Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Who Is The Enemy? II


The following is my reply (with a few edits) to a post in another blog, that I decided to post here. The concern of the article was essentially that we were not winning our war against the gay agenda because Christians are becoming less interested in the fight.  

 

 

What is sad to me is how much the enemy has lied to us. Over **1/3 of the American population are professing evangelical Christians, and there are only around ***4% of the population that are professing gays. Yet, even tho we...the 1/3...have a power and a love so great, that if #activated could overwhelm not only the gays, but also all the other groups that are just as sinful as they are or we are (even tho we have picked out this group as tho they are more sinful), like the pedophiles, the Satan worshipers, the wife abusers, the gossipers, greedy, the KKK and their affiliates, and all the rest who are spreading ##deliberate destruction...we have chosen to fight using 'weapons' with much less power.

 

If we spent our time learning what it means to become more like Christ, then seeking and focusing on God for that outcome, then the light we would become would be such a force,  that it would cause  people to come to Christ in amazing numbers. Our fight is not against people, it is against the devil. The gays are sinners just like we were and are...and if we choose to spend our time and energy using God's power and love, the kind Christ used towards sinners, instead of secular means, to change things....wow, would things happen! This is just one small example, but take a little time and read "In His Steps"  at http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile.php?fk_files=1456228  > It's about a church that decided to walk as Christ would, and in so doing made a huge difference in the lives around them. This is a free e-book of the original that was written many years ago. The issues were different in this story, but God isn't.

 

 

 

#We can choose to be just another dogmatic special interest group, or choose to walk as Christ (Christ-ian)...because they are very different from one another. We choose to walk in the steps of the Holy Spirit. These things don't just automatically happen.  We choose to be as Christ...be a witness...be a sweet aroma, that draws people where ever we go. 2 Cor. 2:14 "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place." Being like Christ means to be careful when speaking and handling the truth...it must be mixed with love in how and when it is spoken.  Eph. 4:15 "Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church."

 

## Most gays are just people...sinners...like you and me who are trying to live their lives the best way they know how, with what they have. They are not out to impose on anyone. Most are not extremists and just want what every sinner wants...freedom. Yet, the other groups, who do intend to impose on others, have gotten almost no pressure put on them, especially as compared to the gay community. This all seems very cock-eyed to me! Yes...absurd.

 

** http://www.wheaton.edu/ISAE/Defining-Evangelicalism/How-Many-Are-There


*** http://gaylife.about.com/od/comingout/a/population.htm

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

He's Too Bright To Look At

Let The Son Shine On You!

Let The Son Shine On You!         *

Let The Son Shine On You!

Let The Son Shine On You!

 

Exodus 33:19-22                               *

 *

The LORD replied (to Moses), "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live." The LORD continued, "Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

                                        *

I've heard people who are wondering if there is a God say, "If God wants us to know He's here, why not show Himself!"  Now we know why God has not done that.       

                   *                                           *

God's ways are so much higher than ours....and His presence much more spectacular than ours as well. I used to tell my kids, "He's too bright to look at."

*                                              *

Everything about God is much greater. He is not of this world at all. In the areas of our daily lives....what we do...what we think...where we go...most of the things we do we don't question. Yet it is time for Christians to ask God to help us to deliberately be open to question...even those things that we've put high up on the shelf of acceptable things. The things that have been put up on a special shelf where the things go that 'just seem so right and don't need any scrutiny!'                                           

*                                                           *

God is pure light. He has no darkness in Him at all...and His aim is to continue to perfect us so that we become more and more and more...and more like Him. I think that our carnal mind kinda thinks that there are some things that to God are negotiable. Which means we're thinking that our ways, the carnal ways we are used to, are not all bad. That we can go ahead and mix our opinions and feelings in with God's.

               *                                                                                                    *

We think we can go ahead and see scripture thru "church doctrine glasses". But, light and dark will not and cannot mix. Which means we don't expect God to submit to our will or ways....no, we submit to His. If we are growing, then some of the things we are thinking will surely be from God...but we still must be willing to allow everything to be exposed to the light, and stay in the light. We are to learn to see God, scripture, life and any other thing there is to see - thru the "glasses" of the Holy Spirit, Who is pure light.

                                                 *                                *

God wants us to become familiar and comfortable with allowing God to shine His light on every single thing in our lives. However, this is probably the hardest thing for us humans to do. Adam and Eve made this evident that the human nature's first reaction to being found out is to run away, then become defensive and then dive headlong into denial...so, we just try to avoid having any light shine on us in the first place.

    *                                           *

However, what's funny about this...as I have experienced this personally many times...is trying to only allow certain things to be exposed to the light...ha!..this is about impossible! Because when you walk into a room and turn on the light, everything is exposed! Oh, well, except those things that have intentionally been put in places where the light cannot easily get to.  Like those things that are behind closed doors, or are hidden in drawers...even then we know that God can still see them. But, as in Adam and Eve's case, God wants us to deliberately take everything out of the drawers and the closets instead of running away.      

                                                   *

 *                                                             *

Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light--

Ephesians 5:14 
For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

    *                                                                         *

Scary?? It should not be...because if we have been perfected in love, then we will not fear. We will know that there is no condemnation for those who are His. We will know that He shines the light for our good, and not to condemn us.

      *                                                                                                              *

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

                                                   *                       *

Romans 8:1
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

God's Ways -vs- Our Ways Pt 1

 

 

Isaiah 55:9
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.

 

If there would be one question to ask yourself...when reading scripture...when deciding how to handle specific situations...when thinking your thoughts...when opening your mouth...it would be, how different are God's ways than mine?

 

We were each created in God's image...however, the fall fell hard! It twisted, corroded and brought death to everything. It affected each person down to the cellular level. We have been profoundly affected by the fall. When God said to our predecessors that we would know (in the fullest sense of the word) the difference between good and evil, He was right!! From Hitler (at least closest to the worst evil) to babies being born with every abnormality imaginable (some of what evil has done)... evil is here.

 

We were created to live in a perfect world...and scientists even say the heart that beats in our chest was constructed so well that it was meant to beat indefinitely. But of course, with all that is against that happening, our bodies give out long before indefinitely rolls around.

 

Yes, the oceans and the universe still have untold possibilities for exploration...yet, scientists also say that the human brain has such an amazing capacity that we may never reach the end of what we can learn about it.

 

Yes....we were created in God's image, yet the fall corrupted what God created. Our nature, that was created in His image became corrupt...which of course affected how we think. This is why it is so important to question how much we want God's will more than we want our own. Because if we truly, down deep, really want what suits our own will, then that is what we will find. If we only want what feels familiar and easier, then that is what we'll find...as the old nature is what we are used to. 

 

Galatians 5:13-26

13You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don't turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love. 14All of the law is summarized in a single statement, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

 

 

15But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don't destroy each other.

 

16Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants.

 

 

17What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don't always do what you intend to do. 18If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to the law.

 

 

 19Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, 20idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I've told you in the past and I'm telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

 

 22But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires.

 

 

25If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. 26We can't allow ourselves to act arrogantly and to provoke or envy each other.

 

 

 

Then, it is important as well to question our own interpretations of what God is saying in scripture...along with learning to trust God's Holy Spirit more than we trust our own inklings. Then in time, it will be hard to tell where our inklings end and the Holy Spirit's leading begins...because we want what God wants more, and have practiced distinguishing between good and evil. ~ Between what God wants and what our old nature wants.  

 

Hebrews 5:14
Such persons are mere babes. But solid food is for adults--that is, for those who through constant practice have their spiritual faculties carefully trained to distinguish good from evil.

 

John 7:17
If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

 

 

So, what is God's #1 will for all His children? God's ways are so much different than the ways of the corrupt nature, to the point where they are quite evidently the opposite. Then, what is the opposite...or what are we to do instead?

 

 

Look again at Galatians 5:13-14

13You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don't turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love. 14All of the law is summarized in a single statement, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

 

 

Yes, love. Self-interest is at the root of the old nature, not other-interest. This is not saying we can't love at all, but our first and most comfortable inkling is self-first...and depending how we were raised and how much evil has already had an influence, our inkling might be self-only.  

 

However, God didn't say to stop this sin or that sin...or to do this practice or that ritual...or to be godly or righteous...no, He said, "Rather, serve each other through love."

 

Loving others with God's love is not comfortable or logical for our carnal nature...but it is God's most important ethic. 

 

Mark 12:31

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”        

John 14:15

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."        

1 Cor. 16:14

"Let all that you do be done in love".        

 

 

But, how about our sin? Don't we need to address that? Loving is fine, but how about SIN! My sin and their sin! I know this is also a concern, but God has a way to deal with sin that is unfamiliar to our carnal nature as well...that also involves love, so we'll talk about that next time...altho as you study and read through all the love verses (the ones above and in the URL below), you'll see much of the answers there...

 

Blessings!!

 

 

http://www.openbible.info/topics/love