Sin is Opposition....

The one thing about a life without God, constantly reveling in sin, is it will eventually destroy you. There’s no way to sugar coat it. Living a sinful lifestyle will eventually send you to an early grave, devastating you, robbing you of any hope. The reason people who live these types of lives suffer from depression, and have higher rates of suicide and drug abuse is simply the fact that regardless of how you “feel” about sin, even if society accepts it, your soul knows the wages of sin. It knows it’s wrong. It knows a life without God is really no life at all. Sin destroys. It’s what it does, regardless of what people try to tell you. Sin is opposition to God. It will never win, not even once. Knowing God disapproves of your behavior should be a deterrent to stop, but unfortunately our nature and Satan fight against doing what is right. This leaves us in a state of despair, with no solution, with no joy, and with no hope. It’s no wonder why the pharmaceutical companies that make anti-depressants are thriving. Anything to escape the reality of the situation. And worse yet, trying to gain acceptance only compounds the issue.

43 Again and again He rescued them, but they chose to rebel against Him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin. Psalms 106:43

A Spirit of Foolishness...

The problem with certain mindsets today in America is it’s pure foolishness. God, Himself, has sent a Spirit of Foolishness on us. When we live a life, thinking “I got this, I’m wise”, without God you’re deluded. Think about all the issues currently going on. People fighting the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice who stands by our constitution. They’ve presented over 1200 questions to try to stump/stop the nomination. That’s more than 3 times the number of questions asked of the former president’s nominee, and more than all the questions combined of all the nominees in the history of our country. All in the name of fighting just to fight. Deluded foolishness, and people think we are more intelligent than people of old. More complicated, for sure, more wise, not in a million years.

13 The officials of Zoan are fools,and the officials of Memphis are deluded.The leaders of the people have led Egypt astray.14 The Lord has sent a spirit of foolishness on them, so all their suggestions are wrong. They cause Egypt to stagger like a drunk in his vomit. Isaiah 19:13-14

Timely Advice...

Timely advice is golden. It’s a shame most of us refuse it when we are struggling. Pride and selfishness tend to stamp out any reluctance of receiving it. But when the struggle makes us desperate, and God sends the right person to help, this wisdom from another is like a bucket of water at the end of a 3 day hike. It’s golden, more satisfying than the most delicious food. Timing is everything.

11 Timely advice is lovely,like golden apples in a silver basket. 12 To one who listens, valid criticismis like a gold earring or other gold jewelry. Proverbs 25:11-12

They Shed Innocent Blood...

Abortion, a politically charged, controversial topic of our day. Sad to say that this issue isn’t even arguable. It’s wrong from every perspective. Looking back to Israel’s days in the wilderness seems ever so much like today’s views and ethics. God specifically told them to eliminate (yes, kill them) all the pagans in the land. They didn’t carry out God’s commands. What happened? They mingled in with these pagans, adopting their practices, eventually leading to the sacrificing their own sons and daughters. They polluted the land with murder. They shed innocent blood. Sound like America today?

37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons.38 They shed innocent blood,the blood of their sons and daughters.By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan, they polluted the land with murder. 39 They defiled themselves by their evil deeds, and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord’s sight. Psalms 106:37-39

With or Without....

It’s sad that human beings have to go through hardships and struggles to strip away the rebellious pride in order to see God for Who He is. Those that never allow their pride to take a back seat experience loads of grief and unrelieved pain. They have no hope, no remedy. God is patient with us, He quietly watches us, waiting for the sting of sin to burn away our prideful ways. In the end there are only two outcomes: those that bow a knee in gratitude, and those that bow a knee in spite. Running towards or away from the only One that can save you is determined in how you respond to adversity. You can either go through hardship and disappointment with God, or go through it without Him. I choose the former, how about you?

10 Why? Because you have turned from the God who can save you.You have forgotten the Rock who can hide you.So you may plant the finest grapevine and import the most expensive seedlings.11 They may sprout on the day you set them out;yes, they may blossom on the very morning you plant them,but you will never pick any grapes from them.Your only harvest will be a load of grief and unrelieved pain. Isaiah 17:10-11

4 For the Lord has told me this:“I will watch quietly from My dwelling place–as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day,or as the morning dew forms during the harvest.” Isaiah 18:4

Being a Christian Isn’t Easy....

Being a Christian isn’t easy. Especially living in a world that has pushed God out a long time ago. Truth matters. It stands the test of time. And no matter if people believe it or not, it has to be continued to be preached, regardless of the cost. What the world sees as foolishness, the believer sees as God’s way of communicating His plans with those that love Him. The core truth about those that don’t want God in their lives is simply because they don’t want to be accountable for anything they do. It’s ludicrous to think that we can live without responsibility. Ask a parent? A teacher? A police officer? Or anyone with a job? Responsibility is part of everyday life. Without it, there’s chaos. Imagine driving on the roads and not having anything to dictate the rules? Or taking a test? Or depositing money in a bank? I could go on and on, but without responsibility, life won’t work. And yet, people accept the responsibilities at work (even if they don’t like it), yet cringe at the fact that we are all responsible to God. You can only pretend for so long. This is why it’s paramount for believers to continue to live and preach the gospel. It’s the only answer to life’s biggest questions. And the only way to be forgiven. Satan tempts then accuses us when we fall into temptation. Repentance is the only rightful response, then it’s followed by forgiveness, which brings peace to the responsible soul. Living a life with Biblical integrity will never be popular, for you will always have opposition. But standing on the foundation of truth, Jesus, is the only way to stand when the storms of life come. And it’s the only guarantee to remain standing when the storms end. The modern day prophet will never be popular, but he will know he is serving a Purpose, far greater than his opposition can bring about. Why do we do it? Solely for our love and gratitude to God. Who benefits? The lost souls who are desperately seeking answers. So the next time you are opposed by someone for sharing the truth with them, remember, you honor God, and you love others by continually living and speaking out the truth. It shows what’s truly in your heart.

1 Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” 14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to Himself together with you. 15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Confidence....

Confidence, it is a big word. So many people long to have it, while others act as if they have it in abundance. True confidence comes from God. It’s our trust that He will do what He says He will do. We can’t do great things on our own. It’s only if God allows it to happen that we can achieve great things. And what the world calls great, is a speck of dust to God. Ask God today to use you to achieve the impossible. It may be minuscule in the world’s eyes, but paramount to the recipient and God. Confidence comes from knowing you are in and doing God’s will. When you are confident in God, you are unstoppable. And arrogance and pride cannot enter into this kind of confidence. Is it in you?

1 Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! 2 The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of His new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 2 Corinthians 3:12