Speaking the Truth in Love

Speak the truth in love out of concern for others well being. That is what this post is about. The Message link I want to share with you and hope you will take time to watch is titled "Feeding Christ" and pastor David Wilkerson recalls how the Lord dealt with him for his railing on other ministers, the church, thing that didn't measure up in his eyes. How sad he was when he saw what he had done. I see a lot of my Christian friends do this on Facebook. I have been guilty myself and had to repent. So I looked up what the Word of God says about railing because this stirred something in my heart this morning. Please read carefully. I'm asking God to shine the light in my heart and let nothing hide from Him.

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat. 

This is not directed at the world, but at the church. And look at the company a railer is included with. To eat is to fellowship, in the Word. 

1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 

If we are washed and cleansed of these things, we do not need to continue in them, including railing and reviling, for it's a thing of the fleshly human nature, Amen? In a world so full of sin and darkness and cruelty, may God purge it from His house and people. Scriptures studied, with the definition in the Greek of the word railer/reviler inclued, in listed order. Please take time to examine them with an open heart. I know it's a hard thing, and will require divine help to overcome this. But what He says is serious and we need to consider it.

Scriptures: Luke 23:39, 1 Cor 5:11, 6:10, 1 Tim 6:4, 1 Pet 3:9, 2 Pet 2:11, Jude verse 9. In listing order, Strong's # G987, G3060, G988, G3059, G989, G988. 

Definition, of the word identified by Strong's number in listing order:
1-To vilify, speaking of another without reverence or due respect, to defame, revile, speak evil of, slander, speak lightly/profanely of sacred things. To dishonor, malign, hurl abuse verbally.
2-abusive reviler, one who attacks with abusive language, spreads negative information about (example given in dictionary was Nazi Propaganda)
3-to vilify, evil speaking, railing against
4-to slander, criticism which is sustained, overly harsh, blaming, condemning, venomous language used to express blame or censure, bitter, deep seated ill will against.
5-expressing offensive reproach because of, speaking slanderous, harmful and often untrue or exaggerated speech to discredit or malign 

You can watch any news channel right now with the election coming up and see all of this on display by unregenerate politicians or media people. You see it in the world every where you go. And in many churches, you hear preachers doing it from the pulpit against things they don't like. I see it on Facebook every time I do log on among well meaning Christians, and I realize they are just tired and frustrated by what is wrong and condemning it. Many curse the darkness instead of being a vessel through which His light and life can shine. When we rail on others, on things that irritate us, that anger dims our light. When we act this way, railing on things we can't change, because we don't like it, we misrepresent Christ. We hurt and discourage others. I've seen preachers beat people with the Word of God, with good intentions but when the Word is delivered in tired, frustrated flesh, without anointing, the wounded walk out so discouraged they give up and don't come back many times. God showed Pastor Wilkerson how to behave this way was not His heart. He said the Lord revealed to him that he should have been moved with compassion for those who are out of the way, not piling on them in their condition.(Heb 7:25)

I Indeed...But He-My Utmost For His Highest

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

"I Indeed... But He"

“ I indeed baptize you with water . . but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire."  ” Matthew 3:11

Have I ever come to a place in my experience where I can say - "I indeed - but He"? Until that moment does come, I will never know what the baptism of the Holy Ghost means. I indeed am at an end, I cannot do a thing: but He begins just there - He does the things no one else can ever do. Am I prepared for His coming? Jesus cannot come as long as there is anything in the way either of goodness or badness. When He comes am I prepared for Him to drag into the light every wrong thing I have done? It is just there that He comes. Wherever I know I am unclean, He will put His feet; wherever I think I am clean, He will withdraw them.

Repentance does not bring a sense of sin, but a sense of unutterable unworthiness. When I repent, I realize that I am utterly helpless; I know all through me that I am not worthy even to bear His shoes. Have I repented like that? Or is there a lingering suggestion of standing up for myself? The reason God cannot come into my life is because I am not through into repentance.

"He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire." John does not speak of the baptism of the Holy Ghost as an experience, but as a work performed by Jesus Christ. "He shall baptize you." The only conscious experience those who are baptized with the Holy Ghost ever have is a sense of absolute unworthiness.

I indeed was this and that; but He came, and a marvellous thing happened. Get to the margin where He does everything.