shapedbytruth

Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Rev 22:15 But outside are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and makes a lie.

-> Everyone who loves a lie, and everyone who makes a lie

It is easy to believe a lie, just ignore the truth.

“Everyone who loves a lie” are people who like to have thier ears tickled with what they WANT to hear. They will ignore the truth because it is not what they want to hear.

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

People go “shopping” or “cherry picking” for whichever “truth” legitimizes their behavior.

Pro 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Jer 9:4 “Be wary of even longtime neighbors. Don’t even trust your grandmother! Brother schemes against brother, like old cheating Jacob. Friend against friend spreads malicious gossip.

Jer 9:5 Neighbors gyp neighbors, never telling the truth. They’ve trained their tongues to tell lies, and now they can’t tell the truth.

Jer 9:6 They pile wrong upon wrong, stack lie upon lie, and refuse to know me.” GOD’s Decree.

The decietful develop lines of reasoning that have a false basis. The line of reasoning sounds “reasonable”, however it has a faulty assumption at its root.

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

Joh 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

Joh 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Gal 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jam 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

1Jo 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Response To: “My wife of 10 years has recently asked for a divorce. … Is it even possible we can work this out or am I holding on to false hope.”

I’ve recently gone through a similar situation with my wife. We have been married 9 years, and things basically have gone down hill from the day we got married until about 6 months ago.

Things aren’t perfect, but definitely for the first time I have hope about our marriage, that it can really work, and that it can really be more than just getting by but actually great.

Basically years of my going to counselors, her going to counselors, us going together, each of us going on and off meds, reading books, etc didn’t make for any kind of lasting change.

Here are a few points, let me know if you have questions about any of them and I’ll go into further detail. None of them really work on their own, but build off each other in no particular order

– I had to realize was that there was nothing I could do to change her, I could only change myself. Trite but true.

– I had to decide to love her whether she love me or not. Even if she never love me, I would first love her.

– I had to decide to love her even if she never changed or even if she changed for the worse.

– I had to decide I was in love with her and not what she did or didn’t do.

– Notice these are all DECISIONS, at no point did I guage success on anyone’s feelings. Feelings eventually catch up with whatever you DECIDE.

– Look it up, the bible says in two places “Husbands, love your wives”. Eph 5:25, Col 3:19. We are told to love our wives. God wouldn’t tell us to do it if we couldn’t. We can do everything He says we can do because Jesus strengthens us.

– It is NOT about what you can GET out of the relationship.

– It is ALL about what you GIVE into it.

– Relationships must be built. You must contribute love into the relationship.

– If each of you are expecting the other person to fulfill you, then you are each taking from the relationship until there is nothing left.

– A relationship is only built if both are contributing love into it. You may have to contribute in faith until you rebuild the trust. Do not expect your wife to contribute until she begins to trust you.

– If all you have to give is of yourself, then you will give yourself out. Draw your strength, hope, shelter, and love from God. He will fill you to overflowing, and out of the abundance of your heart direct that love to your wife.

– You may be right or have legitimate grievances. You must decide which is more important: to be right or to rebuild your relationship.

– Take responsibility for your actions and for your house. Do not pass the buck. The buck stops with you.

– Take this on like a project you might be assigned on your job. Realize that you will need a plan, a way to measure progress, milestones along the way, and a definite goal.

– You must fight for your marriage harder than you’ve fought for anything in your life. Do not stop or give up.

– Your wife is NOT the enemy.

– Direct your anger and battle at the true enemy that seeks to steal your joy, kill your relationship, and destroy your marriage.

– Reconciliation. Your wife may forgive you, but forgiveness does not mean immediate reconciliation of trust.

– You can love and forgive someone, but that does not mean you trust them or approve of everything about them immediately.

– Trust can only be earned and/or regained over time.

Pro 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Pro 29:26 Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

A group of theologians, pastors and laypeople published a series of volumes titled “The Fundamentals”. Published between 1910 and 1915, these booklets defined what had been the non-negotiables of the faith since the Apostles’ Creed:

1) the infallibility of Scripture
2) the deity of Christ
3) the Virgin Birth and miracles of Christ
4) Christ’s substitutionary death
5) Christ’s physical resurrection and eventual return.

These were then, as they are today, the backbone of orthodox Christianity. If a fundamentalist is a person who affirms these truths, then there are fundamentalists in every denomination – Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Brethren, Methodist, Episcopal …. Everyone who believes in the orthodox truths about Jesus Christ – in short, every Christian – is a fundamentalist. And we should not shrink from the term nor allow the secular world to distort its meaning.

– An excerpt from “The Body” by Charles Colson.

Lk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

1Kng 19:15 And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

1Kng 19:16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

3 Annointings

Hazael – Government

Jehu – Military

Elisha – Ministry

1Tim 2:1-8 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

– Pray for All Men

– Pray for Kings and all in authority

– Pray for Ministry

John 10:4-5 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

I’m not sure where I got it, but somehow “my sheep will hear my voice and not hear the voice of another” got stuck in my head. I can’t find a verse like that. Instead it could be summarized “my sheep will hear my voice and not recognize the voice of another”. Otherwise, according to John 10:5, the sheep can hear the voice of the good sheepherd and the voice of the stranger, however, they follow the voice they KNOW and flee from the voice they don’t recognize.

Now, how do we KNOW the Master’s voice? The answer is to have His word abide in us. What you spend time on, you will be sensitive to.

John 15:4-8 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Lk 14:28-33 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

Mt 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

 

If you truly understand the greatness of God and weigh that against any of your wordly possessions, then it is obvious that the cost is miniscule compared to the gain.

Contrary to the opinions of many media moguls, those who follow Christ are not uneducated fools who don’t know what they are missing. All the believers I have ever met have been very intelligent, educated individuals who have tried what the world had to offer and found it wanting. They finally found what they were looking for by following Jesus, and the kingdom of heaven caused anything in this world to pale in comparison.

 

 

Pro 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Pride is the source of contention.



The well-advised are those who are willing to listen to others. Pride prevents you from listening to correction or good advice.



Jam 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Note: This is a study in not tolerating sin. There is a difference between hating sin and hating people.  We are to love people even if they are unlovable the same as God has shown us love when we were unlovable.  What we cannot give place to is the bondage of sin. Loving someone does not mean you approve of their behavior.

Mt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Lev 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

Amos 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Zech 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

Ps 5:4-6 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

Ps 11:5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

Ps 26:5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

Ps 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Ps 101:1-8 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

Ps 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Ps 119:113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

Ps 119:127-128 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

Ps 119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

Ps 139:20-24 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Prov 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Prov 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Ps 31:6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.

Isa 61:8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Ex 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Deut 12:31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Deut 16:22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

It rains on just and unjust alike.

The same storm came against the man who built his house on the sand as came against the man who built his house on the rock.

After the storm, which house was still standing?