Amen!!! I think that everything we learn on this earth and as we obey the Holy Spirit will determine what we will rule in the Millennium. I am convinced that we did not go through this life for nothing and since it does count for eternity then our job will be determined by our training here on earth. We have been in boot camp, in my case 67 years of training.
There is a term these days that was developed by rebellious people to deflect any form of instruction or accountability that they refuse.
That phrase is "unsolicited advice." This is the new mantra designed to keep people from expressing concern about our actions.
Just because someone doesn't like the advice given to them does not mean it was wrong to express the advice.
"Unsolicited advice" the term came from a cultural mentality that we should never give our opinions or advice unless we are asked.
In the case of the prophet Jeremiah, God told him to go and warn the people saying they would not listen but he was to do it anyway. The people were going to be responsible for their response but Jeremiah would be pleasing God because He obeyed.
God never mentions anything remotely akin to "unsolicited advice" as being wrong. In fact He tells us to speak truth to people so they can consider some other way of thinking that might help them.
We live in a rebellious culture that wants no input or correction unless it sound like its what they want.
Proverbs 12:15
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."
Proverbs 11:14
"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
It is normal natural and good to listen to advice even when we have not asked for it. Becoming offended because someone offered us advice is exposing the pride within ourselves that says, "you have attacked me by telling me I might need to think another way."
It is not a personal attack for someone to suggest something to help. It only seems like it to people who are full of pride. When we are humble we listen to advice, evaluate it and carry on to do what God tells us to do. After all, it might be God Who is using someone to help us.
I recall the story about a man who was caught in a flood. The water was rising within his house, it filled the first floor so he went to the second floor. Along came a man in a boat to save him but the man's response was, "no thank you God is going to save me." Then as the waters rose to the second floor the man crawled out on the roof. A man in a helicopter came along and offered to pull him up to save him. The man declined this help saying that he didn't need the help, God would save him.
The waters rose above the roof, the man who could not swim died. When the man got to heaven he asked God, "why didn't you save me from the flood." God replied, "what do you mean, I sent you a boat and then a helicopter why didn't you use what I sent you."
Those who think they are an entity unto themselves and need no input from others are often those who make very bad decisions. No one person can know all there is to know. Those who listen to ideas and advice from others while evaluating them after praying for God to show them more, will be those who make good decisions because they know they are not all knowing, that God is the only One Who is and that He can also send others.
Those who will only listen to the advice of those who praise and honor them will likely be receiving only what they like to hear, further delaying their emotional and spiritual growth. The favorite friends of the "all knowing" narcissists are those who almost never advise and who say what the narcissist likes to hear.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.…"
All who remain in Christ are those who were born again. Those who do not remain were never born again.
1 John 2:19
"19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us."
There are those who believe its alright to use any method as long as the intentions are good. But intentions are not good when we do our own thing without consulting God and without being led by the Holy Spirit !!! Just saying!
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts."
Does anyone actually think that their ways are higher than God's ways? Does anyone think that they can ignore God's principles and commands to do things their own way and God is forced to endorse it? NOT
God wants us to seek and obey Him. Doing something in your own flesh and demanding God bless it gets us nothing except discipline from God.
Jeremiah 42:19-21 "…19 The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today! 20 For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us, and we will do it.’ 21 For I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in all He has sent me to tell you.…"
We are to seek God first and do what He commands. Those who seek themselves and then command God will feel the brunt of His wrath.
We are in a battle, a battle for our minds and for our strength. The battle is the Lord's and our job is to fight it in prayer and speak boldly as led by the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 6:12
"12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
There is a mistaken belief that we should invite unbelievers to church to evangelize them. This is not from the Bible. If an unbeliever wanders in we are kind and welcoming but we must give them the gospel straight and clear. IF they are open they will stay if not they will leave.
We are not called to bring unbelievers into our worship, that is reserved for God's people. However, we are told to go into the world and preach, then when they become born again authentically we can bring them into the gathering.
The assembly of born again believers is holy and must be protected from worldliness. Unbelievers should never be allowed to come in and do their own thing as though in a night club.
Mark 16:15-16 "15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.…"
2 Corinthians 6:13-15 "13 As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also. 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?…'"
