1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Ye are of God
Little children
And have overcome them
Because greater is he that is in you
Than he that is in the world
We want to be OF God don't we? I know I want to be OF God. Because the only other alternative is being of the world and we know who rules this world- the world Jesus was not OF. If we are with Jesus we are NOT Of this world. We CAN'T be of this world if we are with God. We can be IN this world, but we can't be OF this world.
This point keeps popping up lately, over and over for me as if there is something I need to learn, something I'm missing, or neglecting. Perhaps it's the season right now where the world is celebrating Christmas. I grew up celebrating Christmas. I grew up with family traditions associated with Christmas. We get together and celebrate the birth of Christ. Yes, I know that Christ was not born on Christmas day. Yes, I know that the celebration stems from pagan origins. Yes, I understand all this and at the same time I don't want to give up the family get together. Tonight at our annual Christmas Eve get together it was especially hard because it's the Sabbath as well. It is GOD'S holy day, GOD'S sanctified day, GOD'S blessed day, it's the day God made for us to draw closer to Him - in His rest. Glaringly throughout the night over and over and over again it was clear that this family get together was filled with worldliness, filled with things that aren't of God no matter how much I don't want to admit it to myself let alone anyone else. I want to convince myself that it's harmless teasing, harmless joking, harmless disobedience- but what it all really is - is worldliness- it's being part of the WORLD, not being of God. My sister did her best to make it geared towards God- with it being the Sabbath and all, and through NO fault of her own it was twisted into worldliness at every possible turn.
I absolutely cringe at the mere thought of not attending a family get together because of my principles because it comes across as my being HOLIER than thou and nothing more. It doesn't endear any of the family to me. For me to NOT attend would be angst-filled and cause all sorts of hurt feelings all the way around. The thought of being estranged from my family is awful to me and yet we know that many will choose family over God. Many would rather suffered eternal death than give up their loved ones here and now. I don't want to be one of them.
What are we to do? Or rather I suppose I want to know what I should do. Am I willing to lose all here and now for eternal life with my Savior? Do I need to separate myself or do I need to 'stay in the world' but 'be kept from evil'?
That was Jesus' prayer for us- part of it.
Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
If we take ourselves OUT of the world- we aren't really doing as Jesus would have us do, are we? If we take ourselves out of all interaction with the world because the world and the majority of the people inhabiting it are Satan's, are we actually contradicting God's will. Jesus prayed that we DON'T get taken out of the world. Jesus wants us IN the world we are NOT to be a part of. Jesus wants us KEPT from evil not by taking ourselves OUT of the world and secluding ourselves, associating only with like believers - because truly even like believers can be of the world. We are all called to Christ uniquely in our own ways. My walk with Christ is not a single other person's walk with Christ and vice versa.
Are you thinking I'm trying to justify my family get togethers? Maybe I am but I'm trying to understand what it is God wants from me personally in my walk with Him. I just can't believe God wants us to make ourselves hermits. I fully believe that God can and has used people in the world surrounded by those who are of the world to let their lives be a living testimony to others.
No, we are NOT to join in the idolatry, the blasphemy, the God mocking, the unseemly acts that are of the world. We have to stand against them.
There are so many ways to view this and it's a matter very close to my heart, obviously.
Any of you reading this, do you ever find yourselves faced with this sort of situation? How do you view the fact we are to be in the world, but not of the world?
Luk 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
THEY shall separate you from their company.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
COME OUT from among them and be ye separate.
They will separate you AND be ye separate.
The danger of association arises when we are tempted to take part in the sinning. The danger of association comes when we become part OF the worldly we are around. If we are easily swayed we senselessly place ourselves in temptations way.
I know I need to do A LOT more praying and studying on this subject for many personal reasons, but enough for now.
May God open my eyes and lead me in the way everlasting through His glorious LOVE.
By Your grace Lord, by Your grace.
Amen.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
God- forethought or afterthought
Pro 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Pro 1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Pro 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Pro 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Pro 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Pro 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Wisdom cries out to be heard.
God would have us be wise.
Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Pro 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
We must be wise in the ways of the Lord. We must love knowledge of the Lord. We must choose the Lord in all our ways. We must be willing to take counsel from the Lord and to learn from the reproof given to us. God's way is being wise in knowledge of Him and that knowledge bring Salvation because it's only through knowledge of our Savior that we are saved. Through learning of His grace we are saved.
Make no mistake though… the people who do NOT listen, the people who do not seek God's wisdom, those who don't look to God will one day face desolation and destruction of the likes they can't even imagine in their worse nightmares. And then, when they realize they should have sought God it will be too late. They might even be able to recall every single missed opportunity to come to the knowledge of the Lord and know they had the chance and refused. They turned their back on salvation. They wouldn't listen to the wisdom of God but rather chose the wisdom of man over God's. The wisdom of man is pure foolishness to God. None of us should seek to be considered wise in man's ways and if we find ourselves longing to be touted as a wise person, let us seek forgiveness and choose only to long for the wisdom of God.
Destruction will come.
Desolation will come.
Anguish will come.
Agony will come.
Eternal death will come.
If you are not wise unto God, you will face terror unlike anything you've ever experienced. This is the truth and as much as people would love to believe that everyone in the world is automatically guaranteed eternal life, they're wrong.
People cannot deny their Creator and Redeemer then expect to be saved by Him.
People cannot reject their Creator and their Redeemer and expect to be accepted by Him.
I'm not talking about people who have denied and rejected God only to repent of their actions, but those who do not repent, those who never repent.
Too many people want to believe that God and His ways, God and His love, don't really matter beyond perhaps a half-hearted belief. Too many people do NOT have God as an integral part of their lives. God is an afterthought, not a forethought to way too many people. God is fit into a schedule rather than a schedule fit around God.
Where does God rank in your life? In your EVERYDAY life? Does God only rank in your weekly thoughts? Your monthly thought? Your yearly consideration? Is God REAL to you? If He isn't a real force in your life then it's truly time you get down on your knees - even if it's only mentally you are on those knees- and pray to God that He becomes real to you and then take steps to ensure He's there in your life by daily reading, daily studying, daily praying, daily praising, daily thanking your Lord and Savior, your God, your Creator. Left to our own devices we will not automatically choose to follow our Savior, why? Because of sin. We have to choose to follow God and choose daily to do so, not hope that automatically we will be His. God will NOT force us. God will NOT coerce us. God will wait for us. God will open His arms to us. God is there always for us to choose but He will not make the choice for us.
This is real, very, very real.
People will be saved and people will be lost. We choose our eternal destination it is NOT chosen for us.
May God help us to be wise unto salvation through our Lord and Savior. May we be among those who listen to the wisdom of God in reproofs, in chastisements, in any and all ways God chooses to open our eyes and our hearts to Him and His amazing LOVE.
Amen.
Pro 1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Pro 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Pro 1:24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Pro 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Pro 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Wisdom cries out to be heard.
God would have us be wise.
Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Pro 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Dan 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
We must be wise in the ways of the Lord. We must love knowledge of the Lord. We must choose the Lord in all our ways. We must be willing to take counsel from the Lord and to learn from the reproof given to us. God's way is being wise in knowledge of Him and that knowledge bring Salvation because it's only through knowledge of our Savior that we are saved. Through learning of His grace we are saved.
Make no mistake though… the people who do NOT listen, the people who do not seek God's wisdom, those who don't look to God will one day face desolation and destruction of the likes they can't even imagine in their worse nightmares. And then, when they realize they should have sought God it will be too late. They might even be able to recall every single missed opportunity to come to the knowledge of the Lord and know they had the chance and refused. They turned their back on salvation. They wouldn't listen to the wisdom of God but rather chose the wisdom of man over God's. The wisdom of man is pure foolishness to God. None of us should seek to be considered wise in man's ways and if we find ourselves longing to be touted as a wise person, let us seek forgiveness and choose only to long for the wisdom of God.
Destruction will come.
Desolation will come.
Anguish will come.
Agony will come.
Eternal death will come.
If you are not wise unto God, you will face terror unlike anything you've ever experienced. This is the truth and as much as people would love to believe that everyone in the world is automatically guaranteed eternal life, they're wrong.
People cannot deny their Creator and Redeemer then expect to be saved by Him.
People cannot reject their Creator and their Redeemer and expect to be accepted by Him.
I'm not talking about people who have denied and rejected God only to repent of their actions, but those who do not repent, those who never repent.
Too many people want to believe that God and His ways, God and His love, don't really matter beyond perhaps a half-hearted belief. Too many people do NOT have God as an integral part of their lives. God is an afterthought, not a forethought to way too many people. God is fit into a schedule rather than a schedule fit around God.
Where does God rank in your life? In your EVERYDAY life? Does God only rank in your weekly thoughts? Your monthly thought? Your yearly consideration? Is God REAL to you? If He isn't a real force in your life then it's truly time you get down on your knees - even if it's only mentally you are on those knees- and pray to God that He becomes real to you and then take steps to ensure He's there in your life by daily reading, daily studying, daily praying, daily praising, daily thanking your Lord and Savior, your God, your Creator. Left to our own devices we will not automatically choose to follow our Savior, why? Because of sin. We have to choose to follow God and choose daily to do so, not hope that automatically we will be His. God will NOT force us. God will NOT coerce us. God will wait for us. God will open His arms to us. God is there always for us to choose but He will not make the choice for us.
This is real, very, very real.
People will be saved and people will be lost. We choose our eternal destination it is NOT chosen for us.
May God help us to be wise unto salvation through our Lord and Savior. May we be among those who listen to the wisdom of God in reproofs, in chastisements, in any and all ways God chooses to open our eyes and our hearts to Him and His amazing LOVE.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Placating our conscience
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
The world knoweth us not.
This is such a very important statement.
The world didn't know Jesus. The world as a WHOLE did NOT know Jesus, they did not recognize Him for who He was. Did some know Jesus and believe in Him as the Son of God? Yes. Were they few in number? Yes.
Remember when Jesus fed five thousand with fish and loaves? How many of those He fed, how many of those that followed Him that day and listened to Him speak continued on with Him?
Read the whole story in John. Here is just a bit.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Many of his disciples went back and walked NO MORE with Him. Over 5000 men, women, and children were fed just the day before and they followed Jesus from one place to another, across a sea. They saw Him perform MIRACLES, they ate of a miracle. Bread and fish they took into their mouths was brought into existence supernaturally. And yet when it came right down to the nitty gritty, whether or not they truly believed Jesus was God's Son, sent from the Father God they worshipped, they folded. They were all set to accept Jesus as a man just like themselves with special powers- a magician of sorts but as the true Son of God- this they couldn't accept. Unable to accept Jesus for who He really was they left, all but the 12 disciples left Him and He asked them if they were going to go away too.
Today MANY follow Jesus but how many people truly, truly love Him. How many will keep following Him when that LAST spiritual call is made separating true disciples from false? We know the Lord will say to MANY the day of His return- 'I never knew you, get away from me.' And that MANY truly believe they are His followers, His disciples.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Not every one that says, Lord, Lord will be saved.
5000 people and none but the 12 disciples remained with Jesus.
The world didn't know Jesus.
The world won't know US who are the sons of God either.
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
If the world knows you, if you are understood by the world, if you mesh with the world you might just want to ask yourself why. If you care more for the world and life here and now, if you care more for yourself than any other, you have to ask yourself if you truly know Jesus, if you truly believe in Him and all He stands for. We are good at fooling ourselves. We are masters of placating our conscience. We love the darkness enveloping us because it hides our sins from us. We don't want to see our filthiness, we'd much rather pretend we are wearing pure white garments unspotted from any stain of sin. As long as we continue to keep the spiritual blinders on our eyes we can count ourselves among those who believe we are Jesus' and will cry out Lord, Lord, only to have Him tell us He never knew us. If we strip off the spiritual blinders and understand that this world and its sinfulness is not something we want to know us, we just might be able to see our sin-filled state and truly understand our need to be saved by the grace of our Lord.
The world knoweth us not--
-- because it knew Him not.
By the grace of my Savior may I NOT be known by the world, may I not be numbered with the world, may I not be among those who believe they know You, but don't. I long to be Yours, to be a 'son' of God, known of God. Please Lord… save me.
Amen.
The world knoweth us not.
This is such a very important statement.
The world didn't know Jesus. The world as a WHOLE did NOT know Jesus, they did not recognize Him for who He was. Did some know Jesus and believe in Him as the Son of God? Yes. Were they few in number? Yes.
Remember when Jesus fed five thousand with fish and loaves? How many of those He fed, how many of those that followed Him that day and listened to Him speak continued on with Him?
Read the whole story in John. Here is just a bit.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Many of his disciples went back and walked NO MORE with Him. Over 5000 men, women, and children were fed just the day before and they followed Jesus from one place to another, across a sea. They saw Him perform MIRACLES, they ate of a miracle. Bread and fish they took into their mouths was brought into existence supernaturally. And yet when it came right down to the nitty gritty, whether or not they truly believed Jesus was God's Son, sent from the Father God they worshipped, they folded. They were all set to accept Jesus as a man just like themselves with special powers- a magician of sorts but as the true Son of God- this they couldn't accept. Unable to accept Jesus for who He really was they left, all but the 12 disciples left Him and He asked them if they were going to go away too.
Today MANY follow Jesus but how many people truly, truly love Him. How many will keep following Him when that LAST spiritual call is made separating true disciples from false? We know the Lord will say to MANY the day of His return- 'I never knew you, get away from me.' And that MANY truly believe they are His followers, His disciples.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Not every one that says, Lord, Lord will be saved.
5000 people and none but the 12 disciples remained with Jesus.
The world didn't know Jesus.
The world won't know US who are the sons of God either.
1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
If the world knows you, if you are understood by the world, if you mesh with the world you might just want to ask yourself why. If you care more for the world and life here and now, if you care more for yourself than any other, you have to ask yourself if you truly know Jesus, if you truly believe in Him and all He stands for. We are good at fooling ourselves. We are masters of placating our conscience. We love the darkness enveloping us because it hides our sins from us. We don't want to see our filthiness, we'd much rather pretend we are wearing pure white garments unspotted from any stain of sin. As long as we continue to keep the spiritual blinders on our eyes we can count ourselves among those who believe we are Jesus' and will cry out Lord, Lord, only to have Him tell us He never knew us. If we strip off the spiritual blinders and understand that this world and its sinfulness is not something we want to know us, we just might be able to see our sin-filled state and truly understand our need to be saved by the grace of our Lord.
The world knoweth us not--
-- because it knew Him not.
By the grace of my Savior may I NOT be known by the world, may I not be numbered with the world, may I not be among those who believe they know You, but don't. I long to be Yours, to be a 'son' of God, known of God. Please Lord… save me.
Amen.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The Way Everlasting
Psa 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Search me, O God
Know my heart.
Try me.
Know my thoughts.
See if there be ANY wicked way in me.
Lead me in the way everlasting.
This is my prayer! This is my plea!
Search me God!
If there is any wickedness in me- lead me in the way everlasting!!!
The way everlasting.
We might have wickedness in us, in fact it's almost guaranteed that we do have wickedness in us. If we didn't have any wickedness we'd be claiming perfection and while the Bible says in- Mat 5:48 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' The only way to that perfection is through our Savior- not through out own righteousness, not through any perfection in ourselves. The wickedness in us must be conquered as we are led in the way everlasting; that 'WAY' everlasting is our being conquerors through Christ our Lord and Savior.
The way everlasting--
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jn 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
There is so much hatred in the world.
There is so much self-serving.
We use the word hate and apply it to the infamously vile.
I still hear the voice of my mother saying- 'Never say you hate someone. Hate is a terrible word.'
My mother was right, hate is a terrible word and our world is full of haters. That's become a common word now, used as slang. The saying- 'They're just haters.' Meaning there are people who are jealous, people who don't like what you want to be acceptable. You're a hater if you disagree with someone's opinion, you're a hater if you say something contrary, you're a hater if you don't like someone.
We equate hating with not being loving, right? And as long as we DISLIKE and don't truly HATE, we don't classify ourselves among those who beyond the slang meaning, really hate other people. We pride ourselves on being able to say we DON'T hate anyone. A quick pat on our backs for our being able to keep from hating others feels good, doesn't it? Yet even as we take pride in our non-hating selves we are guilty of self-serving in that pride. And there is more hatred in selfishness than anywhere else. Sin entered Satan through selfishness.
Count the 'I's' in these verses--
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Five 'I's', FIVE!
Satan in pure selfishness wanted to ascend into heaven, he wanted to exalt his throne above the angels of God, he wanted to sit on God's mountain, he wanted to be above the clouds, and MOST selfishly- Satan wanted to be like the MOST HIGH!
Satan's self serving, Satan's selfishness brought sin into existence. Not being loving, but hating, is pure selfishness.
Pure wickedness - is pure selfishness.
Christ's way, the WAY everlasting is pure unselfishness!
God is love and over and over it is emphasized that love is selfless and we too need to have that selfless love- by the grace and mercy of our Savior may we follow the WAY everlasting and become selfless as He is selfless.
Amen!
Psa 139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Search me, O God
Know my heart.
Try me.
Know my thoughts.
See if there be ANY wicked way in me.
Lead me in the way everlasting.
This is my prayer! This is my plea!
Search me God!
If there is any wickedness in me- lead me in the way everlasting!!!
The way everlasting.
We might have wickedness in us, in fact it's almost guaranteed that we do have wickedness in us. If we didn't have any wickedness we'd be claiming perfection and while the Bible says in- Mat 5:48 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' The only way to that perfection is through our Savior- not through out own righteousness, not through any perfection in ourselves. The wickedness in us must be conquered as we are led in the way everlasting; that 'WAY' everlasting is our being conquerors through Christ our Lord and Savior.
The way everlasting--
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1Jn 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
There is so much hatred in the world.
There is so much self-serving.
We use the word hate and apply it to the infamously vile.
I still hear the voice of my mother saying- 'Never say you hate someone. Hate is a terrible word.'
My mother was right, hate is a terrible word and our world is full of haters. That's become a common word now, used as slang. The saying- 'They're just haters.' Meaning there are people who are jealous, people who don't like what you want to be acceptable. You're a hater if you disagree with someone's opinion, you're a hater if you say something contrary, you're a hater if you don't like someone.
We equate hating with not being loving, right? And as long as we DISLIKE and don't truly HATE, we don't classify ourselves among those who beyond the slang meaning, really hate other people. We pride ourselves on being able to say we DON'T hate anyone. A quick pat on our backs for our being able to keep from hating others feels good, doesn't it? Yet even as we take pride in our non-hating selves we are guilty of self-serving in that pride. And there is more hatred in selfishness than anywhere else. Sin entered Satan through selfishness.
Count the 'I's' in these verses--
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Five 'I's', FIVE!
Satan in pure selfishness wanted to ascend into heaven, he wanted to exalt his throne above the angels of God, he wanted to sit on God's mountain, he wanted to be above the clouds, and MOST selfishly- Satan wanted to be like the MOST HIGH!
Satan's self serving, Satan's selfishness brought sin into existence. Not being loving, but hating, is pure selfishness.
Pure wickedness - is pure selfishness.
Christ's way, the WAY everlasting is pure unselfishness!
God is love and over and over it is emphasized that love is selfless and we too need to have that selfless love- by the grace and mercy of our Savior may we follow the WAY everlasting and become selfless as He is selfless.
Amen!
Monday, December 20, 2010
The Lord will deal with the leeches.
Pro 30:15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
A leech only wants more, right? When someone is called a leech it is in a derogatory manner, meaning they are taking and taking, not giving. A leech wants someone to give, right? A leech lives off another. When I say, 'He's nothing but a leech.' I mean that all he does is take from me. When this verse says 'The horseleach hath two daughters, crying Give, give' we are being told that a taker breeds takers. Seriously, the desire to be given more and more, living to be given is truly the epitome of being unable to ever be satisfied.
If you live only to get things you will NEVER be satisfied, it's impossible. You will never be given enough, you can never be given enough because you are LIVING to get things.
There are FOUR things that are never satisfied-
Pro 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
1) The grave-
- death is never ending.
In the world each day approximately --
156 thousand die .
Pasted from
That's one hundred and fifty six THOUSAND people dying EVERY DAY. The grave most assuredly is NOT satisfied. The grave will NEVER be satisfied- not until death is done away with once and for all by our Savior!
2)The barren womb-
- many, many, many women LONG to have children when they are barren. Many go to great lengths to get pregnant, spending their life savings to do so. Some have their barrenness derange them and they murder to get a baby trying to pass that baby off as their own. There is a medical condition or rather a psychological condition that affects some barren women where they actually believe they are pregnant but aren't- yet their bodies even begin to take on the characteristics of one pregnant. Being barren is truly never having the satisfaction of bearing a child- the emptiness of the womb is endlessly felt.
3) The earth that is not filled with water-
-dry earth, have you ever poured water onto dry dirt? What happens? The dirt absorbs the water quickly. You could keep pouring water all day on the desert and it would NEVER be satisfied.
4) Fire-
-we all know that fire will consume everything it can, as long as it can. A fire is never, ever satisfied until it has consumed all it can - ask any firefighter about the voracity of fire.
Four things that will NEVER be satisfied.
And the prelude to those is talk of a leech and it's continuing line of its kind always wanting to be given, never giving.
We've all heard these words--
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Give.
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Give His life.
Luk 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Luk 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luk 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Giving all she had.
Luk 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Give light.
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Seeking nothing carnal above our Savior. We do NOT cry out 'Give to us, give to us!' seeking temporal gain.
Our only cry give us the kingdom of our Savior!
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
BLESSED to GIVE!
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Ye gave meat.
Ye gave clothes.
Ye gave drink.
Ye gave a home.
Ye gave your company.
GAVE.
GIVE.
There will always be those who need us to give to them.
There will always be those who will want to be given to wrongly.
Should those who, like the leech, be our concern? Should the leech stop us from giving through worry we are giving to leeches? NO. We are to give and our Lord will deal with the leeches.
And it is NO shame to be one of those who need to be given to, to be in need. The Lord also said the poor would be with us always. If you genuinely are in need and MANY of us are there is no shame in that, none, you are a BLESSING to those who are able to give.
We must give, not seek gain.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever and ever!
Amen.
A leech only wants more, right? When someone is called a leech it is in a derogatory manner, meaning they are taking and taking, not giving. A leech wants someone to give, right? A leech lives off another. When I say, 'He's nothing but a leech.' I mean that all he does is take from me. When this verse says 'The horseleach hath two daughters, crying Give, give' we are being told that a taker breeds takers. Seriously, the desire to be given more and more, living to be given is truly the epitome of being unable to ever be satisfied.
If you live only to get things you will NEVER be satisfied, it's impossible. You will never be given enough, you can never be given enough because you are LIVING to get things.
There are FOUR things that are never satisfied-
Pro 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
1) The grave-
- death is never ending.
In the world each day approximately --
156 thousand die .
Pasted from
That's one hundred and fifty six THOUSAND people dying EVERY DAY. The grave most assuredly is NOT satisfied. The grave will NEVER be satisfied- not until death is done away with once and for all by our Savior!
2)The barren womb-
- many, many, many women LONG to have children when they are barren. Many go to great lengths to get pregnant, spending their life savings to do so. Some have their barrenness derange them and they murder to get a baby trying to pass that baby off as their own. There is a medical condition or rather a psychological condition that affects some barren women where they actually believe they are pregnant but aren't- yet their bodies even begin to take on the characteristics of one pregnant. Being barren is truly never having the satisfaction of bearing a child- the emptiness of the womb is endlessly felt.
3) The earth that is not filled with water-
-dry earth, have you ever poured water onto dry dirt? What happens? The dirt absorbs the water quickly. You could keep pouring water all day on the desert and it would NEVER be satisfied.
4) Fire-
-we all know that fire will consume everything it can, as long as it can. A fire is never, ever satisfied until it has consumed all it can - ask any firefighter about the voracity of fire.
Four things that will NEVER be satisfied.
And the prelude to those is talk of a leech and it's continuing line of its kind always wanting to be given, never giving.
We've all heard these words--
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Give.
Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Give His life.
Luk 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Luk 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luk 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Giving all she had.
Luk 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luk 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Give light.
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Seeking nothing carnal above our Savior. We do NOT cry out 'Give to us, give to us!' seeking temporal gain.
Our only cry give us the kingdom of our Savior!
Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
BLESSED to GIVE!
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Ye gave meat.
Ye gave clothes.
Ye gave drink.
Ye gave a home.
Ye gave your company.
GAVE.
GIVE.
There will always be those who need us to give to them.
There will always be those who will want to be given to wrongly.
Should those who, like the leech, be our concern? Should the leech stop us from giving through worry we are giving to leeches? NO. We are to give and our Lord will deal with the leeches.
And it is NO shame to be one of those who need to be given to, to be in need. The Lord also said the poor would be with us always. If you genuinely are in need and MANY of us are there is no shame in that, none, you are a BLESSING to those who are able to give.
We must give, not seek gain.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, now and forever and ever!
Amen.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Light
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
God is light.
There is NO darkness in God at all!
Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psa 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain
Covers Himself with light as with a garment- clothed with honor and majesty.
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Truly, beyond the word light meaning mental enlightenment, it means- light - physical illumination. Physical light and mental understanding. Light truly does reveal life around us. Have someone blindfold you and lead you to an undisclosed location. Once there have them keep you in darkness but take your blindfold off. Being in complete darkness you have NO clue what is surrounding you. You don't know if you take a step forward if you'll trip over something, bump into something, fall into something, you're clueless. Darkness hides our surroundings. Once we are used to living in the light, used to using light to know what is around us, dependent upon the light to keep us from the harm darkness can bring, it's very difficult to be told you must live in darkness. People who live sin-filled lives often long for darkness to hide what they're doing. Physically no one wishes to be totally blind, even the blind wish for ways to reverse that blindness. Spiritually there are many who love being blind-
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Sin brings darkness. Sin destroys the light. When we choose to walk in darkness we choose to walk in sin. Choosing to walk in light is to walk in the glory of God, in the path that God wills us to walk in Him.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We have to walk in the way of God- not sinning. Even then we cannot declare ourselves to be sinless because we don't have that power in us. We have to confess our sins to our Savior and He will forgive us and cleanse us.
Man before choosing salvation cannot be saved without accepting Jesus as his Savior. Man cannot WORK to save himself- not now, not ever.
Man after accepting salvation must live a life that glorifies the salvation he has received- his life will reflect the glory of God, he must walk in the light of God.
Man walks in darkness before Salvation- spiritual darkness and they can NEVER walk in the Spiritual light of our Savior without first making Him their Savior.
If we choose to walk in darkness after we have been saved, we don't really walk in the light of Christ, we are not living a life in Christ and if we are not living a life in Christ- the blood of our Savior cannot cleanse us from our sins.
Our works will not save us, but we know for a fact that faith without works is dead. Is it sad so many who become Christians - truly accepting the sacrifice of our Lord- turn around and continue to live the same sin-filled life. They don't fully understand that their new faith will have new works resulting from that faith- they don't want to 'work' for their salvation they claim, but that's not what is meant at all by being saved by grace not of works. Their new works will be a life in the light of Christ, living as He lived, loving as He would have us love, not living a life of sinning because He did not sin. We have to walk in the light- live in the light, if we are living in darkness and our lives are filled with sin we KNOW we are not walking in the light. We have to confess those sins, we have to repent of those sins, we have to go and sin no more as we actively seek to live in Christ's light through His grace.
All glory, praise, and honor to our King!
By His mercy now and forever!
Amen.
God is light.
There is NO darkness in God at all!
Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Psa 104:2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain
Covers Himself with light as with a garment- clothed with honor and majesty.
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Truly, beyond the word light meaning mental enlightenment, it means- light - physical illumination. Physical light and mental understanding. Light truly does reveal life around us. Have someone blindfold you and lead you to an undisclosed location. Once there have them keep you in darkness but take your blindfold off. Being in complete darkness you have NO clue what is surrounding you. You don't know if you take a step forward if you'll trip over something, bump into something, fall into something, you're clueless. Darkness hides our surroundings. Once we are used to living in the light, used to using light to know what is around us, dependent upon the light to keep us from the harm darkness can bring, it's very difficult to be told you must live in darkness. People who live sin-filled lives often long for darkness to hide what they're doing. Physically no one wishes to be totally blind, even the blind wish for ways to reverse that blindness. Spiritually there are many who love being blind-
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Sin brings darkness. Sin destroys the light. When we choose to walk in darkness we choose to walk in sin. Choosing to walk in light is to walk in the glory of God, in the path that God wills us to walk in Him.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We have to walk in the way of God- not sinning. Even then we cannot declare ourselves to be sinless because we don't have that power in us. We have to confess our sins to our Savior and He will forgive us and cleanse us.
Man before choosing salvation cannot be saved without accepting Jesus as his Savior. Man cannot WORK to save himself- not now, not ever.
Man after accepting salvation must live a life that glorifies the salvation he has received- his life will reflect the glory of God, he must walk in the light of God.
Man walks in darkness before Salvation- spiritual darkness and they can NEVER walk in the Spiritual light of our Savior without first making Him their Savior.
If we choose to walk in darkness after we have been saved, we don't really walk in the light of Christ, we are not living a life in Christ and if we are not living a life in Christ- the blood of our Savior cannot cleanse us from our sins.
Our works will not save us, but we know for a fact that faith without works is dead. Is it sad so many who become Christians - truly accepting the sacrifice of our Lord- turn around and continue to live the same sin-filled life. They don't fully understand that their new faith will have new works resulting from that faith- they don't want to 'work' for their salvation they claim, but that's not what is meant at all by being saved by grace not of works. Their new works will be a life in the light of Christ, living as He lived, loving as He would have us love, not living a life of sinning because He did not sin. We have to walk in the light- live in the light, if we are living in darkness and our lives are filled with sin we KNOW we are not walking in the light. We have to confess those sins, we have to repent of those sins, we have to go and sin no more as we actively seek to live in Christ's light through His grace.
All glory, praise, and honor to our King!
By His mercy now and forever!
Amen.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Simple concerning evil
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Being among contention is never pleasant, or at least it isn't pleasant to me. Would I knowingly put myself among those who only wish to cause division and offense ? I hope not. Some consider jumping into the fray of witnessing about their beliefs a noble thing. Some could careless what others think and long for the fight just to be able to say they stood up for their beliefs. It is a good thing to be able to stand up for what you believe in, but it's not a good thing to purposely insert yourself into a situation where you know others have already decided against your beliefs. For them to have decided against your beliefs they most likely have had enough information to make that decision - the witness was already given to them, maybe not by you but by others. Am I saying we shouldn't witness? No. Our lives are to be a living witness to others. To purposely try to incite those who choose not to believe as you do is NEVER a good thing.
Here Paul is beseeching his brethren in Christ telling them to MARK- to take note of - those who cause divisions, those who commit offenses that are against the truths they have learned. Why is Paul telling them to make note of these people? So they can AVOID them. Not so they can continue to witness to them. AVOID.
Webster's terms Avoid as follows--
Avoid
AVOID', v.t. [Eng. side, void, widow; L. vidua, vito, evito. See Void.]
To shun; to keep at a distance from; that is, literally, to go or be wide from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.
~~
Shun them, keep away from them. That doesn't sound very Christian like, but it is. There will ALWAYS be those opposed to our Savior, opposed to Christ's way, opposed to the truth and we aren't to put ourselves purposely into situation with them thinking by some miraculous way they'll suddenly convert. If we happen to find ourselves in that situation that's a different thing but to purposely enter into a situation of contention with those who have already had access to learning the truths of Christ is us only asking for trouble.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
They serve their own belly…
Belly-
G2836
koilia
koy-lee'-ah
From κοῖλος koilos (“hollow”); a cavity, that is, (specifically) the abdomen; by implication the matrix; figuratively the heart: - belly, womb.
They serve their OWN heart, their own desires and not Christ's. Whenever any one of us serves ourselves before we serve Christ we are in danger. We need to avoid those whose only concern is themselves. We need to avoid those who speak eloquently in deception pointing other away from Christ.
I've had the opportunity to catch a few- not many, but a few- late night Christian television programs - watching bits of them and I was saddened to listen to these VERY eloquent people using Christ's name to support self-serving, self-advancement, self-wealth, self-love. They twist things to make them appealing to those who want to put self first and have an advantage in life through their pretended, and deceptive walks with Christ. Many love to listen to these preachers, they absolutely LOVE them because they placate them that they are fine and walking in God's plan by being prosperous and serving themselves first and foremost. God will grant them riches, God will bless them if they follow simple rules. There is nothing in their sermons about adhering to the 10 sacred commandments of God, and if they are mentioned it's only to subvert their true meaning to make them more acceptable to the sinners who want to keep on sinning and still be saved. Men and women everywhere are deceived- the hearts of the simple are deceived! We are NOT to put ourselves into situations that are contrary to the truths we've learned of our Lord and Savior. We are NOT to tempt God that way. And it is tempting God to do something He clearly would have us not do and expect Him to keep us from being deceived. We have to FOLLOW God, not test Him. If we find ourselves in a bad situation without purposely seeking that bad situation- yes, God will protect us. But we can't 'throw ourselves down off a wall' figuratively, any more than Jesus could when He was tempted to do so.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Wise unto that which is good.
Simple concerning evil.
God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us.
Wise unto that which is good.
Simple concerning evil.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We aren't to think on the evil things. Evil surrounds us daily in many, many forms but we need to think on the good things, be wise to the good- whatsoever is TRUE, HONEST,JUST,PURE,LOVELY, GOOD REPORT, VIRTUE, PRAISE- think on these things.
If we spent more time in our day to day lives seeking to think about the good things do you think our lives would be different?
Too often our minds focus on the evil things. I'm not saying we are to be UNAWARE of the signs of the times around us- we must be. I'm not saying we aren't to note the evil in the world, we have to. I'm not saying that we can't be concerned about Satan and his deceptive way- we have to watch and be ready. But we have to WATCH not study , not participate in, not delve deeply into the evil. We are to note the evil and be *simple* concerning the evil- not absorbing it into our lives. We are to be WISE to the good. We are to knowledgeable, we are to study, we are to participate in, we are to delve very deeply into the good things of God.
It's so much easier to be caught up in the depressive sickness of our corrupt, very evil world, than it is to find the good in this horrifically evil existence. If we keep Christ ever before us that means keeping the good before us, the salvation that is found with our Savior is the most wondrous thing we can be wise towards. The righteousness of Christ, not the hopelessness of self-salvation should be our focus.
Satan is defeated! Praise God! All the evil works of Satan are defeated. The head of the serpent will be cut off soon and death will be swallowed up in the victory of Christ, our Lord, our Savior!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Being among contention is never pleasant, or at least it isn't pleasant to me. Would I knowingly put myself among those who only wish to cause division and offense ? I hope not. Some consider jumping into the fray of witnessing about their beliefs a noble thing. Some could careless what others think and long for the fight just to be able to say they stood up for their beliefs. It is a good thing to be able to stand up for what you believe in, but it's not a good thing to purposely insert yourself into a situation where you know others have already decided against your beliefs. For them to have decided against your beliefs they most likely have had enough information to make that decision - the witness was already given to them, maybe not by you but by others. Am I saying we shouldn't witness? No. Our lives are to be a living witness to others. To purposely try to incite those who choose not to believe as you do is NEVER a good thing.
Here Paul is beseeching his brethren in Christ telling them to MARK- to take note of - those who cause divisions, those who commit offenses that are against the truths they have learned. Why is Paul telling them to make note of these people? So they can AVOID them. Not so they can continue to witness to them. AVOID.
Webster's terms Avoid as follows--
Avoid
AVOID', v.t. [Eng. side, void, widow; L. vidua, vito, evito. See Void.]
To shun; to keep at a distance from; that is, literally, to go or be wide from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.
~~
Shun them, keep away from them. That doesn't sound very Christian like, but it is. There will ALWAYS be those opposed to our Savior, opposed to Christ's way, opposed to the truth and we aren't to put ourselves purposely into situation with them thinking by some miraculous way they'll suddenly convert. If we happen to find ourselves in that situation that's a different thing but to purposely enter into a situation of contention with those who have already had access to learning the truths of Christ is us only asking for trouble.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
They serve their own belly…
Belly-
G2836
koilia
koy-lee'-ah
From κοῖλος koilos (“hollow”); a cavity, that is, (specifically) the abdomen; by implication the matrix; figuratively the heart: - belly, womb.
They serve their OWN heart, their own desires and not Christ's. Whenever any one of us serves ourselves before we serve Christ we are in danger. We need to avoid those whose only concern is themselves. We need to avoid those who speak eloquently in deception pointing other away from Christ.
I've had the opportunity to catch a few- not many, but a few- late night Christian television programs - watching bits of them and I was saddened to listen to these VERY eloquent people using Christ's name to support self-serving, self-advancement, self-wealth, self-love. They twist things to make them appealing to those who want to put self first and have an advantage in life through their pretended, and deceptive walks with Christ. Many love to listen to these preachers, they absolutely LOVE them because they placate them that they are fine and walking in God's plan by being prosperous and serving themselves first and foremost. God will grant them riches, God will bless them if they follow simple rules. There is nothing in their sermons about adhering to the 10 sacred commandments of God, and if they are mentioned it's only to subvert their true meaning to make them more acceptable to the sinners who want to keep on sinning and still be saved. Men and women everywhere are deceived- the hearts of the simple are deceived! We are NOT to put ourselves into situations that are contrary to the truths we've learned of our Lord and Savior. We are NOT to tempt God that way. And it is tempting God to do something He clearly would have us not do and expect Him to keep us from being deceived. We have to FOLLOW God, not test Him. If we find ourselves in a bad situation without purposely seeking that bad situation- yes, God will protect us. But we can't 'throw ourselves down off a wall' figuratively, any more than Jesus could when He was tempted to do so.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Wise unto that which is good.
Simple concerning evil.
God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us.
Wise unto that which is good.
Simple concerning evil.
Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
We aren't to think on the evil things. Evil surrounds us daily in many, many forms but we need to think on the good things, be wise to the good- whatsoever is TRUE, HONEST,JUST,PURE,LOVELY, GOOD REPORT, VIRTUE, PRAISE- think on these things.
If we spent more time in our day to day lives seeking to think about the good things do you think our lives would be different?
Too often our minds focus on the evil things. I'm not saying we are to be UNAWARE of the signs of the times around us- we must be. I'm not saying we aren't to note the evil in the world, we have to. I'm not saying that we can't be concerned about Satan and his deceptive way- we have to watch and be ready. But we have to WATCH not study , not participate in, not delve deeply into the evil. We are to note the evil and be *simple* concerning the evil- not absorbing it into our lives. We are to be WISE to the good. We are to knowledgeable, we are to study, we are to participate in, we are to delve very deeply into the good things of God.
It's so much easier to be caught up in the depressive sickness of our corrupt, very evil world, than it is to find the good in this horrifically evil existence. If we keep Christ ever before us that means keeping the good before us, the salvation that is found with our Savior is the most wondrous thing we can be wise towards. The righteousness of Christ, not the hopelessness of self-salvation should be our focus.
Satan is defeated! Praise God! All the evil works of Satan are defeated. The head of the serpent will be cut off soon and death will be swallowed up in the victory of Christ, our Lord, our Savior!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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