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| Photo compliments of Sandra Copyright 2010/2011 |
Greetings -
The Scriptures are from the King James Bible.
Soon I will post on my Tampa, Florida adventure, but was led to post this first as a sort of preface to that subject topic.
For weeks I "wrestled" with our Lord about posting some realities that I experienced in Tampa, Florida. The main concern is that I would be judging those who professed to be Christians. When I would "push back" from the inclination to share, our Lord would provide more confirmations that He desired me to post what I experienced.
In some previous posts, I shared about some of my spiritual failures and our Lord's forgiveness after I repented and amended my ways. The Holy Bible states that we all sin and come short of GOD's glory - Romans 3:23. But when "Christians" indulge in a habitual practice of sin - that is death existence. Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
This morning our Lord reminded me that years ago when I was a baby Christian, I made a statement, "I can tell Christians anything." Of course, that was a statement made in ignorance because then I believed that I could trust all Christians. Our Lord further told me that I had to post these truths because some baby Christians will read this post. They need to know that all "Christians" cannot be trusted. My many eye-opening experiences revealed that we are to love and forgive people, including Christians, but that trust must be proven.
In one of my previous posts, I shared what Bishop T. D. Jakes expressed. He said, "JESUS had one Judas out of 12 disciples. Many pastors today have 11 Judas' and one disciple." When I heard that, it struck my spirit strongly that Jakes spoke truth. My spirit bears witness, based on my experiences, that "in the church," there are more with Satan than with our Lord as truth walkers in the kingdom of GOD. Also, in the book of Revelation, of the seven churches, five of the seven were rebuked by our Lord. Some months ago, I heard Christian music artist Carman state that most of his hurt came from "church" people. With those accounts, among others, I came to grips about my sentiments relative to the state of Christianity. I was relieved that I wasn't paranoid or gripped by pessimism. The state is a reality. Praise GOD - I am grateful for my eye-opening experiences of being betrayed by some "Christians" because the lessons have proven to be beneficial. It is so helpful to know. Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:..."
Of course, we know that there ARE truth walkers in the kingdom of GOD. I have met some fervent, sincere, righteous people who love our Lord in earnest. Praise GOD for that - but the reality is that I have met more who profess as said in Titus 1:16 which states, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Currently, Christianity, as a whole, has a blighted reputation and it is NOT all due to Satan and unjustified criticism from sinners. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." May we, in earnest, be DOERS of GOD'S Holy Bible.
Other Christians may have testimonies of being surrounded by steadfastly godly Christian brothers and sisters in Christ. Glory to GOD! But the reality is that all of us don't have such experiences.
Back to my hesitancy about sharing some of my realities - our Lord reminded me that the Holy Bible gives accounts of spiritual failures
and the disobedient actions of GOD's people and others, such as Adam, Eve, Peter, Paul, Jezebel, and Ahab. The accounts are the realities of human conditions. And our Lord reminded me that we are to judge with RIGHTEOUS judgment. 1 Corinthians 2:15 states, "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things,..." And 2 Corinthians 10:6 states, "And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."
We are all works in progress. We know that GOD can change anybody and that people do change and become better. We have changed because of GOD in our lives, and our choices to obey Him. We learn obedience from the things that we experience, and the things that we suffer - Hebrews 5:8. My prayer is that we will continue to work with our Father GOD to be the best that He expects. Also, my prayer is that others will become truth walkers who DO what GOD teaches.
Philippians 3:2
...beware of evil workers,...
Matthew 7:15, 16
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits...
Colossians 3:25
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Psalm 118:7
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
Matthew 10:36
And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Are we to fear the foes in our own Christian households? Not at all. When we have pure hearts and clean hands, there is NOTHING to fear. Fear is our enemy - faith is our friend. Philippians 1:28, "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God."
But we are to do as it states in 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:..." And more vitally, we are to love and forgive people, but remember that trust must be proven.
When we steadfastly aim to please GOD, He honors our actions. 1 Samuel 2:30 states, "...but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
So, my fellow members of the body of Christ, when I post the Tampa adventure, it is the reality. It is what it is...
Love to you all.
SON dweller,
Sandra
Written Friday March 11, 2011
NOTE: A form of this (full content is not shown there) is made available for copy/print/distribution on my other blog FREELY RECEIVED FREELY GIVEN at http://www.giftsfromglory.blogspot.com/. Conditions for said usage are posted there, as well. On that blog, the title of the post is "GOD SAYS IN 3 JOHN 4 - I HAVE NO GREATER JOY THAN TO HEAR THAT MY CHILDREN WALK IN TRUTH."
