Archive for the ‘Humanism’ Category
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chastisement, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Correction, Crime, Death, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discipline, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Evil, Exhortation, Fairness, Favor, Fear, Generosity, Godly Fear, Good, Growing, Guidance, Happiness, Health, Illness, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Life, Longevity, Mercy, Parents, Peace, Protection, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Sickness, Sin, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Trust, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Discretion, Encouragement, Exhortation, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Humanism, Learning, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on May 9, 2018 at 5:24 pm
This blog will alternate with each post between two subjects. One week will address why churches are not growing, and the coming move of God. The alternate week the blog will continue with the in-depth study through the Book of Proverbs.
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
Wisdom Important to God?
If anyone ever needed to ask themselves if wisdom was important, the answer can be found in these two verses.
When God set about ordaining creation, piecing together the earth and all that was within the earth, establishing it in perfect order, He utilized wisdom in doing so.
When God erected the heavens, He did so by utilizing wisdom.
When God divided the seas or when He pours out His rains upon the earth, He did, and does so, by the use of knowledge grounded in wisdom.
If wisdom was important enough, and is important enough, for The Lord God Almighty to utilize then it is important, vital, for any member of His creation to utilize, that includes you!
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chastisement, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Correction, Crime, Death, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discipline, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Evil, Exhortation, Fairness, Favor, Fear, Generosity, Godly Fear, Good, Growing, Guidance, Health, Illness, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Life, Longevity, Mercy, Parents, Peace, Protection, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Sickness, Sin, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Trust, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Confusion, Decision Making, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Humanism, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Revival, Trust, Uncategorized, Wisdom on March 30, 2018 at 5:26 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
God the Corrector
If you had an earthly parent who never took the time to correct, teach, discipline, or tell you what to do, what would you think of that parent? How much love do you think you would believe that parent truly had for you? When people do not care about you they do not waste their time attempting to teach or correct you, for that matter they do not invest much time in you at all.
If you are still being corrected and chastised by God you should count yourself blessed as He is still invested in you, He has not given up on what you can and should be as a person. It is only when we no longer feel the chastisement of God that we are in real trouble.
God’s chastening takes many different forms. Examine the meaning of “not the chastening” and “of his correction” in the Hebrew language to enlighten your understanding of the different ways in which God goes about making us into everything He desires us to be as a person.
“not the chastening” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:
4148. מוּסָר mûwçâr, moo-sawr’; from 3256; prop. chastisement; fig. reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint:— bond, chastening ([-eth]), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.
3256. יָסַר yâçar, yaw-sar’; a prim. root; to chastise, lit. (with blows) or fig. (with words); hence, to instruct:— bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.
“of his correction” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:
8433. תּוֹכֵחָה tôwkêchâh, to-kay-khaw’; and
תּוֹכַחַת tôwkachath, to-kakh’-ath; from 3198; chastisement; fig. (by words) correction, refutation, proof
The definitions above truly speak for themselves. Reflected in the definitions is the idea that God does and will increase the level of His chastisement in accordance with your willingness to respond. If we refuse to response quickly or easily God will increase our uncomfortableness to the point of allowing us to go through trials and difficulties that will feel like “blows” we cannot endure. Better to take our “blows” through His Words rather than His trials, struggles, and negative consequences for our lack of response to Him or lack of change in our actions according to His Will.
What is the heart of God when He corrects, disciplines, or chastises His child? Again, the use of a definition, the definition for “he delighteth” will reveal His heart for and to us. .
“he delighteth” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:
7521. רָצָה râtsâh, raw-tsaw’; a prim. root; to be pleased with; spec. to satisfy a debt:— (be) accept (-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be, have a) favour (-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take) please (-ure), reconcile self.
The heart of God when He disciplines His children is to bring each and every child of His into the place where they are all that He created them to be. God does it because He see their potential and their worth. God Himself feels as our parent that He has ‘a debt to us, which must be satisfied.’ Out of love for us He is going to do everything necessary to accomplish complete wholeness in us by reconciling us to what He originally intended us to be – restoration – His self-imposed debt to mankind.
God’s love for us is so strong, deep, and everlasting that we can put total and complete trust in that love – therefore, we can feel completely safe obeying His correction at the onset knowing that it is always without doubt in our best interest and for our ability to have the very best life possible, even if we do not realize or know what that “best life” actually fully consist of in its entirety.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Church Growth, Prophecy, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Word
In Apostasy, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Exhortation, God's Voice, Godliness, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Prophecy, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Truth, Uncategorized on March 24, 2018 at 2:46 pm
This blog will alternate weekly between two subjects. One week will address why churches are not growing, and the coming move of God. The alternate week the blog will continue with the in-depth study through the Book of Proverbs.
Always remember however low you set the bar in life you will come in yet lower, just below that bar; so you might as well set it very high, at least then, you will make it eighty-five percent of the way.
I will start out by making it plain that this blog topic is not meant to tear down The Church but instead to build up The Church through an honest call to repentance and change. If The Church refuses to look honestly at itself then it will not be capable of turning back to what Jesus intended it to be at its conception. An honest appraisal and review will go a long way toward restoring our, meaning the Body of Christ’s, reputation with the world and our own members. Refusal to assess where we are at is a call to march toward death. The Church is hemorrhaging now from its wounds and we must be willing to stop the bleeding in order that we might survive, and even thrive.
That said let me be the first to say as a Child of God, Christian Writer, Christian Spiritual Leader, and fellow member of the Body of Christ; I have made MANY mistakes in my forty plus years of Christian life and service that have reflected poorly on The Church, God, my family, my fellow Christians, and myself. I am the first to say, ‘I have failed many times to live up to Christ’s ideals.’ Yet, my failure to live up to those ideals does not make those ideals, God’s Standards, any less true, any less God’s Principles, or any less the real ideals of our Savior, the Christ, Jesus.
Therefore, since none of us are without sin, without failings, let us approach this issue within the Church and Body of Christ with humility and hold fast to the truth that we are to have mercy over judgment. We are only to use this blog discussion to make us, as the Body of Christ, better not condemn or judge the Body of Christ or any member therein, in an ungodly way. Never forget how much mercy your Heavenly Father has shown you. We as a Body of Believers can discern the truth, face the truth, and tell the truth without crossing that line into condemning or judging. That is all this blog seeks to do and all I want it to exhort others to do. Do you love people? Do you love your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? I love people so I need to “speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” – James 2:12
The stories and examples given in future blog entries are real accounts which have been witnessed by me, told to me by the person it happened to, happened to me personally, and/or told to me through a third party or anonymously. No names or actual locations will be noted in the examples. Therefore, the privacy or confidentiality of no persons, including myself, will be violated in anyway.
Let this blog discussion be a tool in the hands of the Master Craftsman so that His Church might arise once again and be an example to the society in which they live.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chastisement, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Correction, Crime, Death, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discipline, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Evil, Exhortation, Fairness, Favor, Fear, Generosity, Godly Fear, Good, Growing, Guidance, Health, Illness, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Life, Longevity, Mercy, Parents, Peace, Protection, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Sickness, Sin, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Trust, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Agape Love, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Courage, Decision Making, Encouragement, Exhortation, Fear, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Jesus, Learning, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on March 18, 2018 at 9:11 am
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Give to God
The word “honour” in the Hebrew language gives the sense of in good times or bad times, during plenty and during lack, when it is a burden or when it is easy we are to honour God with what we have to give, with “thy substance.”
“and with the firstfruits” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:
7225. רֵאשִׁית rê˒shı̂yth, ray-sheeth’; from the same as 7218; the first, in place, time, order or rank (spec. a firstfruit):— beginning, chief (-est), first (-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
“of all thine increase” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:
8393. תְּבוּאָה tebûw˒âh, teb-oo-aw’; from 935; income, i.e. produce (lit. or fig.):— fruit, gain, increase, revenue.
“with plenty” in the Hebrew language is defined as follows:
7647. שָׂבָע sâbâ˓, saw-baw’; from 7646; copiousness:— abundance, plenteous (-ness, -ly).
7646. שָׂבַע sâba˓, saw-bah’; or
שָׂבֵעַ sâbêa˓, saw-bay’-ah; a prim. root; to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (lit. or fig.): — have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty of, be satiate, satisfy (with), suffice, be weary of.
If you are giving to truly honor God you will be fully satisfied with what you have, you will not crave and want things beyond God’s plan for you. If you are giving to get from God, then you hunger and crave for more and more without finding lasting contentment or satisfaction.
Prosperity, copiousness, is not just about money, it is about quality of life and satisfaction of life.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Crime, Death, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Evil, Exhortation, Fairness, Favor, Fear, Godly Fear, Good, Growing, Guidance, Health, Illness, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Life, Longevity, Mercy, Parents, Peace, Protection, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Sickness, Sin, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Trust, Truth, Wisdom
In Abuse, Advice, Anger, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Birth, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Depression, Devotional, Discretion, Evil, Exhortation, Fear, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Health, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Illness, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Sickness, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on February 9, 2018 at 2:59 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Evil Destroys Health
These two verses seem very straight forward. Evil will damage or even destroy your heath, physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually. However, the verses stand as a warning by giving wise guidance for the cure. The approach of the writer is how to become healthy or recover one’s health not a list of health risk.
To indulge evil is to invite poor health. The person who constantly stays in a state of worry and anxiety instead of casting their concerns on God to take care of ends up with stress related health problems, emotional upheaval, and mental anxieties they can no longer control. The person who overworks themselves ends up with a heart attack. The person who constantly focuses on revenge, vengeance, hurting people, murders, killings, etc. is sure to develop a psychotic personality. The person who does not balance their eating habits but instead indulges excess in the areas of sugar or fat can end up with diabetes. The person who drinks too much, too often, can destroy their liver. The person who uses drugs can damage their heart and liver. A person who only focuses on what is wrong in life to the exclusion of what is good will become depressed, and if that state is continued in long enough will damage the brain chemistry in their mind. The person who smokes can end up with lung cancer. The person who is lazy and never exercises their body can end up with heart problems. A person who continues in habitual sin or anger toward God will slowly but surely spiritually die. The person who eats too much and is obese can develop heart problems or have a heart attack. The list could go on and on, but my point is made.
I am a firm believer that health can be recovered through repentance and change of one’s habits. After all is that not the first think thing a doctor tells someone to do. Stop doings A, B, and C and start doing X, Y, and Z.
The word “health” in the Hebrew language actually means “a cure, to mend (by stitching), cause to heal, repair, × thoroughly, make whole.” Therefore, departing from evil and undertaking God’s godly way[s] of doing things will bring healing to a person’s life.
“to thy navel” in the Hebrew language means “(specifically) the umbilical cord (also figuratively as the center of strength).” The core of our strength is found in departing from evil and instead turning toward God’s Way of living, this brings wholeness and healing to all areas of a person’s life. Therefore, it is wisdom to choose godliness over indulgence, to choose righteous living over sin.
It is not up to us to decide for ourselves what is right or good for us, God has already determined that in His Word. Being wise in our own eyes will end in only what we can accomplish for our health and wellbeing but having enough godly fear and respect for God to do things God’s Way will place us in a state of Divine health and healing.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Crime, Death, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Evil, Exhortation, Fairness, Favor, Fear, Godly Fear, Good, Growing, Guidance, Health, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Life, Longevity, Mercy, Parents, Peace, Protection, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Trust, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christ, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Courage, Decision Making, Discretion, Encouragement, Exhortation, Fear, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Learning, Peace, Renewal, Revival, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on February 2, 2018 at 10:29 am
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Deep Waters of Trust
Books could and have been written on these two verses. There is so much that I could share about what it means to fully trust God and allow Him to direct your life with His Wisdom and grace. However, I will constrain myself a bit. This will be a long section, but manageable.
First, let us spend a few minutes examining what it really means for God to direct our paths in life. Then we will look at how to obtain that direction from God through trust in Him and acknowledgement of Him. My comments will follow the Hebrew definitions.
If we look into the Hebrew language shall direct, trust, and acknowledge are defined as follows:
“shall direct” =
3474. rv’y: yaÆshar, yaw-shar’; a prim. root; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (cause to make) right, pleasant, prosperous: —) bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly)
God Himself will make the road we travel in life “straight or even” and we can be assured that we are headed in the right direction in life if He is at the helm of guiding our path. We will know that what we are doing is “right” for us and/or God will “cause to make” our situation right for us. By following God’s Will we can expect both “pleasant” and “prosperous” things in life, but not only pleasant and prosperous things. In following God’s Will we will be living in an “upright” manner and “be upright” in God’s eyes. Most importantly we can know that our purpose in life is being fulfilled by following God’s directions for “the straight way” is the only way in which a Holy God would lead a person.
“Trust” =
982. בָּטַח bâṭach, baw-takh’; a prim. root; prop. to hide for refuge [but not so precipitately as 2620]; fig. to trust, be confident or sure:— be bold (confident, secure, sure), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.
In order to allow ourselves to be directed in the manner that I described above we must have “trust” in God. Trust in God grows as we mature spiritually. Therefore, do not expect ot trust God today the way you will a decade from now. When we trust God, we are willing “to hide for refuge” in Him when things go wrong or when we are mistreated knowing that He will take care of the situation. To trust God means that we are “confident or sure” that He loves us and that He is directing our paths in the way that is best for us regardless of what we might see at the moment in our circumstances. There is a sense of walking with God that exemplifies that we are “bold, confident, sure, and secure” in what we are doing and the choices we are making because in truth God is making the choices for us, we are just following. Walking like this instills a profound sense of “hope” for life that nothing else can give us.
“acknowledge” =
3045. יָדַע yâda˓, yaw-dah’; a prim. root; to know (prop. to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, fig., lit., euphem. and infer. (incl. observation, care, recognition; and caus. instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) [as follow]:— acknowledge, acquaintance (-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, comprehend, consider
In order to walk with God directing our paths this way our trust must be willing to submit aka to “acknowledge” God in everything. People quickly find imbalance and an uneven road before them when they half-heartedly acknowledge God, meaning they acknowledge Him in some areas and follow His directions yet in other areas of their life they do things their way – hence, their life is unbalanced and lacks stability and order. Acknowledgement of God runs deep into every area of our lives and being. We are to “observe” how God works. We are to “care” about what matters to Him, and “recognize” His authority in our lives. We are to submit to His “instructions, designation, punishment” aka authority and correction, where necessary. We are to be “acquainted” with God’s character and ways so that we can recognize when something is not of God but perhaps instead the influence of another or of our own desires. We are to allow God to “advise” us, providing us with the “answer” we need when we have question. We are to allow Him to “appoint” our task and assignments in life, directing all that we are doing. We are to “comprehend and consider” His Will, His desire, and His Purpose for us specifically, as well as for mankind, as we make each choice and decision life.
Acknowledging God in all our ways so He can direct our paths is huge undertaking, but it makes life so restful and fulfilling when we have the wisdom to make this practice a habitual part of our life.
In 2003 God spoke to a congregation, including myself, where I was ministering regarding trust and love. The following is what The Spirit said to the congregation.
“To trust Me is to love Me. No person will trust Me who does not first love Me. Through that love, they come to understand the depth of My trustworthiness. For I am not man – man who is without integrity and honor, I am the Lord your God and I am forever trustworthy. My love for you and your love for Me will seal the leaking areas of insecurity that lead to your lack of trust in Me. Live your life as a life given to Me and My purposes, as well as being walked out in righteous living, and I will take care of you. So, you can put your trust in My faithfulness to you as you live before Me righteously. People suffer at times from lack of righteous living and that causes them harm; then they wonder where I was and why I did not protect them. I cannot protect those who will not listen to Me and follow My counsel. Trust requires, at times, that you do not always get to understand everything; if you did, it would not require trust. To walk with Me in power and mighty requires forsaking some of your human understanding and reasoning, then choosing to trust Me at times when things appear to make no sense. They will all come together in the end and you will see the glory of your Lord. When you are walking with Me in righteousness and trust there is no room in your life for fear. Fear is useless because I will be there to deliver you from the snares; I will be and am your salvation in all things.”
When it comes to trust, you know that you have come to a place of complete trust in an Almighty God when you can pray a prayer like the following from your heart and truly mean it not just say the words.
Heavenly Father,
Take my heart and remake it into what You want it to be. Remove from me each and every desire, idea, motive, plan and longing that is not in line with Your will. I want what You want for me, no matter what that might be. Give me a love for Your desires, ideas, plans and will for me and remove love for anything that does not fit into Your plan. For I know Your plan is far better for my life than anything I could ever understand. Make Your passions for me my passions, make them burn within my heart until that is all I want in life. Make my Spirit agree with your Spirit in all matters. I freely give You my heart now and ask You to begin to purify it and turn it so that I am as excited about Your plan for me as You are. I love You and I trust You with my life, my happiness, my fulfillment and yes, my heart.
I ask it all in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen and Amen!
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Crime, Death, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Evil, Exhortation, Fairness, Fear, Godly Fear, Good, Growing, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Life, Parents, Peace, Protection, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christ, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Courage, Decision Making, Devotional, Discretion, Exhortation, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Jesus, Learning, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on January 12, 2018 at 1:15 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Death or Life – A Choice
The willingness to walk in wisdom is a heart matter. It is a matter of choice. We either desire a life filled with life, godliness, and wisdom or we do not. If we do desire life, godliness, and wisdom then we embrace the knowledge of wisdom for it is through wisdom we shall make room for Jesus to bring about all three in our existence. (v.10)
Discretion in action in daily life will keep us from the snares of life, and keep us on the path of righteousness in Christ. Our intellect needs to be a part of that process as we use our mind to think and reflect upon choices and our spirit to discern the proper course of action. (v.11)
Wisdom, discretion, and godly understanding will help us discern evil people thus avoiding evil people and the actions that come with them. Evil man’s “forward” ways are filled with perversity and fraud, which is the meaning of the word “forward” in verse twelve. There are ways that man devises that are evil. They leave what God considers good (uprightness) and pursue what God considers evil (darkness). Godly people avoid such ways. (v.12-13)
Not only does evil man leave the paths of God and pursue evil, he enjoys the pursuit of evil. This can be difficult for godly people to believe, that people would actually enjoy doing evil, but they in fact do enjoy their evil deeds. Reasoning with someone consumed in their evil ways is almost impossible. (v.14)
There is no way someone like this can be trusted in any capacity. They are not honest and will use words to manipulate individuals. Being naively trusting is not being godly. We can love people, help people, respect people, and guide people while extending trust wisely. (v.15-16)
We may be dealing with an individual we knew when we, and they, were young, but they are now living an ungodly life. They may not be the same person you once knew. Their choices may have carried them far from the godly instruction that you know they once received as a youth. Wisdom makes the choice to pray for them, deal with them as they are now, and wait for God to bring them back into the fold. (v.17)
The ways of evil only lead to death. The houses of evil are filled with death and no place for a godly person. Evil brings death in all forms, literal, figurative, spiritual, mental, emotional, relational, physical, intellectually, etc. Evil leaves a trail of loss and heartache wherever it goes. The small pleasures evil “appears” to bring are only for a fleeting moment and then the bill comes in the form of some brand of death, loss, destruction, etc. Avoidance of evil is the best plan of action, as breaking free evil once it has you in its grip is extremely difficult. (v.18-20)
The wise godly person is able to stand firm in their life, dwelling safely in the land/life that God has provided for them. It is only “the perfect” individuals who can remain in this type of life. In the Hebrew language “the perfect” are those individuals who have by means of choice and practice developed “literal, figurative, and moral integrity” based on “truth and sincerity” those living an “upright” life before God – all of which requires daily choices, multiple choices, over and over and over again – choices that please God and are inline with His Word. (v.20-21)
The life of the wicked evil person on average is very short, unproductive, and unfruitful. It is not a life of quality and substance but instead a life of shallowness that never quite satisfy them. (v.22)
We can choose a real life, or we can choose a life of death, it is our choice. We need to choose well and allow God to grant us the wisdom to do so.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Church Shooting, Compassion, Crime, Evil, Exhortation, Fear, Godliness, Godly Fear, Persecution, Protection, Religion, Renewal, Spirituality, Strength, Truth, Wisdom
In Agape Love, Anger, Anxiety, Apostasy, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Courage, Encouragement, End Times, Evil, Exhortation, Forgiveness, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Grief, Hate, Hatred, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Jesus, Mental Disorder, Mental Illness, Peace, Persecution, Prayer, Prophecy, Psychiatric Drugs, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Remnant, Suffering, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on November 8, 2017 at 6:43 pm
This will be one of the longest pieces I have written for posting in a couple of years but if you will stick with it and read the whole thing you just may find it was well worth your time. Please feel free to send me any of your own thoughts or questions, locate and click on the comment link below. I will address them in follow up posts. This post and/or related posts will be the only post[s] I will be making available for the next few weeks, as I believe this topic needs to stay front and center for a season.
Since Sunday afternoon I have prayerfully contemplated how to address this matter, when to post this piece, and the content of this posting. Ignoring what happened in that congregation, to those members of the Body of Christ on Sunday morning during their time of worship was not an option but providing an answer to the “Why?” questions regarding why it happened was also not an option. Therefore, what to do, I asked God and myself. My answer, not to attempt to provide any answers or spiritual platitudes that hurt more than they help but instead to simple reflect on several insights provided throughout the week that should be reflected upon and considered in light of the tragic events of Sunday, November 5th, 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas at the First Baptist Church.
Compassion, a word, or a choice.
It is my desire through this posting to allow God to use me to express some thoughts for reflection that might actually help us, us being the Body of Christ, really help us in due course and overall instead of just soothing us and placating us. The safest and simplest way to approach this topic would be to demonize the man who killed all of these people and move on. However, to handle the situation with that type of approach would be very spiritually short sided for a godly Christian spiritual leader. As Christians we like to say that we have compassion but how many of God’s people can find compassion for this man, this gunman, that killed their brothers and sisters in Christ? Compassion for what he must have been going through to turn to such a horrible and evil act. We, the Body of Christ, should have compassion for both, the victims, and the perpetrator.
The persecution of the American Church, the Body of Christ in America.
For far too long the Body of Christ has buried their heads in the sand when it came to persecution in America. The persecution, again, in America, does take another form now, then it did during the early church’s history, and a different form than it does in other countries. In America Christians have become targets of lawsuits for living out their beliefs. They have become targets for those who wish to use the legal system to try and silence Christians from expressing their beliefs in a public forum. Christians have become people targeted by a psychologized society that believes psychology has all the answers and that there is no place for God in the equation, a society that refused to accept absolutes or the individual who has firm beliefs and refuses to back down or be quite about them. Christian who still believe that talking about Jesus in their everyday lives at work, in businesses, and other public forums is a normal way to function and their God given, as well as constitutional right, are considered extremist that people avoid. And in the most extreme form of persecution we find our dear brothers and sisters of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, who suffered a persecution unto death by someone who was so hurt, damaged, angry, and/or evil that he chose to express it through killing – just as nine of our brothers and sisters were persecuted, being killed by a gunman in June of 2015 in South Carolina at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The Body must face that they are being persecuted in various forms in America and band together to resist such persecution while at the same time showing compassion for the spiritual blindness that causes their persecutors to act as they do.
It was once said to me when I expressed concerns over the fact that a congregation only had one race and culture represented, ‘Don’t you think it is simply because we all tend to stick to our own?’ Well, for the record, no I do not think that is why you find congregations with only one race or culture represented. Yet, when persecution happens to the Church the barriers of race, culture, education, and economics are quickly dropped to band together for a greater cause, Us, The Body of Christ. I was in Charleston, South Carolina shortly after the killings that took place there and every race, class, education level, culture, and economic group of Christians were represented at that church in a powerful show of unity and spiritual support. In those tragic times we can find the time to leave our congregations and reach out to other congregations or members of The Body of Christ in general, however, this should be a regular practice at all times. There is no doubt that the Bible teaches us, and the history of the Christian Church teaches us, that God uses persecution to grow and/or change His Church and people.
The influence of evil.
I was interviewed a few years back for a book on a serial killer who had once tried to kill me along with about a dozen other people the early 1980’s. According to the author of the book I was the only person he could find to interview, most of the people were dead and a couple unlocatable. The interview was many hours long and during the course of this interview the author wanted to know how I could consistently express so much compassion for this serial killer knowing so much about his history and all the horrible things he had done, and how could I show no anger, bitterness, or resentment toward the man who had been the source of my physically body being damaged to the point that I still lived with the results causing difficulty and pain in daily life. These questions opened up the door to discuss the influence of evil. There was one profound thing that God over the years had helped me to understand, which helped me place the responsibility for evil acts where it lay – with Satan.
That truth was…
Evil causes psychological damage, and psychological damage opens the door to evil.
As long as the psychological community continues to disavow the spiritual side to mental and emotional problems we will continue to see people who never actually get better, change, or heal. As long as the Christian community continues to either, a) ignore the emotional and mental damage done through the wounding of people or b) allow themselves to become so psychologized they no longer make the spiritual connection to a wounded person’s emotional and mental problems, we will continue to see ourselves as a Body grow spiritually weaker and weaker as our biblical worldview becomes overshadowed or at least mixed with a secular worldview. We must find the balance that allows the Church and the mental health community to both realize that they have pieces of the puzzle that will help wounded people become whole again.
Church effectiveness and respect for Christianity within our society.
People do not respect the Christian community like they once did in America. This is our fault, the Body of Christ’s fault in general. There are so many reasons this has happened over the years there is no way to exhaustively address the reasons. However, just to address a few: 1 – We have become too much like the society in which we live. If you are no different than I am in your standards and practices why should I respect you. 2 – Our behavior whether it was intended to be or not “appeared” or “appears” hypocritical to people. We need more transparency that allows us to share our own struggles, yet still promote God’s Truths and His Standards for how we are to aspire to living our lives. 3 – The Body of Christ lacks backbone anymore. What might the zealous Peter and bold Paul say about the stands we take today for Truth or lack thereof, and the boldness we lack in expressing Truth as found in God’s Word.
We lack effectiveness in our society today as well. We lack effectiveness as Christians because we have either checked out of our society or we wish to avoid the ugly side of our society. We are barely able to allow ourselves the ability to remain in relationships long enough to allow ‘iron to sharpen iron’ much less invest ourselves relationally with those who might need our help. What happen to the need to show agape love for people, that love Jesus asked us to show, love that is displayed by our actions, our investment, and our involvement with people.
Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)
As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance (character) of his friend.
John 15:13 (NKJV) Jesus speaking
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
Luke 6:35 (NKJV) Jesus speaking
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
Matthew 5:44 (NKJV) Jesus speaking
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
In the early 2000’s two young boys barely in their teens living in the Pensacola, Florida area are convicted of killing their father and burning their family home down. Allegedly a result of years abuse and the influence of a child predator who also lived in the area. On the road leading up to their home, which was located in the 1,100 block, there were eight churches before the 1300 block and 4 churches within the 1070-1200 block. All of those churches in that community but how many of those congregations were “in that community” with their time, actions, involvement, and love – especially if some people in that community were tough to love.
Now back to this shooting at the Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. The sheriff, Tackitt, in an interview stated that the pastor of this church, Frank Pomeroy, had stated in the past that he did not want the gunman, who had previously been involved in the congregation, in his church and asked the sheriff, “How do I run him away from my church?” – yet this was not the pastor present on the day when the gunman killed 26 of his congregation members (25 men, women, girls, boys, and 1 unborn child) and injured 20 more. The gunman’s mother and father-in-law were members of the church, also not present on the day of the shooting. Dare I pose the question, but I must, how might things have been different had that pastor reached out with love, invested his time, and attempted to help this damaged young man instead of searching for ways to ‘run him away from “his” church?’ Yes, pastors must protect the flock but protecting them does not have to involves ridding yourselves of all those you deem undesirable, it should instead involves helping those you see who are wounded or damaged by life.
Religion acceptable, true godliness is not – a hate breeder.
People are watching what the Christian Churches are doing to each other and to their own people. It is not just the churched that are affected when things are not handled in a godly manner, those looking from the outside or sidelines are also affected. Far too many godly people who love Jesus have left many church congregations and many have been incredibility wounded by their brush with religion. Religion seems to be very acceptable in most of today’s churches, but true godliness or aspirations to that end is not welcome. Sadly, in far too many congregation it is not acceptable to believe that God’s Truths are still a valid standard for living today. We live in an age where the loveless, the compromising, the corrupt, the dead, and the lukewarm churches (Rev. 2-3) reign and truly devout congregations aspiring to God’s Principles and acting with Jesus’ agape love are rare. Religion in every capacity has taken over and controls the leadership thus by extension the people. They do not hunger or thirst for Jesus and to grow in Christ, they do not long for revival to sweep across our land, they are just about the business of church. My biggest challenge and greatest heartache is dealing with the types of Christians, Spiritual Leaders, and churches found in Revelation 2 and 3- the loveless, the compromising, the corrupt, the dead, and the lukewarm.
These types of congregations and individuals have hurt so many people who truly love or loved God, desire or desired to be all God wanted them to be, and yearn or yearned to see the Body of Christ be all Jesus means for it to be. The religious people and congregations have caused wounds great enough that individuals have pulled back from the poison of religion without godly spirituality. Let us never forget that our LORD, our Saviour, Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, was persecuted, maligned, and His crucifixion brought about through the Religious Leaders of His day! If devout people can be affected by a religious society this way, how much more would a wounded or damaged person be affected by this type of treatment from people who are supposed to be “the best people on earth” – Christians? I have heard it said that this man who was the gunman in this attack on this small church was an atheist, and very vocal about his atheistic views. Atheist do not go to church, seekers, the confused, the agnostic goes to church in search of something – if religion is all we have to offer them, then I fear their hate for us will grow.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Crime, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Exhortation, Fairness, Fear, Godly Fear, Growing, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Parents, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Discretion, Encouragement, Exhortation, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on October 14, 2017 at 4:56 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Plus – – Prov. 1:33
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Fruit of Accepting Wisdom
Have you ever thought about what it means for wisdom to cry out for you? Deep within is that still small voice that beckons us to listen to what is right, what is godly, what is God’s Wills – for wisdom. Wisdom is something that is almost tangible, inside we can almost touch it, feel it, and if we allow it to, wisdom touches our life in a very profound way. Wisdom and the application of wisdom to our daily life is a powerful tool God uses to transform our lives. Wisdom cries out from every area of life as verses twenty and twenty-one explains begging us to listen and respond.
Verse twenty-one reveals to us that wisdom will especially cry out during those times when we are going through distress. Distress either caused by circumstances, other people or ourselves. I have provided definitions in connection with the phrase “chief place of concourse” to better help you understand one of the times in our life when wisdom will attempt to cry out to us.
“concourse” in the Hebrew language =
1993. הָמָה hâmâh, haw-maw’; a prim. root [comp. 1949]; to make a loud sound (like the English “hum”); by impl. to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:— clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.
1949. הוּם hûwm, hoom; a prim. root [comp. 2000]; to make an uproar, or agitate greatly:— destroy, move, make a noise, put, ring again.
When the doors open where wisdom can be applied, wisdom attempts to speak to us. Wisdom is always there and always available to us, and for us, if we chose to seek and apply wisdom.
James 1:5 (NKJV)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Verse twenty-two makes it clear the type of people who refuse to listen to wisdom when Wisdom calls. Only the fool, disdainer, and negatively naïve individuals reject the knowledge of wisdom.
In order to obtain the fruit of wisdom we must accept wisdom. Wisdom can come in the form of “reproof” that will prompt us to change our decision[s] or action[s]. Learn to recognize and embrace reproof when it comes, your life will be the better for having done so.
“reproof” in the Hebrew language =
8433. תּוֹכֵחָה tôwkêchâh, to-kay-khaw’; and
תּוֹכַחַת tôwkachath, to-kakh’-ath; from 3198; chastisement; fig. (by words) correction, refutation, proof (even in defence):— argument, × chastened, correction, reasoning, rebuke, reproof, × be (often) reproved.
James 1:5 and Proverbs 1:23 both assure us that God’s Wisdom, God’s Truth is available to us if we are willing to listen. We do not lack wisdom because God has refused us, instead we lack wisdom because we have refused to listen to God, listen to reproof, listen to Truth, listen to godly wisdom.
The result of being willing to listen to wisdom when it calls out to us is that godly wisdom will be provided for us and the spirit of wisdom will overflow us. In the Hebrew language this ‘pouring out of the spirit of wisdom’ is inclusive of wisdom being poured out “abundantly” over us. The words we need will flow from us. The knowledge we need will be provided for us. The insight we need will be forthcoming in any situation.
The ultimate fruit of embracing and using wisdom is that by doing so we will dwell in the safety of the Lord, we will be able to live free from the fear of evil. As the Hebrew language depicts living a life in “a place of refuge” having both the “fact of security” and the “feeling of trust” found in the Lord Jesus. We can live life “boldly” living a life of “assurance” a life “without carelessness” and filled with “confidence” and “hope” that only God and life lived in wisdom can provide. Yes, with wisdom we can live a life free from the fear of evil. Please note verse thirty-three, nor I, stated we would be free from evil but instead free from the fear of evil. Evil may touch our lives but we need not fear evil, for anything God allows to touch our lives has passed through His Ultimate Wisdom and therefore, has a purpose for us to our ultimate good.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Crime, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Exhortation, Fairness, Fear, Godly Fear, Growing, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Parents, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Encouragement, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Humanism, Jesus, Learning, Peace, Proverbs, Spirituality, Truth, Wisdom on October 6, 2017 at 3:32 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
The Criminal Element
There is little doubt that the sinner, the evil, the criminal seeks to lure as many people into their snare as is possible. As they fall they desire that other individuals might fall with them, for the destruction of their own life is rarely enough they seek the destruction of most of those people around them, especially those they envy. The wise individual ignores and even flees from those individuals with a criminal leaning.
The criminal’s mind is set on hurting other people. The innocent are their prey. Hurting them or killing them makes little difference to these evil individuals if it means that they can obtain some form of gain from doing so.
The criminal has no problem stealing from other people to fatten their own purse. However, they expect their fellow criminals to trust them. How ironic that a person would believe that an individual will not steal from them what they have stolen from another person. Honor among thieves is a Hollywood myth not a reality of life. Again, the wise person does all he or she can to flee from such individuals as quickly as humanly possible.
Verse 17 makes it clear that the criminal element’s ultimate fate is to be caught. They shall not prevail endlessly in their pursuit of evil without being caught, unless they repent and change their ways early on in their criminal life.
Verse 18 makes it clear that self-preservation is the criminal’s primary concern. They are going to take care of number-one, #1, primarily. Therefore, that means those that run with them will be sacrificed if that is what is required to protect themselves.
Verse 19 shows us clearly both the motivation and end of a habitual criminal. They are motivated by their own greed, their lust for money, for more, for things that they do not have – a side-effect of a lack of contentment. Untimely it is made clear that the unrepentant criminal’s life shall end, most likely taken away from them by another criminal. There is no good end to a life of criminal behavior.
I know many of you will question, but what about how they got that way? What about helping them?
Yes, we absolutely need to help those individuals who desire to leave the criminal lifestyle, those who truly wish to repent. However, let us not confuse those who desire to repent with those whom we desire to repent. We do not need to invest much time or become too close to those individuals who we might want to repent even-though they have no desire whatsoever to repent. For those individuals, the best thing we could do is keep our distance, pray for them, and be ready when they come to a place where they have had a true change of heart, are ready to repent, and change their behavior and actions.
Hurting people do hurt people, this is true. Many, if not most criminals have very abusive backgrounds and backgrounds filled with neglect. I am a firm believer that evil brings about psychological damage and that psychological damage brings about evil. I believe that people kill who are mentally and emotionally very damaged people. People who have been battered and abused mentally, emotionally, physically, sexually, and spiritually rarely have the ability to think clearly and see the world or their circumstances correctly.
There is no harm whatsoever in attempting to provide a criminal with the knowledge of why they might behave as they do. However, it should be done in a detached and professional manner, yet, with love. One must guard him or herself from becoming hurt or damaged themselves, which can happen if a person becomes overly invested in an individual of a criminal element and then that criminal, that they have poured their heart into helping, hurts them.
If you are going to attempt to provide someone with criminal tendencies information about why they might be as they are and how they can heal, overcoming their evil inclination you must be a person of great wisdom and strong personal godly character. Otherwise, leave it to someone else to do and protect your own walk with Jesus.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Exhortation, Fairness, Growing, Information, Justice, King Solomon, Learning, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Spirituality, Strength, Teachable, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Decision Making, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Humanism, Learning, Peace, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Spirituality, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on September 9, 2017 at 6:39 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
Wise people hunger to know more, to learn more, to expand their understanding and find new ways to apply what they have learned in life. Wise people have a teachable spirit.
To be “teachable” is to “be apt and willing to learn” according to the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. In order to learn we must be willing to listen, ask questions, and get feedback on our own understanding of life issues.
In the Hebrew language part of the meaning for the word “understanding” as found in verse five is “distinguished” – distinguished people do not believe they know everything on a topic they seek the counsel of others; those individuals who can provide sound and wise guidance in life. It is through the obtaining of such guidance that one becomes wise themselves and is then able to pass along that guidance to other individuals.
The “dark sayings” as found in verse six are not anything evil or sinister, they are in fact proverbs, words of wisdom that may seem like a riddle or a conundrum.
Insecure people find it hard to have a teachable spirit. However, people who feel secure want to learn, they want to grow. People who are set to “prove themselves,” by proving they have no need to be taught or grow rarely end up do so, proving themselves. Insecurity is typically a byproduct of some wound received in life.
Ask yourself if you are teaching? Ask yourself if you are insecure? Ask God to heal your insecurities and give you a teachable spirit. Then ask God to use your teachable spirit to produce wisdom beyond measure in you.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Encouragement, Exhortation, Information, King Solomon, Peace, Proverbs, Renewal, Spirituality, Strength, Truth, Wisdom
In Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Devotional, Encouragement, Exhortation, Fear, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Impatience, Jesus, Peace, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Remnant, Spirituality, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on July 21, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Please note:
There are six points to be explored when it comes to making godly decision. In each posting we will explore two points for a total of three posting on the matter of guidelines for making godly decisions. Each part in this series will begin with the following question and answer followed by a review of two new guidelines you can use to examine how you are making your decisions.
Here is a question someone once asked me that will to bring us to the topic of this study.
Question:
When you want something or want to do something really bad, something that on the surface is not bad, and you have different emotions about it, how do you discern between what God is telling you to do, and what the devil is trying to get you to do?
Answer:
Without a specific example of the “something” referred to in the question this can be a hard question to answer. The reason it can be difficult to answer is that we use so many factors to discern if the prompting and leading we are sensing is truly from God, Satan trying to trick us, or even just our own desire. There are some things to keep in mind however, when trying to discern which it might be.
We need to make sure our hearts long for what God desires and that we seek Him in every decision. Scripture tells us He will guide us if we let Him.
Proverbs 3:5,6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
“shall direct” –
as found in the Hebrew language means the following:
3474. rv’y:
yaÆshar, yaw-shar’; a prim. root; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (cause to make) right, pleasant, prosperous:— direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (will), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly)
God tells us exactly in His Word how to obtain the information we need to make wise godly decisions.
James 1:5,6 NKJV
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
From the Greek Language, we can know:
“wisdom” 4678 –
4678. sofiva soáphia, sof-ee´-ah; from 4680; wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual):— wisdom
o God provides the information we need both for the world and for the spiritual life. Any and all information needed for living and following God should be found by seeking God for His godly wisdom. Making each of our decisions based on His wisdom will ensure our abundance in life.
“liberally” 574 –
574. aJplw`" haploµs, hap-loce´; adv. from 573 (in the obj. sense of 572); bountifully:— liberally.
o There is no desire on God’s behalf to withhold information from us that we need. He will grant us any form of godly wisdom we need, if we will only ask. The problem comes in two areas. One, we do not ask. And secondly, we ask then we doubt what we believe God to be telling us.
“wavering” 1252 –
1252. diakrivnw diakrinoµ, dee-ak-ree´-no; from 1223 and 2919; to separate thoroughly, i.e. (lit. and refl.) to withdraw from, or (by impl.) oppose; fig. to discriminate (by impl. decide), or (refl.) hesitate:— contend, make (to) differ (-ence), discern, doubt, judge, be partial, stagger, waver.
o Here is where the rubber meets the road. Once we have heard from God regarding His godly wisdom for us, we must not depart from the course He has set before us.
However, for many people, we hear from God, then fear sets in and doubt takes over. We begin to tell ourselves things like, “What if that was not God I heard?”, “What if I am wrong about what God said exactly or what I heard?”, or “What if something or someone other than God was speaking to me?” Before you know it, we are so confused and filled with so much doubt about what we should or should not do we become paralyzed with fear. That paralysis leads to lack of productiveness, and lack of action taken, which leads to lack of abundance, growth, and change in our lives.
Once we have heard from God, His wisdom for us, along with the duration of time in which He is asking us to invest in the matter, we should move forward despite any second-guessing. Will we make mistakes? Yes, but if our hearts are honestly seeking to do God’s Will according to God’s Wisdom, God will take care of any mistakes we make.
Ask Him what to do, and then do it despite the little voice of the Wicked One who wants to make you doubt.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Decision Making, Devotional, Encouragement, Exhortation, King Solomon, Peace, Proverbs, Renewal, Spirituality, Strength, Truth, Wisdom
In Advice, Anxiety, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Confusion, Courage, Devotional, Encouragement, Exhortation, Fear, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Impatience, Jesus, Peace, Prayer, Proverbs, Renewal, Revival, Truth, Uncategorized on July 12, 2017 at 1:20 pm
Please note:
There are six points to be explored when it comes to making godly decision. In each posting we will explore two points for a total of three posting on the matter of guidelines for making godly decisions. Each part in this series will begin with the following question and answer followed by a review of two new guidelines you can use to examine how you are making your decisions.
Here is a question someone once asked me that will to bring us to the topic of this study.
Question:
When you want something or want to do something really bad, something that on the surface is not bad, and you have different emotions about it, how do you discern between what God is telling you to do, and what the devil is trying to get you to do?
Answer:
Without a specific example of the “something” referred to in the question this can be a hard question to answer. The reason it can be difficult to answer is that we use so many factors to discern if the prompting and leading we are sensing is truly from God, Satan trying to trick us, or even just our own desire. There are some things to keep in mind however, when trying to discern which it might be.
We will have peace about whatever it is that we feel led to do. God will not lead us into something we do not have peace over. We may feel a bit scared, inadequate, or intimidated but we will not be at spiritual unrest over the matter. If we have spiritual unrest, we should question whether God is the source of the prompting.
John 14:27 NKJV
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Jesus speaking)
Psalm 107:20 (AV)
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
If confusion is present that is a sign God is not influencing that part of the decision.
1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Bible, Biblical Principles, Christian, Christian Activism, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, Darkness, Devotional, Encouragement, Evil, Exhortation, False Doctrine, False Gods, False Teaching, Fear, Forgiveness, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, God, God’s Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Good, Hate, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Idolatry, Jesus, Light, Mental Disorders, Mental Illness, Narcissism, Political Correctness, Prayer, Pride, Psychiatric Drugs, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Satan, Spiritual Activist, Spiritual Fruit, Spirituality, Strength, Truth
In Advice, Agape Love, Anger, Anxiety, Apostasy, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, Depression, Devotional, Encouragement, End Times, Evil, Exhortation, False Doctrine, False Gods, False Teaching, Fear, Forgiveness, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Grief, Hate, Hatred, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Idolatry, Jesus, Loss, Love, Marriage, Media, Mental Disorder, Mental Illness, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Fruit, Spiritual Remnant, Spirituality, Suffering, Truth, Uncategorized on June 14, 2017 at 4:45 pm
This piece, will be the last in our review of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon, should you desire to do so. This book and review of it has been such a blessing to my readers and myself, we are so grateful that God led David Kupelian to write the book.
To effectively combat an enemy, one must understand both their enemy and themselves. Seek to gain godly wisdom and understanding. Act and respond in accordance with that godly understanding and godly wisdom. How one responds to the evil and hated that is unleashed in our society and world is a key element in how well they are able to resist both and be a godly spiritual activist for Truth.
Control of oneself and one’s own actions is essential to being powerfully effective. As the author points out, ‘there is a world of difference between righteous indignation and seething hatred.’ As Christians, we want to possess righteous indignation but we do not want to enter into that realm with our Enemy, and enemies, who reside in seething hatred. The author also points out that righteous indignation is based on a strong sense of justice. However, seething hatred is always found to be self-destructive, out-of-control rage. We must rise above the temptation to hate those who hate us so we can embrace a truly righteous passion to right the wrongs we see strangling God from the consciousness of our country.
There is a universal human imperfection that we all suffer from. However, we cannot allow our own imperfects to render us mute when it comes to what God wants from us as a people. I have said more times than I can count, ‘Just because we do not live up to God’s Standard does not mean His Standard changes or that we have a right to try and pull God’s Standard down to our level so we can feel better about ourselves.’
There is a moral compass, the needle of which is our conscience, and every individual is born with one. We must employ methods to jump-start people’s conscience whenever possible. There was a saying that went around years ago within the Body of Christ, ‘Stop trying to be the Holy Spirit for people.’ This was a most destructive statement for the spiritual well-being of the Body of Christ. Why? Well my brothers and sisters the Book of Hebrews was written to address the issue of apostasy, and command Christians to cling close to Christ and God’s principles. Our part in seeing that takes place is exhorting one another toward living out God’s principles. You cannot very well do that if you see sin and never say anything about it to anyone, you never call sin sin and call for repentance from sin and a return to God. A novelist George Orwell has been often quoted as saying, “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
Hebrews 3:12-15
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
We must be willing to act when necessary as well, not just talk. There are those individuals who are so disconnected from their conscience that Truth does not compel them to do the right things. That is when the application of proper pressure done in godly way becomes necessary. Even after that there will be some individuals who will still remained unmoved.
To quote the author, Kupelian, in the last sentence of this book, “Truth is enough – because when properly honed and targeted, it is more than sufficient to annihilate all of their grand seductions.”
When Jesus was answering Pilate, He stated the following.
John 18:37 (NKJV)
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Are we supposed to do something different from what Jesus stated here He came to do, “bear witness to the truth” – yes or no? No, I do not believe so, nor does the author of this book. We are God’s people and as God’s people we should stand for Truth forever!
How Evil Works
http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works
Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
The Marketing of Evil
https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption Disguised/dp/1942475217/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483474172&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Marketing+of+Evil
Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Bible, Biblical Principles, Christian, Christian Activism, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Courage, Darkness, Devotional, Encouragement, Evil, Exhortation, False Doctrine, False Gods, False Teaching, Fear, Forgiveness, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, God, God’s Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Good, Hate, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Idolatry, Jesus, Light, Media Influence, Mental Disorders, Mental Illness, Narcissism, Political Correctness, Prayer, Pride, Psychiatric Drugs, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Satan, Spiritual Activist, Spiritual Fruit, Spirituality, Strength, Truth
In Anxiety, Bible, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Encouragement, End Times, Evil, Exhortation, False Doctrine, False Gods, False Teaching, Fear, God, God's Voice, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Humanism, Idolatry, Jesus, Media, Mental Disorder, Mental Illness, Persecution, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, Religious Freedom, Remnant, Renewal, Revival, Rhema Words, Spiritual Activism, Spiritual Activists, Spiritual Remnant, Spirituality, Suffering, Truth, Uncategorized on June 6, 2017 at 6:41 pm
In this piece, we continue to move throughout the closing chapter of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon, should you desire to do so. The chapter addresses how Christians can, and should, act to turn the tables on evil, particularly here in America.
People underestimate how television is used in our society to shape how people think and what they become. Television has become a means by which to punish those who do not adhere to what society views as political correctness. ABC recently cancelled Tim Allen’s show Last Man Standing because the views expressed on that show did not line up with a vanilla politically correct society. ABC claimed scheduling issues but it is so obviously politics, not scheduling, that motivated their decision. Just one more reason to ditch the major networks of television.
The author notes from The Hidden Persuaders a truth exposed now half a century ago and which remains true to this date. That too many people, including Christians, meander through life in what can only be described as a mental-emotional fog, allowing their subconscious and its sensitivities to words and images to cause them to feel, act, purchase, and vote in conformity with, as Bernays (the father of public relations) puts it, “they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” Christians wake up; spiritual, mental, and emotional alertness is a must if you do not want to be either controlled, manipulated, deceived, or led into sin being led astray from God’s principles.
There is no doubt that as Kupelian states, the elite media and the regular citizen’s mindset is different from one another. The elite media regards traditional American values as both corny and stupid, while at the same time regarding immorality and perversity as sophisticated. Sophisticated? What a joke! However, this elite media does use its outlet to warp the minds of people leading them away from modesty and common decency, toward reveling in depraved behavior, which leads to them being cynical and even hostile toward people and values that are genuinely virtuous.
Why do “big media” and jaded people attack these people who choose to live in accordance with genuine virtuous standards? These people remind them of their lost innocence and this reminder is painful and unwelcome. Therefore, they feel compelled to attack the “reminder” of what they have lost.
Do not allow the “mainstream media” to tear you down. As the famous rabbinic saying goes, “Those who are kind to the cruel will end up being cruel to the kind.” They will change you, if you allow them to do so. Do not allow our society to intimidate you into being something that goes against God, His principles, His standards, and that goes against your own heart, mind, and spirit.
Remember goading you is meant to upset you, and once upset the mental and emotional processes in the brain are altered and therefore the process of altering your mindset has begun. Refer to earlier postings regarding how brainwashing and evil reprogramming takes place. When you are intimidated and upset, when you emotionally overact, you lose the battle.
In the next posting, we will conclude our review of the last chapter of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works.
How Evil Works
http://www.amazon.com/How-Evil-Works-Understanding-Transforming/dp/1439168202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443464127&sr=8-1&keywords=How+evil+works
Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
The Marketing of Evil
https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Evil-Pseudo-Experts-Corruption Disguised/dp/1942475217/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483474172&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Marketing+of+Evil
Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
God's Truth in Love 