A wise person receives a chastisement or instruction as an opportunity to learn about themselves and grow spiritually and emotionally.
A prideful person takes a chastisement or instruction as a personal attack. There is no spiritual or emotional growth in the prideful person, only growing anger and resentment.
Proverbs 12:1-2 "1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. 2 The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.…"
Monday, September 3, 2018
Confess and Let God Deal with It
There will be those who attempt to deny that God has changed us. They want to intimidate us into silence by bringing up past sins or at least treating us with contempt because of our past sins, do not take this in to your soul
Those who would hold past sins against others must believe they have never sinned or they would not be so inclined as to accuse us of ours.
When we have been freed from the guilt of our past sins through confession and God's forgiveness, we no longer need to revisit those sins in our minds or listen to others who want to continually treat us as though there has been no change in us.
The devil uses wicked and unforgiven people to torment us with false guilt over something that no longer exists. Perhaps these people have not been forgiven and do not experience the joy of freedom from sin, therefore they must believe we are no better than they.
I have two encouragements, one for the believe and one for the non-believer who judges others based on past sin.
The first encouragement is for those who are believers and who have been cleansed of their sin. When we believe God, that He has cleansed us we no longer have to indulge in self pity or false guilt we can leave it where it belongs, that is in the past. We also have no obligation to keep in our lives those who wish to continually deny what Christ did in us. They will gossip, they will lie and they will treat us with contempt, but it can roll off like water off a ducks back. Remove yourselves from those who have nothing but destruction in mind for us through false guilt.
The second encouragement is for the lost person who holds sin against others. This person can be free from their sin too. They can confess their sin of self righteousness, pride and cruelty toward believers and become born again by asking the Lord to change them into a new creation. The one who accuses others of past forgiven sins remains in their sin until they confess it and are cleansed by Christ.
This is the good news for the unbeliever, they can be free of their damnable pride and thoughts of superiority simply by admitting what they are and asking to be cleansed.
Its all so very simple, the key is to just believe God.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
The key is that one must confess the sin and want it dealt with by Christ.
Those who would hold past sins against others must believe they have never sinned or they would not be so inclined as to accuse us of ours.
When we have been freed from the guilt of our past sins through confession and God's forgiveness, we no longer need to revisit those sins in our minds or listen to others who want to continually treat us as though there has been no change in us.
The devil uses wicked and unforgiven people to torment us with false guilt over something that no longer exists. Perhaps these people have not been forgiven and do not experience the joy of freedom from sin, therefore they must believe we are no better than they.
I have two encouragements, one for the believe and one for the non-believer who judges others based on past sin.
The first encouragement is for those who are believers and who have been cleansed of their sin. When we believe God, that He has cleansed us we no longer have to indulge in self pity or false guilt we can leave it where it belongs, that is in the past. We also have no obligation to keep in our lives those who wish to continually deny what Christ did in us. They will gossip, they will lie and they will treat us with contempt, but it can roll off like water off a ducks back. Remove yourselves from those who have nothing but destruction in mind for us through false guilt.
The second encouragement is for the lost person who holds sin against others. This person can be free from their sin too. They can confess their sin of self righteousness, pride and cruelty toward believers and become born again by asking the Lord to change them into a new creation. The one who accuses others of past forgiven sins remains in their sin until they confess it and are cleansed by Christ.
This is the good news for the unbeliever, they can be free of their damnable pride and thoughts of superiority simply by admitting what they are and asking to be cleansed.
Its all so very simple, the key is to just believe God.
1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
The key is that one must confess the sin and want it dealt with by Christ.
Frances Schaeffer's Thoughts on the Gospel Message
When Francis Schaeffer was asked how he would present the gospel to a stranger, this is what he said;
"I would spend 45-50 minutes on the negative to really show him his dilema----that is he is morally dead....then I'd take 10-15 minutes to preach the gospel."
"I believe that much of our evangelistic and personal work today is not clear simply because we are too anxious to get to the answer without having a man realize the real cause of his sickness, which is true moral guilt (and not just psytcho-logical guilt feelings) in the presence of God."
Dr. Francis Schaeffer.
In our day we have been indoctrinated to believe that we must get people to like us before we can delicately and carefully share a watered down and happy gospel. This could not be farther from the truth.
It is rational to believe based on Scripture that most people will be angered when they are told they are sinful and on their way to hell.
In our day we have been led to believe that if someone becomes angry or rages at us, we must have done something wrong. The idea that people get mad even when we did nothing wrong, has been lost.
We see people becoming enraged frequently these days over the smallest perceived slights. I say "perceived" because often there is no slight, only one that has been contrived in the mind of the one who rages.
If you have read many of my articles you would know that I believe strongly in the influence of devils in the minds of people. Not possession but influence into the minds of those who have no defense against him.
Most people today in this age of self worship are only interested in being loved and elevated by others. Because of this mentality we see people deeply offended by the smallest correction or disagreement. It is the need for self aggrandizement that causes people to be unable to hear anything but praise.
This love of self brings a false gospel of outward peace but no inner peace. It manages to flatter those who love themselves without any possibility of the necessary warnings God speaks about throughout His Word.
Ezekiel 3:17-19 "…17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 18 If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die ,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.…"
Mature and humble people are able to accept a disagreement or a chastisement and grow from it. It is the insecure self worshiper who cannot receive what might be best for them in the long term.
"I would spend 45-50 minutes on the negative to really show him his dilema----that is he is morally dead....then I'd take 10-15 minutes to preach the gospel."
"I believe that much of our evangelistic and personal work today is not clear simply because we are too anxious to get to the answer without having a man realize the real cause of his sickness, which is true moral guilt (and not just psytcho-logical guilt feelings) in the presence of God."
Dr. Francis Schaeffer.
In our day we have been indoctrinated to believe that we must get people to like us before we can delicately and carefully share a watered down and happy gospel. This could not be farther from the truth.
It is rational to believe based on Scripture that most people will be angered when they are told they are sinful and on their way to hell.
In our day we have been led to believe that if someone becomes angry or rages at us, we must have done something wrong. The idea that people get mad even when we did nothing wrong, has been lost.
We see people becoming enraged frequently these days over the smallest perceived slights. I say "perceived" because often there is no slight, only one that has been contrived in the mind of the one who rages.
If you have read many of my articles you would know that I believe strongly in the influence of devils in the minds of people. Not possession but influence into the minds of those who have no defense against him.
Most people today in this age of self worship are only interested in being loved and elevated by others. Because of this mentality we see people deeply offended by the smallest correction or disagreement. It is the need for self aggrandizement that causes people to be unable to hear anything but praise.
This love of self brings a false gospel of outward peace but no inner peace. It manages to flatter those who love themselves without any possibility of the necessary warnings God speaks about throughout His Word.
Ezekiel 3:17-19 "…17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 18 If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die ,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. 19 But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.…"
Mature and humble people are able to accept a disagreement or a chastisement and grow from it. It is the insecure self worshiper who cannot receive what might be best for them in the long term.
Sunday, September 2, 2018
Persecution or Irritation
There are those in our country who think we are persecuted as believers.
I think more accurately we are rejected and punished, I wouldn't call it persecution.
Persecution seems more like it would be murder, beheading, torture, imprisonment and loss of the ability to make a living. What we experience in the United States is not severe just mildly irritating.
I think more accurately we are rejected and punished, I wouldn't call it persecution.
Persecution seems more like it would be murder, beheading, torture, imprisonment and loss of the ability to make a living. What we experience in the United States is not severe just mildly irritating.
Judge Yourself
We can judge our own hearts by our responses to chastisement.
If the response to a chastisement is anger then perhaps we have pride that needs to be dealt with.
If the response to chastisement is humility and a desire to make things right again through confession and apology, then perhaps we are a person who will grow in spiritual stature.
Anyone who resists a correction with anger or rage is not going to grow emotionally or spiritually.
Our responses give us away!
If the response to a chastisement is anger then perhaps we have pride that needs to be dealt with.
If the response to chastisement is humility and a desire to make things right again through confession and apology, then perhaps we are a person who will grow in spiritual stature.
Anyone who resists a correction with anger or rage is not going to grow emotionally or spiritually.
Our responses give us away!
Authentic or a Pretender
John 3:16-17
"16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."
God died to pay the debt for our sin, the debt that required the shedding of blood in payment.
The conditions for appropriating this salvation is to just believe on Him.
We simply believe and He comes to live in us beginning the process of changing us.
We are instantly a new creation. No longer thinking the way we did before, changing our response to life.
This change is observed by those around us. If there has not been a change then there has not been a born again experience.
The condition required to believe is too easy for most people. The pride of man causes them to desire to be good without having to trust anyone else but themselves. They want to participate in their own salvation so as not to let go of their personal power.
The pride in mankind prevents the relinquishing self control to God.
There are those who become a Christian in order to be accepted by good people, not because they know they are sinful.
Unless there is confession of sinfulness there cannot be salvation. Joining a Christian church to be validated by good people is not a means to salvation. All those who have entered church gatherings because they like the lifestyle better or they enjoy the good people in those gatherings more than the company of evil people remain self focused and willful rather than Christ focused and submissive to Him.
Appearances are at the root of pretentious pretenders. They will follow some rules of the gathering but will not submit to the principles of Christ as spoken of in the Scriptures. Self is still on the throne in these individuals.
I fear that most church gatherings are full of these self satisfied pretenders.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
"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.’"
These passages describe those who have "a form of religion" but deny Christ and His principles by their lifestyles and attitudes.
It is only when Christ changes us that we are changed on the inside permanently. The change is a heart and spiritual change that no man can make through his own effort. The change is a work of God not of the flesh of man.
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."
The change in us that God creates is authentic, spiritual and permanent. The cleansing continues to the end of our existence on this earth. When we stray He disciplines his children to bring us back to obedience. The key to understanding this is that we know when we have done wrong, it plagues us until we confess.
In the pretender there is no guilt or conscience over sinfulness, there is only a defensive posture if ever confronted with their sin.
This is one way we can see the pretender for what they are and the authentic person for what they are, the difference is undeniable to the discerning eye.
God said this to believers: 1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
He told us we would be disciplined in the following passages;
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?"
The pretender defends their sin and fights against spiritual chastisement and growth.
The believe is ashamed of their sin and desires to be cleansed by God.
"16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."
God died to pay the debt for our sin, the debt that required the shedding of blood in payment.
The conditions for appropriating this salvation is to just believe on Him.
We simply believe and He comes to live in us beginning the process of changing us.
We are instantly a new creation. No longer thinking the way we did before, changing our response to life.
This change is observed by those around us. If there has not been a change then there has not been a born again experience.
The condition required to believe is too easy for most people. The pride of man causes them to desire to be good without having to trust anyone else but themselves. They want to participate in their own salvation so as not to let go of their personal power.
The pride in mankind prevents the relinquishing self control to God.
There are those who become a Christian in order to be accepted by good people, not because they know they are sinful.
Unless there is confession of sinfulness there cannot be salvation. Joining a Christian church to be validated by good people is not a means to salvation. All those who have entered church gatherings because they like the lifestyle better or they enjoy the good people in those gatherings more than the company of evil people remain self focused and willful rather than Christ focused and submissive to Him.
Appearances are at the root of pretentious pretenders. They will follow some rules of the gathering but will not submit to the principles of Christ as spoken of in the Scriptures. Self is still on the throne in these individuals.
I fear that most church gatherings are full of these self satisfied pretenders.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
"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.’"
These passages describe those who have "a form of religion" but deny Christ and His principles by their lifestyles and attitudes.
It is only when Christ changes us that we are changed on the inside permanently. The change is a heart and spiritual change that no man can make through his own effort. The change is a work of God not of the flesh of man.
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."
The change in us that God creates is authentic, spiritual and permanent. The cleansing continues to the end of our existence on this earth. When we stray He disciplines his children to bring us back to obedience. The key to understanding this is that we know when we have done wrong, it plagues us until we confess.
In the pretender there is no guilt or conscience over sinfulness, there is only a defensive posture if ever confronted with their sin.
This is one way we can see the pretender for what they are and the authentic person for what they are, the difference is undeniable to the discerning eye.
God said this to believers: 1 John 1:9 "9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
He told us we would be disciplined in the following passages;
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?"
The pretender defends their sin and fights against spiritual chastisement and growth.
The believe is ashamed of their sin and desires to be cleansed by God.
Classy or Authentic?
The narcissist feels guilt when they do something wrong or unkind, but not for the same reason as a normal person feels guilt.
A normal person feels guilt that they harmed someone in some way.
The narcissist feels guilt that others may view them in a bad light when they do something wrong or mean.
In other words the normal person doesn't like to harm others even if no one is looking, they have empathy for those around them.
The narcissist does not have empathy so they only feel bad if others will view them as a bad person. If no one acts like they are offended by the narcissist, the narcissist will not feel bad for doing mean things to those for whom they have contempt.
This is why narcissists hide their mean actions from those they want to impress. They only reveal their mean side to those they think are beneath them and in secret so others don't see or notice.
This mentality of guiltlessness is growing in these last days of 2 Timothy 3. So many people are more interested in impressing people than they are in their own character qualities.
Character is not very important to the narcissist only appearances matter to them.
If someone looks good on the outside, does all the popular things, wears all the popular quality clothing as well as engaging in the activities that wow others, they are counted as "classy"." These classy people don't have to have much character or any other skills that define them as long as the outside appears pleasing to the clique.
This is where cliques reside, in the realm of superficiality based on outward appearances, substance is not very important to the narcissistic clique.
Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
John 7:24 "Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
So many people are throwing around the mantra; "don't judge" while they continue to judge people as good because of outward appearances. We are to judge sin that's clear in the Bible, but we are not to hold someone in high regard because of their clothing, their popular activities or their personal accomplishments. We are to see the character of the man based on Biblical standards and judge that.
When we discover we are surrounded by superficial people who praise and flatter one another, it is time to find a new set of friends. Flatter and praise brings a snare, even keeping us connected to those who have no interest in our spiritual growth or walk with Christ.
Psalm 5:9
"For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction is within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice flattery."
Flatter and praise will bring you lots of friends, but the truth will chase them away.
Proverbs 26:28
"A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin."
Flattery and praise is deeply connected to lying. Most flattery and praise are done to manipulate and control others.
When the flattery and praise stops the superficial clique minded people suddenly disappear. Let them go, they bring nothing of value to the relationship. It is one thing to encourage in a godly way, that is different from manipulative superficial praise and flattery.
Proverbs 28:23
"He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue."
There are many more verses that describe a quality relationship. One that is real, honest and kind. We love to encourage one another on things that matter, on accomplishments to share in the joy of our friend. This is godly to share our friends joys and difficulties.
Love in someone causes them to share everything and receive everything from our friend. All sides of life are experienced together will make the bond stronger and relieve the pressure of the one sharing. We are to be there for one another in a very real and honest way, without pretense and superficiality.
That's what friends are like!!!!!!
Romans 12:15
"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."
A normal person feels guilt that they harmed someone in some way.
The narcissist feels guilt that others may view them in a bad light when they do something wrong or mean.
In other words the normal person doesn't like to harm others even if no one is looking, they have empathy for those around them.
The narcissist does not have empathy so they only feel bad if others will view them as a bad person. If no one acts like they are offended by the narcissist, the narcissist will not feel bad for doing mean things to those for whom they have contempt.
This is why narcissists hide their mean actions from those they want to impress. They only reveal their mean side to those they think are beneath them and in secret so others don't see or notice.
This mentality of guiltlessness is growing in these last days of 2 Timothy 3. So many people are more interested in impressing people than they are in their own character qualities.
Character is not very important to the narcissist only appearances matter to them.
If someone looks good on the outside, does all the popular things, wears all the popular quality clothing as well as engaging in the activities that wow others, they are counted as "classy"." These classy people don't have to have much character or any other skills that define them as long as the outside appears pleasing to the clique.
This is where cliques reside, in the realm of superficiality based on outward appearances, substance is not very important to the narcissistic clique.
Proverbs 31:30 "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."
John 7:24 "Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”
So many people are throwing around the mantra; "don't judge" while they continue to judge people as good because of outward appearances. We are to judge sin that's clear in the Bible, but we are not to hold someone in high regard because of their clothing, their popular activities or their personal accomplishments. We are to see the character of the man based on Biblical standards and judge that.
When we discover we are surrounded by superficial people who praise and flatter one another, it is time to find a new set of friends. Flatter and praise brings a snare, even keeping us connected to those who have no interest in our spiritual growth or walk with Christ.
Psalm 5:9
"For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction is within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice flattery."
Flatter and praise will bring you lots of friends, but the truth will chase them away.
Proverbs 26:28
"A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin."
Flattery and praise is deeply connected to lying. Most flattery and praise are done to manipulate and control others.
When the flattery and praise stops the superficial clique minded people suddenly disappear. Let them go, they bring nothing of value to the relationship. It is one thing to encourage in a godly way, that is different from manipulative superficial praise and flattery.
Proverbs 28:23
"He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue."
There are many more verses that describe a quality relationship. One that is real, honest and kind. We love to encourage one another on things that matter, on accomplishments to share in the joy of our friend. This is godly to share our friends joys and difficulties.
Love in someone causes them to share everything and receive everything from our friend. All sides of life are experienced together will make the bond stronger and relieve the pressure of the one sharing. We are to be there for one another in a very real and honest way, without pretense and superficiality.
That's what friends are like!!!!!!
Romans 12:15
"15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep."
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