Truth... What is truth??

A group called the Pew Research Center conducts regular surveys of American people on many topics, including religion. One of their studies was published in USA Today which revealed, “78 percent overall say there are 'absolute standards of right and wrong,' but only 29 percent rely on their religion to delineate these standards.” That was almost fifteen years ago. Since That research in 2009 things have gotten much worse as religious involvement and commitment have declined to levels never seen before in this country. Today, fewer people belief in the concept of absolute truth or that some things are always right or wrong. Even more believe they can make that decision for themselves.

What exactly does this apply to..

Here's 2 examples

1) Doctor Assisted Suicide (Eugenics) other terms to look for (• Ableism – Discrimination against disabled people• Biological determinism – Theory of genetic influence

• Culling – Process of segregating organisms in biology) And they don't think there's anything inherently wrong with it. This included abortion and end of life for elderly or for children who are born with disabilities!

2) Removing your parental rights.. sometimes for things like making decisions on your child getting puberty blockers, or sex change surgeries without your permission.. Think about that.. Schools, Doctors etc acting against your wishes with the body of your child. Yet you're expected to fund it and then raise the child while they played God altering that child chemically or medically.. And it's been proven there are often times permanent regrets when made by a child on these topics.. there are children who can't smoke or drink because they are too young to reasonably make those choices.. but them same children are being allowed to make decisions to alter their bodies permanently and irrevocably!

Legally there are laws against these things.. But now a days people think there's no real right or wrong about these things. they think it's ambiguous or morally changeable due to the situation..

1)Here are graphics proving people really support Eugenics..

2) Graphics proving there's support out there for this issue!

There is such a thing as right and wrong!

Pilot asked Jesus the same question..

35Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?

36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Pilot wondered if there was any such thing as truth..

We know that JESUS is the way, Jesus is the truth.. and it also therefor makes sense that Jesus tells us what is truth..

Jesus hates the senseless waste of life..

Jesus created us all.. Did he err?

It's pretty presumptuous of us to tell the creator who deserves to live and who deserves to die.. OR WORSE.. To take that life without a cause!

What does the Bible say?

1. Exodus 23:7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.

2. Deuteronomy 27:25 “Cursed is anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

3. Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

4. Psalm 94:21 The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

5. Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

6. Leviticus 24:19-22 Whoever injures a neighbor must receive the same injury in return a broken bone for a broken bone, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whoever injures another person must receive the same injury in return. Whoever kills an animal must replace it. Whoever kills a person must be put to death. The same rule applies to every one of you. It makes no difference whether you are a foreigner or an Israelite, because I am the Lord your God.”

7. Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

8. Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

You must decide if God is truth.. If he is.. then his word needs to be the authority..

It is no surprise that people are eager to accept philosophies and religious doctrine that allow them to determine what is right and wrong. Satan has been successfully selling the lie that we can do that ever since the Garden of Eden. It appeals to our sinful natures to be the determining force in moral issues. But because of those sinful natures, every time we choose for ourselves, we choose wrongly. Even if we wanted to choose rightly and walk rightly, we do not have the power to do so in ourselves. Paul wrote, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:18). Thankfully, we have a reliable, infallible source for truth in the Word of God.

What our mantra's really mean?!

The things we say... Mean something!

When a Christian does not know how to respond to someone who is hurting, we utter, "Well, I'll be praying for you." After that comes, "God is in control." Next, we say, "All things work together for good." Should I keep 'em coming? "If God closes a door, he'll open a window," and another favorite: "God allows everything for a purpose."

Do we ever really mean anything?

Half the time I suspect that Christians MEAN to pray for the person they said they would pray for.. BUT.. Time passes and it never happens.

I just don't think they do it soon enough to not "accidently"

Forget it..

They meant well..

To stop that.. My pastor teaches us to do FLASH PRAYERS..

Stop when you are talking to that person and pray for them right in front of them..

Or on the phone with them..

Then you have a blessing..

NO GUILT after the fact..

And that's a beautiful thing!

I guess what I am trying to tell you is to keep your words to something you either can deliver..

Not trite phrases that aren't helpful to anyone..

I had a person tell me after a nephew died in a fire.. "well God had a purpose, Guess we'll have to wait and figure it out"

His parents have never darkened the door of a church since then..

That man and his words embittered
their hearts.  I still on occasion  here them saying very sarcastically "I suppose this is more of God's good purpose for us"

WORDS HAVE POWER..

I don't say that the same way that a person who is a prosperity doctrine speaker/teacher means it.. But It's still true!

DO YOU HAVE BIBLICAL SALVATION OR SATAN'S SUBSTITUTE?

I had a thought about the modern fundamental  soul-winning method.

In order to get saved we tell people to pray a simple little prayer asking Jesus to come into your heart. Interesting that man has developed this idea for getting saved that involves Jesus coming into your heart.. 1, 2, 3, repeat after me, that's it you're done. You're saved now!

HOWEVER!

The bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? So, when we are going to God with 'worldly' sorrow, and not godly sorrow with a heart that has been prepared by the Holy Ghost for biblical repentance (which is absolutely agreeing with God about yourself no holds barred) and faith in Jesus Christ, we tend to wind up with the world's salvation to go with it.
What are you agreeing with God about?
What is biblical repentance?

 I find it even more interesting that Paul, Peter, and even Jesus Christ himself NEVER preached this to people. It is not written anywhere in the bible, come sinners and pray this 5 second prayer and ask Jesus to come into your heart.

 But it is written, REPENT and BELEIVE! Why do we find it necessary to develop a gospel that Jesus never taught?? Because we live in a world with watered down Christians who prefer a watered down gospel because our flesh doesn't naturally want to change.

We prefer to live with a false gospel that produces a false salvation with no change on the inward parts, so that we can go on living the way WE want to. We ought not to live in such a way as doing whatever we want, however we want, seeking to satisfy the flesh while we live in this world, because we can not lose our salvation so we still get to go to heaven when we die. If that is how you live your Christian life, I would do a serious evaluation because that is not the life that God called us to. Every tree that does not bear fruit is cast into the fire. I have a serious problem with someone who is "born again" and finds absolutely nothing wrong with carrying on with drinking, and drugs, and fornication, etc. These are just some of the most obvious sins, the ones that everyone else can see. But if you're hiding them in your heart and there is no change or evidence of the inward parts of salvation, you may be able to hide that and fool everyone else.. but you are not fooling God. We will all stand before him, would to God that we would hear the words, "well done thou good and faithful servant."

Are you a blessed person? Do you want to become one? Part 3

 

God's word.. His law.. His Commandments
These are the things we are to be meditating on DAY AND NIGHT..

This alone helps us to be blessed.
Consider it a pathway to God's throne!

In his word he can clean up our heart,
In his word he can clear our conscience 
In his word he can lighten our burdens.

And it says a special word here.. 

HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW..

It's not a burden to him to read Gods word..

It's not a task to be checked off his to do list!

There is a BLESSING added for making Gods word something YOU enjoy!

Are you a blessed person? Do you want to become one? Part 2

 

PSALM 1

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way 

3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

of sinners,

Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

His leaf also shall not wither;

And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4The ungodly are not so:

But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

It is sure strange to think of older women as sinners.. But as the bible tells us.. 

For all have fallen short of the glory of God.

Some in this way.. some in another way..

Right?

I fully admit I am human!

I fully admit I am a Sinner, SAVED BY GRACE..

But I am still a sinner.. I fall every day.. I try to get up.. and do better.. But I must kneel in obedience to my master and accept the truth..

I have fallen short.

The important thing to realize is.. 

Someone no matter who.. 

Someone is following us!

What are we displaying to others..?

It's a scary thing isn't it?

looking down our nose at someone.

Judging others in a way we wouldn't want to be judged ourselves.

Oh there's a whole host of ways that we can be

Standing in the way of sinners..

What "way" is our way of sinning?

Sins are often habits.

Do you have a habit of being MOUTHY?

Do you have a habit of being Cranky and hard to be around?

Lots of habits are actually a way of doing things that are truthfully sin at their core!

“You can’t stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair.” – Martin Luther

Are you a blessed person.. Do you want to become one?

Blessed is the man..

Do you want blessings??

Read below!

PSALM 1

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,

Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2But his delight is in the law of the LORD;

And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,

That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

His leaf also shall not wither;

And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4The ungodly are not so:

But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,

Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:

But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

God tells us here in this section that he will bless us... IF we don't walk in the counsel of the ungodly.. What is the counsel of the ungodly? Anything that is told to you by a human no matter how well meaning they are.. if they tell you something that is not in agreement with God and his word.

Ex: A friend telling you to go to a party you know is going to have drugs, alcohol or premarital sex or people trying to get you to move to another location where that would happen.. That friend is telling you UNGOLDY COUNSEL .. They are leading you to do something that our human and fleshly desires would want.. But not what God would want for us!

It's so easy when we think of telling a teenager to avoid peer pressure.. but it happens every day to us in many ways..

A fellow church member telling a distraught wife to "I'd tell my husband x, y or z" or "He'd know how I thought about that" This woman probably has no idea that she's leading her Neice, cousin or friends child to do something inherently ungodly.. she's not thinking about it like that.. BUT GOD DOES!

How do we know what to do.. SEEK GOD..

What would he have us do?

First step in being a christ follower is to read his word.. be diligent in seeking him.

It doesn't matter what another person says or does. WHAT does GOD want us to do..

Can we all consider how we effect others?

Ex: I know one woman who has been telling new brides for 20+ years marital advice..

I had always wondered why these girls have divorces so fast.. Then I realized all of them went to we will call her Mrs D.. for advice.

These newlyweds were getting marital advice from a woman who has been married 50 years.. But her husband literally has a man cave and has hidden out there and hides from her.. because he long ago gave up the idea that he had any input into his own home.. Or how his children were raised.. All her children have had 2-4 marriages.. all these girls have been divorced.. She's the root that they all attached themselves to.. I hate to say it but Mrs D. is a Proverbs 7 strange woman..

And the fruit of her ways is displayed plainly for all to see.. PLEASE be cautious who you get counsel from!