I have seen the tides of time change, I have watched as certain things that once meant something now means something else. I have to wonder is it the truth that they truly means something else or is it that we are just becoming more and more lax'd in our way of thinking. We have become desensitized to the truth that we once knew. We have allowed the world to influence what we thought was once wrong. We have allowed the devil to work its way into our culture like a thief. The Bilbe warns us about the Devil, he wants to destroy us, to have us miss what God truth is. 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 many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Do you remember when they would not take the name of God in vein on TV? Now it is the new normal thing to hear. I was watching a game show and the host continued to take the name of the God in vein. How is that OK? We have allowed so much into our culture, swearing, cursing, taking the name of God in vein. We have allowed it and it keeps coming. I remember when NYPD Blue had the first nude scene on TV, it was a huge controversy, but it made TV, now look at what is shown, look at where the culture is heading. It is time to open our eyes, ask God for eyes to see, ears to hear the truth. We are blind, I remember a song. Now the group is called Deitiphobia fear of God, but the song was Blind Hate, it talks about how we are blind to the truth and how we need God to open our eyes to see the truth.
We are blind to the truth of our actions, to the truth that is right in front of us. I believe we are missing it, so concerned about our outward appearance we are missing what really matters is our hearts. We are blind to the culture shift to be only Sunday Christians, afraid to walk in the light for fear of what people will say about us, instead of walking in the light for fear of God. We are more worried about people and how our actions affect "ME" instead of worrying about how our actions affect the Great and Mighty God, the creator of heaven and earth, He formed us, made us, but yet we take His powerful name in vein, we don't think twice about it, we are immune to it, we don't think it as wrong anymore.
We hear the verse said and shared on Facebook or other social media, that 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." The prayer does not start first with other people, it starts with me, it starts with you. Isn't it time not to wait to Sunday or meal time to pray, but time to ask God to open our eyes so that we may see the truth of the age. It is time for us to see the truth of our actions, our words, the symbols we use, it is time to say what is holy and what is not and what is not, time to get rid of it. Seek His face, Humble ourselves and do the very thing He has called us to do, it isn't just a suggestion, that is our call on our lives. Pray without ceasing, have a heart of prayer and when we are in God, He is in us.
We are desensitized isn't it time to not be, not just allow what the world does and except it, not what people in church do and just except it, it is time to be who God has called us to be. Pray for our eyes to be open, pray to see and hear the lies from the truth. Time to live in the light, because that is where God wants us to live, in His light.
Friday, July 7, 2017
Monday, July 3, 2017
The Tailor's Name Is Change, Part Two
The Tailor's Name Is Change, Part Two
by Chuck Swindoll
"3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life,appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised,barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
I warn you, the number one enemy of change is the hard-core, self-satisfied sin nature within you. Like a spoiled child, it has been gratified and indulged for years, so it will not give up without a violent temper tantrum. Change is its greatest threat, and a confrontation between the two is inevitable. Change must be allowed to face and conquer the intimidation's of inward habit—and I repeat the warning that a nose-to-nose meeting will never be an easy one.
The flesh dies a slow, bitter, bloody death—kicking and struggling all the way down. "Putting off" the clothes of the old self (the old, habitual lifestyle) will not be complete until you are determined to "put on" the garment of the new self (the new, fresh, Christian lifestyle) [see Colossian 3:9–10]. The tailor's name is Change, and he is a master at fitting your frame. But the process will be painful . . . and costly.
Change—real change—takes place slowly. In first gear, not overdrive. Far too many Christians get discouraged and give up. Like ice skating or mastering a musical instrument or learning to water ski, certain techniques have to be discovered and developed in the daily discipline of living. Breaking habit patterns you established during the passing of years cannot occur in a few brief days. Remember that. "Instant" change is as rare as it is phony.
God did not give us His Word to satisfy our curiosity; He gave it to change our lives. Can you name a couple of specific changes God has implemented in your life during the past six or eight months? Has He been allowed, for example, to change your attitude toward someone . . . or an area of stubbornness . . . or a deep-seated habit that has hurt your home and hindered your relationship with others for a long, long time . . . or a pattern of discourtesy in your driving . . . or a profane tongue . . . or cheating . . . or laziness?
Perhaps a better question would be, "Exactly what changes do you have on your personal drawing board?"—or—"What are you asking the Lord to alter and adjust in your life that needs immediate attention?"
The tailor's real name is the Holy Spirit. You can count on Him to dispose of your old threadbare wardrobe as quickly as He outfits you with the new. By the way, He's also on call twenty-four hours a day when you have the urge to slip into the old duds "just one more time." If you ask Him, He'll help you remember what you looked like on the day you first walked into His shop. He has a mirror with memories—the Bible.
'Nuff said.
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