Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Tough Love is Better than Flattery
God is a God of tough love, because soft often does not work on most people. Mankind is stubborn, we don't move much when things are easy.
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not 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?…"
Chastisement comes in many forms, often with life long consequences for those who have a tendency to forget the problems within themselves.
God is not interested so much with our outer activities as He is with our inner character. It is the character of the man that is judged not how many good deeds he does.
Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Whatever is in our heart, the center of our character is what will come out in actions. Even if we are able to hide from people for a time, eventually the real us sneaks out to be exposed.
AND, we can hide from people for a time but we can never hide from God.
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not 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?…"
Chastisement comes in many forms, often with life long consequences for those who have a tendency to forget the problems within themselves.
God is not interested so much with our outer activities as He is with our inner character. It is the character of the man that is judged not how many good deeds he does.
Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Whatever is in our heart, the center of our character is what will come out in actions. Even if we are able to hide from people for a time, eventually the real us sneaks out to be exposed.
AND, we can hide from people for a time but we can never hide from God.
Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Rebelliousness is Discovered in Responses to Correction
Outwardly self righteous and inwardly rebellious. We meet these people all the time. We know them when they rage at correction.
Idolatry is not Only Bowing to a Statue, It is in the Heart
INTELLECTUAL IDOLATRY IS WHEN PEOPLE WORSHIP THEIR OWN OPINION, ABOVE GOD'S HOLY WORD.
THERE ARE MANY IDOLATERS!
1 COR 6:9.
THERE ARE MANY IDOLATERS!
1 COR 6:9.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
They Lied Against Christ They Will Lie Against You Too!
Those who would attempt to convince others that we can sin all we want because we are under grace are backwards in their thinking.
God pardoned us with His grace while providing a way to avoid sin. Grace was not given for us to enjoy sin while remaining in relationship with Christ.
Grace was given to give us the Resource, that is Christ to be able to avoid and reject sin!!!!!
Romans 5:20-21 "20 The Law was given so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.…"
Those who love their sin or their friends and family that sin more than they love God will be the ones who make excuses for accepting sin in those they admire and worship.
If we love people we warn them to turn from their sin. If we love self more than we love others we will be inclined to excuse their sin. WHY? Because our love for self, personal companionship and pleasure will take priority over Christ.
If we love Christ and tell the truth we know that others will reject us. They will mock us, demean us, exclude us and even lie against our character to be able to pretend we are the bad ones.
John 15:18-25
Disciples’ Relation to the World
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.
25 But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’"
When you are accused of things the narcissist is but you are not, count it all joy that you are being targeted by the evil ones of this world because of Christ. The Pharisees accused Christ of evil when all He ever did was good!!! They even accused Christ of being an illegitimate child, as though that would be on Him even if it were true. The Pharisees looked for anything they could to discredit Christ and they will do the same things to us.
Hallelujah, praise God that He knows everything all the time.
God pardoned us with His grace while providing a way to avoid sin. Grace was not given for us to enjoy sin while remaining in relationship with Christ.
Grace was given to give us the Resource, that is Christ to be able to avoid and reject sin!!!!!
Romans 5:20-21 "20 The Law was given so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.…"
Those who love their sin or their friends and family that sin more than they love God will be the ones who make excuses for accepting sin in those they admire and worship.
If we love people we warn them to turn from their sin. If we love self more than we love others we will be inclined to excuse their sin. WHY? Because our love for self, personal companionship and pleasure will take priority over Christ.
If we love Christ and tell the truth we know that others will reject us. They will mock us, demean us, exclude us and even lie against our character to be able to pretend we are the bad ones.
John 15:18-25
Disciples’ Relation to the World
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.
25 But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’"
When you are accused of things the narcissist is but you are not, count it all joy that you are being targeted by the evil ones of this world because of Christ. The Pharisees accused Christ of evil when all He ever did was good!!! They even accused Christ of being an illegitimate child, as though that would be on Him even if it were true. The Pharisees looked for anything they could to discredit Christ and they will do the same things to us.
Hallelujah, praise God that He knows everything all the time.
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