Faith To Go!

Monthly Archives: October 2017

Forgiveness or Bitterness!

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”‘
Matthew 6:14-15
 
“And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”‘ Matthew 18:34-35
 
Ok, it’s ‘freedom’ time, time to break the yoke and be set free.
1 – Bitterness (use any adjective you like) is unforgiveness.
2 – Bitterness blocks God’s forgiveness.
3 – Bitterness blocks the victim receiving God’s consolation and peace.
4 – Bitterness forces hypocrisy on the imbittered (pretending to be forgiving but still holding bitterness in the heart and mind.
5 – Genuine forgiveness isn’t absent-mindedness, it is intentionally relinquishing the right to demand someone’s punishment or hold them in contempt, for Christ’s sake.
6 – The benefits of forgiveness are: peace from God; forgiveness from God; Opportunity to demonstrate God’s Grace; a clear conscience with God (not the faux clear consequence which forgives with the mouth but holds contempt in the heart); and so much more.
7 – Forgiveness if freedom – bitterness is bondage.
What to be set free, have peace, and rise above the influence of the flesh – FORGIVE.
 
#forgivenessORbitterness

A ‘Better Sinner’? What!?

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”, Luke 18:10-14
 
People who spend their time challenging your integrity (pointing out your flaws and hypocrisies) only want to justify their lack of integrity. They think it will make them feel and look better to others if they can show how bad someone else looks.  That was the attitude of the Pharisees which motivated Jesus to tell them that prostitutes and tax collectors would enter the Kingdom before they would.
 

Don’t get me wrong, if our walk with God is shaky then we need to repent and walk in faithful obedience to the Lord. Let’s not waste our time making someone else look bad in an attempt to make ourselves look good. Pointing out worse behavior in others to minimize our own bad behavior is arrogant and foolish – it won’t improve anything in our lives.  We are justified by faith in Christ alone, trusting in His righteousness alone.  Our works are worthless without being born again.   After we’re born again our works represent our trust, gratitude, and obedience to our Savior.

We need to get over ourselves and off of everyone else.  God justifies the faithful and gives grace to the humble, but He resists the proud.

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APOSTASY – DON’T BE FOOLED!

Apostasy (falling away from [abandoning/leaving] the truth or rejecting [opposing] the truth in lieu of what is false) is a clear and present danger in today’s world. An apostate is one claiming to be a true believer but unrepentantly believes and/or practices what is contrary to Scripture.  Apostate preachers/teacher and fake churches teach perversion. They do this by adding to or taking away from the truth about God, His Son, Salvation, Sin, Repentance, faith, and holiness. Believers must learn, practice and share the truth of Scripture. This allows believers to recognize false teaching from false teachers and avoid it/them. This is not a personal judgment, this is Biblical spiritual discernment regarding Biblical truth. False teaching leads to false beliefs and false professions of faith.
 
AVOID FALSE TEACHERS, THEY ARE LIVING UNDER DAMNATION.
Paul wrote – 

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”—Galatians 1:6-9

 
 and
 
BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS, THEY ARE SELF-SERVING, SELF-DESTRUCTING AND WILL BRING DESTRUCTION TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW THEM.
Paul also wrote –

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 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.”—Romans 16:17-18

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”—Matthew 15:14

 

It’s time to stop affirming, validating, quoting and promoting false preachers/teacher with their false doctrine in spite of their appeal or popularity. This happens every time you quote them or buy and share their materials. They appeal to the flesh, the world and the Devil. They are looking for sinful gain or to practice sin. By affirming them you affirm their sinfulness, and yours. If you share in their beliefs you will also share in their punishment and destruction.
 
Test all things by Scripture, submit all things to God in prayer, ask for and seek His sound Biblical truth. Resist what is labeled as truth when it really twists and compromises God’s Word.
 

Got Gratitude?

1 Timothy 6:6-8, But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

I had a car with a dented bumper. I couldn’t afford to repair it. It was paid for and it drove well but I couldn’t get over the dent. It offended me. One day someone hit and destroyed my car. Now I had no car. I had to buy another car. Now I was going to have a car payment. I was upset. I wished I had my paid for car with the dented bumper.

Complaining, criticizing and comdemning is a sign of ingratutude. It begins By failing to appreciate what you have, find fault and dissatisfaction with it, and desiring or demanding somethings else. Sadly, this attitude will cause you to lose what you have. That applies to cars … and people too.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

#gratitudeishighlyunderated

Jesus is the Source and Strength of the Believer’s Life.

The virtue of faith is not about finding the strength to conquer our flaws or our will to persevere.  The virtue of faith is about the transforming work of Christ and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  It’s us denying our will in lieu of Christ’s and existing in his strength.  Then our flaws a defeated by Christ’s Spirit and we persevere because He supernaturally sustains us.

It’s time to change the conversation about Salvation and the walk of faith in Christ.

“I am crucified with Christ, never the less I live, yet not I, but Christ who liveth in me” – “Greater is he that is in me”

Strength For the Journey!

There’s an old hymn I love titled, “Precious Lord Take My Hand”.  Most people sing it at funerals for those faithful saints who’ve passed into the presence of the Lord.  But I prefer to sing it to remind me that I’ve got a journey to complete before I reach that Heavenly shore.

“…lead me on, let me stand.  I am tired, I am weak, I am worn”.  Nothing personal, but I feel like this when I have those intense weeks of numerous services and hospital visits, bills, chills, spills, sickies, ickies, not to mention preparing for sermons and studies all week long.  Sometimes I forget that I need the Lord to renew my strength.  I get caught up in the doing.  I get wrapped up in the having to get it done.  Diligence in ministry is required but we can wear out the mind and body even though the spirit is willing.  So this song reminds me to ask God for the strength to make it down the path for today’s part of the journey.  I ask for today’s daily bread, daily direction, and daily instructions.  I find that when I ask for what I need today I get it.  By asking for it I remind myself that my help and my strength comes from the Lord.  Remembering He supplies what I need helps me remember to be a good steward of what He has given me.  A steward works to please his master and not himself.  I desire my labor to be pleasing and honoring to the Lord.  So I ask the Lord for the strength to make it on the journey.

Do you need strength?  Are you feeling weak and run down?  Spend some time with God in study, prayer, and meditation.  You don’t need to remind him what you need.  Just ask him for what you need and then trust him to do it.  “Cuz they that wait upon the Lord … .” – riiiight!

“Precious Lord, take my hand.  Lead me on, let me stand.  I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.  through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light.  Take my hand, Precious Lord and Lead Me On.

If you don’t know God, you can’t serve Him.

To be an effective evangelist, missionary, or witness for Christ, you must be saved, sold-out, and surrendered to Him. Until you know Him intimately you can’t truly tell others about Him. Get to know Him and you’ll be a confident and powerful representative for Him.

Living a Double Life Only Brings Guilt and Pain.

You’re fooling yourself and diminishing grace if you think you can pursue sinful behavior even in secret and still be in right fellowship with God. Your prayers are vain and useless and your guilt will not purge your sins. Confess your sins to God. Choose to abandon your sins. Ask the Lord for the strength.

7 Points Regarding Sexual Sin

The following points are from an article in Churchleaders.com

1. Who or what you pursue will ultimately determine what you do and who you become.  It is a spiritual impossibility to pursue Jesus AND sexual sin at the same time.  (Psalm 25:15)

2. As a friend of mine has often said, “God is not after our begrudging submission but rather our joy!”  And long-term joy, peace, and fulfillment are never the result of pursuing sexual sin.  (Please read Proverbs 5, Proverbs 6, & Proverbs 7 for further confirmation in regards to this point.)

3. Sexual sin is not something that can be “prayed away,” nor can we simply read Bible verses about grace after committing it in order to feel better.  NOR can we simply promise God over and over that we won’t do it again (how’s that working for you?).  We CAN be set free from it…but it will not be pretty.  It must be confessed (James 5:16) and repented of (Revelation 2:21-23!).  (I did not overcome my nearly 20-year battle with pornography until I confessed it and asked for help!)

YES, it may “cost you” when it comes to your reputation…but remember, the costs of concealment are far greater than the costs of confession…and repentance is WAY more important than our reputation.

4. Sexual sin costs us our spiritual esteem…people who are involved in sexual sin feel disconnected from God, guilty, and spiritually dead.

 5. For those who want to STOP sinning sexually…a decision MUST be made to renew your mind (Romans 12:1-12), to FIGHT the battles in your mind (II Corinthians 10:5), and to ask GODLY men and women to come alongside you and both encourage and spur you when necessary (Hebrews 10:24-25).

(PS…this means you have to stop saying, “I messed up sexually.”  OR “I made a mistake!”  Call it what it is…sin.  AND stop meeting with people who are doing the same things that you are doing and so when you get together to “hold one another accountable,” you are actually hoping that the other person “messed up” so that you don’t feel bad about doing so!)

6. Understand that IN CHRIST, you CAN have victory over sexual sin!  (See Romans 8:37, I Corinthians 15:57, Philippians 4:13!)  IN CHRIST, you are NOT a victim but rather a receiver of VICTORY!  If Jesus overcame DEATH, then Christ in you can help you breakthrough the stronghold of sexual sin!  (Luke 1:37!)

7. For those who belong to Christ and are trying their best to pursue Him on a daily basis but are still haunted by a sexual past…remember that is who you WERE; it is not WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!  (II Corinthians 5:17!)  Do not allow what used to defeat you to define you!  You are no longer defined by what you did but rather by what CHRIST did for you on the cross!