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Discernment



Discernment

The man without the Spirit does not understand the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he cannot hear them, because they are spiritually discerned - 1 Corinthians 2:14

God's spirit lives in believers. 

I have learned that we should not assume that most people will follow or endorse our commitment to follow Christ. It may seem trivial to others just as a tone-deaf person cannot appreciate quality music. A person who rejects God can not comprehend God's divine message. With the lines of communication broken, it is impossible for a person to hear what God is telling us.
No one can comprehend God without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 11:34)
Through the Holy Spirit, we could have insight into some of God's plans, thoughts, and actions having the "mind of Christ". We also begin to know God's thoughts, talk with him and await His answers to our prayers.

Do you spend enough time with Jesus to receive his moral sense in you? 

An intimacy with God comes only from spending time consistently practicing His presence and in his Word.


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Lukewarm Christians




When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not believe it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on stony ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on favourable soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

People within the church who rather have an undeniable love for God, they have an incomplete and lukewarm love for God. A lukewarm Christian is an oxymoron.

Churchgoers who are lukewarm are not Christians. There are people in the church that are labeled "Christian" that are not Christians.

Church is not about the building, it's about the people who represent the body of Christ.


Though this is not the main problem, since the main problem is people having a mistaken image of God,

God deserves all of our love, not partial.

Descriptions of what a mediocre person would act in the Christian community.

This list is not a complete list of what the definition of what Lukewarm people are, and it is not intended to be used to assess your fellow believers' salvation. This is for you.

This is to examine yourself, like what 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, to "examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."

My caution to you is this: Do not believe you are beneficial soil.

Lukewarm People...
  1. Attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe "true Christians" do, so they go. (Isaiah 29:13)
  2. Give money to charity and to the church...as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to do, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right? (1 Chronicles 21:24; Luke 21:1-4)
  3. Choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They want to join in both at church and outside of the church; they want more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their heart and lives. (Luke 6:26; Rev. 3:1; Matt. 23:5-7)
  4. Don't genuinely want to be saved from their sin; they need only to be saved from the burden of their sin. They don't genuinely hate sin and aren't truly sorry for it; they're just sorry because God is going to hurt them. 
  5. Lukewarm people do not honestly believe that the new life Jesus offers, is better than their "old wicked" one - John 10:10; Rom. 6:1-2.
  6. Moved by stories about people who do extraordinary things for Christ, yet they do not represent. They believe such action is for "extreme" Christians, not ordinary ones. Lukewarm people call "radical" what Jesus expected of all His followers. (James 1:22; 4:17; Matt. 21:28-31)
  7. Rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, not do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about personal issues like religion. (Matt. 10:32-33)
  8. Gauge their morals or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren't as radical for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as intense as the guy down the street. (Luke 18:11-12)
  9. Say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a fraction. They give Him a portion of their lives, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn't allowed to run their lives. (Luke 9:57-62)
  10. Love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be able to tell you that they try to love God that much, but that kind of total commitment isn't eminently possible for the average person; it's only for pastors and missionaries and radicals. (Matt. 22:37-38)
  11. Love others but do not try to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and associate with. There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are inappropriate or uncomfortable. Their love is highly dependent and highly selective, and usually comes with strings attached. (Matt. 5:43-47; Luke 14:12-14)
  12. Serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will continue or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. (Luke 18:21-25)
  13. Think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is primarily focused on today's to-do list, this week's schedule, and next month's vacation. Rarely, if even, do they carefully consider the days to come. Regarding this, C.S. Lewis writes, "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this." (Phil. 3:18-20; Col. 3:2)
  14. Grateful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to provide as much as possible to the poor. They are able to point out, "Jesus never said money is the root of all evil, only that the love of money is." Untold numbers of apathetic people feel "called" to minister to the rich; very few feel "called" to minister to the poor. (Matt. 25:34, 40; Isa. 58:6-7)
  15. Do whatever is necessary to protect themselves from feeling too guilty. They want to do the dead minimum, to be kind enough without requiring too much of them. They ask "How far can I go before it's considered a sin?" instead of "How can I keep myself pure as a temple of the Holy Spirit?" They ask, "How much do I have to give?" instead of "How much can I give?" They ask how much time should they spend praying and reading their Bible, instead of, wishing that they could take longer -1 Chronicles 29:14; Matt. 13:44-46.
  16. Continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This point on sound life keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God. (1 Tim. 6:17-18; Matt. 10:28)
  17. Do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens--they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them--they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what being God would have them live--they have life figured and mapped out. They don't depend on God on a daily basis--their refrigerators are rich and, for the most part, they are in excellent health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God. (Luke 12:16-21; see also Hebrews 11)
  18. Drink and curse probably less than average, but besides that, they truly aren't distinctly different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their relatively sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn't be more wrong. (Matthew 23:25-28)
  19. Feel secure because:
  •  they attend church
  • made a profession of faith at age twelve
  • were baptized
  • come from a Christian family.
Just as, the prophets in the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not just because we assume the name Christian or because some people persist in calling us a "Christian nation." (Matthew 7:21; Amos 6:1)


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Fear God



I came upon this verses just now and I want to share it to you...
 I just want you to know that we do not have to fear anyone, because once we accept Jesus, God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline....

Jesus loved us so much and spare His life for us... 

And with that our gratitude for Him is to live a righteous life that will glorify Him... 

Righteous meaning not perfect but always improving ourself to be perfect... 

With that... We do not need to fear anyone, just like Paul who was a sinner wrote in 1 Corinthians 4... 

Fear God and you will fear nothing else or in your case, no one else. 2timothy1:7


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From Glory to Glory



When God deals with us in an area of our life, we will always come out on the other side of it free!
But I might as well tell you this, He will always be dealing with us about something. God chastises those whom He loves. ;)
We can stand anything for a little while, but don't give up until His work is complete. As God's chosen ones, we have the power to endure whatever comes. (Romans 8:28) it's part of God's plans to grow us up.
It's been a bittersweet walk that I am having with my daddy in heaven. If there's one thing I've learned about my awesome daddy in my walk with Him, it is that He wants my Utmost for His Highest and He wants the best of me, because He knows me well that I am His own and nagmana ako sakanya, that alone is reason enough for Him to want me to be the best lady that I could be. ;)
When I accepted Him as my personal savior, it was not an overnight experience that I already live happiliy ever after... And even after my "and they lived happily ever after" moment/s, God has shown me that there are still things that I could improve on, characters that I could develop...  And with these, I have come to the realization, that I will always face trials and testings, until I see Him face to face... But I rest upon His word, that He will always cause all things to work for the good of those who love Him who are called according to His purpose..
God dealt with me over the years about the things that needed to change in me. He covered my shortcomings by His grace for a certain period of time, and He let me get by with things...
There is so much wrong in me when I first came to Him that If He revealed it all one at a time, I  could just be overwhelmed! :) but my loving father uncovers things in me that needed to change one issue at a time...And it is with my own experiences, that I know He is true and real, that even if at times, what I had to give up was too pleasurable for me to give up, I am assured that God and His Word is both faithful and true, his grace gives me the power to do the right thing after He showed me where i needed to grow... and that nothing is worth more than knowing and being intimate with Christ.
And with that, i know i can always trust God's holiness... His plans to give me hope and a future... His faithfulness...He never left me and he had always been at my side through it all..going from glory to glory... I am so amazed at how He had turned all the bad things in my life into glories... And took each one of my bad habits and attitudes into another story of His goodness and power. God is long-suffering and He sent me just the right people to help me learn the lessons I needed, to help me reestablish my fellowship with Him and enjoy His divine plans for me...
:)


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Are you disappointed?



Jacob was when he realized his unworthiness of all the love and faithfulness God showed him (Genesis 32:10). When God came to Moses with a mission to lead His people, He got angry at Moses not because of his humble self-opinion but of his lack of confidence in God's power. Exodus 3:11-4:10. When a person is paralyzed by a sense of guilt, unworthiness, uselessness, not self-esteem. He assured Moses of His presence. He asked Moses to look to Him to survive. The biblical key to our helplessness is not arrogance but sovereign grace.

God's way of freeing and mobilizing people is by showing them His presence and power. Do you feel helpless, spiritually bankrupt before God? Do you feel morally tainted, personally unworthy before God? Then you are blessed! Until you realize that there would be no life, success or usefulness, without God's grace, you would never be blessed. You see everybody is poor in spirit, but only those who know their inadequacies, guilt, failures, helplessness, unworthiness and emptiness are driven to the grace of God. My friend, there is no need for you to pretend that you are all sufficient. Do not be too hard on yourself. Your inadequacies are just. God knows us. He created us. He never created us to be self-reliant.
God wants us to rely on Him. He wants us to draw near to Him. You are blessed because you will be comforted. God promised to be with you. So do not hesitate, for He is with you. Do not be dismayed. He will strengthen and help you. He will help you with His moral authority hand(Isaiah41:10). Just remember His holiness and only yield and you will be comforted. Replace self-reliance with childlike God-reliance. Replace self-trust with surrendered God-confidence. Self-determination with sovereign grace. Self-esteem with magnificent mercy for the unworthy. God blesses the poor who perceive their need for him - Matthew 5:3.


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Synthetic God's Best



The good is the enemy of the best.
Good enough is not better enough.
And the well enough could sometimes still be not better enough.

Good is the antithesis of principal.
By settling down for the good, we cut out on the best.

Wisdom is the ability to cognize not just the right choices from the wrong ones, but also to determine the best from the good ones.

We must focus on the lid and remove anything less to have the best, get the best, and be the first.

When we take on different wise choices, we have less energy and attention to put into the best one. It is best to look for what is better and not only what is right or still only able.

To receive this desires, We strive to get rid of all desires. We strive to break free from all desire.

But this is not always working, since our heart's desires are natural. We are created to have desires and to keep them fulfilled. When our desires are not satisfied, we tend to suffer.

Removing our desire would not stop the hurt.

We have to understand that God is complete and desire only the best for us.

When our heart's desire is not manifested, it just means it is not yet the right time

Our heart’s desire is the divine standard by which we are guided to live out our life’s purpose on earth.

God keeps us from the rest, so that we can have the best.

God is arranging something that will be much more fulfilling to you. Love is the fact that fulfills us the most.

Marriage with our God's best is one of the best ways by which we experience love.

Our desires may come, in time, in our life.

It is inevitable for us to wonder why our desire is being held from us. At times, we are tempted to think that we would never know what we most need.

The truth is God wants to bless us.
He created us for what we most desire.
Truth is God is the fulfillment of our desire.
But until then, we have to be still.

God is working in and for our future, as well as in us.
Everything will be well and most fulfilling in His own best time.

Good is considered deficient when compared to more.

What is right for us becomes inappropriate for us when attention to what is finer for us.

Failure may be difficult, but success is even worse because success in the wrong state may protect us in continually.

Failing at many different endeavors is better than to come through at your true vocation, with the wrong one.
Our true calling is where we will have the best of everything that we truly desire.
If we want to experience the ultimate in all areas of our life, we have to do it God’s plan.

There is always a better way to look at things.
There is always a better way to think and do things.
The better way is always empowering to you.

Whatever you do, do it with all your might - ecclesiastes 9:10.

For each success that you see, there is always someone who has achieved more of it in an easier way and shorter time.

Always choose the better state of things.

To get the best, go for the highest level, the core and the fact. Our judgement, life, and actions will be the best if we always aim for the best.

Excel in factual knowledge and all information, so that you see things that are relevant, to be honorable and blameless until the day of Christ - Philippians 1:9-10.

There are different levels of wisdom.

A reduced level of education is foolishness compared to a higher level of wisdom.

Full truth is the consolidation of all true statement.

If you are confused with conflict of reason, knowledge and wisdom, always choose the better way of seeing things.

Conflicting truths can stay in unison when they are viewed as existing on several levels.

An edified consciousness is complete and does not preclude.

As we do better acquainted, we see more trueness to reality.

There are different levels of blessings.

Low level is horrible compared to a higher good.

A higher level honor can request a small gift evil.

Hence, the rightfulness of Satan is wrong compared to the righteousness of God.

As Satan is the enemy of God, good is the enemy of most.

God causes all things to do together for our advantage, if we love Him and act according to His highest ambition.

There are different levels of illumination.
A lower level of consciousness is insignificant compared to a higher level of light.

That is why Satan’s knowledge is as dark compared to God’s light.

You see according to the value that you have. When you walk with higher standards, what used to be fair becomes dull.

All information is specific, and the mind can make up what is full or inappropriate for itself. Therefore, what is seen as light or evil is largely a matter of conscious decision.

God organizes all levels of capability and blessings, according to His perspective. Only those who worship God may achieve the highest degree of wisdom, blessings and joy.

Falling short of the highest standards is wrong.
Anything less than God’s best is wrong.
The best is all we need because the rest is nothing.
Think like the first to be just like the best.

Because of his glory and greatness, He gave us gratifying and unambiguous resolution. These are the promises that allow us to partake in his divine nature and change free from the world's misery caused by human desires - 2 Peter 1:4.


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