!
Those who want to be guilt free in the sin while being accepted by others, will always throw out the "judging card." They think it will intimidate others into remaining silent over their sin, unfortunately it works with most believers.
If we are to remain strong, standing for Christ in all things, then we must ignore the manipulative techniques of sinful people and speak out boldly as we are led by the Holy Spirit.
Manipulation and intimidation will not work on those who are secure in the Lord, it only works on the spiritual weak.
If we are to remain strong, standing for Christ in all things, then we must ignore the manipulative techniques of sinful people and speak out boldly as we are led by the Holy Spirit.
Manipulation and intimidation will not work on those who are secure in the Lord, it only works on the spiritual weak.
Pride Is Weakness
It is a weak, beggarly spirit, that cannot admit when they are wrong. Those who are very weak will hang onto every ounce of pride they have because of their weakness.
Some are so weak that they cannot answer when they are confronted, they must continue to hide, without responding.
Those who are strong, have no fear of admitting they are wrong, there is no fear of anyone judging them or rejecting them, because they have the Holy Spirit, His truth is more important than our own reputation.
We know we are imperfect and we live in the realm of continual truth, it is more important to us than what people think of us, or what they can do to us.
Ephesians 6:10-11
"10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
When we love the Lord, pride takes a back seat to truth and righteousness.
Some are so weak that they cannot answer when they are confronted, they must continue to hide, without responding.
Those who are strong, have no fear of admitting they are wrong, there is no fear of anyone judging them or rejecting them, because they have the Holy Spirit, His truth is more important than our own reputation.
We know we are imperfect and we live in the realm of continual truth, it is more important to us than what people think of us, or what they can do to us.
Ephesians 6:10-11
"10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
When we love the Lord, pride takes a back seat to truth and righteousness.
Physical Laziness Is connected to Spiritual Laziness
Sin hinders fellowship! When we do not obey God's Word, walking in disobedience and rebellion, then we hinder possible relationships with those who desire to walk uprightly.
Ephesians 5:11
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
Colossians 3:23
"23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,"
Proverbs 13:4
"4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the SOUL of the diligent shall be made rich."
Notice in the Proverbs passage above, God does not promise riches in material possessions for those of a diligent man, but that his SOUL, will become righteous, being built up in Spiritual growth.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
"10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread."
Proverbs 14:23
"23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty."
Laziness brings poverty of soul and materially. Those who labor as unto the Lord will receive earthly blessings in the provision of God on earth and will grow in wisdom from their labors.
1 Corinthians 10:21
"21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons."
When we do not obey God we are being manipulated by demons, they are in control of our every move. Demons will not leave us alone when we are in rebellion, he spurs us on to greater degrees of disobedience.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
"11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."
When we desire to obey God, we have within us a drivenness to be productive both physically and spiritually. Our physical response to life is connected with our spiritual, they cannot be separate.
When you meet a physically lazy person, that same person will display spiritual leanness as well. The two are hand in hand.
Ephesians 5:11
"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
Colossians 3:23
"23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,"
Proverbs 13:4
"4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the SOUL of the diligent shall be made rich."
Notice in the Proverbs passage above, God does not promise riches in material possessions for those of a diligent man, but that his SOUL, will become righteous, being built up in Spiritual growth.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
"10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread."
Proverbs 14:23
"23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty."
Laziness brings poverty of soul and materially. Those who labor as unto the Lord will receive earthly blessings in the provision of God on earth and will grow in wisdom from their labors.
1 Corinthians 10:21
"21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons."
When we do not obey God we are being manipulated by demons, they are in control of our every move. Demons will not leave us alone when we are in rebellion, he spurs us on to greater degrees of disobedience.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
"11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."
When we desire to obey God, we have within us a drivenness to be productive both physically and spiritually. Our physical response to life is connected with our spiritual, they cannot be separate.
When you meet a physically lazy person, that same person will display spiritual leanness as well. The two are hand in hand.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Fruits of God's Spirit
The fruits of the Spirit are not works, they are character qualities.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
When we possess the character qualities it will be seen in our actions, but it is the Spiritual qualities by which we will know them.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."
When we possess the character qualities it will be seen in our actions, but it is the Spiritual qualities by which we will know them.
God Warns Us If We Ask For Discernment
Many times the Lord has warned me that something is not quite right with someone, even though I know little or nothing about them. I usually question my own attitude to see if I could be wrong, then I ask God to show me if it is me or if there is something spiritually amiss.
God always shows me when I get the warnings and ask Him. In every case where the prompting of the Holy Spirit was very strong, He revealed to me a serious problem.
There will be many people who will fall into deception in these last days because they have been indoctrinated to believe that they can never make an accurate judgement about people or matters.
We cannot make an accurate judgement about anything, our emotions get in the way, however God's judgement is perfect and He can tell us.
If we are walking with Christ, He warns us and if we want to know, He shows us what the matter is about.
James 1:5-6
"5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."
God always shows me when I get the warnings and ask Him. In every case where the prompting of the Holy Spirit was very strong, He revealed to me a serious problem.
There will be many people who will fall into deception in these last days because they have been indoctrinated to believe that they can never make an accurate judgement about people or matters.
We cannot make an accurate judgement about anything, our emotions get in the way, however God's judgement is perfect and He can tell us.
If we are walking with Christ, He warns us and if we want to know, He shows us what the matter is about.
James 1:5-6
"5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Jeremiah Obeyed God!
God gave instructions to Jeremiah, that were to be expressly followed without wavering. As long as Jeremiah obeyed God He would have no fear because God would stand by Him.
God said to Jeremiah in chapter 1 verse 8;
"Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."
Verse 17;
"Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I have command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them."
Verse 19;
"They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."
The Lord said this to Israel and could well be saying this to us today; Our country once founded on the principles of God have laid aside His principles to follow after the ways of Egypt. Egypt having always been a symbol of paganism and debauchery.
Jeremiah 1:19
"Your own wickedness will correct you, and your apostasies will reprove you; know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God, and the dread of ME is not in you, declares the Lord of God of hosts."
We can wash ourselves on the outside but be full of rotting bones on the inside.
Jeremiah 1:22
"Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me, declares the Lord."
God said to Jeremiah in chapter 1 verse 8;
"Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."
Verse 17;
"Now, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all which I have command you. Do not be dismayed before them, or I will dismay you before them."
Verse 19;
"They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord."
The Lord said this to Israel and could well be saying this to us today; Our country once founded on the principles of God have laid aside His principles to follow after the ways of Egypt. Egypt having always been a symbol of paganism and debauchery.
Jeremiah 1:19
"Your own wickedness will correct you, and your apostasies will reprove you; know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God, and the dread of ME is not in you, declares the Lord of God of hosts."
We can wash ourselves on the outside but be full of rotting bones on the inside.
Jeremiah 1:22
"Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me, declares the Lord."
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