Tough but True!

“It is a remarkable fact that all the heresies which have arisen in the Christian Church have had a decided tendency to ‘dishonor God and to flatter man’. “  Charles H. Spurgeon

We live in a time like none other in the history of the Church~Body of Christ.  There is not a single day that goes by that we don’t read a story in mainstream media and/or Christian media,  or hear on the news or a from a radio station of another Christian organization that is “falling away” from the blessed truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)   I know I’m not alone in watching with great sadness churches (some denominational– others interdenominational– some non-denomination) changing their views, policies, doctrine and ministries to suit the “times”.  We are warned often in the New Testament of those who will creep unawares into our churches… and those who will walk away from the One True Gospel because of  the self centered, lust-filled and power-driven old “person” within us.  Charles Spurgeon witnessed it.  We are witnessing it!  Like a “whirlpool sucking everything into the darkness”.

I wrote several postings last year about wolves in sheep’s clothing ( Matthew 7:15), however they weren’t read by many.  A year later, apostacy has escalated at an alarming rate as I watch Christian (?) ministers/ministries/organizations move away from the true Gospel… to a

‘people-pleasing gospel’

or a ‘cotton candy Christianity’

or a ‘cultural gospel’

or a ‘New Age gospel’

or a ‘question the Bible gospel’

a ‘jump on the band wagon gospel’

or a ‘mix Christianity with other religions’

All of these are deceiving many in our churches,  and the members follow along, like the “blind leading the blind” not questioning. (1 Timothy 4:1)  Why???  I’ll tell you why… because the average Christian has no idea what they really believe or why they believe it because they spend no time in the Word of God, “testing the spirits” (1 John 4:1)  I know that sounds tough and hard, but, it is the truth.  As I’ve written many times before… you don’t need a theological degree to read and study the Word;  you don’t need an education in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.  All you need is a personal relationship with God!  That relationship comes through repentance and personally receiving the “gift of salvation–the blood of Christ” that reconciles us to the Father; making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life and then the Holy Spirit takes up residence within your heart and at that moment you are a brand new person, with a new life.  With the abilities to read and study the Bible.  Earnest prayer for understanding, asking the Holy Spirit for discernment and a willingness to surrender your own will to the will of God—-the Word will become something you crave and can’t do without!!

Much Praise to The One Who is The Giver of Eternal Life

The unconditional love of the Almighty LORD God given to sinful, God rejecting, and self pleasing mankind is the most amazing representation of WHO He is.  He sent His ‘only’ Son to die and pay the penalty of our sins, then offers to us as an amazing free gift … we don’t need to work or try to be perfect (we couldn’t anyway), because Our Savior Jesus Christ who was without sin chose to take all the sins of world as the price required for salvation and freedom from the bondage of ‘self’!   The Word of God is the most amazing book ever written!   Here, thousands of years after the initial writings, the original manuscripts are still with us.  The Bible is God-breathed words penned by the holy men He chose.  

Let us never cease to be in awe of  the one and only True LORD God and His  endless grace;

 The salvation freely given to us by the precious blood of the Lamb of God;

The Holy Word of God!  ©Streim

If anything I’ve written here disturbs you… pick up your Bible.  Find out for yourself!  Read and ask God for wisdom, as it is His Will that you read His words of love and caution.  Your heart must first be in the right place with the Father and Lord Jesus to receive instruction.  Here’s a few verses you get you going… reading them in context gives the depth.  All four of these references are from our Lord Jesus:  Matthew 7:15; 10:16, Luke 10:3 and Acts 20:29.  Be blessed…

 

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Wolves and Artificial Sweeteners~ Part 1 http://wp.me/p1Ypb1-7V  

Warnings Given With Love  http://wp.me/p1Ypb1-tB

 

Hannah’s Prayer

Since today is the National Day of Prayer (as appointed by our government) , I wanted to share what I believe is one of the most beautiful prayers of  thanksgiving I’ve read in the Word of God.  It is my hope, that each of you as you pray remember Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and 18 “pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Hannah’s Prayer

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.  “No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.  “Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.  “The bows of the mighty men are broken, And those who stumbled are girded with strength.  Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, And the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, And she who has many children has become feeble.  “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.  The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.  He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, And He has set the world upon them.  He will guard the feet of His saints, But the wicked shall be silent in darkness. “For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.”   1 Samuel 2:1-10 (NKJV)

Hands raised in Praise

♥ Streim

Three Lessons Learned From Brokenness

For any who read my most recent post, I told you I learned three extremely significantly beautiful lessons about our walk with the Lord during times of unbearable pain and mental/emotional suffering.  The lessons:    1) how to deal with the flesh during an experience like this 2) how to continue in our faith   3) how to KNOW our Lord’s ever-present love/care for us.

Since this incident happened on the heals of my posting 2 very passionate messages about standing on the Word of God, I believe it was a “baseball bat to the back” done by one of the enemy’s minions.  I still believe that and I KNOW why the Lord allowed it.  I believe all things in an adopted, blood bought Child of God’s life are controlled by Him.  He is Sovereign above all!  Now some of you may think/feel/believe differently but I’ve experienced too many storms followed by blessings and too many valleys which led to mountaintops with the Almighty waiting there… just as His Word promises!

Before I go any further, I must tell you the day after the epidural steroid shot I physically felt great!  The next day not so great, with recurrent pain and interrupted sleep again.  By day 3, I was worse than before the shot.  Agony doesn’t express it… and the pain wasn’t just the lower left side of the back and left leg, it was from the waist down–both legs, lower abdomen and behind!  I could not sit, walk, lay down… none of the medications worked!  So there I was at 4:00 am walking outside in tears.  I came into the apartment, sat in the chair and prayed.  “Heavenly Father, I feel like Job must have felt with his boils.  But, I thank you for this… I praise you for this… and may you be glorified and honored.  Your will be done, in Jesus name.  Amen”.  I sat there asking myself where did that come from?  It came from a place of complete brokenness!  Then I heard that still, small voice “lay down on the couch and sleep”.  I didn’t question it (even though that couch helped cause the problem)  I just did it.  I fell fast asleep for 2 hours…

That time with the Lord God Almighty, Savior Jesus and Holy Spirit is the answer to how to deal with the flesh during an experience like this, how to continue in our faith and how to KNOW our Lord’s ever-present love/care for us.

Matthew 26: 41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

James 1: 2-6 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

Psalm 33: 20-22 “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.”

John 10:28-29 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand”

“God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain.”  C. S. Lewis

“The full acting out of the self’s surrender to God therefore demands pain: this action, to be perfect, must be done from the pure will to obey, in the absence, or in the teeth, of inclination”.   C.S. Lewis

I share these Bible verses, quotes from C. S. Lewis and my story in the hope that not only will Our Almighty Lord and Savior be glorified, but that you, my brethren in the Body of Christ may rejoice knowing nothing ever happens in our lives that He hasn’t prepared us for… IF we stay in His Word, in His presence and pray without ceasing.  ♥ Streim