https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQmh-nYmypg
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Resisting the Devil!
Were you raised in a family that went to a building they called a church every Sunday but felt something was off?
Perhaps there was a cultural morality that was spoken of occasionally but never the name of Jesus Christ and never opening God's Word to teach about His heart and His principles.
Many of us grew up under these conditions, that being many rules to make the family look good but little to no love and understanding.
These experiences could have driven us away from God and probably did for a time during our young lives. We knew from Sunday school we should pray but God felt so far from us because we had no examples of His love in the home.
Luke 18:10-11 "…10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men— swindlers, evildoers, adulterers— or even like this tax collector."
Matthew 6:1
Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matthew 23:4-6 "…4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,"
When we finally repented and came to Christ authentically we were faced with those who considered themselves superior just like the pharisees, who believed they were special. Strutting about like peacocks seeking to be admired by those that see them, they treated others with contempt. Rather than being excited for us and our new faith, they acted jealous wishing we had never come to Christ, even pretending we never did.
After such an experience we were faced with loving them the way they never loved us. Our responsibility was to become like Christ in the face of opposition from those we thought would be happy for us but were even meaner than before.
This is the challenge for the born again believer in our day who encounters Christians who either have not been born again or who remained infant believers never learning how to love God's way.
Let us not be pharisees but lovers of truth possessing the fruit of the Spirit. Seeking Christ in us through prayer and the reading of His Word is the way we can resist the temptation of the devil to respond to attacks in a fleshly manner.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Perhaps there was a cultural morality that was spoken of occasionally but never the name of Jesus Christ and never opening God's Word to teach about His heart and His principles.
Many of us grew up under these conditions, that being many rules to make the family look good but little to no love and understanding.
These experiences could have driven us away from God and probably did for a time during our young lives. We knew from Sunday school we should pray but God felt so far from us because we had no examples of His love in the home.
Luke 18:10-11 "…10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men— swindlers, evildoers, adulterers— or even like this tax collector."
Matthew 6:1
Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Matthew 23:4-6 "…4 They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues,"
When we finally repented and came to Christ authentically we were faced with those who considered themselves superior just like the pharisees, who believed they were special. Strutting about like peacocks seeking to be admired by those that see them, they treated others with contempt. Rather than being excited for us and our new faith, they acted jealous wishing we had never come to Christ, even pretending we never did.
After such an experience we were faced with loving them the way they never loved us. Our responsibility was to become like Christ in the face of opposition from those we thought would be happy for us but were even meaner than before.
This is the challenge for the born again believer in our day who encounters Christians who either have not been born again or who remained infant believers never learning how to love God's way.
Let us not be pharisees but lovers of truth possessing the fruit of the Spirit. Seeking Christ in us through prayer and the reading of His Word is the way we can resist the temptation of the devil to respond to attacks in a fleshly manner.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
The Great Falling Away
Modern well known pastors are falling like flies over a flame as they cave to the culture on the matter of gay rights. This should not be a big surprise since they had all given into the culture on the matter of divorce and remarriage long ago. When the Bible is not the standard then Christ isn't either since He is the Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
2 Thessalonians 3:14 " 14 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed."
When we see a well known pastor preaching and endorsing sin we should not be using his material or recommending it to others.
Max Lucado is one of the more recent defectors from truth as he endorses Jen Hatmaker who is a pro-gay advocate for Christian gays. There is no such thing as a Christian gay person. Many homosexuals have become born again and joyfully left the lifestyle.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
2 Thessalonians 3:14 " 14 Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed."
When we see a well known pastor preaching and endorsing sin we should not be using his material or recommending it to others.
Max Lucado is one of the more recent defectors from truth as he endorses Jen Hatmaker who is a pro-gay advocate for Christian gays. There is no such thing as a Christian gay person. Many homosexuals have become born again and joyfully left the lifestyle.
Perfect Love for God Casts Out Fear
1 John 4:17-19 "…17 In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because He first loved us.…"
When we love God He casts fear from us!!!! Even if we "feel" fear it does not control us or guide us, it is ignored as irrelevant.
When we love God He casts fear from us!!!! Even if we "feel" fear it does not control us or guide us, it is ignored as irrelevant.
Fearful people attack others to control them. They live in fear that they will not be first, best and more powerful, so they attack. As we walk with Christ more fully we lose any fear of the attacks of others.
Christ in Us Knows the Heart of Man
No one makes it to heaven by obeying Christ. They obey Him because they are born again and have been changed into a new creation by Christ. Christ gives us the desire to be like Him, so we love His commands and principles.
When we believe on Christ, knowing He paid the price for our sin we want to be changed into His likeness.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 "…17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
When we confessed our sinfulness and believed on Christ He made us into a new creation, it was nothing we did or could do. After this He began His work of cleansing in us to become more like Him until the day we leave this world.
I worry about people who have attended church all their lives without changing, they remain stubborn, without the fruit of the Spirit having no connection to other believers.
The fruit of the Spirit after we become born again are the character qualities of Christ, NOT WORKS!
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Those who are spiritual because of Christ in them can see if someone has this fruit or if they do not. It is Christ in them Who bears witness to the character of another person.
There are those who say we cannot know the heart of another man. This is not true! Only God knows the heart, He has told us to discern the heart of people and the Holy Spirit within us knows and He communicates that to us.
John 16:13-14 " 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
When we believe on Christ, knowing He paid the price for our sin we want to be changed into His likeness.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 "…17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 5:17
"17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
When we confessed our sinfulness and believed on Christ He made us into a new creation, it was nothing we did or could do. After this He began His work of cleansing in us to become more like Him until the day we leave this world.
I worry about people who have attended church all their lives without changing, they remain stubborn, without the fruit of the Spirit having no connection to other believers.
The fruit of the Spirit after we become born again are the character qualities of Christ, NOT WORKS!
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Those who are spiritual because of Christ in them can see if someone has this fruit or if they do not. It is Christ in them Who bears witness to the character of another person.
There are those who say we cannot know the heart of another man. This is not true! Only God knows the heart, He has told us to discern the heart of people and the Holy Spirit within us knows and He communicates that to us.
John 16:13-14 " 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
Believing in Vain
Those who "believe in vain" are those who only thought it or said it, there was never a desire in their heart to be changed by Christ or love Him.
1 Corinthians 15:1-3 "1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,…"
One will not be born again by saying anything. They will not even be born again by thinking something. The one who is born again is the one who believes with a desire to be changed by Christ.
If someone resists the Word of God they never were changed into a new creation. Think about it!!!!!
Those who merely say or think they are a Christian will be those who will experience these terrifying words from Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Matthew 25:30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
1 Corinthians 15:1-3 "1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,…"
One will not be born again by saying anything. They will not even be born again by thinking something. The one who is born again is the one who believes with a desire to be changed by Christ.
If someone resists the Word of God they never were changed into a new creation. Think about it!!!!!
Those who merely say or think they are a Christian will be those who will experience these terrifying words from Christ.
Matthew 7:21-23 "21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’"
Matthew 25:30 "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
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