Please go over to http://www.acornerpillar.blogspot.com/ and enter to win Lauren's Giveaway!
Is Church Membership Biblical?
2 days ago
In case you've been wondering exactly what the Communist is seeking to do here in America, I've copied their "Rules for Revolution" for you. It is very scary to see just how many of their ideals have become a reality.
Communist Rules for Revolution 1919:
“Corrupt the young; get them away from religion. Get them interested in sex. Make them superficial; destroy their ruggedness.”
“Get control of all means of publicity, thereby:
-get people’s minds off their government by focusing their attention on athletics, sexy books and plays, and other trivialities.
-divide the people into hostile groups by constantly harping on controversial matters of no importance.
-destroy the peoples faith in their natural leaders by holding the latter up to contempt, ridicule and disgrace.
-always preach true democracy, but seize power as fast and ruthlessly as possible.
-by encouraging government extravagance, destroying its credit, produce fear of inflation with rising prices and general discontent.
-incite unnecessary strikes in vital industries, encourage civil disorders, and foster a lenient and soft attitude on the part of government toward such disorders.
-by specious argument, cause the breakdown of the old moral virtues-honesty, sobriety, self-restraint, faith in the pledged word, ruggedness.
“Cause the registration of all firearms on some pretext, with a view to confiscating them and leaving the population helpless.”
Our proper response...
2 Chron. 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.
Communist Rules for Revolution 1919:
“Corrupt the young; get them away from religion. Get them interested in sex. Make them superficial; destroy their ruggedness.”
“Get control of all means of publicity, thereby:
-get people’s minds off their government by focusing their attention on athletics, sexy books and plays, and other trivialities.
-divide the people into hostile groups by constantly harping on controversial matters of no importance.
-destroy the peoples faith in their natural leaders by holding the latter up to contempt, ridicule and disgrace.
-always preach true democracy, but seize power as fast and ruthlessly as possible.
-by encouraging government extravagance, destroying its credit, produce fear of inflation with rising prices and general discontent.
-incite unnecessary strikes in vital industries, encourage civil disorders, and foster a lenient and soft attitude on the part of government toward such disorders.
-by specious argument, cause the breakdown of the old moral virtues-honesty, sobriety, self-restraint, faith in the pledged word, ruggedness.
“Cause the registration of all firearms on some pretext, with a view to confiscating them and leaving the population helpless.”
Our proper response...
2 Chron. 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and ALL discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11
Question: Why didn't the text say...that your love may abound still more and more in ALL knowledge and discernment? Why just...in ALL discernment? What's the difference? And why one over another?
Answer: First, lets look at the definition of these two words.
knowledge: a clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; learning; illumination of the mind.
discernment: the act of distinguishing; knowing; judging; also, the power or faculty of the mind to distinguish one thing from another, as truth from falsehood and virtue from vice; the power of perceiving differences of things or ideas, and their relations & tendencies.
In other words, knowledge is what takes place in the head. It is you affirming in your mind something to exist or be true or false. Discernment however, is what takes place in the heart as a result of what's in the head. Let me put it this way, (for a Christian) knowledge is your mental assent to understanding theology (God) and discernment is the ability (and desire) to apply the truths you now understand.
So why the emphasis on discernment?
Lets look at some other scriptures...
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 8:1
Knowledge [alone] puffs up, but love edifies.
In other words, knowledge without love [ie. application] makes us haughty and profits us nothing. This is what separates or sets us apart from the world. Anyone can obtain knowledge. In fact, the devil has more knowledge about God [ie. correct theology] than we do. But the difference is...he does not love God and therefore does not apply God's truths!
THEREFORE...
this I pray,
that your love [1 Cor. 13:4-8, Gal.5:22-23, Eph. 5:1-2, 1 Th. 4:9-11, etc...]
may abound still [continue to grow] more and more
in knowledge [of God, ie. theology]
and in all discernment [application of theology, ie. Godly living]
that you may approve [distinguish & establish]
the things that are excellent, [the right priorities]
that you may be [continually fixed upon]
sincere [genuine & without hypocrisy]
and without offense [blameless, without fault, above reproach]
till the day of Christ, [when you see Him face to face]
being filled with [by the Holy Spirit]
the fruits of righteousness [Galatians 5:22-23 & James 3:17-18]
which are by Jesus Christ, [by His grace]
to the glory and praise of God. [1Cor.10:31]
~Philippians 1:9-11
Question: Why didn't the text say...that your love may abound still more and more in ALL knowledge and discernment? Why just...in ALL discernment? What's the difference? And why one over another?
Answer: First, lets look at the definition of these two words.
knowledge: a clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; learning; illumination of the mind.
discernment: the act of distinguishing; knowing; judging; also, the power or faculty of the mind to distinguish one thing from another, as truth from falsehood and virtue from vice; the power of perceiving differences of things or ideas, and their relations & tendencies.
In other words, knowledge is what takes place in the head. It is you affirming in your mind something to exist or be true or false. Discernment however, is what takes place in the heart as a result of what's in the head. Let me put it this way, (for a Christian) knowledge is your mental assent to understanding theology (God) and discernment is the ability (and desire) to apply the truths you now understand.
So why the emphasis on discernment?
Lets look at some other scriptures...
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 8:1
Knowledge [alone] puffs up, but love edifies.
In other words, knowledge without love [ie. application] makes us haughty and profits us nothing. This is what separates or sets us apart from the world. Anyone can obtain knowledge. In fact, the devil has more knowledge about God [ie. correct theology] than we do. But the difference is...he does not love God and therefore does not apply God's truths!
THEREFORE...
this I pray,
that your love [1 Cor. 13:4-8, Gal.5:22-23, Eph. 5:1-2, 1 Th. 4:9-11, etc...]
may abound still [continue to grow] more and more
in knowledge [of God, ie. theology]
and in all discernment [application of theology, ie. Godly living]
that you may approve [distinguish & establish]
the things that are excellent, [the right priorities]
that you may be [continually fixed upon]
sincere [genuine & without hypocrisy]
and without offense [blameless, without fault, above reproach]
till the day of Christ, [when you see Him face to face]
being filled with [by the Holy Spirit]
the fruits of righteousness [Galatians 5:22-23 & James 3:17-18]
which are by Jesus Christ, [by His grace]
to the glory and praise of God. [1Cor.10:31]
~Philippians 1:9-11
Anna & EmilyHow sweet the sound...
Lacy Jo
Beautiful Becca was amazing on her fiddle :)
The guys...
So many sweet families to fellowship with...
I think even the wee ones were happy & blessed!
Lacy & I decided to dance outside the barn :)
Brianna, Leah, & Lacy
Sawgrass Island Loners
Fiddlin' Krickets
The Stone Family Band
The Young Burnsed Band?
Where'd those peacocks go?
Awww how cute?
Lacy Jo
Beautiful Becca was amazing on her fiddle :)
The guys...
So many sweet families to fellowship with...I wish I had more pictures of everyone: The Smith's,
The Stone's, The Hope's, The Brower's, The Fitzgeralds,
The Sparling's, The Gaffney's, The Lynn's, The Foster's,
The Fredrick's, The Case's.... Oh! it was such a blessed
time of fellowship! Thank you Lord :)
I think even the wee ones were happy & blessed!
Dancing anyone?
Lacy & I decided to dance outside the barn :)
Brianna, Leah, & Lacy
Sawgrass Island LonersLove their music!!!
They remind me of one of my favorite
gospel bluegrass bands...Third Time Out!
Fiddlin' KricketsVery musically talented also...
Great job Krickets!!!
The Stone Family BandLovely. Lovely. Lovely.
I think I enjoyed singing Amazing Grace
together the most :)
Love you guys!!!!
The Young Burnsed Band?The Three Amigos?
The Dazzling Trio?
Well, they don't offically have a name yet...
but maybe in the future :)
Where'd those peacocks go?
Awww how cute?What a fun day...I'm already looking forward to next year!!!
In contrast to the wise woman,
the foolish woman is not content to be a keeper at home.
She is not satisfied with where God has put her.
One of the things the feminist movement has done so successfully
is to stir up discontent in women with being homemakers
and to convince them that other pursuits
can increase their sense of self-worth …
Fueling discontent and pushing women out of their homes
in search of greater meaning and satisfaction
has resulted in off-the-chart stress levels for many women
who can no longer survive without pills and therapists …
The greatest spiritual, moral, and emotional protection
a woman will ever experience
is found when she is content to stay
within her God-appointed sphere.
This does not mean that she never leaves her house,
but rather that her heart is rooted in her home
and that she puts her family’s needs
above all other interests and pursuits."
~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss ~
Biblical Womanhood in the Home
the foolish woman is not content to be a keeper at home.
She is not satisfied with where God has put her.
One of the things the feminist movement has done so successfully
is to stir up discontent in women with being homemakers
and to convince them that other pursuits
can increase their sense of self-worth …
Fueling discontent and pushing women out of their homes
in search of greater meaning and satisfaction
has resulted in off-the-chart stress levels for many women
who can no longer survive without pills and therapists …
The greatest spiritual, moral, and emotional protection
a woman will ever experience
is found when she is content to stay
within her God-appointed sphere.
This does not mean that she never leaves her house,
but rather that her heart is rooted in her home
and that she puts her family’s needs
above all other interests and pursuits."
~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss ~
Biblical Womanhood in the Home
“Keep your children as much as may be from ill company, especially of ungodly playfellows. It is one of the greatest dangers for the undoing of children in the world; especially when they are sent to common schools: for there is scarce any of those schools so good, but hath many rude and ungodly ill-taught children in it.”Richard Baxter, Christian Directory, Part II, Ch. X, Direct. XV.
John Piper is one of my favorite pastor\authors. I've read almost all of his books and it never ceases to amaze me how much closer I am drawn to my Lord through his writings. I do not idolize this man. I am just very thankful to God for his ministry to me through him. Hebrews 13:7 reminds us that we should, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."
So, today I'm obeying the command to remember 'one who has spoken the Word of God' to me and praying that I might be able to 'imitate his deep and profound faith' in the Lord.
Here are some of his quotes and I pray that they draw you Godward too...
Love is doing whatever you have to do, at whatever cost to yourself, in order to help another person stop finding pleasure in being made much of, and help them get to the mature God-besoughted, Christ-exalting, joyfully self-forgetting ----delight---- in making much of God for the sake of others.
Grace is the pleasure of God
to magnify the worth of God
by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God
without obscuring the glory of God.
When we hope in God, we glorify God as the fountain of deep and lasting joy.
When we pray, we give expression to that God-glorifying hope.
And when we obey with joy, we prove that the God of All-Satisfying Hope is real in our lives.
Not what we dutifully will but what we passionately want reveals our excellence or evil.
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.
You are either in the Word and the Word is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ, or you are in the world and the world is squeezing you into its mold.
What is the aim of the Bible? That you may grow (1Peter 2:2). Please note, it is not that you may know. Certainly you can't grow without knowing. But you can know and not grow! The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image.
~Howard Hendricks
What is the aim of the Bible? That you may grow (1Peter 2:2). Please note, it is not that you may know. Certainly you can't grow without knowing. But you can know and not grow! The Bible was written not to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ's image.
~Howard Hendricks
If you really want the best book ever on: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible...Here it is!!! Just click on the book...it will take you to amazon.com and you can purchase right now!!!
This book covers topics like:
Why to study the Bible?
Step 1: Observation
How to Observe the scriptures
Ten Strategies to First-Rate Reading
Certain Things to Look For
How to Get the Big Picture
Step 2: Interpretation
The Value of Interpretation
Five Keys to Interpretation
How to Put It All Together
Step 3: Application
Four Steps in Application
Nine Questions to Ask in Application
The Process of Life-Change
and much more...
BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Hebrews 5:11-14
Concerning {Christ} we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
BIBLE STUDY IS ESSENTIAL TO SPIRITUAL EFFECTIVENESS
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If any of my readers have used this book, please share some helpful insights you've gleaned from it as inspiration to those who haven't read it yet!!
My Dear Hubby is taking me boot shopping for my birthday tomorrow! Yippee! Which pair do you like?
#1 Victorian Style
#2 Wingtip
#3 Short Ariat
#4 Rowdy Girl
#5 Justin
#6 Heart
#6 Daisy
How George Mueller Started His Day
George Mueller (1805-1898) is famous for establishing orphanages in England and for joyfully depending on God for all his needs. How did he kindle this joy and faith? In 1841 he made a life-changing discovery. The testimony of this from his autobiography has proved to be of tremendous value in my life and I pray it will also bear fruit in yours:
While I was staying at Nailworth, it pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, irrespective of human instrumentality, as far as I know, the benefit of which I have not lost, though now...more than forty years have since passed away.
The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.
Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as an habitual thing, to give myself to prayer, after having dressed the morning. Now I saw, that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, whilst meditation, my heart might be brought into experimental, communion with the Lord. I began therefore, to meditate on the New Testament, from the beginning, early in the morning.
The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God; searching, as it were, into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word; not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that though I did not, as it were, give to prayer but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less to prayer.
When thus I have been for awhile making confession, or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the Word may lead to it; but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of meditation. The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and that my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, very soon after, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I have myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man.
The difference between my former practice and my present one is this. Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the time. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer.... But what was the result? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an hour on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often after having suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began really to pray.
I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being nourished by the truth, being brought into experimental fellowship with God, I speak to my Father, and to my Friend (vile though I am, and unworthy of it!) about the things that He has brought before me in His precious Word.
It often now astonished me that I did not sooner see this. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever brought the matter before me. No private intercourse with a brother stirred me up to this matter. And yet now, since God has taught me this point, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child of God has to do morning-by-morning is to obtain food for his inner man.
As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time, except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as every one must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man; not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts....
I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow-believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing of God I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had from God to pass in peace through deeper trials in various ways than I had ever had before; and after having now above forty years tried this way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. How different when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials and the temptations of the day come upon one!
George Mueller (1805-1898) is famous for establishing orphanages in England and for joyfully depending on God for all his needs. How did he kindle this joy and faith? In 1841 he made a life-changing discovery. The testimony of this from his autobiography has proved to be of tremendous value in my life and I pray it will also bear fruit in yours:
While I was staying at Nailworth, it pleased the Lord to teach me a truth, irrespective of human instrumentality, as far as I know, the benefit of which I have not lost, though now...more than forty years have since passed away.
The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever, that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was, to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. For I might seek to set the truth before the unconverted, I might seek to benefit believers, I might seek to relieve the distressed, I might in other ways seek to behave myself as it becomes a child of God in this world; and yet, not being happy in the Lord and not being nourished and strengthened in my inner man day by day, all this might not be attended to in a right spirit.
Before this time my practice had been, at least for ten years previously, as an habitual thing, to give myself to prayer, after having dressed the morning. Now I saw, that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, whilst meditation, my heart might be brought into experimental, communion with the Lord. I began therefore, to meditate on the New Testament, from the beginning, early in the morning.
The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God; searching, as it were, into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word; not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that though I did not, as it were, give to prayer but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less to prayer.
When thus I have been for awhile making confession, or intercession, or supplication, or have given thanks, I go on to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the Word may lead to it; but still continually keeping before me that food for my own soul is the object of meditation. The result of this is, that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation, and that my inner man almost invariably is even sensibly nourished and strengthened and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not happy state of heart. Thus also the Lord is pleased to communicate unto me that which, very soon after, I have found to become food for other believers, though it was not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word that I have myself to meditation, but for the profit of my own inner man.
The difference between my former practice and my present one is this. Formerly, when I rose, I began to pray as soon as possible, and generally spent all my time till breakfast in prayer, or almost all the time. At all events I almost invariably began with prayer.... But what was the result? I often spent a quarter of an hour, or half an hour, or even an hour on my knees, before being conscious to myself of having derived comfort, encouragement, humbling of soul, etc.; and often after having suffered much from wandering of mind for the first ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour, or even half an hour, I only then began really to pray.
I scarcely ever suffer now in this way. For my heart being nourished by the truth, being brought into experimental fellowship with God, I speak to my Father, and to my Friend (vile though I am, and unworthy of it!) about the things that He has brought before me in His precious Word.
It often now astonished me that I did not sooner see this. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever brought the matter before me. No private intercourse with a brother stirred me up to this matter. And yet now, since God has taught me this point, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child of God has to do morning-by-morning is to obtain food for his inner man.
As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time, except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as every one must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man; not prayer, but the Word of God; and here again not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts....
I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow-believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing of God I ascribe to this mode the help and strength which I have had from God to pass in peace through deeper trials in various ways than I had ever had before; and after having now above forty years tried this way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. How different when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials and the temptations of the day come upon one!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)