Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Has God's be aware and required of us nudges toward America about to reach his final patience point with it?

The demands for people of Good character according to God's Word are more needed then ever before.

Our culture does not value it, yet it insists on it.

Just watch the news and see how people with no character attack by unfounded accusations even though they have done it themselves.



We celebrate practices one day then loathed them the next day for the same practices. Other word: Once before, they worked. Now, they do not. Therefore, character once absent was not sought. Once not needed, it is now needed and sought.



Spiritual con artists proliferate just as well as the financial con artist. 

The Apostle Paul instructs Titus in chapter 1 how to put the church in good, effective working order – it was paramount to find men to wear the mantle of the shepherd so that people would be led honestly and biblically in a genuine spiritual walk. 

Americas primary danger is bound up in nothing less than con artists who were intent on scamming by teaching a mixture of truth and error. 


Frankly, wherever the seeds of truth are sown, the seeds of deception were close by. There’s no such thing as a lawn or garden without weeds. Those who serve as shepherds must not only sow the seeds of truth but pull out the seeds of dangerous deceptions and what Paul called in doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1) – that is, doctrines that seem orthodox and correct, but actually mislead someone and take them through the doors of religion and into the jaws of hell.

And as Satan just so happens to be a master at deception and really good at it so are his advocates and their favorite scam is where many have been distracted and divided and even destroyed, as one author put it, to drape his lies in the beautiful robes of truth then hides deceptions behind smiling masks and encouraging promises.  So, the Spiritual Titus gotta be able to spot the lie – and expose the liars . . . and for that will need to select people who can do the same with spiritual discernment and courage.



Paul goes further here in verse 10 by describing these false teachers as empty talkers. 

This is the only time this adjective is found in the entire New Testament. 

It refers to someone who uses worthless words – someone who uses impressive language with little or no solid content of truth.


They are fluent, but shallow.v  In other words, they are great at making speeches, but when you evaluate the content of their speech, they are biblically shallow at best, but deceptively misleading at worst.One author said, “You can always spot those who don’t teach the truth by the way they so beautifully say absolutely nothing.They’re slick . . . they’re smooth . . . they are persuasive and pleasing and captivating. Try to pin them down on some matter of Biblical truth and they’ll most always somehow try get out of it.

Have you realized that your debt has been cleared, your sin has been covered, and your dread has been replaced with wonder and eternity?

Then, why Do you not obey my calls and precepts? 

What is in the way? 


Are you that willing to have God bring you down to your knees to wallow in debt and sin?


Paul's will was conquered with a sense of gratitude and indebtedness to Christ, this fueled his faith and character.
Are you totally submitted to God's ways? Do you feel indebted, or do you feel owed (1 Cor. 6:19-20)? 

Being "poured out" means to take the focus off yourself and place it on others, as Christ did for us.
Paul spent his life to express it! Jesus gives us the ultimate example of being poured out (Matt 26:28; Rom. 5:5)! Our response is John 3: 5; 30; Rom. 1:15-17; Phil. 2:14-18!

Paul's will was also conquered with a sense of gratitude and indebtedness to Christ, this too produced his character. Are you totally submitted to God's ways? Do you feel indebted, or do you feel owed (1 Cor. 6:19-20)? Being "poured out" means to take the focus off yourself and place it on others, as Christ did for us. Paul spent his life to express it! Jesus gives us the ultimate example of being poured out (Matt 26:28; Rom. 1:15-17; 5:5)! Our response is John 3: 5; 30; Phil. 2:14-18!

Character speaks for itself. We never owe people an explanation or excuse to be the person that God called us to be.
It is the moral,virtuous,spiritual foundation that holds the frame of our actions and the siding of how we are to others.

We earn it through self-surrender. It does not lie on the shelves of the store for us to buy.Character is supported from truth that reinforces the life and actions we are called to emulate.

Charisma and image are more of a value to society as we observed in the recent presidential election. Character was considered irrelevant so character lost out this time. Instead of blaming our hardships on all others, we need to re-learn and grow, enabling us to receive and reinstate the character lost we once had.

Character will flourish later if we build it up early. We have to be able to admit when we are wrong, to confess, grow, and go from there. 
This will allow us to grow the fastest and strongest.

Real character especially when one is a sworn servant of the people as their oath'd politician will not cave in under pressure, and will resent the temptation to compromise knowing in God's eyes, when you remain in His character, and learn from His precepts, you are a winner.


John tells us that He must increase and we must decrease (John 3:29-30). If we refuse this vital call, God just may allow hardships to come our way, breaking us down as an example before birth right rest.


As a good loving parent will discipline his children this would not be a personal attack; rather a way all Birth Rights can grow that was better used by our Lord (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:27; 1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23-24; 1 Pet. 1:5). 

In order to escape God's wrath toward nation We have to be willing to be identified with God no matter what the cost, as the rewards will be far greater than we could ever imagine! 

So, will we be willing to reduce to be real as the persons all were called out to be by Jesus Christ ?
Character is like exercise. 
We cannot just get fit with the occasional haphazard effort, we have to be constant as it is with anything in the spiritual life.

Days left until 2018 midterm elections:

Let us use our lives for His glory so we point people to Christ with passion, integrity, and consistency!


God chose to withdraw Himself from Israel because He realized He had nothing in common with her. They could not walk together any longer. 




Thursday, October 25, 2018

Prepare to Meet Your God! "The handwriting is on the wall" and the outlook is grim.


The Lord, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5), has roared against Israel to take heed. 

When a ... In other wordsGod is warning: "Don't be a birdbrain!

Amos although not a happy book to read is the real time eye of prevention concerning God was not pleased at all! 

He was deadly serious! If the people would not repent, they were doomed!


When a lion roars, anyone within hearing distance should change the direction of his path, especially if the lion is very close!

When the divine Lion roars, the people need to shake off their complacency because His roar means He is about to spring into action! He means what He says about living His way of life, and He follows through when we depart from it.

Symbolically and metaphorically, the roar of a lion or the crack of thunder shows the imminent intervention of God in human affairs (I Samuel 2:10Isaiah 29:631:4Hosea 11:9-11Revelation 16:18).

Israel's economic base pastures had already begun to feel the effects of God's roaring against the supposed stronghold of Baal as the result of God's judgment.

The prophets are to use those effects to illustrate that God is not an absentee landlord. He governs His creation (Psalm 104; Matthew 6:26) and knows everything that happens in it (Psalm 139; Matthew 10:29). He has neither abdicated nor delegated these responsibilities. If calamity strikes, God is involved in some way, possibly executing judgment.


Amos 3:Birds cannot fall into a snare when there is no trap (verse 5), but the trap always springs when one walks into it.

Some people, like birds, unwittingly stumble into trouble. Oblivious to everything around them, they fall into traps, like being swindled by con men or crafty deceivers. God's people are often just like birds, unsuspectingly going to their destruction, unmindful of the dangers around them. In other words, God is warning: "Don't be a birdbrain!" We must think about the direction that we are heading. In His mercy, God always warns His people of coming calamity, either through His prophets (Amos 3:7) or through escalating disasters that lead to His ultimate judgment.

Amos 3:3 stands alone without a second question following it: "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" It pictures a couple who have arranged to meet and do something together; they have a date. In the language of the Bible, this agreement is a covenant. God considered His covenant with Israel to be a marriage (Isaiah 54:5Jeremiah 3:8, 14). Could the silent second question be: "Can a marriage be restored if the bill of divorce has already been issued?"

But there came a point in Israel's history that it was too late. The die had been cast. Repentance was no longer possible. The trumpet blew, the trap sprang, the lion pounced. Through Amos, God is warning our nations today that similar, devastating calamities lie just ahead, and escape from them is still possible.
As yet, the lion has not pounced—it is not too late.







God chose to withdraw Himself from Israel because He realized He had nothing in common with her. They could not walk together any longer. 


But in Amos' day, the divorce was not yet final; reconciliation 
between God and His people was still possible.







Monday, October 15, 2018

Here’s the real deal: Community is God’s desire for us—and a sign of a mature faith.

Don’t take it from us, the Bible has a lot to say about this topic! 

People are everywhere! Even so, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in our own lives that we don’t take the time to really get to know others. We might mingle between worship songs or catch up in the break room at work, but that probably isn’t real, authentic community.

Here are four reasons the Bible says community is so great.

1. Community is encouraging.
Being in community gives you the chance to be around people at different stages of their faith journey—and to bear their burdens alongside of them (Galatians 6:2). That’s awesome, because everyone has something to teach and to learn. In fact, it creates the ideal environment to be a Barnabas (friend), pursue a Paul (teacher), or train a Timothy (student).

What it comes down to is lifting each other up, learning from one another, and being the friend each of us needs. That’s how Hebrews describes community:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV).


2. Community is fun.

Community should never feel boring or forced. In fact, it should be the exact opposite. Psalm 133:1 (NIV) tells us, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” 



Our culture can sometimes portray Christians as a pretty boring bunch. But that couldn’t (or shouldn’t) be further from the truth! Believers can be goofy, witty and just really fun to be around. Yes, community has a higher purpose. But it should also be enjoyable!


3. Community attracts the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says the Holy Spirit is present whenever believers gather together (Matthew 18:20). A great example of this was the early church of Acts, which made a habit of meeting together, eating together, and worshiping together. As a result, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46–47 NIV).

Being in church on Sundays is definitely important. But if you want to be a Christ follower, be one every day in the context of all your communities. That’s where you’ll see ministry happen.


4. Community fosters love.
We’ve probably all been to a wedding where the officiant recited the familiar words of 1 Corinthians 13, which ends with, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Paul held love above all else in his letter to the Corinthians. And he did the same with his letter to the Colossians: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:13–14 NIV).
Community is life-giving—and essential to following Christ. Scripture says that’s because we’re better together than we are alone (Romans 12:4–5).
It can be hard for some of us to commit to community, especially if we’re guarded or prefer solitude. But community is God’s desire for us—and a sign of a mature faith. Because at the end of the day, when we grow in our relationships with others, we’re growing in relationship with Him!
People need healthy relationships to win at life.
In other words, we need the accountability and support that come when others invest in our lives. Centuries ago, King Solomon explained it this way: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).Here are three important lenses to help keep a proper perspective. The first is the Ownership lens, which reminds me that God owns it all. I’m just a manager of His stuff for His glory. 
The second is the Magnification lens, which reminds me that wealth always makes me more of what I am. If I’m a jerk, wealth will make me more of a jerk. If I’m generous, wealth will make me more generous.
Now, the third filter is the Community lens, and that’s where relationships really make a difference. Leadership and relationship coaches have been known to say that everyone needs a teacher, a student and a friend. As Christians, we might tweak it just a little bit to say that everyone needs a Paul, a Timothy and a Barnabas.
Your “Paul” is the mentor who pours his life and wisdom into your life, while your “Timothy” receives the same blessing from you. Each of these are pretty easy. love to sit at the feet of people who are further along the journey than you are, and have some incredible mentors through the years. Be a natural teacher, so pouring Your life into someone else really energizes you. But one of the best decisions one can ever make is to surround yourself with an incredible group of “Barnabas” friends.
Invest in one another. 
Talk about our struggles together. Study Scriptures together. Read books together. Basically, do life together.

When a member of your Spiritual Group calls you out on something, take it very seriously. Their words carry weight. Why? Because they’ve invested in you, and they’ve earned the right to speak into your life.
God works through each of the relationships in our lives. He uses a Paul to guide us. He uses a Timothy to help us mature. And He uses a Barnabas to challenge us.
 In response, we should always be learning, teaching and loving.We should be iron sharpening iron.













Have you ever known anyone who wasted his or her life?
Someone who began with great potential because of God’s gifts of intelligence or creativity or personality & yet never lived up to the promise of those qualities?
Here is where Americas future is at stake in which looks to follow it's bad leaders mindsets as admired Examples worth perusing.