I know once that I read that Creflo Dollar preached that we could be rich, because Jesus was rich. I couldn't believe what I read. He was trying to make the Lord, the Alpha and Omega, the Son of God, into a hip leader who enjoyed the best homes of the area, because some of his disciples were very rich. He preached that the robe that Jesus wore was adorned with the best weaving and material of the time.
Thank the Lord that He is merciful today, because after reading about Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the apostle (by holding back part to the church, part of their property sale price). They lied to the Holy Spirit and therefore fell down dead.
I really believe we, here in the West, are going to be the ones in the very back rows, in heaven. The ones in the front rows are going to be those who had no bank accounts, and who worked together in groups towards the great call of God on their lives, to go from place to place where the gospel was never heard of, or those who live in reduced materialistic countries. There's absolutely no place for the kind of church we are witnessing today described in the bible. That kind of church is a man-made system that has bewitched us into thinking we are apostolic. We are anything but apostolic. I think that our western church leaders believe they are entitled to live like Solomon. Again, the over-reach backwards to the OT.
Still, I believe we are saved because of His saving grace. But we will expect to be pronounced exceptional christians and be in shock to find out we were nominal christians at best. Our talents were buried in the ground, or we may have only earned 1 or 2 talents and have not doubled our investment at all. I'm speaking to myself here. All this time I've been silently suffering in trying to justify, plead with the Lord, "What is it?" or "What is it all about?" - I now know that what it is, is this:
We can't expect to mature as christians here. Not in the way of the early church. Unless we get rid of our mortgages, are willing to leave our children and go to places where we might never see family again, or unless we give everything up, careers, investments, all the financial security implements and the lawnmover, and modern conveniences, we're just talkers of the talk, and not walkers of the walk.
I know too that the Lord understands we're stuck here and some of us are too old to start a work, but, the attitude of the church, which has done so little for the souls of men, beats it's chest and pats itself on the back as though it's the apple of God's eye. They don't realize their wretched and and poor and sick and have need of a spiritual physician.
Jackie the LORD wants us to love our children, not leave them. Family is precious to Him. He is not calling us to give everything up. To have a career, some investments and some financial security is a blessing of God.
What He desires is for us to use these "treasures" to His glory.
Hang onto your lawnmower, Jackie, for the grass will soon need mowing and let's keep investing in our children, for this is God's will.
But concerning brotherly love [for all other Christians], you have no need to have anyone write you, for you yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another.
And indeed you already are [extending and displaying your love] to all the brethren throughout Macedonia.
But we "beseech" and "earnestly" (exhort) you, brethren, that you excel [in this matter] more and more,
To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to -
*live quietly and peacefully,
*to mind your own affairs, and
*to work with your hands, as we charged you,
So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.
(Work with your hands)? so much for the name it and claim it..
Hi Julie, I can assure you that I am a diligent and devoted servant of Lord Jesus Christ.
Correction and rebuke belongs to the Christian walk too! When commentaries on this blog are potentially damaging I will always seek to point out a better way of thinking so that the LORD is truly glorified.
Let's remind our readers that Jesus willingly went to the cross for all types of sinners. In the holy Bible God commands us to pray for our enemies. No criminal is beyond the reach of the love of Christ, if they willing to trust and obey His voice.
Luke 14:33 "So therefore anyone of you who does not renounce all that he, or she has, cannot be my disciple" - declaring this as a believer and then actually doing it does determine certain attributes of a maturing faith. Placing yourself in any position to give up or lose something precious to you is -your choice- God will not love you any less. God will not love you any more when you do choose to walk away from things precious to you for the sake of doing a work to glorify Him. But doing so will transform you closer to the character of God... Your faith will expand, your abiding in Christ will be enriched, the Holy Spirit will dwell with you in ways many will only continue to read about in the scriptures. While you actually live it.
I was going to say, "D".
ReplyDeleteI know once that I read that Creflo Dollar preached that we could be rich, because Jesus was rich. I couldn't believe what I read. He was trying to make the Lord, the Alpha and Omega, the Son of God, into a hip leader who enjoyed the best homes of the area, because some of his disciples were very rich. He preached that the robe that Jesus wore was adorned with the best weaving and material of the time.
Thank the Lord that He is merciful today, because after reading about Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the apostle (by holding back part to the church, part of their property sale price). They lied to the Holy Spirit and therefore fell down dead.
I really believe we, here in the West, are going to be the ones in the very back rows, in heaven. The ones in the front rows are going to be those who had no bank accounts, and who worked together in groups towards the great call of God on their lives, to go from place to place where the gospel was never heard of, or those who live in reduced materialistic countries. There's absolutely no place for the kind of church we are witnessing today described in the bible. That kind of church is a man-made system that has bewitched us into thinking we are apostolic. We are anything but apostolic. I think that our western church leaders believe they are entitled to live like Solomon. Again, the over-reach backwards to the OT.
Still, I believe we are saved because of His saving grace. But we will expect to be pronounced exceptional christians and be in shock to find out we were nominal christians at best. Our talents were buried in the ground, or we may have only earned 1 or 2 talents and have not doubled our investment at all. I'm speaking to myself here. All this time I've been silently suffering in trying to justify, plead with the Lord, "What is it?" or "What is it all about?" - I now know that what it is, is this:
We can't expect to mature as christians here. Not in the way of the early church. Unless we get rid of our mortgages, are willing to leave our children and go to places where we might never see family again, or unless we give everything up, careers, investments, all the financial security implements and the lawnmover, and modern conveniences, we're just talkers of the talk, and not walkers of the walk.
I know too that the Lord understands we're stuck here and some of us are too old to start a work, but, the attitude of the church, which has done so little for the souls of men, beats it's chest and pats itself on the back as though it's the apple of God's eye. They don't realize their wretched and and poor and sick and have need of a spiritual physician.
J.
Jackie the LORD wants us to love our children, not leave them.
ReplyDeleteFamily is precious to Him.
He is not calling us to give everything up. To have a career, some investments and some financial security is a blessing of God.
What He desires is for us to use these "treasures" to His glory.
Hang onto your lawnmower, Jackie, for the grass will soon need mowing and let's keep investing in our children, for this is God's will.
Reine Gnade
Great wisdom to live by -
ReplyDelete1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
But concerning brotherly love [for all other Christians], you have no need to have anyone write you, for you yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another.
And indeed you already are [extending and displaying your love] to all the brethren throughout Macedonia.
But we "beseech" and "earnestly" (exhort) you, brethren, that you excel [in this matter] more and more,
To make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to -
*live quietly and peacefully,
*to mind your own affairs, and
*to work with your hands, as we charged you,
So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.
(Work with your hands)? so much for the name it and claim it..
Great verses from the Bible. Now these verses bring out what we need to know.
ReplyDeleteJosef Sefton
@ Reine Gnade,
ReplyDeleteI don't wish to sound rude but can you tell me which gospel you are following? It doesn't sound like the Gospel of Christ to me.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie, I can assure you that I am a diligent and devoted servant of Lord Jesus Christ.
Correction and rebuke belongs to the Christian walk too! When commentaries on this blog are potentially damaging I will always seek to point out a better way of thinking so that the LORD is truly glorified.
ReplyDeleteLet's remind our readers that Jesus willingly went to the cross for all types of sinners. In the holy Bible God commands us to pray for our enemies. No criminal is beyond the reach of the love of Christ, if they willing to trust and obey His voice.
Reine Gnade
Luke 14:33 "So therefore anyone of you who does not renounce all that he, or she has, cannot be my disciple" - declaring this as a believer and then actually doing it does determine certain attributes of a maturing faith. Placing yourself in any position to give up or lose something precious to you is -your choice- God will not love you any less. God will not love you any more when you do choose to walk away from things precious to you for the sake of doing a work to glorify Him. But doing so will transform you closer to the character of God... Your faith will expand, your abiding in Christ will be enriched, the Holy Spirit will dwell with you in ways many will only continue to read about in the scriptures. While you actually live it.
ReplyDelete