Saturday, August 20, 2011

Discern both good and evil

Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!


How do people call evil good? Shouldn't it be obvious to everyone exactly what is evil? How can anyone look at evil and know it's evil and call it good? How can someone know that something is bad and yet call it good? I can understand someone committing evil knowing it's evil, but to call it good and believe that it really is something good, how is that deception possible?


On the opposite side of the situation how can anyone know something is good and then call it evil?


How does one call dark - light? How?


And how does one call light - dark?


Can you take something bitter and call it sweet? It's impossible isn't it?


If I have something sweet I cannot make it bitter just upon my say so, it doesn't happen.


We are given a warning- WOE. Woe is that warning.


woe
noun
1.
grievous distress, affliction, or trouble: His woe was almost beyond description.
2.
an affliction: She suffered a fall, among her other woes.
interjection
3.
an exclamation of grief, distress, or lamentation.

Pasted from


Woe unto them. Distress, affliction, trouble, grief unto them. We are warned that if we lie it will mean grief, affliction, trouble, and distress unto us. Because isn't calling something the opposite of what it truly is- a lie?


How many things in our world do people call harmless fun that are really not harmless at all? We've become so incredibly desensitized to evil we are very guilty of calling evil good, and of calling good evil.


2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.


We have to examine ourselves, we have to prove our own selves, whether or not we are in the faith- whether or not we are among those who could be calling evil good. We don't want to think for a moment that we are doing that, do we? How much better is it to recognize evil for what it is and NOT try to make it out to be something it is not. When we let ourselves begin that deception we are treading on very dangerous ground. How much better is it to call evil - evil and good- good? If we do get caught up in evil at least then we can repent of that evil, but if we are stuck believing that evil is really good then we won't repent, will we? Why would we repent of what we believe is good? We wouldn't. We'd be caught up in Satan's deception.


Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!


Is it any wonder at all whatsoever that the pronouncement is - Woe? This is something to be very concerned about. We have to examine ourselves, something we don't really like to do. The world around us is filled so deeply with deceit, with evils that are passed off for good that discernment must come from God, and we must desire this discernment.


Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.


Strong meat. We've talked about this before but it bears repeating again and again as the Lord wills.


Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.


We need the ability to discern what is good and what is evil and we only get that ability by making our Savior our life study, our life's work, our life's desire. If we are not taking strong meat then we are just babes and in danger of not being able to discern between good and evil. Our senses need to be EXERCISED and they are exercised by the strong meat of the word of God, skilled in the WORD of RIGHTEOUSNESS! How can we be skilled in the word of righteousness- the word of Christ our righteousness- if we don't study all that He's given us to study? If we truly wish to be able to discern between evil and good we need to study deeply, not superficially.


1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


Spiritual discernment only comes through the Spirit of God.


1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.


We need spiritual discernment! If we are not given spiritual discernment then the natural man- which cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God- is in control and that natural man will only call the things of God foolish. Oh please God help us to have Your within us, help us have spiritual discernment! We need this so desperately because there is so much wickedness around us, in us, that we need to discern for what it is and repent, seeking forgiveness and a new life in Christ without the evil deceiving us.


1Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.


Do we do this? Do we prove all things? Do we truly understand that we need to do this rather than just go along with things because that's the way things are? All too often we settle for things in life, we compromise with principles because the world dictates we should. So many people will be lost for conforming to the world, for not wanting to stand out and be God's as God would have them be. There's a temporary, fleeting comfort in conformity but one thing is most certain- whenever we conform the guilt that conformity brings to us later is great and we end up wishing we hadn't conformed. Too often regret overcomes any sense of comfort we might have. What good is it to have our lives now if we are lost to eternity? What good is it to *fit* in and not be considered *strange* if it means that to fit in we are giving up salvation in our Savior. In a world where so much evil is now call good, and so much good is now called evil we are living on a very, very slippery slope and our only hope is to cling to Christ and study His word, pray for the Spirit of God to enlighten us, to give us all we need to belong to our Lord.


Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.


To the law and to the testimony- some will say that is outdated by Christ's coming- I say this…


Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


Keep the commandments of God- TO THE LAW.
And have the testimony of Jesus Christ- TO THE TESTIMONY.


There is NO light in those who do not keep the law and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. We'd love to believe that all people will choose God over Satan, but the sad truth is that very few will. Is it any wonder we HAVE to take anything we find ourselves tempted to believe in and hold it up to the standard of the law of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ?


Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.


Amen.


Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


We cannot be conformed to this world, and the only way to keep from being conformed to this world is to be transformed by the renewing of our minds- proving what is good, what is acceptable, and perfect- will of GOD.


Pro 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.


Amen!


Pro 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.


Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.


Continue in Jesus' word!


Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.


Hold fast and repent.
Watch.


Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.


Hold fast.


All by the grace and mercy of our Lord, through the amazing love of our Savior. Please Lord help us, renew our minds, let the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth. Please God we don't want to call evil good, or call good evil… help us we desperately need Your help and it's only through You, through YOUR righteousness that we have hope. You are our Hope! You are Life!



In Your amazing love!

Amen.

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