“Happiness” today is defined as “loving yourself first,” often by wellness gurus.
They reason that you "first have to love yourself before you can love others."
This is suspiciously similar to lines about "forgiving yourself" regardless of whether or not you have repented and have begged the forgiveness of God. Beware self-centered theology.
But what has God said about self-love? In Ephesians 5:29, the observation is made about husbands naturally caring about themselves, but self-love is not the point. Rather, admonition is given for the husband to likewise love his wife, as Christ loves the church. Self-love is observed, but selflessness is commanded.
They reason that you "first have to love yourself before you can love others."
This is suspiciously similar to lines about "forgiving yourself" regardless of whether or not you have repented and have begged the forgiveness of God. Beware self-centered theology.
But what has God said about self-love? In Ephesians 5:29, the observation is made about husbands naturally caring about themselves, but self-love is not the point. Rather, admonition is given for the husband to likewise love his wife, as Christ loves the church. Self-love is observed, but selflessness is commanded.
In Philippians 2, we are encouraged to have a Christ-like mindset. This applies to our motives, our agendas, our love and devotion.
Luke 10:27 places our love for Holy God first, and for our neighbor second. And 1 John 4:19-21 makes it absolutely clear that truly loving our brother is necessary.
And even in the toughest spots, we can still have a hope-filled joy after the pattern of Christ in Hebrews 12:2.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
That joy is eternal, anticipating to hear the Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Luke 10:27 places our love for Holy God first, and for our neighbor second. And 1 John 4:19-21 makes it absolutely clear that truly loving our brother is necessary.
And even in the toughest spots, we can still have a hope-filled joy after the pattern of Christ in Hebrews 12:2.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
That joy is eternal, anticipating to hear the Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Counterfeit Godliness
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. - 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV
Humanity has common needs and common questions arising from those needs.
God, our Creator, has provided answers in His Word, if we would but approach it with faith, rather than echoing Satan's skepticism in the garden, "Yea, hath God said?"
While Satan has sowed doubt in God's answers, the questions remain. Obviously, Satan can't give a straight answer; he must provide a counterfeit, pursuant to our destruction.
Just as counterfeit cash can bankrupt a business, counterfeit godliness can bankrupt a church.
There have been countless iterations of Satan's lies making a hollow pretense of godliness down through the ages.
Satan's lies are like a snake shedding its skin, so it's a bit difficult to stay 'relevant' as Satan continues to evolve his dictionary.
In the 60s and 70s, love was redefined as lust.
In the 2010s and 2020s, mercy was displaced by tolerance.
Somewhere along the line, colleges founded on Biblical truth devolved into a 'trust the experts' charade.
Even in Biblical history, liberty was mistaken for licentiousness.
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. - 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV
Humanity has common needs and common questions arising from those needs.
God, our Creator, has provided answers in His Word, if we would but approach it with faith, rather than echoing Satan's skepticism in the garden, "Yea, hath God said?"
While Satan has sowed doubt in God's answers, the questions remain. Obviously, Satan can't give a straight answer; he must provide a counterfeit, pursuant to our destruction.
Just as counterfeit cash can bankrupt a business, counterfeit godliness can bankrupt a church.
There have been countless iterations of Satan's lies making a hollow pretense of godliness down through the ages.
Satan's lies are like a snake shedding its skin, so it's a bit difficult to stay 'relevant' as Satan continues to evolve his dictionary.
In the 60s and 70s, love was redefined as lust.
In the 2010s and 2020s, mercy was displaced by tolerance.
Somewhere along the line, colleges founded on Biblical truth devolved into a 'trust the experts' charade.
Even in Biblical history, liberty was mistaken for licentiousness.
Tolerance is a Lawless Mercy.
Mercy relates to an absolute standard, anticipating repentance and the reconciliation of the lawbreaker to the lawgiver, ultimately, Holy God.
Tolerance lowers standards, redefining the crime. It sees itself above the law, and wiser than Creator God.
Tolerance is a Begrudging Longsuffering
Mercy is forgiving and patient.
Tolerance avoids forgiveness by pretending standards don't exist, which builds resentment. Tolerance is a slow simmer.
Tolerance Offers a Dishonest Peace
Tolerance is never satisfied. As it spirals away from God—waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, a moving target—the peace that it offers is evermore fleeting.
Mercy offers peace with God, unchanging and eternal.
Mercy is a gift.
Tolerance is an entitlement.
Mercy relates to an absolute standard, anticipating repentance and the reconciliation of the lawbreaker to the lawgiver, ultimately, Holy God.
Tolerance lowers standards, redefining the crime. It sees itself above the law, and wiser than Creator God.
Tolerance is a Begrudging Longsuffering
Mercy is forgiving and patient.
Tolerance avoids forgiveness by pretending standards don't exist, which builds resentment. Tolerance is a slow simmer.
Tolerance Offers a Dishonest Peace
Tolerance is never satisfied. As it spirals away from God—waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived, a moving target—the peace that it offers is evermore fleeting.
Mercy offers peace with God, unchanging and eternal.
Mercy is a gift.
Tolerance is an entitlement.
When you have a mere “form of godliness" you become open to false doctrine that pretends to offer comparable or superior fruit, but “denies the power thereof.”
God is Good, so God is Love AND Holy
GOD's LOVE desires what is best for us. From the beginning, Satan has called that fact into question.
In fact, the seeds of our destruction were sown when we considered God a liar in Eden. Lies are the fruit of Satan's hatred for God.
If you love God, seek His righteousness.
So often, GOD's HOLINESS is missing from the equation when people question the goodness of God.
We fail to reckon with the results of justice were we to be held accountable as well.
Those who fail to see God's holiness often have a pretty high opinion of their own 'goodness.'
Holiness is above the 'good' and 'very good' of creation. It is the character of the Creator.
GOD is GOOD, He is the standard.
God's Love is above mere camaraderie and respect of persons. While we were yet enemies of God, Christ died for us.
GOD is GOOD, He offers us salvation.
On a hill one day, two thieves had a choice.
One scoffed at the love of Christ and received holy wrath.
One accepted his judgment as just and received the love of Christ.
Share this message. https://edify-shop.fourthwall.com/products/gods-holy-love-witnessing-shirt
GOD's LOVE desires what is best for us. From the beginning, Satan has called that fact into question.
In fact, the seeds of our destruction were sown when we considered God a liar in Eden. Lies are the fruit of Satan's hatred for God.
If you love God, seek His righteousness.
So often, GOD's HOLINESS is missing from the equation when people question the goodness of God.
We fail to reckon with the results of justice were we to be held accountable as well.
Those who fail to see God's holiness often have a pretty high opinion of their own 'goodness.'
Holiness is above the 'good' and 'very good' of creation. It is the character of the Creator.
GOD is GOOD, He is the standard.
God's Love is above mere camaraderie and respect of persons. While we were yet enemies of God, Christ died for us.
GOD is GOOD, He offers us salvation.
On a hill one day, two thieves had a choice.
One scoffed at the love of Christ and received holy wrath.
One accepted his judgment as just and received the love of Christ.
Share this message. https://edify-shop.fourthwall.com/products/gods-holy-love-witnessing-shirt
God's ways are higher than our ways. Yet we are not alone. The Comforter has come. God is with us.
"We Are Not Alone" by Voice of Eden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnwBJPsjRNo
"We Are Not Alone" by Voice of Eden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnwBJPsjRNo
WHAT DO WE NEED?
A right relationship with God
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Jesus Christ died for our sins
WHERE ARE WE AT?
Are we dead in sin?
WHERE DO WE GO?
Go to God in prayer.
Believe, Confess, Repent.
Romans Road https://www.logos.com/grow/nook-romans-road-salvation/?msockid=11929539f8b065ff243c8756f9a2640a
A right relationship with God
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
Jesus Christ died for our sins
WHERE ARE WE AT?
Are we dead in sin?
WHERE DO WE GO?
Go to God in prayer.
Believe, Confess, Repent.
Romans Road https://www.logos.com/grow/nook-romans-road-salvation/?msockid=11929539f8b065ff243c8756f9a2640a
God is Right, Walk in the Light.png
1.7 MB
God is Right, Walk in the Light
Life is Precious Because Life is Eternal.png
2.2 MB
Life is Precious Because Life is Eternal
All Wallpapers are optimized for use on Mobile Devices as well as Desktop.
There Is A Church in Need of Reformation 🧵🪡
#reformationday #reformation
1/ There is a church too cowardly to discipline the proud,
A church that disciplines the meek because he spoke too loud.
James 2:9 KJV
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
2/ There is a church where if you stand and say what’s right and wrong,
Those Pharisees won’t bend their knees, but cast you down headlong.
The present Pharisees include both the religious and the anti-religious. They are virtue-signaling relativistic moralizers.
3/ There is a church where God is said to follow with the crowd,
And if you dare to stand against, it’s said that you are proud.
Satan may work through proud “lords over God’s heritage” “wise in their own conceits.”
Or, the flock is full of wolves in wool.
#tyrantsandrebels
4/ There is a church that thinks the Devil will cohabitate,
Despite the Holy Spirit, for their minds are reprobate.
#deliverancetheology
Romans 1:28 - Reprobate Mind
Matthew 12:43-45 - Empty Houses
1 Timothy 4:1-2 - Doctrines, Seared Consciences
5/ There is a church that says to God, we thank you for your grace,
Now that we’re saved, we’ll go elsewhere for sanctifying grace.
#christianpsychology
We can’t earn justification.
Ascension to glorification is absurd.
But somehow sanctification = self-help theology?
6/ There is a church that seeks to raise a fortress for our God,
But low esteems the state of those upon whose necks they’ve trod.
#justwar VS #nonresistance
Note to my fellow Mennonites:
Non-resistance is not apathy; it is suffering.
Apathy undermines your spiritual warfare.
7/ There is a church, where if you stand for saving of a life,
You will be said full of hatred, not loving of your wife.
#ChooseLife #ProLife #ProLifeGen
Get your mind out of the tunnel vision of “timelines.” A life is life. Your life is valuable; so is theirs.
8/ There is a church once called a bride, her lamps all burning bright,
But now one comes without a lamp, a daughter of the night.
#revival
When someone is saved, rejoice with the angels!
#apostasy
But let the parables of the sower—and the tares—encourage Christian maturity.
Conclusion:
There are more stanzas to be written, but I wanted to reach people while #reformationday was on their minds.
#reformation is more than bashing papal leaven, it is about examining ourselves for the leaven of pride, and submitting ourselves to God who judges rightly.
Unite by truth, as defined by God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, and follow Him.
#reformationday #reformation
1/ There is a church too cowardly to discipline the proud,
A church that disciplines the meek because he spoke too loud.
James 2:9 KJV
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
2/ There is a church where if you stand and say what’s right and wrong,
Those Pharisees won’t bend their knees, but cast you down headlong.
The present Pharisees include both the religious and the anti-religious. They are virtue-signaling relativistic moralizers.
3/ There is a church where God is said to follow with the crowd,
And if you dare to stand against, it’s said that you are proud.
Satan may work through proud “lords over God’s heritage” “wise in their own conceits.”
Or, the flock is full of wolves in wool.
#tyrantsandrebels
4/ There is a church that thinks the Devil will cohabitate,
Despite the Holy Spirit, for their minds are reprobate.
#deliverancetheology
Romans 1:28 - Reprobate Mind
Matthew 12:43-45 - Empty Houses
1 Timothy 4:1-2 - Doctrines, Seared Consciences
5/ There is a church that says to God, we thank you for your grace,
Now that we’re saved, we’ll go elsewhere for sanctifying grace.
#christianpsychology
We can’t earn justification.
Ascension to glorification is absurd.
But somehow sanctification = self-help theology?
6/ There is a church that seeks to raise a fortress for our God,
But low esteems the state of those upon whose necks they’ve trod.
#justwar VS #nonresistance
Note to my fellow Mennonites:
Non-resistance is not apathy; it is suffering.
Apathy undermines your spiritual warfare.
7/ There is a church, where if you stand for saving of a life,
You will be said full of hatred, not loving of your wife.
#ChooseLife #ProLife #ProLifeGen
Get your mind out of the tunnel vision of “timelines.” A life is life. Your life is valuable; so is theirs.
8/ There is a church once called a bride, her lamps all burning bright,
But now one comes without a lamp, a daughter of the night.
#revival
When someone is saved, rejoice with the angels!
#apostasy
But let the parables of the sower—and the tares—encourage Christian maturity.
Conclusion:
There are more stanzas to be written, but I wanted to reach people while #reformationday was on their minds.
#reformation is more than bashing papal leaven, it is about examining ourselves for the leaven of pride, and submitting ourselves to God who judges rightly.
Unite by truth, as defined by God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, and follow Him.