Comments on: Warning Against False Teaching

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 11:45:17 +0000

In reply to Lanie H.

Hi Lanie, I’m sorry I didn’t see your response until this morning. I went back and read the whole chapter of Romans 14. In this chapter, Paul is specifically talking about the believers getting worked up about the newbies eating things that they don’t feel is acceptable to God. I agree with many of the comments already made here in interpreting what Paul was getting at. There is a big difference between what we have defined as “Christian behavior” and what the Bible says about how we should live. I like verse 17 of that chapter: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. I am reading between the lines that the “argument” you and your new believer friend are having is about the church’s treatment of homosexuality. This is a Biblical truth and not in the same category as eating and drinking (or dancing, or any of the other requirements we humans decide to put on Christians). I agree with others, the Holy Spirit will lead you as you share with this friend, but ultimately, that sharing needs to be grounded in the Bible and what it clearly says about this topic (and any topic that is Biblical). I think that this was Paul’s exact point. Keep your focus on what is from God, not from man. Man is really good at twisting God’s words and making them fit what we want. We need to keep our eyes on what God wants. I also don’t believe this means hitting her over the head with it all at once. But being ready, responding with Biblical truth when asked, praying for wisdom and guidance, all of this is discipling too.

I’ll end with this. I have had plenty of “arguments” with my son who gets caught up on individual scriptures plucked from here and there in the Bible and wants to use them to defend his own feelings and thinking. He is an extremely empathetic young man. He feels deeply for those who are hurting. He doesn’t want to accept what the Bible says sometimes because it sounds cruel to his human ears. I have been frustrated many times with discussions with him, because it seems so clear to me. But I have had to surrender his journey to the Lord. I keep praying for him. When he comes to me, I respond with Biblical truth when it is appropriate. And I wait for the Lord to work in his heart.

I rejoice that you have a friend who is actively seeking, and I will pray that you will be used by the HS to speak truth in love, which I believe means to be discerning of what she can handle at the time. God’s Word never returns void. That has comforted me often when I speak to others who are confused about the Word of God. Be blessed, dear sister in Christ!

By: Lanie H

Lanie H — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 11:24:35 +0000

In reply to R. Yes! Thank you (and to others who have answered in their comments!) I was thinking later that in the past two years God himself has convicted me of very simple or "not obviously bad" things that I used to judge other Christians as being prudes for not being involved in. It has been a humbling experience, and I can truly say that no human could have convinced me those things were harming me, it was only clear to me because God did it ! And it's funny because my friend and I were just talking about that last week when reading that verse! It is really interesting to me because I have been following Christ my whole life, that for probably 20 years the only thing I felt from God was love. It was like I was on the infants milk forever, because I remember as a young Christian when I read the Bible that was all I saw, no judgement, only love, and that really shaped my world view and how I perceived other Christians who were "a little more advanced" including my on mother and grandmother. It wasn't until I turned 30, that other parts of the Bible sort of came to life for me. Jesus seemed much tougher than I remembered him. Lol. It took a lot of reckoning to sit through that as he started disciplining me, and maybe that's why I needed 20 years of nothing but love as the foundation!

By: Mercy

Mercy — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 06:53:52 +0000

Happy Friday she’s.
I sensed some confusion after reading today’s devotional and the corresponding scriptures, and then got confirmed through some of your comments. God doesn’t call us to judge. BUT… He calls us to discern. So these are not the same, but can be similar. God will judge. But it’s us who have to discern what’s acceptable, good and perfect will of God, study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman need not to be ashamed, rightly divide the word of truth. Yes to study the word. Especially rightly divide the words that are full of grace, but void of truth!!! Beware in this hour, so many of those type of words. Lord Jesus comes with grace and truth. Some of us might have to exercise the wisdom that young Solomon had to do, in order to discern who the real mom of the baby is, who will let the baby live, and who is the counterfeit one, they act like one who wants to guard over the child, make a fuss, take it to court, fight over custody, but in a blink of an eye, when wisdom is exercised, discernment is achieved, the counterfeit is also willing to let that baby be cut in half ( division will bring death), and that counterfeit is a liar and a murderer, just like satan, the father of all lies. Love will be the sign. Love is the highest form of warfare we can fight back. Return love for evil. Who is the baby in this hour? (I’m saying something without saying something, not ruffling feathers, I hope). Who has the love for this child and does their best to save and rescue this child in this hour? Who is fighting for the life of this child? The devil is hiding in plain sight. May the Lord give us wisdom to discern and discern. Don’t judge, but please do your best to discern. You can always pray to the Lord for the spirit of discerning of spirits, the spirits that operate behind questionable things, people. How much more does our Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask? Be bold, and don’t dim your light. Remember the righteous are as bold as the lions. Don’t be afraid. Be bold and very courageous, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Also, Be innocent as doves, wise as serpents, and again, bold as lions. With God it’s possible to embody all those godly attributes. I love the Lord, and the goodness He wishes upon His kids. Lay down the pride, lay down the moral superiority, don’t get caught up in the emotions of the narratives of divisions. Something I learnt from a Bible study called God’s mercies of Courtney Doctor, she asked these questions, related to self righteousness, yesterday’s read, have you ever felt pride because you walked with the Lord for a while? And perhaps you know where to flip the Bible to find Habakkuk or Philemon? have you ever felt pride because your parents help build the church that you now worship in? do you think your spiritual heritage and religious resume makes you more pleasing to God? What about pride over knowing the right answer to Bible trivia question? Yes? Paul did too..yet he counted it all as nothing. I love that. Cast your crown to the feet of the Cross. Take no credit. Treat your neighbors as yourself, at times we give ourselves abundant grace, and can be stingy with grace for others. May the Lord help us. By grace and truth. Again, grace and truth need to go together. I am up late tonight reading, and i love it. Praise the Lord for His love and wisdom. Seek Him and His righteousness first and always. Be blessed dear sisters. Night night.

By: Searching

Searching — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 00:06:12 +0000

In reply to Cee Gee.

By: Searching

Searching — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 00:03:06 +0000

In reply to ECS. ECS - Tina has popped in a couple of times to let us know she is spending time with a young friend, Abbi, who has been struggling for a few weeks. You can read her first share about this on Day 40 of Galatians and Ephesians study.

By: Victoria E

Victoria E — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 21:47:08 +0000

In reply to Searching. Searching, praying for your family member and others affected by the storm ! Praying also for your friend’s health. Happy Friday to all.

By: Cee Gee

Cee Gee — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:40:03 +0000

Another note re yesterday's topic about not being taken captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us (in some versions) to take every thought captive. Again, I can't copy and paste that version on my phone, but I have my NLT Bible here. It says in verses 4-5:"We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ." That actually goes well with today's reading!

By: Cee Gee

Cee Gee — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:11:48 +0000

My take on the Scriptures here and the quedtions asked: the new church was reeling from the inclusion of Gentiles which brought about a strong reaction from the Jewish believers who want to force laws, rituals, and customs onto the newly accepted believers. I can imagine it was hard to see GRACE enacted knowing they had always focused on the law. Hence, false teaching. I don't believe these verses are referring to the type of things dividing our churches today: acceptance of sinful lifestyles, those plainly noted in Scripture. I hope that makes sense! ------------- I want to share again the song by Cindy Morgan: "Do You Know Jesus" I am on my lhkne so I won't try to copy and paste lyrics. Blessings to each of you sweet sisters!

By: Cee Gee

Cee Gee — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 19:51:07 +0000

In reply to Searching. praying for you and with you, sister!!!

By: A Walton

A Walton — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:52:12 +0000

In reply to Robin Bailey. Yes, it’s so important. She definitely is. Thanks.