2 Timothy 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power: from such turn away 2 Timothy 3:5
I take this as a command, if we remain with those who hate God and have made their choice against Him, we are COMMANDED to turn away from them.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15 " 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?…"
Many believers refuse to remove themselves from ungodly people who refuse to obey Christ. Even those who say they are Christians but refuse to listen when they are in sin, we are commanded to remove ourselves from them.
Friday, July 21, 2017
Justifying Sin Reveals the Heart
I have a hard time believing a born again believer would "justify" their sin when God clearly hates it and cannot even come in the presence of sin, so much so that Christ had to die to atone for it.
I am beginning to be more blatant in my dealings with those who claim to be Christian, those are the ones who are suppose to hate sin and feel shame if they have a weak moment of sin. A strong rebuke is in order for the believer who defends sin.
Those who love their sin cannot be born again, it's pretty simple.
Believers who have been changed by Christ into a new creation hate their sin and want to be cleansed. They even feel terrible at having a wrong attitude, before it even becomes an action.
SO!!!! Here's the thing, if you still love your sin, become enraged when confronted about it and refuse to confess it as sin, then you are not born again, you are a pretender, a faker and will not see the Kingdom of God.
John 3:18-20 "…18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.…"
If you do not hate the sin in you, then you have not been changed into a new creation, you do not have the Holy Spirit and you have never been born again.
Sadly, there are many in the church gatherings like this, they have no concern about sin, are not broken over it and often refuse to seek God for cleansing. Why do I think this? It is because those who love Christ love to walk in the light and they hate the darkness.
I am beginning to be more blatant in my dealings with those who claim to be Christian, those are the ones who are suppose to hate sin and feel shame if they have a weak moment of sin. A strong rebuke is in order for the believer who defends sin.
Those who love their sin cannot be born again, it's pretty simple.
Believers who have been changed by Christ into a new creation hate their sin and want to be cleansed. They even feel terrible at having a wrong attitude, before it even becomes an action.
SO!!!! Here's the thing, if you still love your sin, become enraged when confronted about it and refuse to confess it as sin, then you are not born again, you are a pretender, a faker and will not see the Kingdom of God.
John 3:18-20 "…18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.…"
If you do not hate the sin in you, then you have not been changed into a new creation, you do not have the Holy Spirit and you have never been born again.
Sadly, there are many in the church gatherings like this, they have no concern about sin, are not broken over it and often refuse to seek God for cleansing. Why do I think this? It is because those who love Christ love to walk in the light and they hate the darkness.
Loving the Lord Shows
Those who love the Lord cannot get enough of the Word of God, they also love to hear it from others. When there is a sense of embarrassment at the mention of the name of Christ we are witnessing a clue about the one who shrinks from speech about God.
1 Corinthians 4:10 "…9 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11 To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.…"
1 Corinthians 4:10 "…9 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11 To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.…"
There Must Be Shame
An authentic believer senses a deep shame when they sin. If someone does not have this sense of shame, even defending their sin, then I am doubtful that they have the Holy Spirit.
One who does not have the Holy Spirit is not born again and never has been.
Many who call themselves "Christian" have never been born again, they have merely made the decision to join a group or church gathering, there was never a sense of shame or regret over their sinfulness.
Without brokenness over sin, a person cannot become born again.
Matthew 5:3-4 "3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.…"
A refusal to admit sinfulness is the biggest clue that someone has never become born again.
Those who have mourned, leaned their sinfulness and turned to Christ to be changed into a new creation by Him, are deeply comforted, while the joy floods into their hearts from the realization that Christ paid the penalty of sin and will be the one to do the work in them.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
If someone believes they are keeping their salvation by their own works, good deeds or lack of bad behavior, they cannot be trusting Christ, they are still attempting to make into heaven by their own efforts.
Ephesians 2:8-9
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
One who does not have the Holy Spirit is not born again and never has been.
Many who call themselves "Christian" have never been born again, they have merely made the decision to join a group or church gathering, there was never a sense of shame or regret over their sinfulness.
Without brokenness over sin, a person cannot become born again.
Matthew 5:3-4 "3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.…"
A refusal to admit sinfulness is the biggest clue that someone has never become born again.
Those who have mourned, leaned their sinfulness and turned to Christ to be changed into a new creation by Him, are deeply comforted, while the joy floods into their hearts from the realization that Christ paid the penalty of sin and will be the one to do the work in them.
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
If someone believes they are keeping their salvation by their own works, good deeds or lack of bad behavior, they cannot be trusting Christ, they are still attempting to make into heaven by their own efforts.
Ephesians 2:8-9
"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Play Acting Produces Nothing
Play acting producing nothing of substance, merely fools some people part of the time, it never fools God.
Actors in movies are not the people they portray, they are merely pretending.
So many people are "play acting" in their Christianity. They pretend they walk with God but have no real desire to please Him. We know this because they violate more of God's principles in His Word than they obey, even becoming hostile when it is pointed out.
An authentic believer who desires to please God will be ashamed rather than angry when told they are violating one of God's principles. It is those who rage that reveal a heart of pride and rebellion.
Those that are ashamed and go to prayer, will not rage or become angry, they will go to prayer to see if it is true and then begin to have a changed heart that results in changed behavior. The change in the authentic believer is permanent, they will not repeat the same things again because the desire to do it has left them entirely.
John 14:15 "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—…"
Actors in movies are not the people they portray, they are merely pretending.
So many people are "play acting" in their Christianity. They pretend they walk with God but have no real desire to please Him. We know this because they violate more of God's principles in His Word than they obey, even becoming hostile when it is pointed out.
An authentic believer who desires to please God will be ashamed rather than angry when told they are violating one of God's principles. It is those who rage that reveal a heart of pride and rebellion.
Those that are ashamed and go to prayer, will not rage or become angry, they will go to prayer to see if it is true and then begin to have a changed heart that results in changed behavior. The change in the authentic believer is permanent, they will not repeat the same things again because the desire to do it has left them entirely.
John 14:15 "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—…"
Confession is the Key
As believers we must confess our sin to remain in fellowship with Jesus Christ Who lives in us. If we do not confess He will not hear our prayers and we can expect discipline, sometimes very devastating consequences for stubbornness.
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with your wives with understanding, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered."
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
When we refuse to admit our sin and confess it, God will discipline, ignore our prayers and leave us to the wiles of the devil to bring us to the end of ourselves. Without confession there will be no turning from the sin, only the appearance of turning, the heart remains the same. Pretending to confess without a heart change is not a turning but a remaining. When we confess sin with the desire to be cleansed by Christ, only then will there be a change of heart that results in a change in behavior.
If there is an attempt at changing the behavior without confession then pride remains and the change is temporary and fleshly. It is only through Christ changing the heart that brings on permanent and authentic change, the heart has been changed by Christ, rather than just a man attempting to change their behavior without confessing. It is only through confession with the desire to be changed, that brings about a transformation of the spirit.
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."
This phrase is very important but many people miss it entirely in human relationship and their relationship with Christ, "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS."
Until we recognize that we are nothing before God, that we have no wisdom to offer within ourselves, He will leave us to ourselves, often the consequences of this are life long.
Refusal to confess is the proof that someone remains in pride.
Those who are not born again, must confess their sinfulness and trust Christ for their salvation. God does not bless those who are not His, He will leave them to their own devices while life will be their teacher and discipline. Those who live according to their own flesh, don't know that their way gets them nothing spiritually and will become more and more depraved in their thinking the longer they resist Christ.
Romans 1:28-32 "28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
Even though one may not engage in the depraved actions of others, they will be held accountable for what they accept and endorse in the depravity of others.
So many people think all they have to do is pretend their offenses didn't happen, act better next time and all will be over for a better relationship. This does not only NOT work for human relationships but it also does not work between man and God.
God wants repentance, sorrow and an earnestness to be changed by Him. Attempting to change oneself without confession and without God's help will only result in a phony appearance that will not last. The slightest challenge by anyone in the next encounter will reveal the lack of authenticity in a person's heart. Play acting producing nothing of substance, merely fools some people part of the time, it never fools God.
Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."
The solution to sinfulness in the believers heart is to confess it and ask Christ to change us to become more holy.
2 Peter 3:18 " 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
The solution for the unsaved, is to confess before God their need for salvation in Jesus Christ, then He will come to live in them and begin the lifelong process of cleansing them.
Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
No one gets away with anything, even if it looks that way. Believers who sin will be disciplined and non-believers are lost in their sin without hope unless they come to Christ.
1 Peter 3:7 "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with your wives with understanding, giving honor unto the wife as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered."
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
When we refuse to admit our sin and confess it, God will discipline, ignore our prayers and leave us to the wiles of the devil to bring us to the end of ourselves. Without confession there will be no turning from the sin, only the appearance of turning, the heart remains the same. Pretending to confess without a heart change is not a turning but a remaining. When we confess sin with the desire to be cleansed by Christ, only then will there be a change of heart that results in a change in behavior.
If there is an attempt at changing the behavior without confession then pride remains and the change is temporary and fleshly. It is only through Christ changing the heart that brings on permanent and authentic change, the heart has been changed by Christ, rather than just a man attempting to change their behavior without confessing. It is only through confession with the desire to be changed, that brings about a transformation of the spirit.
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."
This phrase is very important but many people miss it entirely in human relationship and their relationship with Christ, "IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS."
Until we recognize that we are nothing before God, that we have no wisdom to offer within ourselves, He will leave us to ourselves, often the consequences of this are life long.
Refusal to confess is the proof that someone remains in pride.
Those who are not born again, must confess their sinfulness and trust Christ for their salvation. God does not bless those who are not His, He will leave them to their own devices while life will be their teacher and discipline. Those who live according to their own flesh, don't know that their way gets them nothing spiritually and will become more and more depraved in their thinking the longer they resist Christ.
Romans 1:28-32 "28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
Even though one may not engage in the depraved actions of others, they will be held accountable for what they accept and endorse in the depravity of others.
So many people think all they have to do is pretend their offenses didn't happen, act better next time and all will be over for a better relationship. This does not only NOT work for human relationships but it also does not work between man and God.
God wants repentance, sorrow and an earnestness to be changed by Him. Attempting to change oneself without confession and without God's help will only result in a phony appearance that will not last. The slightest challenge by anyone in the next encounter will reveal the lack of authenticity in a person's heart. Play acting producing nothing of substance, merely fools some people part of the time, it never fools God.
Proverbs 15:3
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good."
The solution to sinfulness in the believers heart is to confess it and ask Christ to change us to become more holy.
2 Peter 3:18 " 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
The solution for the unsaved, is to confess before God their need for salvation in Jesus Christ, then He will come to live in them and begin the lifelong process of cleansing them.
Luke 19:10
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
No one gets away with anything, even if it looks that way. Believers who sin will be disciplined and non-believers are lost in their sin without hope unless they come to Christ.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
We Were Taught To Work
Follow the Link and then read the below comments?
https://www.facebook.com/coolgoodolddays/photos/a.584086731776739.1073741828.580909025427843/704635399721871/?type=3&theater
YEP! My cousin and I went out with a wagon one day and collected more than 200 beer bottles. LOL We got a whole penny apiece for them. Those were the days when many people still threw their bottles out the window and, driving and drinking was norm. We lived in the country, we wandered all over the countryside collecting those bottles from ditches and beside barns.
Of course the bottle collecting had to be on the days when the berries were not ready for picking. When the fields were ripe we spent all day six days a week in the fields picking blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, beans, blue berries and thornless blackberries toward the end of the summer. We began our work in the berry fields when we were eight years old.
We got whooped if we were found too late in the bed in the morning, when there was money to be made in the fields. I never looked upon those days as bad, they were how we learned to work and save money to buy our bicycles, school clothes and school supplies.
The child labor laws began in the seventies and have ruined the next generations, taking from them the valuable lessons of the berry fields. How to work in the hot sun of the afternoon and the cold mornings, even when we were miserable for a short time, we did it anyway. Nowadays children whine at the sight of work, practically demanding that they not have to do any or thinking they have to be paid union wages for their menial work.
We never had a dull moment in the country, we climbed trees, built forts and dams across the creek, when we were not working. We never dared say to our parents that we were bored, if we did we were given some more work to do. There was always work in the country.
We were too tired at the end of the day in the summer to even think about getting into trouble, not to mention we knew if we were naughty, not only were we in trouble with the neighbors but with our parents too. Parents backed one another up back then. Only the bad parents defended their children when they were naughty. I think it was because good parents cared more about their children's character than their feelings about getting whooped.
Those were the "good ole days" that I remember, not that they were easy or perfect, but we learned far more lessons than the children can learn now, life is just simply too easy for American children.
We didn't have many toys, we had the entire outdoors for our adventure, no need for lots of fancy toys. I don't miss those days really, for me they are over, but I miss them for the children of today who miss out on this life of adventure to keep their faces in meaningless and time wasting electronics.
Lord Come Quickly!!!!!
https://www.facebook.com/coolgoodolddays/photos/a.584086731776739.1073741828.580909025427843/704635399721871/?type=3&theater
YEP! My cousin and I went out with a wagon one day and collected more than 200 beer bottles. LOL We got a whole penny apiece for them. Those were the days when many people still threw their bottles out the window and, driving and drinking was norm. We lived in the country, we wandered all over the countryside collecting those bottles from ditches and beside barns.
Of course the bottle collecting had to be on the days when the berries were not ready for picking. When the fields were ripe we spent all day six days a week in the fields picking blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, beans, blue berries and thornless blackberries toward the end of the summer. We began our work in the berry fields when we were eight years old.
We got whooped if we were found too late in the bed in the morning, when there was money to be made in the fields. I never looked upon those days as bad, they were how we learned to work and save money to buy our bicycles, school clothes and school supplies.
The child labor laws began in the seventies and have ruined the next generations, taking from them the valuable lessons of the berry fields. How to work in the hot sun of the afternoon and the cold mornings, even when we were miserable for a short time, we did it anyway. Nowadays children whine at the sight of work, practically demanding that they not have to do any or thinking they have to be paid union wages for their menial work.
We never had a dull moment in the country, we climbed trees, built forts and dams across the creek, when we were not working. We never dared say to our parents that we were bored, if we did we were given some more work to do. There was always work in the country.
We were too tired at the end of the day in the summer to even think about getting into trouble, not to mention we knew if we were naughty, not only were we in trouble with the neighbors but with our parents too. Parents backed one another up back then. Only the bad parents defended their children when they were naughty. I think it was because good parents cared more about their children's character than their feelings about getting whooped.
Those were the "good ole days" that I remember, not that they were easy or perfect, but we learned far more lessons than the children can learn now, life is just simply too easy for American children.
We didn't have many toys, we had the entire outdoors for our adventure, no need for lots of fancy toys. I don't miss those days really, for me they are over, but I miss them for the children of today who miss out on this life of adventure to keep their faces in meaningless and time wasting electronics.
Lord Come Quickly!!!!!
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