The Ark Encounter - Kentucky

Physical and Emotional Health from Trusting in Christ

A person is likely to become more physically healthy by confessing sin and being cleansed by 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."

Hiding things causes stress that causes physical and emotional ailments.

Confessing has physical and emotional health associated with it, it is God's design.

Every single action we take or attitude we have has physical and emotional consequences.

Deuteronomy 5:33

"You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess."

Honesty will Bring Cleansing

In order to be entirely honest with ourselves, we must be willing to ask God if there is anything in our lives causing us to detract from our Christian walk and even worse detract from the walk of others.

We have heard it said that "no man is an island”, this is true, we are responsible for the messages we send to others around us through our lifestyles.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”

Obedience to God is important not only because God’s ways are the best for us and He knows all things that we cannot know or see, but it is also important the messages we send to others through how we live, we are examples to others.

It has been said that only 7% of communication is words, that means that the 93% of communication is observed attitudes in the way we walk, the things we do and facial expressions, even grunting sounds as approval or disapproval.

A person can pretend to act friendly on the outside but the real attitude will be seen no matter how much we try to hide it, in those micro-expressions and body language. A friend once told me he could see the attitude of a man walking down the street without even knowing the man. I believe this because I have seen it for myself.

We cannot treat people based on what we think we see, because we are not perfect but we can be cautious and prayerful before trusting someone who is sending concerning vibes.

There are those who are especially discerning when it comes to being able to perceive someone’s attitude. Often we notice something is “off” but cannot put our finger on what the problem might be. It is good to pay attention to these gut feelings but pray to make sure we are not feeling something based on our own personal encounters.

There is such a thing as “micro-expressions” that most people cannot see while looking at us but they notice something they cannot explain. I am convinced this is what dogs are noticing when they like or dislike someone.

It seems that the senses of a dog are far more astute than human beings. Their hearing is 100 times stronger than our hearing which is why they can hear a siren several miles away before we can hear it. We had German Shepherds who would begin howling before we heard the ambulance or police sirens, we would wait a minute or two and then we would hear it.

Now we have two Poms who bark into the darkness when we cannot see anything, I believe our dogs. They can see much better in the dark than we can. They have better motion vision than humans do, so when they bark, I believe they are seeing and hearing things I cannot.

Have you heard about the dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac, he laid awake all night wondering if there was a dog? Just a little humor!!!

Dogs can smell far better than we can, this is why they are so effective in being able to sniff a man’s clothing and follow his scent in the woods even when he has never met the man. I don’t know of any humans who even notice scents coming from people let alone able to tell where the person has been on a path in the woods.

I am convinced God gave us things in nature to teach us lessons. The dogs show us that there are many things we cannot know that God knows. Those who are so convinced that they know everything and need not consult God are living blind and deaf.

Revelation 3:16-17 “……16 So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”

God is describing in this passage in Revelation the attitude of those who are proud of how good they think they are, while being blind to their own faults and frailties. They lack good sense, and all the fruit of the Spirit but are convinced they are doing great. Everything they assess as good is based on their wealthy and pleasurable lifestyle. Nothing they are considering is about their spiritual life, so they remain unteachable and ignorant until they can evaluate their own hearts asking God to change them.

Proverbs 16:7 “When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Romans 12:1-2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

When we know we can't even know what dogs can know how silly for us to believe we are all-knowing without the need of spiritual and emotional instruction.

Have you ever met someone who refused to hear anything you had to say because of their prejudice against you? It is a frustrating experience, so much so that you avoid this person because of their lack of respect for you.

God will not be present in the lives of those who think they don't need Him. He will not counsel those who do not regard Him highly.

Isaiah 1:14-16 "…14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!…"

So many Christians in our time refuse to hear anything that does not enhance the traditions that they love more than they love to seek God.

How could we ever be so comfortable that we tell God what we think while ignoring His Word and His principles, shameful!!!!

If we want to be growing in wisdom we must expunge the pride from our hearts through prayer and begin to seek God for EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME.

Like

Comment

Share

How Much Do We Love Our Brethren?

There are those who equate conservative issues with Christianity. They will say someone is a good Christian if they are an anti-vaxxer, eat organic food and carry guns as being smart and good Christians. While I respect their choice of beliefs, these things are not a measure of a born-again believer.

We know the Bible does not address any of these things. Some people would call them good old-fashioned horse sense issues but they are opinions based on particular mindsets and desires.

A born-again Christian is one who has confessed their sinfulness to God and desired to be changed into a new creation by Christ because they have placed their trust in His finished work on the cross that paid the penalty for sin that mankind owed. The only test of an authentic believer is the fruit of the Spirit that lives in them.

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.”

God does not speak of vaccines, organic foods or mandates to carry weapons. These are all things that are personal choices. There may be times when God tells one believer to carry a weapon for a particular journey and other times when He tells them not to do so.

God may tell individuals to eat certain foods and others to avoid those foods. He may tell one person to take a vaccine and another one to not take a vaccine.

It is wildly disturbing that Christians are fighting with one another over things God never commanded or discussed in His Word.

Each person must seek God about these personal things He does not talk about in His Word. Those who fall in line with the prevailing view of others without consulting with God are following man rather than seeking Christ Who lives in them.

We cannot possibly know what God is telling a fellow believer on matters that are not mentioned in Scripture. To make these things a litmus test for “good Christianity” or “smart Christianity” is superficial at best.

1 Corinthians 1:10 “10 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [f]agree and that there be no [g]divisions among you, but that you be [h]made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

This passage is dealing with taking sides to follow particular people. However, it is a good principle too that we not be divided on things God never wrote about in His Word. If there isn’t a direct command or a clear principle to follow about a matter then we must not divide over it. Using demeaning language or intimidation, shunning and other strategies to convince someone of our viewpoint, with those who do not agree on something God never speaks about is fleshly and divisive.

I understand that we are all convinced of certain things based on our personal preferences and life bents but that does not mean these things are commands for others. We must leave room for grace in these decisions, perhaps we do not know what God is telling others to do or His reasons for His direction to them.

In my personal experience, I have seen the anti-vaxxers far more vocal, fearful and combative about these things than those who are free to take the vaccine and those who are free to eat all foods as Paul discussed in the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 8:12-13 “…12 By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes, my brother, to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.”

My husband and I do not tell others whether or not to take the vaccine, but we have had others revile and shun us for making our own decision on this matter. There is such a lack of love in reviling for things that God never commanded one way or another in His Word.

I respect that someone has decided for themselves not to eat certain foods or to get a vaccine. My only hope is that Christians will show the love and grace to allow others to make a different decision for themselves without condescending or combativeness leveled at them.

It is my desire that we all make our choices without judgment on matters that God never speaks about in His Word. It is also my desire that we love one another enough to allow others to have a differing view without mocking and intimidation.

Life is full of decisions we feel strongly about but are not mentioned in God’s Word. The key to this Christian life is to appreciate others so much that we are willing to be silent if something will be a disagreement. It is one thing to calmly and rationally discuss a matter to learn from one another, but quite different from mocking and intimidating others for their personal views, that God does not discuss in His Word.

God says the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and to love one another as ourselves. We all want others to treat us respectfully, we should respect the choices of others that are not clearly outlined in God’s Word as well as learn to hold our tongues when we know it might be offensive.

One last thought, being combative and offensive does not change the views of those who have made their decision based on what Christ told them to do, it only serves to cause division and silence someone who should also have a right to speak.

I have no desire to convince anyone to do what my husband and I have done that is not sinning. We are not so weak that we must have others agree with us to carry on our lives. We wish that if there is a disagreement that there would be love extended and allowance for personal views.

Fear drives combativeness over things God never commanded. The fear that we will be alone in our own views. It’s alright to be alone in our view, we need not have the validation of others when we are obeying Christ. Let us seek to unite around God’s Word, not around worldly values or opinions.

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”

When we love one another we do not mock, intimidate or malign another brother or sister over something God never commanded.

I love my brothers and sisters, and I would enjoy being appreciated and loved by them too.

Is There an Honest Man in the House?

A quote from President Abraham Lincoln:

"The Bible says somewhere that we are desperately selfish. I think we would have discovered that fact without the Bible."

Another quote from Abraham Lincoln:

"And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.

If an unsaved person were, to be honest about himself he would have to admit how depraved and ruthless mankind is becoming and ask the question; "why?"

The moment an honest person begins to ask why is the beginning of wisdom if they continue to ponder the state of the world and what might happen when he dies.

Sadly in these last days, there are few honest people left. Most people are pretending in their hearts that they are special without flaws and determined to have their own way. How they conduct their lives doesn't matter to them as long as they think and say what pleases them, then to them, it must be true.

There are few "manly" men and "feminine women", left to be the examples of mankind the way God made us. Even the apostate churches have given in to the modern way of blurring the lines between roles of men and women as God intended.

In these last days, we see the world progressing toward destruction as we approach the tribulation. Is it any wonder so many use the term "progressive" without a clear definition of this term. We are progressing, progressing toward doom.

Remember in the last days "bad will be called good and good will be called bad. Everything that makes good sense to God will be called bad and everything that is foolishness to God will be called good, thus the term progressive is used to describe what God sees as destruction and chaos.

Pretending things are good when they are bad comes from a culture that wants their own way even if it is destructive. As long as it is their own way they are pleased with themselves.

Proverbs 18:6-8 "…6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being."

So what do we as born-again believers with all this mess? We do what God commanded we do when we see all this chaos and destruction occurring, that is we "lookup" with the expectation of going home to heaven for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Luke 21:27-28 "…27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”

I can't use this phrase enough in these last days; "look up."

It is possible to live for Christ even in this wicked world. We can obey Him no matter what while maintaining a clean conscience and a faithful witness. It will hurt at times because we will be treated with contempt for not thinking the way the world thinks, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

1 Peter 5:1-4

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

Love is the First Character Quality of Christ in the Born Again Believer

Love is the first character quality of the fruit of the Spirit.

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."

We cannot have all the rest of the fruit without that first trait, the very essence of Christ.

One cannot die for to himself for a friend if he does not first have love.

Matthew 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 This is the great and foremost commandment.

39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”

We cannot love others if we do not first love God and if we love Him we will love others.

We need no rules or laws when we have the fruit of the Spirit because we already operate according to the love of God within us with all His fruit.

Those who are following the commandments to be acceptable to God are not operating in the Holy Spirit. Their desire is to try to be good enough for Him, in their own power under their own rules.

Those who love the Lord with all their heart soul and mind live in the Fruit of the Spirit all the time. If they fail out of emotion or weakness they quickly confess to be cleansed and begin again living in this Fruit of Love.

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."

If we have been haughty, superior minded and ungodly, we will recognize it in ourselves and quickly confess to be cleansed. Those who never confess or will admit their wrong attitudes will not be cleansed and will walk without the fruit and without the love of Christ.

May we all keep close accounts of ourselves so that we will be the witness for the glory of the Lord continually.

2 Peter 1:10-11

"10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Hallelujah!!!!

Honoring God Even in our Clothing

I find it interesting that so many people who think we are too concerned about attending worship in clothing a little more dressy than every day, will come to the gathering in jeans but will dress nicely for the office Christmas party.

Are those in the church gathering less important than those who are in the workplace? Is God of less importance than those in the office?

Perhaps the ones who are dedicated to being comfortable at church are too concerned about clothing, not those who want to dress respectfully for worship toward God.

I don't care very much about what others do but I find it interesting that the frequent mention of clothing by those who love to be casual suggests they are the ones who are way too concerned about clothing.

1 Corinthians 10:31

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Perhaps clothing is an indicator of a respectful attitude or a casual attitude toward God?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Not everyone can afford expensive clothing but everyone can have some clothing that reflects a respectful attitude toward God's worship.

Luke 12:27

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Back in the day, even the poor had one respectful outfit befitting the worship of the Holy God. Everyone who attended worship gatherings respected the holiness of the gathering reflected in their modest but decent clothing.

There have been those who would use scripture misunderstood to justify holey jeans at church.

"1 Peter 3:3

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—"

This passage that describes a church gathering that has been turned into a fashion show has been used to justify looking downright ratty. Our clothing does reflect our inner heart attitude.

The more diligent we are in life as a whole the more our clothing will reflect this. The lack of respect for the worship of God is evident when the office Christmas party gets more respect than God in worship.

We do not reject or demean anyone who is authentically poor and cannot afford good clothing, but we do attempt to show respect for God no matter what our financial situation.

I suggest that most people in America have enough money for one nice outfit to wear to worship. The people I know who dress up for the office party and dress down to worship God are showing more respect for the office party than they are for God in worship.

I suggest that today's casual attitude about clothing and lack of preparation to worship God is right in line with the casual and flippant attitude toward God.

Revelation 7:9. We will wear clothes as pure as our hearts in the presence of our God.Sep 20, 2021

A mindset of "convenient and comfortable" is more about self than it is about anyone else or God. When self is on the throne everything and everyone else become unimportant.

How we dress actually creates an attitude that spills over into our speech and actions. "There is a moral and spiritual dimension to clothing" as one writer expresses it.

Clothing is a self reflection of an inner heart. We have heard it said that only 7% of communication is words and the other 93% are other forms of communication. Clothing speaks something about us and how we feel about others.

Clothing affects our moods, if we dress more casually we will be less likely to be restrained in our speech or actions. When dressed more respectfully we tend to act in more restrained and polite ways.

I suggest that the change in dress codes to casual in our time reflects the change in values in the past 50 years. Many who attend the worship of God do not value Him or anyone else around them. They value only their own comfort, which is the reason we see ratty-looking jeans coming into the church.

Fashion takes precedence over worship. And, yes believe it or not it is actually the fashion now to look as ratty as one can. I have known people who paid $80 for jeans with rips and tears all up and down the legs of their jeans. I am sure young people think this is just fashion but really it is an expression of disrespect toward God and everyone else.

We are living in the end days when our clothing tells on us. It reveals a flippancy toward God and toward others as unimportant and not worthy of respect.

When we respect God and others we care what they think of us through our clothing. It is the attitude of selfishness that does not care about God or others.

I know this will be a hot button for some because they are so obsessed with being casual and comfortable they will accuse me of placing too much importance on clothing. Just the opposite is true, my emphasis is not on clothing but on an attitude of respect.

Many things are being taken out of context in scripture to fit into our modern culture of rebellion. God said not to dress lavishly for worship, but that does not mean it is acceptable to dress disrespectfully in shorts and tee shirts either.

There is a mentality today that mocks those who enjoy and believe in excellence in all things because of the rebellion in the hearts of so many.

Leaders in churches today do not preach on excellence for fear of being labeled legalistic. It is not legalism to teach respectful behavior to the congregation. It is legalism to mock someone who believes in wearing respectful clothing to worship.

We can honor or dishonor someone in our clothing. This is a very foreign idea in this culture of rebellion and few will receive this message.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

1 Corinthians 10:31

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

There ought not to be rules in the church about this matter of clothing, but there ought to be teaching on what it is to honor God in all things, even our clothing.