PROVERBS 27
"As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."
(vs 17)
This verse speaks of the importance of fellowship, and accountability. We are strengthened in our own personal walk, and as the body of Christ, as we meet together (Heb 10:25), as we pray together (James 5:14-16), as we intercede (Eph 6:18-19), as we share the body and blood of Christ together (Acts 2:42-47)
Brothers & sisters, I cannot stress enough the need for fellowship, and I could go on and on on this topic, but I want to take a look at a couple other verses today...
"Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
So he who waits on his Master will be honored.
As in water face reflects face,
So a man’s heart reveals the man."
(vs 18-19)
One of my favorite Psalms, that talks a great deal about the relationship between our behavior and the blessings of the Lord, Psalm 37, exhorts us to wait on the Lord, our Master, and walk in His way.
"Wait on the LORD,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it."
- Psalm 37:34
King David, who knew well that relationship, and desired to receive the blessings of the Lord, cried out to Him -
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
- Psalm 139:23-24
David wanted his heart to be pure and blameless before God, and asked Him to bring conviction where it was needed, that he might repent and turn from any wickedness. He did not try to tell God what was in his heart, rather he asked God to point out any areas in it that might cause offense to Him or any others, that he could make it right, and be found walking in the Lord’s way. That was made very real when, through the Prophet Nathan, God brought conviction upon King David for a sin which he had committed. David made no excuse for his action, but immediately repented. (2 Sam 12:13)
May our actions always be pleasing unto the Lord, and if we do slip, and commit iniquity, may our response be to immediately acknowledge that we have caused offense, to repent before God, and allow Him to cleanse us (1 John 1:9). David was defiled by that which he had done, but his heart was revealed in his response to the conviction brought upon him for his sin. He repented, fasted and prayed before all for the offense he had committed.
In a New Testament account, we read of Peter’s admonition to a man whose actions brought offense - "your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8:21-23)
The Apostle saw what was in the man’s heart, by his behavior.
Many times I’ve heard said, "... but God knows my heart". I remember using that expression myself, and usually to make excuse for something I did that was not quite right. But as the Scripture tells us, it is what is seen that is true of us. "As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man." When we look into a pool of water, or into a mirror, we see what is there, and so it is with our hearts... our behavior shows what is in our hearts, and reveals to others and to God who we truly are.
If we are one of His, then we will show forth the fruit of the Spirit of God - "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Gal 5:22)
If we are of the world, then that is what is in our hearts, and that is what will be revealed when push comes to shove. If what is revealed in our behavior is wicked, then we will be cut off from the promised inheritance of God. The Lord will not accept the excuse "but I really have a good heart." If our deeds are evil, then we are defiled.
"That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.
All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man."- Mark 7:20-23
We can tell people all about the kind of person that we are, but, friends, the proof is not in words, but in action. How we behave is who we are. John writes -
"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us."
-1 John 3:18-23
The enemy will often play on our hearts, and try to condemn us of things that are not True. But, as John wrote, if we are actually loving God, and one another in deed and truth, then our hearts are assured before Him. We can have confidence in Him, not because of things we say, but because we have obeyed His commands, and it is evident in the things that proceed from our hearts.
Dear saints, may we be living our lives free from condemnation, as we walk according to the Spirit (Rom 8:1-4). But may we seek, and welcome, the conviction of that same Spirit, to reveal any wicked, offensive ways within us that will defile us, that we may seek His help, and even the help of our brothers in Christ, to keep us in the "way everlasting."
Thank You, Lord God, for Your words of Truth and Life. May they sink into our very being, our soul, our heart, and cause us to become those with whom the Master is pleased. Guide us, Lord, and keep us in Your Way.
God bless you and keep you,
Michael
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And a man is valued by what others say of him
(vs 21)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Proverbs 26
PROVERBS 26
"As a dog returns to his own vomit,
So a fool repeats his folly."
(vs 11)
This verse above speaks loud and clear to me, friends. The Holy Scripture contains many incredible promises of God. Born into this world in a sinful state, we have the opportunity to partake of God’s wonderful plan when we accept the blood sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and turn from the wicked ways of the world.
When Messiah Jesus stood to teach in the temple of His hometown...
"He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty (set free) those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
- Luke 4:17-19
I lived in the world for too long, made many mistakes, and brought sadness to the heart of God by my sinful behavior. Having been set free and given the opportunity to receive His promises, I would be a fool if I were to return to any of the ways I once lived. Jesus said we are only truly disciples of His IF we continue in His word. Then we will know the Truth, and t he Truth will make us free. Jesus is the Truth. Once we have accepted His atonement for our past sins, repented, and been baptized into His Name, we have become of the family of God. When we deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus, we become His disciples. We become part of the household of God. Then He tells us, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine."
Can we now allow sin to remain in our lives? Jesus tells us - "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin." Everyone. He goes on to say that that slave (of sin) will not remain in the house forever. If we continue to sin, we show that we are not His disciple, and we will not remain in His house. Only those who are truly sons will remain. Then will the Son, Himself, make us truly free.
This word Jesus spoke not only to the Jews of His day, but to all who would believe in Him. It is a Kingdom principal that will stand til the end of this age.
"So Jesus was saying to those who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free."
"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (from John 8:31-36)
As I've written previously, I believe the Apostle Paul would be greatly disappointed to see how his teachings have been distorted to a point where Christians are taught that God doesn't see their current sinful behavior anymore, and that regardless of how we live our lives we will remain in the house of God forever because of His grace.
"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting Life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Rom 6:15-23
That entire passage above, and the entire book of Romans, was written to Christians. I’ve actually heard pastors say that verse 23 was written to the unsaved. Have any of us ever composed a letter to someone, and then, all the sudden, write a sentence to someone else in the middle of it, and then continue on writing to whom the letter was addressed? Might I say, that would be ridiculous. Dear saints, the entire New Testament wwas written to believers. All the promises and all the warnings are to us, the body of Christ. Paul continued on in his letter -
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."- Rom 8:1-8
Can we say this day that God is pleased with our behavior? Are we indeed walking according to the Spirit, in obedience to the Word, and in the fear of the Lord? For that is what sets us free from condemnation.
I know what I share here is not what many hear from the pulpits on Sunday morning, and may even contradict what many others preach. Yet it is the Word of God. He has given me a heart for those in the body of Christ who are hurting. And it saddens me to see Christians who accept sin in their lives because they are ’taught’ that it is okay for Christ will continue to forgive them anyway. The Scripture warned this day would come, that the people of God would say to their spiritual leaders - "Speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions." (Is 30:10).
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the Truth, and be turned aside to fables."- 2 Tim 4:3-4
I judge no one’s salvation, ever. And I down no one for their belief in a doctrine. I only share what the Lord puts on my heart, and what the Holy Spirit has made clear to me in the Scripture. And I write to encourage and strengthen my brothers & sisters in Christ. The Apostle Peter, on the other hand, does make bold statements about those who teach false doctrine, to satisfy their own desires, increase their fame, or pad their pocketbooks.
"For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who are barely escaping from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit, " and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
- 2 Pet 2:18-22
And we see that Peter quotes our opening verse from Proverbs 26, to describe what it is like for those who turn back to the things we have been set free from. May that never be true of us. May we never allow ourselves to be enticed and become entangled by that which brings only separation from God.
Brothers & sisters, my prayer is that we will hold firmly to that which is True, that we will look always to Christ for understanding, and that our hope will remain in the promises of God. Yea, that we ourselves will remain in His house, His family, forever.
God’s peace and blessings to you & your loved ones,
Michael
"As a dog returns to his own vomit,
So a fool repeats his folly."
(vs 11)
This verse above speaks loud and clear to me, friends. The Holy Scripture contains many incredible promises of God. Born into this world in a sinful state, we have the opportunity to partake of God’s wonderful plan when we accept the blood sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and turn from the wicked ways of the world.
When Messiah Jesus stood to teach in the temple of His hometown...
"He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty (set free) those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
- Luke 4:17-19
I lived in the world for too long, made many mistakes, and brought sadness to the heart of God by my sinful behavior. Having been set free and given the opportunity to receive His promises, I would be a fool if I were to return to any of the ways I once lived. Jesus said we are only truly disciples of His IF we continue in His word. Then we will know the Truth, and t he Truth will make us free. Jesus is the Truth. Once we have accepted His atonement for our past sins, repented, and been baptized into His Name, we have become of the family of God. When we deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus, we become His disciples. We become part of the household of God. Then He tells us, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine."
Can we now allow sin to remain in our lives? Jesus tells us - "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin." Everyone. He goes on to say that that slave (of sin) will not remain in the house forever. If we continue to sin, we show that we are not His disciple, and we will not remain in His house. Only those who are truly sons will remain. Then will the Son, Himself, make us truly free.
This word Jesus spoke not only to the Jews of His day, but to all who would believe in Him. It is a Kingdom principal that will stand til the end of this age.
"So Jesus was saying to those who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free."
"Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (from John 8:31-36)
As I've written previously, I believe the Apostle Paul would be greatly disappointed to see how his teachings have been distorted to a point where Christians are taught that God doesn't see their current sinful behavior anymore, and that regardless of how we live our lives we will remain in the house of God forever because of His grace.
"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting Life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- Rom 6:15-23
That entire passage above, and the entire book of Romans, was written to Christians. I’ve actually heard pastors say that verse 23 was written to the unsaved. Have any of us ever composed a letter to someone, and then, all the sudden, write a sentence to someone else in the middle of it, and then continue on writing to whom the letter was addressed? Might I say, that would be ridiculous. Dear saints, the entire New Testament wwas written to believers. All the promises and all the warnings are to us, the body of Christ. Paul continued on in his letter -
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."- Rom 8:1-8
Can we say this day that God is pleased with our behavior? Are we indeed walking according to the Spirit, in obedience to the Word, and in the fear of the Lord? For that is what sets us free from condemnation.
I know what I share here is not what many hear from the pulpits on Sunday morning, and may even contradict what many others preach. Yet it is the Word of God. He has given me a heart for those in the body of Christ who are hurting. And it saddens me to see Christians who accept sin in their lives because they are ’taught’ that it is okay for Christ will continue to forgive them anyway. The Scripture warned this day would come, that the people of God would say to their spiritual leaders - "Speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions." (Is 30:10).
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the Truth, and be turned aside to fables."- 2 Tim 4:3-4
I judge no one’s salvation, ever. And I down no one for their belief in a doctrine. I only share what the Lord puts on my heart, and what the Holy Spirit has made clear to me in the Scripture. And I write to encourage and strengthen my brothers & sisters in Christ. The Apostle Peter, on the other hand, does make bold statements about those who teach false doctrine, to satisfy their own desires, increase their fame, or pad their pocketbooks.
"For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who are barely escaping from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit, " and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."
- 2 Pet 2:18-22
And we see that Peter quotes our opening verse from Proverbs 26, to describe what it is like for those who turn back to the things we have been set free from. May that never be true of us. May we never allow ourselves to be enticed and become entangled by that which brings only separation from God.
Brothers & sisters, my prayer is that we will hold firmly to that which is True, that we will look always to Christ for understanding, and that our hope will remain in the promises of God. Yea, that we ourselves will remain in His house, His family, forever.
God’s peace and blessings to you & your loved ones,
Michael
Proverbs 25
PROVERBS 25
"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls."
(vs 28)
Dear friends, this past week has been a busy one, and has left me physically and mentally drained. But I wanted to share a quick thought on the last verse of this Proverb.
As we see elsewhere in the Proverbs, and in many of Paul’s epistles, the necessity of self-control for the Christian. If we have not self-control, or discernment, we let our guard down, and find ourselves an easy prey for the enemy. Without those walls standing firmly in place, representing the Eternal Law of God, then sin can easily enter and lead us astray. We see that all around us today, in the world, and even in the church as well, as those without self-control fall, time & again. Rather than ruling our own spirit, by keeping it humble before the Lord, and allowing it to be renewed and strengthened day by day, we have allowed our spirits to be ruled by money, greed, and pleasure.
Of these days the Apostle Paul prophesied -
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
- 2 Tim 3:1-7
Oh, there is much to be said about this subject. There are many accounts in the Old Testament of God’s people failing to keep a reign on their spirits and practice self-control, and the results where always disastrous. Perhaps we will study more on this next month, or in an upcoming Proverb.
"Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."- Heb 5:13
May we be found among those who do indeed practice self-control, rule their spirits, and have trained their senses to discern good & evil. The result being that the Lord will grant us to partake of the solid food of His Word, that we may come to the knowledge of the Truth.
God’s peace & blessings to all,
Michael
"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls."
(vs 28)
Dear friends, this past week has been a busy one, and has left me physically and mentally drained. But I wanted to share a quick thought on the last verse of this Proverb.
As we see elsewhere in the Proverbs, and in many of Paul’s epistles, the necessity of self-control for the Christian. If we have not self-control, or discernment, we let our guard down, and find ourselves an easy prey for the enemy. Without those walls standing firmly in place, representing the Eternal Law of God, then sin can easily enter and lead us astray. We see that all around us today, in the world, and even in the church as well, as those without self-control fall, time & again. Rather than ruling our own spirit, by keeping it humble before the Lord, and allowing it to be renewed and strengthened day by day, we have allowed our spirits to be ruled by money, greed, and pleasure.
Of these days the Apostle Paul prophesied -
"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
- 2 Tim 3:1-7
Oh, there is much to be said about this subject. There are many accounts in the Old Testament of God’s people failing to keep a reign on their spirits and practice self-control, and the results where always disastrous. Perhaps we will study more on this next month, or in an upcoming Proverb.
"Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."- Heb 5:13
May we be found among those who do indeed practice self-control, rule their spirits, and have trained their senses to discern good & evil. The result being that the Lord will grant us to partake of the solid food of His Word, that we may come to the knowledge of the Truth.
God’s peace & blessings to all,
Michael
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Proverbs 24
PROVERBS 24
"These things also belong to the wise:
It is not good to show partiality in judgment."
(vs 23)
Dear brothers & sisters, fellow followers of our Lord Jesus, may we - in everything - judge rightly. Firstly in our own lives, may we make proper judgment against sin, and for holiness and righteousness. In the example we show before our children and those around us, may we never compromise, may we never accept or make excuse for sinful behavior. And as the body of Christ, may we not show favoritism towards any member, but judge righteous judgment in all matters. Scripture says it is a sin to show partiality towards others, because they have more worldly wealth or greater position or "fame". A few days ago, as we studied Proverbs 21 we read a verse from Ezekiel that applies here as well -
“You say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?" - Eze 18:25
The Lord’s brother, James, had much to say about how we are to treat one another, as Christians.
"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place, " and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool, " have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?" - James 2:1-4
And he quotes a command given by God, through Moses, Paul, and the Lord Jesus, Himself -
"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, ” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." - James 2:8-9
As many times as this appears in the Bible, we can see that it is important to Almighty God, how we (who will one day judge men and angels) judge now.
"You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly." - Lev 19:15
"You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous." - Deut 16:19
Sadly, today’s church, as a whole, does not stand against sin as they should, in an effort to be politically correct and keep people from being offended and leaving their congregations. Yet Paul stood firm on this issue. He recognized the reality of living in a world full of sin, but his command to the body of Christ was to never accept sinful behavior, and not to allow it to remain in the church, regardless of who the person committing iniquity was.
"He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous, ”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them."
(vs 24-25)
A popular saying among Christians - "we are sinners saved by grace", is indeed True, but that is not the end of our faith, it is the beginning. Once we have accepted the call of God on our lives, we are to turn from our wicked ways, follow after the Spirit of Life, and "be holy". Paul, who wrote much about our faith in Christ, also wrote these words to the body of Christ -
"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” - 1 Cor 5:9-13
and again -
"Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality." - 1 Tim 5:20-21
God’s forgiveness is never to be taken lightly, or for granted. We who are being shown the Truth as we walk according to the Spirit, are to judge rightly, without partiality, with discernment, and with the wisdom of God. The Father shows no favoritism toward those who make a name for themselves, or those who have great earthly wealth, or even great knowledge of the Scripture. Rather He calls us all to be holy, and He will judge each of us fairly according to our own deeds, choices and behavior.
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
- 1 Pet 1:13-21
Indeed, we’ve covered some hard Truth tonight. May any conviction we feel come only from the Holy Spirit, and cause us to seek the Lord, and His strength to help us overcome.
God’s wisdom and understanding to us all,
Michael
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this, "
does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?
(vs 12)
"These things also belong to the wise:
It is not good to show partiality in judgment."
(vs 23)
Dear brothers & sisters, fellow followers of our Lord Jesus, may we - in everything - judge rightly. Firstly in our own lives, may we make proper judgment against sin, and for holiness and righteousness. In the example we show before our children and those around us, may we never compromise, may we never accept or make excuse for sinful behavior. And as the body of Christ, may we not show favoritism towards any member, but judge righteous judgment in all matters. Scripture says it is a sin to show partiality towards others, because they have more worldly wealth or greater position or "fame". A few days ago, as we studied Proverbs 21 we read a verse from Ezekiel that applies here as well -
“You say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?" - Eze 18:25
The Lord’s brother, James, had much to say about how we are to treat one another, as Christians.
"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place, " and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool, " have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?" - James 2:1-4
And he quotes a command given by God, through Moses, Paul, and the Lord Jesus, Himself -
"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, ” you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors." - James 2:8-9
As many times as this appears in the Bible, we can see that it is important to Almighty God, how we (who will one day judge men and angels) judge now.
"You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly." - Lev 19:15
"You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous." - Deut 16:19
Sadly, today’s church, as a whole, does not stand against sin as they should, in an effort to be politically correct and keep people from being offended and leaving their congregations. Yet Paul stood firm on this issue. He recognized the reality of living in a world full of sin, but his command to the body of Christ was to never accept sinful behavior, and not to allow it to remain in the church, regardless of who the person committing iniquity was.
"He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous, ”
Him the people will curse;
Nations will abhor him.
But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them."
(vs 24-25)
A popular saying among Christians - "we are sinners saved by grace", is indeed True, but that is not the end of our faith, it is the beginning. Once we have accepted the call of God on our lives, we are to turn from our wicked ways, follow after the Spirit of Life, and "be holy". Paul, who wrote much about our faith in Christ, also wrote these words to the body of Christ -
"I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” - 1 Cor 5:9-13
and again -
"Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality." - 1 Tim 5:20-21
God’s forgiveness is never to be taken lightly, or for granted. We who are being shown the Truth as we walk according to the Spirit, are to judge rightly, without partiality, with discernment, and with the wisdom of God. The Father shows no favoritism toward those who make a name for themselves, or those who have great earthly wealth, or even great knowledge of the Scripture. Rather He calls us all to be holy, and He will judge each of us fairly according to our own deeds, choices and behavior.
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
- 1 Pet 1:13-21
Indeed, we’ve covered some hard Truth tonight. May any conviction we feel come only from the Holy Spirit, and cause us to seek the Lord, and His strength to help us overcome.
God’s wisdom and understanding to us all,
Michael
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this, "
does not He who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?
(vs 12)
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