Our Foundation- Christ Crucified.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

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Take heed--

1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Our FOUNDATION is JESUS CHRIST. We should have NO OTHER foundation. We need to build upon the FOUNDATION of Jesus Christ- taking heed to the doctrine HE gave, continuing in HIS doctrine! When we get caught up in the doctrines of people and lose sight of Christ's doctrine we've slipped off the Foundation and anything we build that isn't on that Firm Foundation means nothing! No one can be saved when they build their lives around a false foundation.  Imagine a house being built upon a foundation and its built just a little bit off kilter on that foundation. Is the house safe? No. Being off the foundation the risk of complete destruction is great. Yet there are many people who build upon false foundations. They build upon a crooked foundation, a false foundation, a foundation not Christ. They try to build their houses uncentered upon the foundation yet think it's enough because they are near the foundation. People do NOT continue in the doctrine of Christ and they still believe they are Christ's.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ

Men will deceive! And how a man deceives others is by giving them a lot of truth, but not all the truth and what we need is ALL the truth!

In love we speak TRUTH.

In the love of our Savior Jesus Christ!

We are told these things so we will HEED them, not to ignore them!  We have to comprehend that there are a lot of winds of doctrine floating about, there is a lot of sleight of hand, cunning craftiness and deception! If we ignore this very real truth, then we are most likely going to be caught up in the deception.  SEEK only TRUTH!

 1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

Salvation- the REASON our Savior sacrificed Himself for us! Let's learn of the truth in Christ's doctrine, the truth that leads to salvation for us and those that may hear us by the will and grace of God.

Strong Delusions.

Strong delusion.

God allows and even sends strong delusions to those who do not receive the love of the truth so they can be saved.

People get all up in arms about the thought that God does this, but let me ask you something, if you refuse God's love shouldn't He let that be so? If you don't believe in His truth then allowing people to have what they want- deception, delusion instead of truth is only giving them what they want.

GOD WILL NOT FORCE YOU TO LOVE HIM!

You choose and in choosing you have to be prepared for the consequences of your choice. You can't reject God and then be offended that He gives you a strong delusion. You wouldn't have had that strong delusion given to you if you accepted God and His truth. Thinking God is awful for doing that to you is absolutely lunatic. You aren't loving Him, have no desire to know Him, you don't want to hear the truth yet secretly you think God should be trying to coddle you and woo you to Him somehow, that He should try harder to change your mind? No. God offers truth and we either choose to accept that truth or reject it and once we reject it we aren't guaranteed a million and one more chances.  God knows our hearts and He know when a heart has rejected Him beyond ever changing. Once a heart has rejected Him permanently then allowing them to believe in the delusions they so desperately want to believe is not hurting them, they've already condemned themselves.

Yes, this messes with people's minds when they hold up God as all loving, all forgiving. He is loving and forgiving, but it is an ASK and you'll receive, a SEEK and you will find, it's not a I'll forgive you all things even your not accepting me or loving me or believing in me and the truth of salvation. We CAN reject salvation and God knows this! The real truth is, there will not be a single unsaved person that loved God in His truth, NOT ONE! There will not be one person who cries out to Jesus that they did wonderful works in His name and belong to Him, that truly ever belonged to Him IN HIS TRUTH. They had a deceptive, delusional relationship with Christ and nothing more.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 

2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

Psa 81:11  But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 

Psa 81:12  So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. 

Psa 81:13  Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 

Psa 109:17  As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. 

Isa 29:13  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men

Joh 12:39  Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 

Joh 12:40  He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 

Joh 12:41  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 

Joh 12:42  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 

Joh 12:43  For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

Rom 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

Rom 1:25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient

Isa 6:9  And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 

Isa 6:10  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 

Isa 66:4  I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. 

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

Strong delusions are allowed and even given by God. Please, Father God, please we pray that we are not among those who are not loving You in all Your truth! We don't want to have strong delusions! We long to be YOURS wholly YOURS- all through the sacrifice of Your beloved only begotten Son, Jesus Chris our Lord now and forever!!!!!!!

Transformed.

Have you conformed to this world?

con·form

 1.a. To be or act in accord with a set of standards, expectations, or specifications

b. To act, often unquestioningly, in accordance with traditional customs or prevailing standards

from <https://www.thefreedictionary.com/conformed>

Do you act in accord with the WORLD'S standards, expectations, specifications, traditions, customs? 

Another dictionary worded it this way- to act in accordance or harmony, comply, conform to the rules.

We are told not to conform to this world, but this doesn't mean we are to take up arms and become law breakers. We are to conform to our God and His ways, which are NOT in any way calling us to hurt anyone in any way whatsoever.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

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.

In order for us not to be conformed to this world's acceptable behaviors we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

We can have daily renewing through our Lord and Savior, through prayers and study. We can have weekly renewing through a day of rest on the Sabbath- the seventh day God personally set aside for us to worship Him on.  Our minds need a constant renewing in order to keep us transformed and not conformed to this world.

The world has trapped so many people in its awful deceptions. If anyone has read a Pilgrim's Progress by Bunyan you would find he brings to life in a very allegorical manner how the world enslaves so many people in so many ways.  C.S. Lewis also has a lot of very good reading about this world and it's corrupted views. We overlook so much, when we bear the name Christian we have a duty to truly be Christ's. However if we live a life conformed to this world and it's many practices what does that reveal? We hush and shush it all away, making excuses for our conformity. We tell ourselves GOD knows my heart and understands, but what we don't tell ourselves is God is an exacting God, an all-consuming fire and the God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. While no longer encouraging any who follow Him to rise up physically against non-believers, pagans, blasphemers etc, that doesn't mean the God who called His chosen to war against so many unbelievers has changed. What changed was His manner of doing things. The war is still on, but it's a war waged on a spiritual battlefield not a physical battlefield. God did NOT change His standards, His morals, His ten commandments.

Can we take Jesus with us in all we do every day? Can Jesus sit beside us, join us on our daily walk or are there parts of it He might choose to skip over?

We've conformed to the world if we can't take Jesus with us everywhere, every moment of our day.

God, please help us NOT to be conformed to this world!!!!!!! Please, save us from our terribly selves!

All through the Love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!!! Now and forever!

Spirit Manifestations.

The manifestation of the Spirit.

The manifestation of something is what?

The definition is-

'…an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, especially a theory or an abstract idea.'

From <https://www.google.com/search?q=manifestation+definition&oq=manifestation+definition&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.4917j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>

The manifestation of the Spirit will CLEARLY show in all who are His, all who have been given the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

These manifestations are given to us, as we talked about yesterday, to profit the LORD'S work through us.

We can never use the manifestations of the Spirit in us for evil, never. The Spirit would cease to be manifested in us if we do evil. The manifestation of the Spirit in us can only ever be used for the good of our Lord's work.

Are you concerned the Holy Spirit isn't working in you then you need to examine your life for any unrepentant sin, any cherished sin. So many of our cherished sins have turned into sins we don't recognize as sins any longer. We've cherished these sins into acceptance. Once we've worn down and reshaped sins into acceptability we allow them to live on in us and Satan will let us believe we are still being used by God. However, if we are NOT manifesting the Spirit in us then we really need to tear apart our lives bit by bit laying it open bear before God's revealing light of truth.  If we can't find any willful sin in ourselves we need to pray that God bless us with the Spirit so He may use us through the manifestation only the Spirit can give.

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits, foreign language, interpreting foreign language- all can be manifestations of the Spirit.

We can be blessed with one of these manifestations or several as the Lord needs to us to have to profit Him. We will never be given a single one of the Spirit manifestations to use selfishly. So while we may believe it would be wonderful to have any of those gifts, that isn't something we can even minutely gloat about even to ourselves. The wonder of these gifts is our Savior's gospel being heard, the message of salvation being given as He desires. Humbly we need to live, by the grace of God we need to exist.

Please, Lord, we know and we submit to You. Please, Lord, forgive us, cleanse us, use us for Your will, Your purpose.

All in YOUR love!

Holy Spirit Gifts.

The Spirit will give us spiritual gifts to profit with.  What is this profit? Is it for the recipients profit, or another's?

 Clearly, anyone who knows Christ as their Savior would know the answer to that question. Christ lived and died to serve others. We are entreated to live with Christ in us, living as He lived- serving others. The Holy Spirit will gift us with His gifts SEVERALLY as He wills.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not like tangible gifts that are given, held, and even kept for as long as the person desires to keep them. The gifts of the Spirit are given as NEEDED.

We need not despair that we won't have the faith we need from the Holy Spirit, we will have that faith as it is needed. We will have wisdom, knowledge and all that are necessary for us to be USED BY GOD.

We need to be used by God and He will use us if we are receptive to the Holy Spirit, truly desiring to be used by God in any way HE reveals to us.

You may never need to speak in a foreign language. You may never need to interpret a foreign language, you might not need to have a gift of healing, or work a single miracle, you may only ever be given faith as you needed it, or wisdom that you need. God will give us WHAT we need, WHEN we need it and there is no reason to give us any gift of the Spirit otherwise.  His gifts will not be squandered, His gifts are not given to us to be useless. The power of the Holy Spirit is so incredible that it is not something to even speak of frivolously.

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE and WILL, the LOVE and MERCY of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 

1Co 12:8  For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 

1Co 12:10  To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

Wisdom from Above.

Meekness of wisdom.

No strife in our hearts, glorying not, lying not against the truth.

This is wisdom that is earthly, sensual, devilish-

Where there is envying in our hearts-

Where there is strife in our hearts-

-there is confusion and every evil work.

The wisdom that is from above is-

Pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to give, full of mercy, full of good results.

The wisdom that is from above is-

-without partiality, without hypocrisy.

The results of righteousness is given in peace--- of those that make peace.

What's all this mean? There is an earthly wisdom and earthly wisdom is filled with envying, strife, confusion and evil.

When our lives are fill with envy, strife and confusion we have to ask ourselves where it is coming from. It's EARTHLY wisdom. We may believe we are right to feel these things envy, strife, confusion and even evil because they come so naturally, they fill our lives and the world all around us. Truly, with some people these things are DAILY occurrences and while troublesome they are very commonplace. Strife, confusion, envying, evil all are devilish and if we would allow ourselves to recognize them for what they are- maybe, just maybe we could pray for wisdom from above. We need pureness, peace, gentleness, mercy…we need God's wisdom! We need to desire Gods wisdom. We need to shun the wisdom of the world, the wisdom that is devilish. Please LORD, please, please we want to be YOURS and have YOUR wisdom!

Jas 3:13  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

Jas 3:15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

Jas 3:18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 

God is Witness.

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 

1Th 2:5  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 

1Th 2:6  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 

1Th 2:7  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children

Allowed of God----- to be put IN trust with the gospel.

NOT pleasing men, but GOD.

No flattering words, no covetousness-  GOD IS WITNESS.

Gentle among others- as a NURSE CHERISHETH HER CHILDREN.

We too are allowed of God to be put in trust with the good news of the gospel- the salvation through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

We too must be more concerned with PLEASING GOD not others.

We have no need to use flattering words- no covetousness.

God is our WITNESS- God is for us!

Just as a good nurse cherishes those in her care - we too must be as gentle with all we come in contact with. We must care for them from our heart as how special they are in God's sight. Gentle…. not forceful!

All through JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!