Not Of This World... Be In Not Of!

Let me begin with scripture...

I Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV) "6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled."

1st John 2:15 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."
Romans 12:9

... and I can even sum it all up with scripture:

"...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7

... so are you making EVERY Effort? Beloved Christians... is there anything in your life that is incompatible with a Holy and Righteous God? ..........Why?

Everyone is trying to entertain... or compromise... or justify. Who's voice are you listening to... Man's, or God's?

The words being preached are "Hush!" Let 'em be. Show by example. And yes there is scripture to back all these thoughts up... problem is- they're only half-truths and scripture is being manipulated to shut-up a nation of would-be disciples... or worse, giving way to a nation of numb, "live how I interpret the Bible", "faith according to someone else's ideals", cosmetic Christianity. The result is the true mission of a Christian is being drowned in the wake! Discipleship. Sharing the gospel and the gift of Jesus Christ. Showing by example is only PART of the walk of a true Christian. "Worrying about yourself" was that part of the Bible that was speaking of busy-bodies stirring trouble, not people preaching truth from the Bible and sharing the Gospel of Christ... and not judging is for those trying to take the place of God... the judge and executioner.

We are to SPEAK UP when wrongs need right. THAT'S BIBLICAL! We are to SPEAK UP when a brother or sister is wayward. THAT'S BIBLICAL! We are to go into all the world and make disciples of them. You cannot do that if you are to follow the way of the rest of religion which is to "Hush!" and let them follow you by your example. I have got news for you. If you never speak up- they don't know any better to follow you. They may like what they see... but they'll reject it because the world rejects it.

If we decide to just go off of certain scriptures, it's really easy to be led astray into thinking that it's okay to sit on our hands and do nothing. It's okay to join in the world's entertainment, culture, ideals, habits because we're saved by grace.

BULL. It's a lie. Don't fall for it. APPLY ALL OF THE BIBLE TO YOUR WALK CHILDREN! God said I am Holy, so you too be Holy!

I Peter 1:13-21 (NIV) "13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God."

Be a man or woman of conviction. Give reason for why you believe what you believe. Test yourself and consider ALL YOUR WAYS. Put it to the "God" test. If you have something in your house like a Buddah statue... consider what it represents and ask yourself, "Is God happy I have this in my home. Does it give Him glory." Consider what it is then read your Bible to find out what God thinks about these things. For a non-Christian who don't know any better... who do not worship the statue, yeah- it's okay. They don't "get it" yet. But for a Christian... the child of MIGHTY GOD... do you think Daddy is looking down and saying, "OH! You have someone else's god in your house. Well done good and faithful servant." Seriously?

You or your children are filling your mind with the world's filth. Certain movies, music, books... things that taint your flesh and quench the Spirit. Does God approve of your entertainment choices? YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN. Is your God proud of you. Did Jesus suffer and die on the cross so that you can have the freedom to fulfill your flesh's every desire. Really? What you watch and listen to goes into your heart whether you realize it or not...

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23 NIV

1st John 2:15 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness." Luke 10: 34-35

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

Proverbs 20:6 "Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? 7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! 9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? 10 Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. 11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both."

How are you living your life Christian. Are you in the world... NOT OF THE WORLD. Or do you satisfy your hunger for worldly things and try to justify your actions and manipulate the Word to fulfill your own selfish desires?

The Holy Word IS NOT A BUFFET TABLE... something you can pick and choose what fits... what satisfies, then leave the rest for those late to the table. NO. You read the whole Word then apply it properly to your life with proper guidance from the Holy Trinity through prayer. THEN and only THEN, if you want to get more clarity... seek some clarity cautiously from proper Bible-teaching men... always being sure to put everything they might say up against the Word to make sure it fits! Become what the Bible calls us to be... HOLY. Followers and disciples of Jesus Christ. DO YOU BELIEVE OR DON'T YOU. Did you go through hell to get to heaven just to continue to dapple in the things of hell? THEN STOP IT! Live your convictions baby. Don't fall for the hype. You are a child of the Almighty God and Creator. Live like you mean it or YOU DON'T MEAN IT! Period.

Do you love someone if you stand idley by while they continue in their sin and unrighteous living? The Bible says no...

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Hebrews 10:24

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:7

1st John 2:15 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Proverbs 20:6 "Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Proverbs 13:24 "Whoever refuses to spank his son hates him, but whoever loves his son disciplines him from early on."

"But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is
how we know we are in him:" 1 John 2:5

2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the world; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have
sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."
1 Peter 1:22

Galatians 6:1 "Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself."

James 5:19-20 "My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."

... and before you go correcting someone else, consider this...
Matthew 7:3-5
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."

(Note that the passage does not tell us not to take the log out of our brother’s eye, but to first deal with our own sin. This process restores both the confronter and the confronted to Christ, pulling all back into unity in Him.)

Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows."

... and look at all these:
-John 14:15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
-John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me
-1 John 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments
-1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
-2 John 6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
-Rev 12:17 who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
-Rev 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD'S anger.

As you can see there is much to consider in scripture when it comes to your walk. Do not be deceived by "scripture manipulation". Read the whole Bible so you can fully execute your walk with precision and protect yourself from deceit which is deeply rooted in the world today. Silence is not an option. We are to speak with conviction and love the truth of our beliefs... to the world and YES, to one another!

Ephesians 4... "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are not longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; But SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ..."


One thing to never forget however, as we do go about preaching the gospel and correcting wrongs and YES, judging one another in Christ (Biblical- HELLO!), is...

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12

I AM a work in progress. I love fully... genuinely... and with bold compassion that often comes across abrupt and harsh. Forgive me... I do so with a pure and loving heart in Jesus' name. I have come back from a harsh reality and it makes my walk more urgent and thus I come across urgent because it IS urgent. I see it. It's coming and it's not slowing down... it's a flippin' freight train. WAKE UP!

Beloved brethren...

"May the Lord direct your hearts into
God's love and Christ's perseverance."
2 Thessalonians 3:5

Amen. Love Chadwick.


Good reads... 3 links for further study:

Click here: Be Holy

Click here: Confronting Sin and Falsehood

Click here: Encouragement, Edification and Discipline

from a blog I found:

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

Just like a computer, what you allow into your heart programs your thinking and words, which ultimately determines the direction of your life. Your eyes, ears, and mouth are all gateways to your heart. What you watch and listen to goes into your heart whether you realize it or not. You can guard your heart by filtering what you watch and listen to. If you don’t want to be like the people you see on TV, you shouldn’t watch that program. If you don’t want to act like the people in the songs you hear, you shouldn’t listen to them. But beyond that, you have to guard your heart against bitterness and bad attitudes. When those negative emotions sink into your heart, they will keep you from moving forward. The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. That means your words show where your heart is. Take inventory today of what you are saying, watching, and listening to. Make sure that you are glorifying the Lord with your every action. As you guard your heart and mind, the wellspring of life within in you will flow freely, and you will live in the abundance the Lord has in store for you.

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, today I submit my mind and heart to You. I choose to guard my heart and ask that You guide and direct my everyday choices. Purify me by Your spirit so that life will flow from me in every area. In Jesus’ Name. Amen