YesToTheTruth: July 2017

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

I can

https://www.facebook.com/yestothetruth/posts/1423032851108967

I can't! I can't! I can't!

As a Christian, unless what you are saying is that you cannot sin because you have been born again and love God and has his word remaining in you (1 John 3:9), you must not allow yourself to be trapped in a mindset of inability, especially when things come to try you.

Stop, breathe and remember that God is with you. Many things will rise up like an "enemy" against you, but the truth must remain in you at all times. You must keep God's word in your heart always.

"with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

"greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

These are not sweet sayings to just quote but should be on your mind like lines of code in a computer program that will make sure you always handle things a certain way - God's way and God's servant's way. That's not being a robot, but being faithful to walk in obedience to God and being stable in that. And that faithfulness or fidelity that is implied in a walf of faith works by love (Galatians 5:6; John 14:15).

John 15:7-10

7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

Saying "O my God!" (in dismay) and raising the flag of defeat is not one of those commandments. You don't surrender to things and trials of this life.

"No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)

God can make a way where no way is seen with the eyes or perceived with the understanding, and that must be kept in mind, or else we become guilty of forgetting who our almighty God who made heaven and earth is.

If God is leading you (you are careful to make sure that that is the case), no random thing whatsoever is happening in your life. Be sure of that. So when a challenge arises, seek to find your calling in it. What is it that God wants you to do in that particular situation? What is for sure, He is calling you to pray, to talk to Him, to call upon Him, not tell the world how you "can't deal with this." He may be leading you to learn a lesson that will make you increase in wisdom for you, your family and anyone else who comes your way, and in any case, He is leading you to something that has the potential to increase your faith as you see how He works through it. But if you don't walk by faith, you may never get to certain depths in your relationship with God because you have not taken the trouble to walk with Him through things. Such may be things that bring you pain, frustration or uncertainty about the future. And these things are all real and can affect you deeply, but God's servant's way of facing life's afflictions (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9) is realiance on Him and his grace, with the humility to ask Him for help, wisdom or anything needful in the situation at hand.

On this note, we want to take a moment for a few words about what is called positive thinking. The best-seller books of worldly wisdom may teach that positive thinking is the way to go in the "self-help" world, even the way of "success" in all things, but the bible says no such thing as to think positively. Rather, it abounds in exhortations to lean on God and his strength and not on one's own understanding (that implies a life wholly submitted to Him). That is not negative. That is not even comparable to a so-called positive way of thinking. It's a way literally from out of this world. For the world has its ways and God's servants have their ways, having been called out of the world (John 15:19; 1 John 2:15-17). Subtly, what the positive thinking attitude will do is to make you convince yourself of a lie about a situation and about your own power in it, so you deny by the same token the truth that surrounds you. And God may then not be inclined to reveal more truth to you that could make you free from things that you may be bound by and blind to (John 8:31-36). Basically, by turning to self and not to God, you have been deceived to walk in darkness while feeling enlightened. The ways of the world that may appeal to your flesh will deceive and corrupt you. We take the time to mention this because it is not uncommon that a professed bible believer would routinely act like he doesn't actually believe what the bible teaches. A renewing of the mind in therefore needed.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

It is necessary to grow in grace, always seeking to live a life that is more pleasing to God and also that brings Him the most glory. Following "self-help" solutions results in one glorifying himself or herself and not God. Reliance on self-help ways screams that there is no relationship at work between a person and God. That person may say "Thank God" for a relief or solution of sorts, but the fact that God was not brought into the picture in the first place will remain a "negative" in that positive thinker's relationship with God. It is impossible to look at God's faithful servants throughout the bible and find the place where they would put that self-help, given that they have a relationship with the almighty God and the full assurance of his deliverance. He is our Helper that we should call upon in times of trouble and in times of rejoicing likewise. Have we understood how the relationship works? God is long-suffering and merciful and it's not too late, as applicable, to make it right with Him! :-)

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In everything (whatever circumstance) give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Instead of fretting about something, all it may take is to resist that urge and stop to make a petition to God, knowing that He will answer you and lighten your path and your burden likewise.

Are you part of the "we" in the below passages?

1 John 3:22

And whatsoever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1 John 5:14-15

14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. 15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.

Endeavor always to bring God's will to be done on earth (Matthew 10:6) as you walk in his ways and submit your life to be used for his service. Seek to so bear much fruit for God (John 15:8; Titus 3:8, 3:14; Hebrews 10:24; 2 Corinthians 9:8) and bring glory to Him who deserves it. He deserves it. Amen. HalleluYah!

Therefore remain connected to Jesus:

John 15:1-8

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If a man does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and withers; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

May Jesus bless you!

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The Myth of Casting Stones

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Under the Old Covenant God (Yahweh) had made with Israel, the purpose of casting stones was to put to death somebody who was caught in sin. That was only done on the account of at least two witnesses. So no man could single-handedly be "casting stones" at another (Deuteronomy 17:6). And the law was given to teach that the outcome of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and that it had (still has) no place among the people of God (Deuteronomy 17:7; John 3:36; John 8:24; John 8:31-36; Acts 3:22-26; Hebrews 10:26-29).

2 Timothy 2:19

However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

When someone's sin is exposed, that person doesn't die as a result, but rather that person may find the way of receiving God's mercy. Salvation or the "Good News" itself makes no sense if sin is not understood as the bad news that it is. So any true preaching of the gospel cannot get "politically correct" and skip the speaking against sin in order to share in some fake form of "love". Surely, hearing the truth may not be flattering, but only the truth saves, not flattery. Those who only regard as "love" the fact of being flattered and made to feel approved and accepted in their ways (they don't care if their ways are not God's ways and don't care to change), they will be offended at the hearing of the truth. But it is what it is. The truth is not to be twisted to suit someone's taste or lifestyle (Galatians 1:10).

2 Timothy 4:3-4

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

The message we preach must get the point across that the hearer has a responsibility to respond to God's call personally. He cannot "trust" in what Jesus has done and be saved while not following (obeying) Him has a disciple. That is a myth but it is what is taught by many false prophets that have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1): Come as you are, stay as you are, die as you are. Just get on board with a lifestyle that has nothing to do with receiving the new life Jesus died so man could have.

But the preaching of the truth by the power of the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin as it happened in Acts 2 (verse 37), and then people will respond in true repentance and zeal to obtain nothing short of that great salvation from the ruin of sin.

John 16:8

And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment

Isaiah 58:1

Cry aloud, spare not;

Lift up your voice like a trumpet;

Tell My people their transgression,

And the house of Jacob their sins.

How does exposing sin get equated to "casting stones" or killing someone in the minds of so many in this generation? Even as a metaphor, it makes no sense. And Jesus did speak many other words besides "Whoever is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her." (John 8:7), and he said it to stop hypocrisy, not to stop the truth from being preached!

What leads to death is the sin itself!

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"Coming to Jesus" is the choice to obey Him, the Son, so to follow Him as a disciple, even this way: “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23) That obedience leads to doing the will of God (righteousness) rather than sinning and being on the broad road that leads to destruction.

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 For narrow is the gate and difficult is the road that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

So sin is exposed so people can repent and don't perish. But what we pray should die inside of them is their pride and rebellion against God, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

John 12:24-25

24 Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.

Matthew 18:1-4

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

People can have different reactions at the preaching of repentance as Jesus commanded (Luke 24:47):

Some will humble themselves, repent and be saved (Acts 2:37-41 or 2 Corinthians 7:8-11);

some will say, "I will hear you some other time," like Felix (Acts 24:24-25) and may never get to that;

and some will rise up to do some actual "stone casting" themselves and kill the messenger/preacher of righteousness, as those who rose up against apostle Stephen (Acts 7:51-54, Acts 7:57-60), or they will be angry at their brother, which Jesus said is still the same as being guilty of murder (Matthew 5:21-22).

Repent or perish is Jesus' message (maybe it's not allowed on TV, be careful).

Luke 13:1-5

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

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1 Corinthians 13:6

Love "doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth."

James 1:21-25

21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect Law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 4:7-10

7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

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2 Corinthians 4:1-6

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we do not faint. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing; 4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, to prevent the light shining from the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake; 6 seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Who Am I To Judge?

A judge would never say that. And judges do exist so judging is the function of some, even some who have taken the beam out of their eyes. (No one said it was impossible - Matthew 7:5). Jesus' teaching is plainly and precisely against judging hypocritically (Matthew 7:1-5). The hypocrite is even told what to do to be able to exercise the love of his neighbor and help him out in removing the speck out of his eye! That requires seeing rightly and exercising discernment/a right judgment. But some like to keep the beam in their own eyes and act like everyone else has one in theirs, walks in darkness, and so would be a hypocrite to pronounce judgment on any matter. That's the darkness they are comfortable in simply.

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[13:54*]

*This message takes about 15 minutes for a first reading (without looking up the bible references). Time markers are added along the text for those who are mindful of what they spend their time on in this hour. (Psalm 90:12) :-) God bless you!

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One should not stand as a judge if he doesn't have a law that he is called to be a minister of, while being himself obedient to it, but he must not assume either that no one can judge (exercise a righteous judgment about a matter or person, making clear distinctions between good and evil, light and darkness, sweet and bitter - Isaiah 5:20, things that must be done to walk a right path - because not all chosen paths are right). And frankly, we all really do routinely judge. Ex: A young couple may pass a drug addict as a potential caretaker for their child and prefer a person with no such history. A new transport company may hire a driver with a clean driving record rather than one who had a DUI arrest even 10 years before. Employers seek to hire "the right candidate" in general (one choice over other possible choices). Judgment is exercised in those cases and a direction is chosen between two mutually exclusive options. Is that wrong or a lot of judging is usually called common sense rather, and even personal bias, while the push to "NOT JUDGE", even with words taken out of context from the Bible, can be magnified somehow as the loudest voice to be heard in society?

[12:45]

John 7:24

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

This cannot be an impossibility. There is a way to exercise righteous judgment with a clear conscience. The Gospel opens the door to it. And the following scriptures hold some guiding principles:

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

2 Timothy 2:19

However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

Luke 5:30-32

30. Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?" 31. Jesus answered them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 32. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 15:7

I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

2 Peter: 3. 9.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:3-4

3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4. who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.

[11:00]

Remark:

Truth, righteousness, and salvation go hand in hand, and repentance with faith towards God ushers in that walk of truth, righteousness, and salvation that Jesus died to allow man to be on (Luke 1:68-75), taking care of first things first: the forgiveness of one's sins committed up to that moment that he/she decides to ask God for forgiveness (having also forgiven others - Matthew 6:14-15) in repentance (turning to God, towards careful and loving obedience to his will and turning away from sin). On that walk then, when one has passed from death to life, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18; John 5:24; 1 John 3:4), one has open eyes to judge especially between good and evil, in agreement with God Himself. And unlike what may be perceived by the world, if one is led by the Spirit of God, the purpose is a loving one: to bring others from death to life, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God as it is the will of God. For no one that is saved is saved to gather with like-minded believers only, and be silent otherwise. Either one is light or one is darkness still! (2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 5:8). And light by definition is not lit to be hidden (Matthew 5:14-15).

[09:25]

Without judgment, there is no justice and having laws is useless. No one can be in trouble with any law, even the mass murderer could have a pass on being a criminal. That is the allowed extreme of such mindsets that forbid judgment absolutely. It is unequivocally a push towards lawlessness (Matthew 24:12). And "where there is no law there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15). So then sin also won't be seen as a criminal matter in the eyes of God, and the loving sacrifice of his Son to reconcile the sinful world to Himself is all but a narrative that excludes the dying with Him to be resurrected with Him also to newness of life (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:4-9; Colossians 3:1-4).

Such "Good News" does not get to most believers. Why is that? Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Shall people through their denominations and traditions make their own way to the Father? Shall they portray their own 'god' and worship him/it? Idolatry is really what that amounts to: the worship of what is not the one Eternal God. It is a deception.

[08:10]

Truth establishes reality while lies maintain a delusion, even fifty shades of gray (pun intended). Just switch on the light (ex: become a true follower of Jesus) in any dark room where wicked things are happening (ex: the world), and the evil works along with the evildoers will be instantly exposed. It is the same when the word of God is spoken, because it is light, a light more penetrating than anything natural. In ideal circumstances, I perceive, it grinds the pride of man to powder and exposes him as "not good", in a wretched condition and in dire need of a Savior. The word of God will judge the hearts of people and expose all the foolishness therein. And pride is opposed to that work so God also is opposed to the prideful (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6) who love their ways more than Him and cannot afford to lose the sinful life they are living by undergoing the saving correction they are called to by the Gospel of peace/reconciliation. That's because they don't think that they are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). They claim they see while they are in fact blind (John 9:41; Revelation 3:17-18).

Mark 8:35

For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it.

Luke 9:23

He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.

John 14:15

If you love me, keep my commandments.

[06:30]

John 9:39-41

39. Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind." 40. Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" 41. Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

John 12:46.

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Jesus will judge the world according to the word that He has spoken (John 12:48; Act 17:30-31). Love warns. And the truth may sting, but it heals! It restores the soul (Psalm 19:7; 23:3) and ushers in life, that is, true spiritual life (John 6:63).

Proverbs 16:6

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged (atoned for). And by the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.

John 8 31-32

Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 32. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (from bondage to sin - John 8:34)."

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[04:47]

John 16:7-8

7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don't go away, the Counselor (the promised Holy Spirit - Acts 2:38, 5:30-32) won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;

John 8:12

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Those who walk in darkness champion a tolerance that is first of all self-directed, and is a dark hiding place where what is surely evil can coexist with what is surely good and be left alone. No truth/light/justice is allowed in. So then what is often lauded as tolerance which springs from the quality of being "open-minded" cannot be an expression of love, when stripped of a foundation of truth. But it is good news that honesty is universally appreciated, it seems. It is a good way forward from any place or personal circumstances. That way, one's state of need can be acknowledged and embraced before God, and then He can intervene on the basis of that agreement with the truth and show his saving power. What one is saved from is then made manifest and exceeding peace and joy and eternal gratefulness sets into the heart as a new life "in Jesus" is put into motion (John 15:1-8).

[03:08]

1 Corinthians: 13. 6.

(Love) doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

The love of God towards mankind functions on the basis of truth - not flattery. For at the root of every sin (sinful behavior or sinful thinking) is a lie that is believed and acted upon. That is the very story of the fall of man: a departure from the word of God that is true for something else that sounded good (Genesis 3:1-6), thereby instituting enmity with God through sin (Romans 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:20). We all go that way and are called to return to God/repent/be reconciled to Him/walk in righteousness and truth/live in obedience to his will.

Acts 17:30-31

30. The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, 31. because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead."

(Isaiah 59:1-2

1. Behold, Yahweh's hand is not shortened, that it can't save; neither his ear heavy, that it can't hear: 2. but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.)

[01:36]

Again...

2 Timothy: 2. 19

However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

Matthew: 4. 17.

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Still...

John 3:19-21

19. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; because their deeds were evil. 20. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his deeds would be reproved. 21. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be revealed, that they have been done in God."

Acts 26:15-18

15. "I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' "He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16. But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you; 17. delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you, 18. to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'