DANCE OF FIRE

I wrote the content on this blog with sincere and holy intentions with the knowledge that I had at the time... We live, learn and amend...as errors are exposed and more truths are revealed...

Only GOD is perfect. It's vital that you seek the Lord to expose any errors that you've embraced. Please ask Him to expose any areas of darkness to you and for what is necessary to do to dispossess what's NOT of truth.

###

POETRY: DANCE OF FIRE

Flames of fire dance joyfully as dreams of fervor conjure up images of red hot passion for the gusto of life.

Sizzle, spark, explode -

Fireballs light up the sky. Wow! a thunder flash with a clap -

The flames are vivid with the awesome glow of orange colors blended with yellow highlights that accent the blaze.

This display is the bomb torched with a rocket plan. Such rapture has lit our fire. We are dynamite on this journey.

Come on fire, fall on us. Pour your liquid potency. Ignite our souls that we may be engulfed with magnified intensity.

Blow up our hearts. Dance with us....

Sandra

Copyright 2010

###

Copyright 2014 - Content on this blog, except content from the King James Holy Bible, which is in the public domain.

Also, excerpts from the works of other authors here is in compliance with section 107 - Fair Use - of the U.S. Copyright law - and/or by permission of the authors.


Note: You can certainly share content from this blog. At the end of each post, share options -- e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc. are listed. Each share option contains a link to this blog. Using the share options shown below each post does NOT violate copyright law - since links to this blog are included in the subject share options.

Additional note: Copyright law does allow others to use, without prior permission from original authors, brief excerpts from the work of original authors. Brief excerpts from this blog may be copied and pasted elsewhere, provided the name of the original authors be included in locations where you choose to post. Copying and pasting elsewhere - ENTIRE posts without the permission of original authors ISN'T in compliance with U.S. Copyright law.

If you elect to go beyond brief excerpts from this blog, please use the share options shown after each post. All of those options include links to this blog.

Thank you.

Monday, July 4, 2011

I'VE BEEN REBUKED SHARPLY...

Greetings -

Scriptures are from the King James Bible.

When I did my post yesterday titled, "CREDIBILITY, COURTESY AND REQUEST FOR PRAYER," one commenter mentioned balance.  I so agree with her that we need to exercise balance with love, of course, in the mix. 

We can be at extremes where we never, or rarely, rebuke each other or at extremes where we rebuke in excess.  I have heard it stated by several Christians, as well as in the media, that a well-known pastor soft pedals the gospel and avoids preaching about hell and other "uncomfortable" biblical topics.  I happen to believe that the subject pastor is a loving man of GOD.  My inclination, though, is not to watch his programming because his style is not one that appeals to me.  

Recently, I read an article by a Christian woman who stressed that the church is silent too much.  She blamed church silence for some of the wrongs that have been allowed to progress in society.  She went on to state that we need to be reformers.  I looked up reform.  It says: make changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it:.. - Source - The New Oxford American Dictionary.  The author expressed the need for us to cease to be silent about the gospel in places outside of the church walls.  The gospel needs to be proclaimed and lived before heathen witnesses in government, medicine, science, politics, economics, etc.  Our Lord deals with us all uniquely.  I believe that it is wise to seek Him to learn how He needs to use us as reformers in our communities, schools, governments and other places where the gospel needs to spoken and shown.  Our forefathers built this country on the precepts of the Holy Bible.   

Back to the matter of rebuke....I've been rebuked sharply.  Titus 1:13 says, "This witness is true.  Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they many be sound in the faith."  I have learned to be appreciative of rebuke, sharp or otherwise, that I know comes from our Lord.  Last month I was in a deep conversation with a man who, for the most part, is backslidden from our Lord.  During our conversation, when I began to interrupt him to say what I was inclined to say, he sharply told me, "The Lord told me to tell you to shut up."  Immediately, I knew that it was the Lord speaking to me through him - and immediately I shut up.  As we continued to deeply converse, I began again to interrupt him to say what I was inclined to say.  He sharply told me, "The Lord told me again to tell you to shut up."  And again, I knew that it was our Lord...and again, immediately I shut up.  I didn't get angry about the sharp rebukes.  Gratitude is what registered in my spirit.

Last year on a city bus, a stranger, who happened to be a Christian, publicly rebuked me sharply when she heard me speak out of order to someone on the bus.  When she rebuked me, immediately I knew that it was our Lord speaking through her to me.  I thanked her.  Another person on the bus attempted to engage me in conversation again.  My reply was that I didn't have anything else to say because the Lord had used that woman to shut me up.      

This morning a man rebuked me and our Lord revealed to me that it was NOT of Him.  I disregarded...what the man said because it was not for me, as our Lord had clearly revealed. 

There are some Christians who resist the rebuke aspects of the Holy Bible.  Some express that it is up to GOD to judge and to rebuke.  That is true but GOD sometimes uses people to express His judgments and rebukes.  That is full gospel truth according to what is written in the pages of the Bible in the Old and New Testaments.  Certainly, GOD is the JUDGE of all judges.  But He does use people to judge and to rebuke. 

Many people misuderstand the scripture in Matthew 7:1 that states, "Judge not, that ye be not judged."  That scripture means not to judge in malicious unrighteous ways.  There is biblical basis for judging righteously.  

Ezekiel 3:18, 19
When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 

1 Corinthians 2:15
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things,...

1 Corinthians 6:2
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1 Corinthians 6:5
...Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

1 Corinthians 14:29
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

2 Corinthians 10:6
And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

1 Corinthians 4:21
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

1 Thessalonians 5:14
...warn them that are unruly,...

Romans 15:14
...able also to admonish one another.

Here are scripture references where Paul judged/rebuked Peter:

Galatians 2:11
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

I looked up the word withstood.  It says: offer strong resistance or opposition to (someone or something). - Source - The New Oxford American Dictionary  

Galatians 2:14
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all,...

Certainly, it is Bible truth that we are instructed to restore those at fault in the spirit of meekness - Galatians 6:1.  It is also certainly Bible truth when it instructs to rebuke sharply - Titus 1:13.  The most vital issue is to walk in the Spirit with love to be led of our Lord as to when to say/do what and how - all for His glory.

- FYI - You're invited to obtain my e-books. Also, I invite you to read my free offerings. Here is the link for additional information. http://www.sandrasbookdepot.blogspot.com/

You don't need e-readers to read e-books; they can also be read online.

13 comments:

  1. I personally keep thinking of that scripture about a gentle and meek spirit..... having said that I pray that the Lord will give me holy boldness when it is time to speak up and no longer be silent - balance. I think it boils down to walking in the Spirit - he knows and many times we don't ahve a clue....GRIN

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Marijo -

    Amen

    Yes, balance...

    The Spirit of the living GOD ALWAYS knows what is right for when and who. May we steadfastly sow to His Spirit so that we can discern...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Being rebuked can be pretty tough, and I give you credit for handling it well. I think it's not something we often look for, we look for praise more, but it's important to be alert and be listening for that rebuke too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I definitely commend you on how your spirit is able to handle rebuking. Each of us deals with rebuking differently, but most importantly, like you mentioned, we have to LEARN something from the rebuke, in order to move forward. I am quiet when rebuked. I tend to think about why I was rebuked and what I can learn from the situation. I ask the Lord for guidance, if I am puzzled or offended. One thing is for sure: If you are in communion with the Lord, you will know whether or not man or the Holy Spirit is doing the rebuking. I enjoyed this post. You are an inspirational writer. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Maybe there will be no need for rebuke if more thought before speaking is exercised...
    Slowly with much time I am learning to listen more and speak less..and to allow the Lord to use my mouth instead of me using it. I am not perfect and never will be. However, I pray I am gowing in wisdom daily. I pray this for you also..
    A big strong loving hug!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Greetings -

    @Mari

    Thank you, Mari. I had to learn how to graciously accept rebuke from our Lord.
    It was a process, indeed, getting there.

    Prayer Notes by Cynthia
    You expressed, "I ask the Lord for guidance, if I am puzzled or offended. One thing is for sure: If you are in communion with the Lord, you will know whether or not man or the Holy Spirit is doing the rebuking."

    Glory Hallelujah to that, and hearty Amens!

    Also, thank you for your kind words.

    @Crystal Mary

    Thank you for your prayers.

    I believe that there will always be need to rebuke and to be rebuked because we all sin and come short of GOD'S glory. Of course, we should aim to sin less and to cleave to our Lord steadfastly so that walking in His Spirit will be more of our inclination.

    Back when I was in the world, my mouth was probably one of my biggest strengths and one of my biggest weaknesses.

    Recently, I wrote this "...has the gift of gab. The gab is prone, at times, to quench the gift."

    Since becoming a Christian, my mouth continues to be a battle for me to contain what I say and when. That is despite the truth that I typically pray and get in to fellowship with our Lord more than once a day and read His Word, typically, more than once a day. I have often prayed for deliverance from my tongue.

    I am pleased to report, though, that I have made considerable progress. My tongue control is much better than it was...please pray that I will improve even more. Thank you.

    We all have addictions to something. For some it is overeating, for some it is lying, for some it is not keeping their words...

    May we all aim to be addicted as is shown in 1 Corinthians 16:15 - KJV
    "and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)"

    ReplyDelete
  7. Many of us have been taught practices that are not the Gospel and then we run into people who are teaching things differently. Sometimes cuzzo you have to let someone finish their train of thought. Sometimes we are anxious to make our point. Because we think we might not remember what we are going to say. LOL! Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi kemarias -

    You're right...

    Compared to how I was, I'm doing considerably better with mouth control...

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is a challenging spiritual tightrope - to balance honesty with tact, reproof with love. We must rely on the Lord to help us discern what to say and when to say it - and sometimes when NOT to say it.

    I have appreciated when my friends have kindly told me the truth. And there have been times when the Lord led me to say something to them. If things are said with the spirit of love - we are rarely led wrong. We must never lose sight of the desired end result - to glorify God in our actions and words, and to help others do the same.

    GOD BLESS!

    (And personally, I also love the boldness of your mouth that isn't afraid to speak praises loudly to our Lord!)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sandra, you are maturity shines through in the post. Rebuke can be hard to shallow but it is all a part of our walk with Christ.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Greetings -

    Thank you all for commenting.

    It is indeed helpful when we share with one another. We are all students and teachers.

    ReplyDelete

Greetings -

Thank you for visiting and commenting. It is my pleasure to read from your heart places. We are all students and teachers and I so enjoy, precious people, the beneficial engagements with you.