DISCERNING YOUR SPIRITUAL POSITION

How many times have you come across hearing the terms: lost, backslider, apostate, and saved, without really having a full grasp on what they really mean or how they even define you? Well, you are not the only one that is in need of some clarity. Let's take a look at their meaning, and how they may relate to you or others in your or their spiritual walk.

Lost- a person that is spiritually lost has no concept of who God is, nor do they have a personal relationship with Him. They either do not believe that God exists, worship an idol other than the true God, believe only in reincarnation and other spiritual deities, self-governed and absorbed into worldly pleasures, or may have never been introduced to the message of Jesus Christ to accept Him.

Backslider- a new believer, or a believer that has not reached maturity in the knowledge of God, but has been introduced to the message of Jesus Christ, and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior; yet, are struggling with the temptations of worldly pleasures, while wavering back and forth with their fellowship with God.

Apostate- a fully mature believer that has partaken, or has come to the full knowledge of who God is, what is expected of them, and the consequences. He or she has witnessed the promises and goodness of God, through miracles, enlightenment, heavenly gifts, possessing the evidence of the Holy Spirit, and the powers of the coming age; yet, has willfully and deliberately, turned his or her back against God, for other myths, idols, or the return to worldly pleasures, without ever desiring to come to repentance.

Saved- a new, maturing, or matured believer, that has been introduced to the message of Jesus Christ, and has accepted Him as Lord and Savior of their lives, showing evidence of their acceptance through their lifestyle, in being obedient towards Jesus Christ, showing a continual repentance towards temptations and sin, sharing the gospel with others, seeking out spiritual growth through personal study, church attendance, community and church help, fellowship, and prayer.

Although each term vastly differ in their meanings, none of them are without sin. Sin has its place in our lives whether one is saved or unsaved. All believers or nonbelievers have the ability to change either for the better or for the worse. However, it is scary to acknowledge that an apostate believer has no chance of ever coming back around to repentance, after already being exposed to the full truth.

Nevertheless, opting to remain in Biblical ignorance isn't an excuse to relieve people of the moral obligation to seek the truth, in fear of being held accountable for the truth that they would be exposed to. Ignorance does not imply innocence; if that was the case, the Bible would not teach us that there is an urgent need for the truth behind the gospel to be spread. Just as a lost person can be saved; a saved person can become lost; they are interchangeable.

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DOUBT REASONING

Doubt in itself is a TRUST issue. Somewhere, someone or something isn't trusted. However, mistrust isn't necessarily a bad thing; but in fact, it is a red flag alerting you to give what you are doubting a deeper analysis. Doubt can only be two things: a warning to back away from a potentially harmful circumstance, or an area of weakness within yourself that is in need of strengthening. Either way, your doubt may surface, God is capable of protecting you from both, and bringing about the best for, around, and in you (Romans 8:28). The problem comes when it is 'HARD to trust God', and 'not trusting Him', comes easy. When fear overtakes you to the point where you can't believe in what will deliver you; a stronghold takes place, locking your mindset to the belief that the circumstance is LARGER and MIGHTIER, than the possibility of having any chance of a better outcome. When this occurs, no longer is the circumstance a threat, but the doubt itself. Doubt can be not only hazardous, but contagious. It takes only one person to speak of doubt, before another begins to doubt, then another, then another, and before you know it, there is a domino effect taking place, digging a deeper grave of death for what is clearly a GOD SIZE PROMISE. Take for instance, the Israelite's journey into the promise land, flowing with prosperity; God clearly told the Israelite's that He would deliver them from the giants within the land, reigning them into victory, giving the land to them as He promised.  However, a few began doubting the possibilities of God's Word, after hearing of the challenges they would face that were spied out by Joshua and Caleb. One began to weep and complain, and then another, before long, the entire camp, except for a few, were left weeping and complaining. Although, God had protected the Israelite's from Pharaoh while fleeing Egypt, by parting the Red Sea, feeding them daily with Manna, keeping their clothing from becoming tattered and worn out, and guided them by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, with a host of other miracles... they refused to believe in His ability to continue with His provisions (Numbers 11). Doubt if not rectified, can steal, kill, and destroy any and all of what God has in store for a person as a blessing. The Israelite's of that generation were left to their doubt, and remained in the wilderness until all of them, except for Joshua and Caleb, died. Yet, God kept His promise of giving the Israelite's the promised land by giving it to their next generation.

Have you ever seen the photo where a horse is tied to a plastic chair as it stands as if it is impossible to escape while it reads, "Sometimes the chains that prevent us from being free are more mental than physical"? Well, that is about the jest of doubt. If one can clearly see red flags directing one to move away from a potential harmful situation, then take that doubt as intuition, a cautioning of the Holy Spirit. However, if that doubt is only because you feel like you cannot rescue yourself and the situation will just overtake you, then you are dealing with a doubt of fear, due to poor reasoning. Doubt is passive and aggressive if left to itself. Fear lowers expectations and outlook. God is active and manifesting.. Not trusting God, will lead to poor choices. If you believe that if you step out on faith, God will not respond; you are certainly, in the passive and aggressive zone. Nonetheless, you don't want to make the mistake in trusting God for something He didn't promise; that is why it is important to know His Word, lining your will up to His will. We often enough find ourselves walking our own way of life for what we desire out of it, without consulting God, asking him to direct our paths towards His perfect will for our lives. Thus, we find ourselves like the Israelite's left in the wilderness, being unproductive, facing giants, weeping, complaining, blaming faith and God. God's love and mercy for us renews everyday; He is never lacking in faith towards us. We give up on God because we believe we can trust ourselves more since our faith to believe in what we can see is more promising; although, limited, versus a force in what we cannot see, that doesn't prove to have any limitations, with all the possibilities, that we are incapable of doing ourselves. It is a person who has been tried against their own measure with the power of God that know that God will reveal Himself BIG AND MIGHTY for those who really seek BELIEF beyond their own willpower (John 14:15, 14:21, Proverbs 8:17, Romans 10:20).

WHEN GOD DOES FOR YOU ONCE; HE'LL DO IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN

 THERE IS NO GOOD REASON TO DOUBT HIM

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FOCAL POINT

As humans, we can get caught up in judging others as to whether or not they are worthy of our attention, friendship, relationship, or influence; however, that is not correct way of conforming to Christ. Christ Himself, interacted with those who were of poor character, and those who were considered to have 'good' character. His reasons for interacting with them both were for the same reasons: to create a personal relationship between them, to introduce the Father and His Will to them, to bring revelation into their lives to bring about repentance, to heal and restore, while growing the circle of harvester's by creating disciples. Yet, the BIGGER PICTURE is that He did not look towards any of them as being an example to live by because ALL were short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Have you ever heard people say, or even thought for yourself, to be a follower of some supposedly Christian idol that seemed to have it altogether? How about being like Paul, David, or even Solomon??? Maybe being like well-known leaders like; Billy Graham, T.D. Jakes, or Paula White??? Unfortunately, all of these people and others are also under the umbrella of falling short of the glory of God. No one knows the struggles that these individuals live (d) in their lives on a daily basis, except for some of those in which God shared some of their history. Have you ever heard of the saying, "Everything that shines like glitter ain't gold?" There is truth to that statement. Who's to say what these admirable people do behind closed doors??? Why wouldn't they fall to temptation or be without perfection, when they're still humans,which Christ died for??? Even for myself, as an Ambassador for Christ, I have fallen short in areas of my life, not just past, but present. Those who are created by God, are not God Himself, nor gods, so with that said, we are all imperfect compared to Him, and His glory. I wouldn't want one person to try and follow my lead in life, not even my own two children, because my lead would get questioned at times (just being REAL). Jesus did not want others following His lead except that it be by the commandments of God. Several times in the Bible He'd say, "If anyone wanted to follow Me, they must take up their cross" (Mark 8:34-38, Matthew 16:24, Acts 17:11) What did Christ mean by taking up their cross? He meant that one must deny themselves like He denied Himself to give reverence to the Father by following after what God commanded. Christ wrestled with temptations and trials as they came; for, He was born of flesh like ourselves, but what kept Him, was focusing His sight only on what would please the Father, by meditating, speaking, and acting, on His Word. Thus, our hearts nor eyesight should be focused upon other people's advancement in the Kingdom of God, but upon our own selves that we may be more and more like Christ who lived by the expectations of God. One should not compare themselves or others, to the growth of another, in Christ, because everyone's growth is at as their own pace, as God continues to do a great work within each of our lives individually; each of our lives are uniquely different, and are challenged at different angles, speeds, and tensity, based on what God knows about our history, our own beginning and end. Yet, we should not give room nor excuse for sin that is clearly printed out for us in God's Word, as we seek to grow in Him, even when reaching out to those who are lost. Similarly, when reaching out to others, our reasons should be the reasons for which Christ reached out, and not to make anyone to conform to who we are in Christ, but to Who God Is.

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THE ANATOMY OF CRITICISM



Ever wonder what the root cause of criticism is? Why is it that only certain people criticize you, or why there are only certain people that you criticize? How about the effects of criticism on your life, the life of others, and the life between the criticizer and God?

Criticism is defined as the act of expressing disapproval and of noting the problems or faults of a person or thing: the act of criticizing someone or something. Criticism can be deserved or undeserved, positive or negative, the building up or the tearing down, gossip, direct, or indirect. Either way criticism comes about; there is always an underlying factor, other than the person or thing that presents a fault, which is the real reason for the critical attitude. Some reasons may include to encourage or motivate others, to feel superior than others, to manipulate others to gain control where one perceives that control may be lost, a persons mood triggered by some other threat, disappointment, or hormone change in which they use another individual as the target to blow off steam, to limit or damage another's reputation due to envy or resentment, a lack in skills in knowing how to communicate an unmet need, unforgiveness of past or present hurts or disappointments, impatience, the list can go on. However, one key factor that remains consistent about criticism is that God views it as sin. Why? Because criticism rarely has anything to do with another person's fault; but instead, the decision to possess a negative attitude because someone else's fault is different than ones own personal fault. The Lord has said in Romans 3:23 that all have fallen short of His glory. There isn't one person alive or deceased from the past or present that hasn't had some type of fault of their own; the reason why Christ came to atone our shortcomings. God's original design of man was perfection and without fault; we are created in His image. Yet, the desire to go against God's moral law was found as the ultimate fall within man's heart, being the gateway to many transgressions. Unlike God, who is able to see all man's faults because He is holy; man can only perceive the faults of others, which often are not faults at all, but a shortcoming within the criticizer themselves.

God commands that we be slow at finding faults in others, while being quick at giving grace through forgiveness towards those who offend us. Choosing to criticize in His eyesight makes one guilty of one of His seven sins that He detests and views as an abomination, "Feet that race to sow discord amongst his brothers" (Proverbs 6:19). When Aaron and Miriam made the mistake of criticizing their brother Moses; God came down in a cloud to defend Moses, and afflicted Miriam with leprosy (Numbers 12). The root cause of criticism can stem from unforgiveness, a need to self exalt, bitterness, envy, resentment, careless words from an unbridled tongue, or a need to control and gain something. In the beginning, I did mention that criticism can be positive or deserved... from that viewpoint ... criticism can sometimes be what is called; constructive criticism, in which words are chosen carefully, and without malice, to bring about a positive result, in regards to someone else's weakness, to bring about strength. For example, maybe you have a partner that is an excessive spender, and doesn't manage their finances too well; there you will find room to criticize, especially if the money that he or she spends is joint. In this case, criticism is not only deserved, but can bring about the possibility of a more positive outcome in the future. God would expect from you to address the situation because He has said where there is offense, let it be known to your brethren; yet, He says to do it with the intentions of making peace (Matthew 18:15). Yelling, screaming, name calling, cursing, demeaning, slapping, punching, manipulation, belittling, or demanding, isn't going to bring about the right change; but instead, will most likely cause the situation to blow out of control, and destroy the relationship altogether, due to damaged emotions. For the Lord has said that it is harsh words that stir anger, and soft words that turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). The best way to go about it is to let your disapproval be known with a solution that can work for you both. Proverbs 14:30 says, "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is rottenness to the bone". When we feel the need to criticize in way that is harmful, we should be quick to repent, and ask God to guide our words as the Holy Spirit gives way; for, we all will be held accountable for every word that we have said, or even thought, but didn't say (Matthew 12:36). We are not to think highly of ourselves where we feel that we can say what we want, when we want. We must be mindful that our emotions are untrustworthy and can give us the wrong attitude, which will be damaging to ourselves because we are not being who we are in Christ, and conforming to a practice of having a critical attitude. It can be damaging to our relationships with others by planting a seed of bitterness and resentment, or burning bridges with people who we love, love us, who can be of help to us in the future. We also damage our relationship with God, who cannot commune with anyone who is unwilling to repent of acts that offend Him. Even Aaron addressed his wrongful attitude by acknowledging his act of criticizing Moses to be foolishness and sin (Numbers 12:11). A critical attitude is dishonoring, displeasing, unholy, and lacking truth in the eyesight of God. He wants our thoughts to be taken captive to obey Him, and focus only on those things that are excellent and of good report (2 Corinthians 10:5, Philippians 4:8) because we don't know all aspects of a situation as to why something is what it is, only God knows. If we find it difficult to bridle our tongue, God expects for us to ask Him for His help, and that we pray that He reveal to us other critical aspects of our attitudes that are not a part of His body, which works together for the glory of Him.

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COVETING THE WILDERNESS



When one hears; Coveting, the first thought to come to one's mind may be the act of stealing. However, stealing and coveting have two different meanings. To take something that doesn't belong to you, would be stealing. To want or desire more of what you already have, want to have, don't need to have, or what someone else has is Coveting. Coveting may appear to be harmless because it's basically only a desire. Yet, desires can and often run out of control leading to other sins such as jealousy, rage, lying, greed, stealing, envy, lust, murder, infidelity, and idolatry. Coveting is major problem because it is always the underlying cause for people feeling that their needs are unmet; an insult to God's grace of provisions. Coveting is so much of an offense to God that it is listed as the last of the Ten Commandments; although, not considered the least (Exodus 20:2-17).

Coveting is one of the main reasons why there is so much monetary and emotional debt in the world. Everyone wants more of what they already have, more than what someone else has, some of what they don't need, part or all of what someone else has. And because there is so much wanting, there amongst the people, is found quarreling and fighting, because someone or something is in the way of them getting to what they want. Does this have anything to do with the end times where people will become more calloused in heart, self-centered, puffed up, and lovers of themselves? Absolutely not. The first sign of coveting began when man was created. Adam and Eve desired to covet more knowledge over the gift of life (Gen 3:1-7). Ahab and Jezebel desired Naboth's vineyard; although, they were wealthy and well off (1 Kings 21). Judas desired silver over the life of the Messiah (Matt 27:3-5). Ananias and Sapphira desired wealth more than honesty (Acts 5:1-11). David desired sexual immorality with Bathsheba over his anointing and righteousness (2 Sam 11). Samson desired the fancy of beautiful ladies over his anointing and strength (Judges 16). Esau desired a bowl of soup over his own birthright (Gen 25:29-34). Mariam desired jealousy over her brother Moses due to wanting to be used by God in a greater measure (Num 12). The list can go and on... With each desire for coveting; there also other sins were manifested, and where God's anger burned against the guilty. Understand that God isn't against people desiring; He is against desires that go after right or wrong things, for the wrong reasons, at the wrong time, and for the wrong amount. Can you think of any times when you have wanted someone or something without the right intentions? Or maybe it was for the right intentions, but it belonged to someone else? Maybe it didn't belong to someone else, and it was left to your option, but you didn't really need it; yet, you possessed it anyways? Ever needed more shoes? more clothes? more make-up? a bigger house? a fancier car? the better cell phone? louder bassed out sound system? a more handsome husband or gorgeous wife? Someone else's husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend? a greater title? a higher position? Does anything you are seeking more of have pride attached? competition? the desire for some type of glory, status, attention, or insatiate lust?

Everything reaps what it sows right? Well, coveting reaps the wilderness because what is sowed is a seed of wrongful desire. Coveting is nothing more than temptation, and temptation always leads to destruction and ruin. Mark 7: 21:23 lists coveting with sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness, senseless, and harmful desires. Having the desire for more does not bring satisfaction, but instead, leads to wanting even more, while becoming more and more dissatisfied with God and His provisions, giving one the feeling of being self-sufficient, from being puffed up. Here's how God sees it, "We cannot take anything with us when we die". Senseless desires are for nothing. One burns and burns for more and more, never coming to the end of being satisfied, while running themselves down to the ground, emotionally, physically, mentally, financially, spiritually, for absolutely nothing in the end. 1 Timothy 6:7, "After all we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can not take anything with us when we leave it". Ecclesiastes 5:15, "We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we came". Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life". James 4:14, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away". God desires that our reasoning for our own desires be that we remain content with what He gives us, and rejoice in Him who has always been, is , and will forever be, versus our possessions which weren't with us in the beginning, made us restless during our days with it, and which will one day leave us again. When we place our focus on God, He promises to add everything to us according to our needs during each season of our lives here on earth; the contentment and joy, will come to the point where there will be no room left for coveting to take root (Philippians 4:19).

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OUR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE PART 2 (Revelation 14 )

  

Babylon the historical enemy of Israel will once again try to rise. It will set itself up high to restore its old laws, bringing about corruption, to all those who dare to take share in drinking from its wicked ways; for, it is the capital set against the world, the throne of the adversary. Babylon had been in the Old Testament, and will be again according to the New Testament, a defiling government of immoral political, economical, and religious influence. As like a prostitute, it will entice, seduce, and lead other governments into perversion and disobedience in regards to sanctity, through idolatry, murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and thievery, as it did before.

Leviticus 26:1

"Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.

Revelation 13:7

So they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

Revelations 9:21



Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

A spirit of idolatry will sweep the world as every state across the world forces its people to give their allegiance to worshiping them first before any other god or God Himself. Where there is resistance to loyalty; there will be savaging murder. People will be killed for refusing to accept the mark of the beast, renouncing their god or God, and giving loyalty to their state. However, those who do give themselves over; give themselves over to participating in sorcery in which their life will be governed, and unto sexual immorality, where they will be given permission to fulfill their lusts and desires as they will, contrary to the Word of God. Where a  man's heart is allowed to run wild with evil, sin of all sorts can be found there. A man that lies, will steal. A man that steals will kill. A man that kills will be judged. All those who hold a rebellious and unrepented heart will have nothing left for themselves but the hope and confidence of God's wrath, because the whoredom of Babylon will come to an end.

Job 21:20

Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

God Wills not to come second to anything that He has created. One cannot say to God that something or someone that He created is greater than Him or do more than Him; for, that is to say that something or someone is a better hope than God. Nothing that God has created, has created itself, nor does it control its own life, or destiny before itself. It is God and God only that is sovereign, and above all else. Not medicine, education, wisdom, social services, science, nor government, keep God from being our Creator, and our Judge. God is life in its beginning, its existence, and its end.  Only God can bring about perfection and paradise. Because of this truth; Babylon will be brought down to an end. God will not stand to tolerate sin any longer, after thousands of years, of being patient with man, and giving every opportunity for repentance. The ungodly will have to drink of the wrath of God through eternal punishment of fire and burning sulfur. God must punish the ungodly for they punished those who were not guilty of doing anything wrong...

Jeremiah 49:12

This is what the LORD says; "If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must drink it.

Revelation 14:10

He, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

Revelation 14:11

And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever.

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OUR HOPE AND CONFIDENCE PART I (Revelation 14)

There is so much to take in when it comes to the Great Tribulation: the antichrist, God's wrath, the destruction of the world and its resources, blood shed on blood shed. One will wonder will there be any other hope besides the rapture; the answer is found in Chapter 14 of Revelation.

The redeemed will have the guarantee of inheriting God's Kingdom, living a life of eternity with their Lord and Savior, the Lamb slain for their sins; Jesus Christ. "Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:17). The redeemed will also have the glorious privilege of hearing God's voice, no longer wondering what His voice sounds like nor if they are truly hearing from God. "But I heard the sound of His words; and as  soon I heard the sound of His words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground" (Daniel 10:9).

The redeemed will be sealed with the name of God being identified with God and Christ because they refused to receive the mark of the beast. For this reason, the redeemed will sing a song of VICTORY before all of Heaven. They will sing with joy of overcoming the Antichrist through evil and death. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). To live for Christ is to is to be a true woman or man, wholeheartedly committed to God, forsaking worldly ways, sin, and the Antichrist. In them, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't found, only the heart to be like Christ. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24)

The redeemed will consist of 144,000 Jews that will turn from their unrepentant heart to a heart of repentance, obedience, belief, and acceptance, along with a countless number of gentiles. Peter said, "We have left everything to follow you!" (Mark 10:28). Christ spoke, "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33). "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). The fact is, the gospel will have been preached throughout the whole world, as Christ prophesied, "And because lawlessness will be increased, love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:12-14). Not only will the two witnesses from Heaven preach the gospel (Revelation 11), but the remnant of the 144,000 Jews, and gentiles will also preach. No true follower of Christ, remains silent on spreading the gospel to others due to obedience, rebirth, the Holy Spirit, the glory of God, and the love for others. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

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