W O M E N
F I N D I N G
During the season of Advent I like to get up extra early grab my coffee and turn my Christmas tree lights on to read my devotion. There is just something very special to me about the extra early morning hours which are so quiet, still, and dark outside. I love turning those lights on in that quiet, still darkness. I love the Christmas season with all the lights everywhere. I see this season of light as a reminder of the light that came into the world when Christ was born, the light He lived as our example, the light He gives to each one of those He redeems, and of the light we are to bear in His image. Recent developments in the Church concerning a popular music artist have brought great concerns to my own heart as I know it has with many others. Two of my greatest concerns are: The division in the church and the spread of a false gospel. The division of the church comes from so many in the church taking sides and defending a music artist and her message against others in the church. We, as the church, should not be taking sides against one another but we should be on the side of Christ. The church, as a whole, should be in unity in standing with Christ and His Word--His gospel--and not accepting any who preach another gospel for the sake of the holiness of the church and in a defense of the true gospel of Jesus Christ found in holy scripture. www.ligonier.org/blog/what-is-the-gospel/ The four gospels found in scripture are a testament of the life and teachings of Jesus. They show us how He lived and how He taught us to live. In relation to the recent developments concerning this music artist when asked if she thought homosexuality was a sin and her answer was, "I can't honestly answer on that, In a sense, I have too many people that I love that they are homosexual. I don't know. I actually had a conversation with someone last night about it. I can't say one way or the other. I'm not God. So when people ask questions like that...that's what my go to is. I just say read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out let me know, because I'm learning too," (Ignorance is no cop-out) 1 Peter 3:15-18 "15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" Jesus taught in Matthew 5:27-28 "27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Jesus taught a level of holiness that supersedes even the physical action and brings it to a level of the heart. The list of scriptures on adultery, fornication, and homosexuality are many: I Corinthians 6: 9-10; 13; 14-20 Ephesians 5: 3 I Thessalonians 4: 1-5 Revelation 22: 14-15 I truly encourage reading these verses as a reminder of what Jesus taught on these subjects. We would have to literally deny scripture and the direct teachings of Jesus Himself not to be able to give an answer on this subject...whatever the cost. I John 1: 5-10 "5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." Here is a picture of the true gospel of Jesus..not that we hate the sinner but that we show that there is a way to be forgiven and turn from sin. Jesus made the way--the only way--to be forgiven and be found holy -in Him- spotless and without blame--this is the true gospel--that Jesus paid the price for our sins and made the way for us to be forgiven and walk in newness of life and not be found guilty before a holy God because we can be found in His (Jesus) righteousness. This is the true gospel of Jesus. He gave His life for us that we may have life in Him--forgiveness of sin--not continuing in sin.. Romans 6: 1-18 The culture and the enemy of the church, satan, strive to pollute and divide the church seeking to create confusion leaving the church striving against itself and not focusing on the real enemy which is false gospels, divisions, strife, and satan. It is no wonder that scripture teaches that satan comes as an angel of light to deceive and the church must awake and be aware of the true enemy and stop striving against itself. We are not to be taking sides against each other--this is the enemy's plan--we stand unified teaching the true gospel of Jesus. Philippians 3: 7-21 "7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." As Women Finding Grace ~ During this season of Advent let's remember to allow our own hearts to be purified as we draw close to the Lord and always remember who the real enemies are ~ division, strife, false gospels, and confusion. Remember the true gospel and become dedicated to it and sharing it with others with love. I am deeply burdened for this music artist as she faces the decisions of a lifetime and for the church as a whole. I pray she will do what is right and turn to the truth of God's Word and that we, the church will uphold the true gospel in a very dark world. I am adding a link to R.C. Sproul's teaching on the Meaning of the Gospel - Parts 1 & 2. It is a free audio teaching. www.ligonier.org/learn/series/meaning_of_the_gospel/meaning-of-the-gospel-part-1/? www.ligonier.org/learn/series/meaning_of_the_gospel/meaning-of-the-gospel-part-2/?
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