“Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.” (Ephesians 4:29 GNB)
Well, folks, it is confession time again. The other day I was talking with a friend in Christ and she said, “Michael, I am not perfect. Only God is.” Without thinking, I got into my old “fix it” mode and commenced to tell that dear friend about things I had seen in them that needed to be tweaked… of course by me!
Thank God that she pulled me up short in the midst of my “fix- her- upper” and said, “Why do you do this? This really hurts me when you go at me like this.” I heard the hurt in her voice, stopped and apologized. She asked if I got in that mode because of how my parents treated me. I had to think about that. I grew up with a mother who was constantly finding fault with me. Pick, pick, pick. And my dad could never affirm me no matter how hard I tried to please him. As I thought about it, I concluded that some kind of superiority complex is being fed when I chose to point out the faults of others. This pattern is hard to break after being instilled in me during my formative years, by the military, many bosses I have had and again by some church leadership that I have been under.
Yet, what does the Bible say about such things? How about the above verse? Don’t use harmful words! I am an expert at using words that go in like a knife. It just comes naturally. One of my sons was an expert at verbal put-downs. While in his teens, he walked up to a blond girl, looked closely at her hair and asked, “Tell me, how do you dye your roots brown like that?” He and his buddies got a big laugh out of it, but she did not.
No, this is not what our opening verse is talking about. We are to let only helpful words that build people up come out of our mouths. So many of us find it easier to pull people down. After all, Satan is the accuser of the brethren and all too often he is right there to put words in our mouths so we can damage our fellow members of the body of Christ. I am so thankful that this dear sister showed me my fault. It was the Lord speaking through her and by the time she was through, I had tears in my eyes for what I had done to her with my words. Paul wrote:
“But now I am happy—not because I made you sad, but because your sadness made you change your ways. That sadness was used by God, and so we caused you no harm. For the sadness that is used by God brings a change of heart that leads to salvation—and there is no regret in that! But sadness that is merely human causes death.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10 GNB)
Godly sorrow is a good thing. Paul has some hard things to say to the Corinthian church in his first letter, but because he spoke in the Spirit, it brought about a godly sorrow that led to their change of heart.
So what does it mean to speak words of correction under the influence of God? Paul wrote:
My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too. Help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2 GNB)
There are four requirements here to set someone on the right course:
- We must be in the Spirit and led of the Spirit in what we are saying.
- We must do it with all gentleness.
- We need to search our own hearts and ask, “Am I correcting this person for their good or just so I can feel superior to them?”
- Finally, we are to help carry our brother’s and sister’s burdens. Some of them still have things to overcome (God knows we all do), but it might not be God’s timing for us to step in and “adjust” them, especially if we are doing it so we can feel more comfortable being around them. If we are really spiritual, God’s love in us should empower us to not be so hasty. “Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs;” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 GNB)
I thanked this dear saint for calling me on my error. I had not been moved by the Spirit, but by pride in what I said. At first she didn’t want to say anything, just take it. The problem is that if we do not bring it to the Lord’s light when people wrong us, they are apt to do it again and make the rift between the two of us that much worse. If we are moved by the Spirit and are operating in His love, we can show another their error even when they are offending us. This too will be to their edification in the Spirit as the Lord empowers them to change.
We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. Instead, we should all please other believers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, “The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me.” (Romans 15:1-3 GNB)
God puts a high premium on unity and edification in the body of Christ. Let us always try to be motivated by God’s love and pray first to get God’s leading before we start correcting one of his precious ones. Let us build up others and provide what is needed, so that what you we say will do good to those who hear us.
Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:22-27 RSVA)
By the way, this sister and I both were blessed by the way that God led us to overcome in this situation and His love still binds us together in Christ as members one of another.
A Wilderness Voice 
Oh, I so love the pic you posted on here, Michael!!! WOWEE – I am melting away like ice in the sunshine… 🙂
As for your blog post, it has been God-inspired, you know. 😉 Beautifully written and inspiring, too!
Regarding your four requirements to set someone on the right course, I was just wondering whether there might be another aspect that could be taken into consideration. I remember times when I did not know that I had helped someone to rethink their behavior. It was only when they told me about it that I would realize that God had used me without me knowing about it. As I did on my Facebook page, I decided to link to Tullian Tchividjian’s helpful article about God-given self-forgetfulness here.
http://www.pastortullian.com/2011/12/05/the-gift-of-self-forgetfulness/
Since I had commented on that “old” post 😉 it seems God has changed a lot in my life – without me realizing it once again! God’s power is so subtle. Comparing His power with Satan’s roaring (like a lion), I am constantly amazed at our Creator’s tender love for His creation. His doing is so “silent”; we only get aware of it when our hearts and minds are silent too…
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Susanne, you brought up an important issue here. As we mature IN Christ, we become less conscious of our own DOINGS, at least doing things intentionally to do God or His saints some “service.” Why? Because as we grow IN Christ we find that it is not so much our DOING that HE is after, but rather our BEING. And that very BEING Is Christ IN us who is the hope of glory… living in Him in the presence of the Father. Thus what Paul told those Greeks that day becomes a reality, “In HIM we live and move and have our being.” We are called as members of Christ’s body and as such we should be answering to our Head instead of each member having a mind of its own, doing what it thinks is best.
So, with this in mind, I think you are perfectly right. We should be less conscious of our actions because they are not being generated by us any longer, but by Him. Like I have said in the past, “I do my best work ‘for God’ when I am unaware that I have done anything for Him.”
Yes, being silent before the Lord is so important. Satan roars and tries to get us to do his will, but God whispers and nudges us so tenderly to do His.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Selah]
(Psalms 46:10-11 RSVA)
Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.
(Isaiah 26:2-3 RSVA)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful revelations God has given you, dear sister. The things you share are a blessing to us all. ⭐ 🐻
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ISAIAH 11 VS 1-5 TELLS ABOUT THE OUTSTANDING QUALITIES OF CHRIST, THEN, VS 6-8:
(THE SYMBOTIC PICTURE OF PERFECTED PASTORAL TRANQUILITY STEMS FROM THE
EARTH IS BEING FULL OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD. SUCH CONDITIONS IMPLY
GOD’S REDEEMED AND RECREATED WORLD CONDITIONS) that will be in the future, In the
( )is a quote from my Spirit filled Bible about vs 6-8.:”THE WOLF SHALL DWELL WITH THE LAMB. THE LEOPARD..=YOUNG GOAT…CALF AND THE YOUNG LION…will be together.
A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM. COW & BEAR SHALL GRAZE. ..THE LION SHALL EAT
STRAW LIKE THE OX. Young CHILD SHALL PLAY IN THE COBRA’S HOLE.” lower case is
my interpretation.
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Thanks, Bernie.
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Oh Michael and Suzanne, my precious siblings in CHRiST. What a great and powerful admonition you have shared. I am sooo happy that none of what y’all wrote pertains to me…YEAH RIGHT. All of it, not some but all of it resonates in spirit and makes my flesh cringe. Michael the longer I have know you the more I have come to realize that you and I are a lot alike in many ways. Primarily in the area of our ability to, “fix pretty much anything.” That is an admirable trait when it comes to repairing broken things, but not so much when dealing with human beings. Y’all notice I didn’t say, “human doings.” Humans are not, “things,” but the living breathing image of God. Genesis 1:26-28
26 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth,[h] and the creatures that crawl[i] on the earth.”
27 So God created man in His own image;
He created him in the image of God;
He created them male and female.
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls[j] on the earth.”
Only our heavenly Father is qualified and equipped to, fix us up. That said, I recently turned in my, “God card,” and have stopped trying to fix the broken ones abound me. But to love them with the Love of the Lord.
Michael, I’m sure you remember this old song by Gene Pitney, “Only Love Can Break a Heart, Only Love Can Mend It Again.” Here are the lyrics. A great fit I think. And, I believe if you listen really close you can hear the voice of the only one who will break our hearts and then lovingly mend them again.
“Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it again
Last night, I hurt you but darlin’ remember this
Only love can break a heart only love can mend it again, hmm, hmm
You know I’m sorry, I’ll prove it with just one kiss
Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it agai-ai-ain
Give me a chance to make up for the harm I’ve done
Try to forgive me and let’s keep the two of us one
Please let me hold you and love you for always and always
Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it agai-ai-ain
Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it again.”
My heart weeps as I realize just how much HE loves us. So much so that HE is committed all of Heaven’s best toward our becoming just like HiM.
HUGS to all,
ken
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Thanks for the very edifying comment, Ken! Yes, you and I have VERY much in common. I am so glad that we have met in person and had a chance to see one another for real! I also have turned in my “God card” as the one who thinks he has to set everyone right and point out their “wrongs.” Paul’s words on this regard ring in my ears,
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judge: for in what you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.” (Romans 2:1 KJ2000)
“Who are you that judge another man’s servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be held up: for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4 KJ2000)
I am afraid my dear wife, whom you have met, has born the brunt of my “self-appointed God” judgements. I have her edit all my blog posts and after she read this last one, I asked her to be honest and talk to me about it and how it fit our relationship. What a blessing she is! Imagine 49 years of living with someone like me! She was more merciful with me than I would have been. Yes, only love can break a heart and only love can mend it again. Dorothy is quite the “seamstress.”
You wrote, “My heart weeps as I realize just how much HE loves us. So much so that HE is committed all of Heaven’s best toward our becoming just like HiM.” Yes, my brother! Imagine God sending His own Son to get down in the trenches with us and identifying with all our sins and weaknesses so He could stand before the Father as our Intercessor and High Priest, all so we could become the sons and daughters of God just like Jesus, the first born of many brethren.
Hugs back to you and your precious family,
Michael
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Thanks, for sharing about man in the image of God with the job of having dominion over creation.
We must assume that Adam & Eve had communion with God since He met with them after the
fall MET WITH THEM IN THE COOL OF THE DAY.l. We know they lost everything with the fall.
Recently, in meditating on Colossians ch 1- vs 18-20. V 20:” thru Him (Christ), to reconcile all things toHimself having made peace thru the cross.. The definition or reconcile is “return to the former state. SO, WITH THE WORK OF CHRIST FOR US. IN THE SPRIT, WE ONCE AGAIN CAN
BE LIKE ADAM & EVE BEFORE THE FALL!
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Good point on that Colossians verse, Bernie! Imagine walking with no guilt or pain or shame with God as a close friend in total peace and harmony with all His creation, but that is what Jesus came to make the way for this to be ours. Amen!
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our weaknesses; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:14-16 KJ2000)
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Hi Bernie – I love the things you have shared here! A couple years ago I was studying Genesis and I learned something that I think you will like. It was a surprise to me . . . see what you think. Here it is: Before the fall in Eden, Adam and Eve knew nothing about God’s grace and mercy. How could they know this since grace and mercy only come into play against sin and failure! Can you see it? Also justice and righteousness are revealed only against the backdrop of injustice and unrighteousness. But the “sit up and take notice” part for me was grace and mercy since I feel such awe and gratitude for these attributes of our wonderful God! So much did God desire fellowship with the creatures made in His own image — that His immediate response was to cover them and set them on a path where they could still have a relationship with Him! The question put to me by the person who showed me this was “Would you rather live in a state of innocence for all eternity, or know the full range of God’s love?” I had to think about that for a bit. I had never thought about the specific meaning of innocence before and this understanding added several rich layers to the meaning of grace and mercy. I hope it does the same for you! (I also learned that the Biblical meaning of reconciled means “to make peace with the offended party” — God has made peace with us through the blood of His Son. Whew! We will not be the subject of the wrath of a righteous and just God). Grace and mercy is awesome!! All we have to do is learn to have some of that for the people we know (Great post, Michael — much thanks. I needed this one!).
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Lori, thanks for sharing this. I have felt for some time that where God is taking us through all this process of salvation is beyond what was possible before the fall. He could make man in his image, but to be made into fully mature sons and daughters, that takes a process that leads to maturity and is not instant. If Jesus had to learn obedience to His Father by the things that He suffered, how much more we? Yes, grace and mercy! We love Him, not because He has programed us to, but because we chose to because He first loved us as we are. As we abide in that love, His mercy and Jesus’ truth meets together in us (Psalm 85:10). Glad to hear my post was used by Him to meet your need, dear sister!
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LORI: I THINK THE MOST LESSON WE CAN GET ABOUT ADAM AND EVE’S FALL IS THIS:
GENESIS CHAPTER 3 V 21: I ASSUME THAT GOD KILLED A LAMB TO MAKE GARMENTS
FOR THEM TO COVER THEIR NAKEDNESS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AN INNOCENT
LAMB WAS SACRIFICED TO COVER THEM.
, ABEL SACRIFICED A LAMB THAT WAS ACCEPTED BY GOD. SOMEHOW
EVEN THEN HE KNEW THAT WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THEIR IS NO
REMISSION OF SIN. HEBREWS 9 V 22. IST JOHN CH 1 V 7….AND THE BLOOD OF
JESUS CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN.SO. FROM. ADAM UNTIL CHRIST BLOOD WAS
SHED TO COVER SIN UNTIL JESUS AS THE “LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKETH AWAY THE
SINS OF THE WORLD” JOHN 1 V 29. EVEN GOD HAD A (PLAN B). REVELATIONS 13 V 6:
CHRIST WAS SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!
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I’m trackin’ with you Bernie! Genesis 3 and 4 are full of deep truth for those who want to see it. Even many Bible ‘scholars’ deny that God rejected Cain’s offering for want of blood. As if God wanted some kind of “gift” from a creature who was carefully designed to share fellowship with Him. The lie (the serpent’s lie) runs deep throughout the history of the world — but so does the truth: God is the One who gives, we are the receivers. He is an outpouring God who delights to give all He can if we would only set aside ‘self’ and just open our hands and hearts to Him so that He can nourish the New Creation life in us! Bless His holy Name!!
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OF COURSE, THERE ARE MANY EVIDENCES ABOUT COMMUNION WITH GOD. ONE I
CAN THINK ABOUT IS REV 3 V 20 “BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND WILL
DINE WITH HIM AND HE WITH ME,” (HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE LIKE ZACCHEUS?)
THERE ARE MANY HYMS THAT SPEAK ABOUT COMMUNION, EMBRACE, IN THE ARMS,
WALKS WITH ME: FOR INSTANCE, FANNY CROSBY’S I AM THINE….WHEN I KNEEL IN
PRAYER AND WITH THEE MY GOD, I COMMUNE LIKE FRIEND WITH FRIEND,” AND
ELIZA HEWITT: “MORE ABOUT JESUS IN HIS WORD HOLDING COMMUNION WITH MY LORD HEARING HIS VOICE IN EVERY LINE, MAKING EACH FAITHFUL SAYING
MINE”
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WOW!!! Bernie, that comment was truly God-inspired!
As Jesus revealed Himself more and deeper to me regarding intimacy in 2008, it was exactly Rev 3:20 which began to resonate with me and that verse acquired a meaning of which I had not thought before – at all. Thanks for the reminder, dear brother! 🙂
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Susanne, Thanks for your sharing. It brings me back to the joy we have in Jesus. Jude 24-25
“NOW, UNTO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING AND PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH EXCEEDING JOY. TO THE ONLY WISE GOD
OUR SAVIOR BE GLORY AND MAJESTY, DOMINION AND POWER BOTH NOW AND
FOREVER, AMEN” and Zephaniah3 v 17.”THE LORD,THY GOD IS I N THE MIDST OF THEE
IS MIGHTY. HE WILL SAVE AND REJOICE OVER THEE WITH”JOY. HE WILL REST
IN HIS LOVE. HE WILL REJOICE OVER THEE WITH SINGING
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This is so true and well put. Very similar to what God showed me recently here:
Glad to see the Spirit confirming and emphasizing the same things.
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Ryan, Thanks for your comment. Yes it is great to see that we are hearing the Spirit say the same things. I looked at your blog article and found you said this, “The tongue is simply an outlet to express the heart (mind, awareness, thoughts), so the heart is the real issue. That being said, our words are uniquely important because they carry the internal things of our heart into the external world, with tremendous potential for a lasting positive or negative influence on the hearts of others. (A simple example would be this). James seems find it especially repulsive that our tongue is used as an instrument of both blessing and poison/cursing, using several analogies to show how perverse this is.” You make a great point here about the connection of the tongue to the heart. It was this very verse from James that I wrote an earlier blog speaking about this same subject:
“Out of the Same Mouth”
https://awildernessvoice.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/out-of-the-same-mouth/
God bless you, my brother!
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LORI: WHEN GOD ASKED WHAT THEY DID AT THE FALL SHE SAID: ‘HE DECEIVED ME”
WHEN THE SERPENT GOT EVE’S ATTENTION. SHE THOUGHT:”LOOKED GOOD FOR
FOOD, WAS PLEASENT TO THE EYES, AND WOULD MAKE HER WISE.
SO, NOW THE SAME PROBLEM IS OURS WHEEN WE LIVE BY THE WORLD!1ST
JOHN 2 V 16 :DO NOT LIVE BY THE WORLD! The problems for us if we do: PROBLEMS
(FOR US: LUSTS OF THE FLESH: LUSTS OF THE EYES AND PRIDE OF LIFE,THESE
ARE THE VERY THING EVEN DID: lust: excess desire for appetite satisfaction.
so,LUST OF THE FLESH (GOOD FOR FOOD) OF THE EYES,.WAS FOOD THAT LOOKED
WITH THE EYES : THIS IS THE PLEASANT FEELING WHEN ONE OBEYS THE
LUST OF THE FLESH! SEE PLEASANT ABOVE. PRIDE OF LIFE, (TO MAKE HER WISE.
(The serpent said: “iIF YOU EAT YOU REMEMBER WILL BE LIKE GOD=KNOWING GOOD AND
EVIL. (REMEMBER GOD SAID EAT NOT THIS TREE. SO, WHEN SHE THOUGHT: EATING
OF I WOULD MAKE HER WISE THIS IS DISOBEYING GOD) SO, HER WISE: WAS .
THE PRIDE OF LIFE. SO, PRIDE IS DISOBEYING GOD’S RULES). If you wish, I could
give you present examples for one who lives like the world.)
NOW HOW WE CAN OBEY GOD AND NOT YEILD TO TEMPTATIONS:
FIRST: :JESUS WAS TEMPTED AS WE WITHOUT SIN: HEBREWS 44 V 15.
JAMES 1 VS 13-17:”obeying lust of the flesh leads to sin) v 16 HE SAYS DO NOT
BE DECEIVED. (not like Eve who was deceived)
INSTEAD, OBEY (v 17) “ACCEPT (EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT FROM
THE FATHER OF LIGHTS WHO HAS NO SHADOW OF TURNING.!
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Yes, Bernie. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. That was Eve’s temptation and it was the basis of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness. And guess what? That is the root of all of our enemy’s temptations to this day. The flesh, the natural man, the old Adam, is a sucker for these. This is why we need the working of the cross in the form of our Father’s chastisement to deal with this (See Heb. 12:1-12). Jesus was able to say, “The prince of this world is come and he has found nothing in me.” God is doing all He can to bring each of us to this point as well. As Paul wrote, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”
(Ephesians 4:13 KJ2000).
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
(Romans 8:12-14 KJ2000)
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WHEN WE LIVE ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES, WE CAN CLAIM:
ROMANS 8 V 1 “THERE IS THEREFORE, NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE IN
CHRIST JESUS . v 2 FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS
HAS SET YOU FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.”
Paul told the Galatians to leave this law of sin and death and ch 5 v 1: “STAND FAST
IN THE LIBERTY BY WHICH CHRIST HAS SET US FREE AND BE NOT ENTANGLED
AGAIN WITH THE YOKE OF BONDAGE.”
g
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Bernie, These are two great scriptures about Christ’s freeing work in us with a warning to not go back under the bondage of law keeping, for sure. Frankly, I am not much into “claiming” scriptures. It reminds me too much of the “blab it and grab it” prosperity teachings of the rich pulpiteers. But rather I try and surrendering to Christ and be grateful for all He has done and is doing in my life and am glad to read about it in the Bible when He shows it to me by personal revelation that that is what He is doing.
“Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.” (Psalms 19:13 KJV)
Michael
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Bernie – I would ask you to take another look at Romans 8. It does not say “if you live such and such a way there is no condemnation” for Paul makes it clear that FIRST we are free from condemnation and the law of sin and death because we now have the Spirit of the life in Christ Jesus living in us (New Creation life); THEREFORE we are no longer slaves to sin and death. The result is that we will no longer (as we give ourselves over to the Spirit, turning away from the flesh, [first Adam] life as the Spirit works within) be subject to the law of sin and death. It’s so easy to hear commands, and “you should’s” in Paul’s writings — I struggled with this for so many years. How can this be grace if he keeps telling me I should do this and this? But the Greek constructions he uses, and the context, ALWAYS presupposes, and makes the point, that Christ has taken us out of Adam and put us into Christ. THEREFORE, SINCE you are in Christ you will no longer walk according to the flesh and love the things of the world. Of course, this is a growth process as He shows us specific areas of our lives where we are not living in the Spirit. He does this so we can ENJOY the abiding life. There is, therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!! Hallelujah!!
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Excellent post. I thought of the words of Jesus in Luke 6: 31.” And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” This is a motivation check. Would I want the person that I am considering correcting, correcting me, if the situation were reversed. I still remember the Holy Spirit bringing that verse to my attention in a classroom situation that happened over 50 years ago. The results were good. God be praised.
Thank you for your sharing.
Love in Him,
Pat Orr
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Great comment, Pat. I keep remembering His words that are similar to this one, that we will have measured out to us the with the same measure we dose it out to others. As we judge so shall we be judged. If we show mercy we will receive mercy and if we show harsh judgement we will receive harsh judgement. I have seen this work in my own life and after being on the receiving end of what I was dealing out for years, I finally took these promises to heart and asked Him to change my heart. I would much rather be found by the God of all mercy showing mercy than taking it upon myself to be the judge… Only ONE is our judge, and that is the Father and thank God He knows us after the Spirit of Christ in us and not after the flesh.
Love you, my sister!
Michael
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That’s a great story and it shows just how it should go in the family of Gods children–we make mistakes with each other and its pointed out so we recant and then we regather and share Gods life once again–is that not how it works in marriage and family relations ? I mean my son tried to rob a restaurant and was caught and is doing prison time–but he still is my son.
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Kenneth,
I am sorry to hear about your son. “Father, please let this time in prison be used by you to put a deep hunger in his heart for you. Amen.
I agree, Christians are all too quick to shun or distance themselves when offended with another saint. We are the family of God and should treat one another with the same love and kindness that Christ has for each of us. All to often we live lives with our fellow saints that say, “I have no need of thee.”
As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, (1 Corinthians 12:20-23 RSVA)
Instead the church when functioning correctly walks in the light together and if anyone sins the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. We have been given all that we need to dwell together in unity if we will just put the health of Christ’s body ahead of our own pride.
Bless you my brother!
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I love your post on this. I think I’ve probably done some “correcting” in the past. But I am learning over time to just simply let things go and let God take care of it! I just try to keep focused on loving God and one another best as I possibly can.
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