I am convinced that far more "Christians" than we realize do not have the Holy Spirit at all. The reason I think this is because of their hostility toward the Word when we use it to correct. Most people are living on the island of "don't judge." They have little interest in seeking God for truth, only in His blessing and the safety He provides, but they don't realize they do not belong to Him and do not have these things.
Matthew 7:21-23
"21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
The Law Does Not Save
1 Timothy 1:9-10
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
Romans 8:2-4 "2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous standard of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.…"
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
Romans 8:2-4 "2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous standard of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.…"
Immorality is Praised in the Churches
A couple of years ago I was engaged in an argument on facebook about the "Christian" youth group in Hawaii, that know my daughter's family (she lives there).
They became unglued when I told the women they should not be wearing them, but to top it all off these were the skimpiest ones I have ever seen.
They were playing "pyramid", climbing on top of the young men while getting a picture of it. I explained that this was immoral behavior, my comment was met with such rage it was hard to believe anyone in that group was saved. The youth leader got involved, angry that I "judged" the girls for dressing like this and for climbing all over the young men.
I never would have bothered telling these young people anything if they had not claimed to be believers. I would have just given them the gospel message. Sadly, this is the state of the American church groups and leaders.
The youth leader of this immoral crowd, claimed that I didn't know their hearts. I replied by saying that I knew their heart by the way they dressed. No woman could dress like that in front of men unless they had lustful and immoral hearts.
A modest woman would never have displayed herself like that. Is it any wonder things are getting worse when the youth leaders are promoting sin through acceptance of it.
One of my rebukes had to do with the lack of leadership that would refuse to teach modesty and proper decorum for young ladies professing to be Christian.
Sadly many leaders of youth groups these days are more concerned about being popular with their kids than they are about God's standard. I don't think Christ has much to do with these so called "Christian Youth groups."
I was called "mean spirited", "judgmental" and rude, as well as mocked over this discussion with a "Christian" youth group on the beach in what amounts to their underwear, while climbing all over the young men.
It makes me feel sick to my stomach, that this is the witness of modern church goers today.
Here is how this could have gone, the girls would have seen the problem, apologized for their display of immorality, while the teachers too would be embarrassed, everyone could have grown a little more and changed their behavior to please Christ.
Yes, I guess I was dreaming! Does anyone listen to correction anymore, or is everyone in rebellion as this group was?
The young ladies were wearing bikinis as skimpy as I had ever seen.
They became unglued when I told the women they should not be wearing them, but to top it all off these were the skimpiest ones I have ever seen.
They were playing "pyramid", climbing on top of the young men while getting a picture of it. I explained that this was immoral behavior, my comment was met with such rage it was hard to believe anyone in that group was saved. The youth leader got involved, angry that I "judged" the girls for dressing like this and for climbing all over the young men.
I never would have bothered telling these young people anything if they had not claimed to be believers. I would have just given them the gospel message. Sadly, this is the state of the American church groups and leaders.
The youth leader of this immoral crowd, claimed that I didn't know their hearts. I replied by saying that I knew their heart by the way they dressed. No woman could dress like that in front of men unless they had lustful and immoral hearts.
A modest woman would never have displayed herself like that. Is it any wonder things are getting worse when the youth leaders are promoting sin through acceptance of it.
One of my rebukes had to do with the lack of leadership that would refuse to teach modesty and proper decorum for young ladies professing to be Christian.
Sadly many leaders of youth groups these days are more concerned about being popular with their kids than they are about God's standard. I don't think Christ has much to do with these so called "Christian Youth groups."
I was called "mean spirited", "judgmental" and rude, as well as mocked over this discussion with a "Christian" youth group on the beach in what amounts to their underwear, while climbing all over the young men.
It makes me feel sick to my stomach, that this is the witness of modern church goers today.
Here is how this could have gone, the girls would have seen the problem, apologized for their display of immorality, while the teachers too would be embarrassed, everyone could have grown a little more and changed their behavior to please Christ.
Yes, I guess I was dreaming! Does anyone listen to correction anymore, or is everyone in rebellion as this group was?
Monday, June 19, 2017
Irrational Rage About Nothing
So many people who enjoy prophesy like I do, focus on the big newsy items having to do with governments and legislation, sometimes missing the things that are up close and personal, those family and personal dynamics that are also indicators of the last days events.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Everything we see now on the political scene, are present in the personal lives of those who love the Lord. Everything God said would happen in terms of attitudes are playing out everywhere all the time.
The schools, the communities, the political arena, the churches and everything else in between are evidence of the the 2 Timothy 3 mentality, full of emotional irrational responses to everything. I am almost to the point, in our region of the country, where I am delighted and excited when I run into someone who does not act superior, entitled or extreme in their reactions when disagreed with, it is an indicator to me, a microcosm of the world in general.
The irrational responses to a call for morality and reasonableness is too extreme to be believed. The anger that emerges at the smallest challenge is insane, lacking good sense.
What used to be a pleasant disagreement is now seen as an attack, worthy of rage. I ran into this recently with someone in their forties, this person raged in anger when I suggested that God defends, and is for Israel. I was calm, everything was respectful, but the anger that emerged was unreasonable, not commensurate with the tone of the discussion.
Rage and anger is the new standard for controlling discussion these days. It tends to shut everyone down to avoid further escalating warfare. And, it does feel like a war when a simple innocent statement is treated like it is a bomb launcher. This rage is automatic with people who hate to be told they could be wrong. The self exaltation is so strong that even the slightest disagreement is seen as a personal attack.
Can we spell: Completely Irrational!
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Everything we see now on the political scene, are present in the personal lives of those who love the Lord. Everything God said would happen in terms of attitudes are playing out everywhere all the time.
The schools, the communities, the political arena, the churches and everything else in between are evidence of the the 2 Timothy 3 mentality, full of emotional irrational responses to everything. I am almost to the point, in our region of the country, where I am delighted and excited when I run into someone who does not act superior, entitled or extreme in their reactions when disagreed with, it is an indicator to me, a microcosm of the world in general.
The irrational responses to a call for morality and reasonableness is too extreme to be believed. The anger that emerges at the smallest challenge is insane, lacking good sense.
What used to be a pleasant disagreement is now seen as an attack, worthy of rage. I ran into this recently with someone in their forties, this person raged in anger when I suggested that God defends, and is for Israel. I was calm, everything was respectful, but the anger that emerged was unreasonable, not commensurate with the tone of the discussion.
Rage and anger is the new standard for controlling discussion these days. It tends to shut everyone down to avoid further escalating warfare. And, it does feel like a war when a simple innocent statement is treated like it is a bomb launcher. This rage is automatic with people who hate to be told they could be wrong. The self exaltation is so strong that even the slightest disagreement is seen as a personal attack.
Can we spell: Completely Irrational!
Sunday, June 18, 2017
The End Times Path
As the world continues down the path of 2 Timothy 3:1-5, we are going to find it harder to connect with those who Love God and act in reasonably mature ways.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
2 Timothy 3:1-5
"3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
Saturday, June 17, 2017
Pride Prevents Freedom in the Soul
Pride prevents people from asking forgiveness from those they have offended.
Many people who say they walk with Christ, have offended people but see no need to even discuss what has happened, resistanceto discussion and confession is rampant among many believers.
They prefer to act as though just being nice next time will fix things, but it does not.
As long as someone has been treated disrespectfully, they will not trust those who make a practice of it and then return to pretend it never happened.
Trust is only restored when there is brokenness over having offended another brother or sister. Without this brokenness we can be sure that the same behavior will continue.
Isaiah 57:15 " 15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite."
Luke 9:23
"23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
There is no denying of self when we cannot confess sinfulness to be cleansed.
Psalm 34:18
"18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Those who retain their pride through stubborness, resisting confession to be reconciled will not only do it with people but also with God.
There is a tendency for stubborn people to live in a world of pretense, they pretend they did nothing wrong, they pretend it was all fixed by coming back as though it never happened, even though there was never any desire to admit their sin. Those who walk in pretense, choosing to believe things about themselves that are not true to keep from having to humble themselves, only grow in one direction, that is "worse", until they repent, then they will begin the growth process again, cleansed and free.
Those that will not repent, grow more and more guilty in their soul, having to continually justify themselves while becoming more hardened with each resistance to confession.
Let's not stagnate in our growth, stagnation does not remain there it leads to regression, along with more and more bitterness of soul. There is no freedom and peace for the heart that resists correction and confession.
Many people who say they walk with Christ, have offended people but see no need to even discuss what has happened, resistanceto discussion and confession is rampant among many believers.
They prefer to act as though just being nice next time will fix things, but it does not.
As long as someone has been treated disrespectfully, they will not trust those who make a practice of it and then return to pretend it never happened.
Trust is only restored when there is brokenness over having offended another brother or sister. Without this brokenness we can be sure that the same behavior will continue.
Isaiah 57:15 " 15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite."
Luke 9:23
"23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
There is no denying of self when we cannot confess sinfulness to be cleansed.
Psalm 34:18
"18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Those who retain their pride through stubborness, resisting confession to be reconciled will not only do it with people but also with God.
There is a tendency for stubborn people to live in a world of pretense, they pretend they did nothing wrong, they pretend it was all fixed by coming back as though it never happened, even though there was never any desire to admit their sin. Those who walk in pretense, choosing to believe things about themselves that are not true to keep from having to humble themselves, only grow in one direction, that is "worse", until they repent, then they will begin the growth process again, cleansed and free.
Those that will not repent, grow more and more guilty in their soul, having to continually justify themselves while becoming more hardened with each resistance to confession.
Let's not stagnate in our growth, stagnation does not remain there it leads to regression, along with more and more bitterness of soul. There is no freedom and peace for the heart that resists correction and confession.
Forgiveness is Conditional
We are to forgive the way Christ forgives, not flippantly to make ourselves feel better, but after a confession so that others know their need to grow and change their behavior.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
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.”…"
We are never to do revenge, we are to treat people respectfully when in their company, but relationships are not restored or continue when someone refuses to admit their sin or when they refuse to change the same continual behavior.
There is no value in everyone just "feeling better", the purpose of requiring a confession is for the cleansing of the one who sinned and the forgiveness of the one offended that the relationship take a new turn toward holiness and reconciliation based on entirely new attitudes.
Our culture has taught a patently unbiblical concept of forgiving without confession. This has led people to believe they don't have to confess, they just have to act a little better the next time. This tactic does not restore a relationship, it is superficially phony and does not restore the trust that was lost.
The only fix for a broken relationship is for the one who broke it to confess to the one they harmed. Hoping bad feelings will go away by pretending nothing bad was done to the victim, is the same as saying, you don't mean anything to me, I just want my status of friendship back.
When someone is not sorry, refuses to do what is necessary to restore a friendship, then they are admitting they are probably going to do the same kind of things again, the relationship gets poked, poked and poked over and over again, until there is no chance of restoring what was lost.
Sorrow over sin and confession to the ones we harmed is the ONLY solution to broken relationships. Until this happens the relationship remains broken and eventually the harmed party walks away forever.
Those who will not confess they need Christ, who will not reconcile to God through faith in His finished work on the cross, will not see heaven. In order to see heaven one must confess their sinfulness, ask to be changed into a new creation, after that Christ will come to live in them and begin the work of cleansing for the rest of their lives.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
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.”…"
We are never to do revenge, we are to treat people respectfully when in their company, but relationships are not restored or continue when someone refuses to admit their sin or when they refuse to change the same continual behavior.
There is no value in everyone just "feeling better", the purpose of requiring a confession is for the cleansing of the one who sinned and the forgiveness of the one offended that the relationship take a new turn toward holiness and reconciliation based on entirely new attitudes.
Our culture has taught a patently unbiblical concept of forgiving without confession. This has led people to believe they don't have to confess, they just have to act a little better the next time. This tactic does not restore a relationship, it is superficially phony and does not restore the trust that was lost.
The only fix for a broken relationship is for the one who broke it to confess to the one they harmed. Hoping bad feelings will go away by pretending nothing bad was done to the victim, is the same as saying, you don't mean anything to me, I just want my status of friendship back.
When someone is not sorry, refuses to do what is necessary to restore a friendship, then they are admitting they are probably going to do the same kind of things again, the relationship gets poked, poked and poked over and over again, until there is no chance of restoring what was lost.
Sorrow over sin and confession to the ones we harmed is the ONLY solution to broken relationships. Until this happens the relationship remains broken and eventually the harmed party walks away forever.
Those who will not confess they need Christ, who will not reconcile to God through faith in His finished work on the cross, will not see heaven. In order to see heaven one must confess their sinfulness, ask to be changed into a new creation, after that Christ will come to live in them and begin the work of cleansing for the rest of their lives.
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