Humble yourselves.
Sexual relations of the unmarried, the unnatural, following false doctrine, pride, and vanity are some causes of trouble in a mans life.
Many have stated these same things and were delivered in due time by the Lord, after they hearkened unto the words of the Lord.
Many times we are lax in reading and studding the word of God, this results in an opening that Satan can enter and steal away the Lords words, this was stated clearly by Jesus.
Many Christians sin because of lack of knowledge, this brings about chastisement from the Lord, for He loves you.
We must all understand that many things that befall us in these perilous times are brought upon us by lack of understanding of the consequences of the willful sin. These sins come because of the lack of knowledge or false doctrine. These things are called being politically correct, not wanting to hurt someone else's feelings, or by not wanting to be called an outsider.
Jesus was not concerned with the way He was viewed, but was concerned that His failure would cause the loss of many souls for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus came to deliver a message of hope, love and salvation to the Jews first and then the gentiles. Being politically correct was not on His mind.
Sometimes, we, as believers, must be shown the way with the chastisement of the Lord as stated here.
"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."(Final judgment.)
“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”
God does not these things to destroy, but rather to deliver. For the consequences of disobedience are dire, but the salvation is eternal. We are not chastised by God because He desires to make us an example to others, but rather to strengthen our resolve in the standing fast of our faith in Him.
“Holding faith, and a good conscience.”
Faith is to be held, otherwise it will become, as is stated, shipwrecked, meaning; A total desertion; a state of being forsaken.
“a good conscience”,
“Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power or principle within us, which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our own actions and affections, and instantly approves or condemns them. Conscience is called by some writers the moral sense, and considered as an original faculty of our nature.
Others question the propriety of considering conscience as a distinct faculty or principle. They consider it rather as the general principle of moral approbation or disapprobation, applied to ones own conduct and affections; alleging that our notions of right and wrong are not to be deduced from a single principle or faculty, but from various powers of the understanding and will.”
Our morality, and judgment of such, causes us to reject such things as are an a abomination to God. These things are prevelant in todays society. Homosexuality, same sex marriages, prostitution, blasphemy, adultery, removing the word Christmas from our vocabulary, and suchlike. We are called by our Lord to resist such changes within our lives, not accepting them but rather speaking out against them. Not as to hurt the feelings of others, but to warn them of the dire consequences of such acts concerning their soul.
Remember we are in the world, but not of the world.
By accepting these things we become partakers, of these things. Weather they are preformed by strangers or members of our own families.
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
This referring to a time that is acceptable to God.
We may have to suffer for a season, but the Lord never forgets us, nor forsakes us. Our suffering has a purpose, for by suffering it makes us stronger.
For as it is written;
“And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken(adhear to and accomplish.) unto the commandments(Laws of a good conscience, morallity,common sense.) of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:.”
No matter what befalls a believer in Christ, we shall be overcomers by the word. we shall prevail against the mockers, the enemies of the cross, the deviourer of our finances, and those that dispute our testimony of the truth.
“If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.”
There is no excuse for man not to know, nor abide by His word. We all know of God and His Christ but the question is, are we known by God?
“But who-so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” ars.
1Ti 1:19-20 1 Corinthians 5:5 1 Peter 5:6 (King James Version)Deuteronomy 28:13 Proverbs 1:33, Webster,TSK
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