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| My Spiritual Renewal! |
What is the definition of inconsistent? As it is described in http://www.merriam-webster.com/ and also in www.dictionary.com is quite telling of the state of the world we live in today, including many Christians. Let's take a look at the definition before proceeding:
a : not compatible with another fact or claim (example: inconsistent statements)
b : containing incompatible elements (example: an inconsistent argument)
c : incoherent or illogical in thought or actions (example: changeable)
d : not satisfiable by the same set of values for the unknowns (example: inconsistent inequalities)
e : acting at variance with professed principles (example: professing a specific belief system while acting in contradiction)
f : not consistent in principles, conduct, etc (example: contradictory actions, confusing)
g: not persistent, lacking firmness of constitution or character, and lacking harmony of conduct and practice with profession.
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| Walking Upright for His Kingdom! |
I'm not talking about falling into sin here. I'm talking about WILLFUL choices to do what one wants to, what one's heart desires and to WILLFULLY sin by choice. This is about knowing what is sinful, knowing what is against God but choosing to do it anyway. That's the inconsistency that I'm speaking of in this article. It's important to differentiate this because we have ALL sinned and fall short of the glory of God! We sometimes can't help it and we sin. There's a difference between willful choice of sinning which often goes along with saying one thing, but doing another, and just falling into sin, repenting, being convicted and turning from it! We're a fallen world. Our nature is sinful. But being a Christ follower, born again in the newness of His creation, who falls into sin because of our nature, and willfully sinning by choice with the assumption of a false sense of security is a whole other ballgame! As a Christian, we are held more accountable and have more responsibilities to those who are watching us, because, there are ALWAYS eyes upon a Christian! Always. Actually, we should be held more accountable because our Father is our Authority. Not man. And man is who we are here to witness to.
In I Thessalonians 4:12, we read, "That you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing." This is our testimony to those who do not know Christ. Again in I Timothy 3:7, it says, "Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside." Look what Ephesians 2:12-13 says, "(v12) that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (v13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Non Christians are without, it says, but of WHAT are they outside of? They are outside of Christ because they haven't been brought near to God by the blood of Christ! Those who don't, and won't, trust the blood of Christ as sufficient payment for their sins are outside of God and will remain there until, or unless, they choose to receive the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. The blood sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross is the ONLY way to get on the inside with God. We must come to trust His death for our sins if we are going to be right with God. If we do this, God will let us into His heaven that has been prepared for us.
I found two quotes about the sins of inconsistency that I found to be very profound and spot on.
1) J.A. Motyer is quoted as saying, "The damage of the sin of Inconsistency in the life of the Christian is that it sours even our worship of God."
2) A.W. Tozer once said, "The glaring disparity between theology and practice among professing Christians is a more destructive evil in its effect upon the Christian religion than Communism, Romanism and liberalism combined."
Now the Bible gives several examples of inconsistency so let's put them into three categories:
1) Say and Do Not
2) Judge Others/Exclude Self
3) Talk the Talk but Don't Walk the Walk.
I'll briefly examine each category in the paragraphs below to give us a little more clarity and insight into how dangerous it is to the Kingdom of God to be inconsistent!
1) SAY AND DO NOT - Romans 2:21-23 states clearly - "(v21)You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? (v22) You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (v23) You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?" So who are these people that are being spoken about? They're the people who have a very substantial knowledge of the Word of God, who can preach like a House of Fire, who can teach with great clarity of speech, who can exegete any passage of the Scriptures. They can quote Scripture after Scripture, showing many their skilled command of the Word of God. Their sermons are masterpieces of Biblical and literary art. They know right from wrong, yet in all contradiction, they fail to apply all their knowledge to their own lifestyle. They outwardly say one thing but inwardly can't apply their knowledge to their own lives, whether out of selfishness, self-centeredness or outright rebellion. Like the Pharisees, they say and do not! But how is it possible for someone to preach and teach to others and not learn himself? How can it be possible to preach against stealing, adultery, or idolatry and yet be guilty of the same sin? How can it be possible to preach the law to others and yet dishonor God by breaking the law yourself?
Oh, IT'S POSSIBLE! It's happened in the past and it's happening today! Sad to say - there are many preachers who are preaching against Sin in pretense, yet living a life of Sin behind closed doors! Man doesn't see it, but God DOES! God sees ALL things, outwardly AND inwardly in the heart of every man and woman! That's why it's SO important to anyone seeking pastoral counsel to make sure they are in line with practicing what they preach before laying your own sins on the table. There is a RIGHT way to receive pastoral counsel and a wrong way. Choose wisely! Your spiritual health is at stake! In Numbers 32:23, it warns, "But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out." The sin of inconsistency is VERY deceitful...and the enemy is behind the lines egging it on. The devil doesn't want our lives to reflect Christ's! He doesn't want our lives to bear witness to the lost souls that the devil himself wants to consume! He stays on our heels so closely sometimes just to make sure one stays in the throes of the lies so as to deceive as many as possible......Satan deceives the HEART and what follows is alot of heartache.
2) JUDGE OTHERS/EXCLUDE SELF - Romans 2:1, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." And also, Matthew 7:3, "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" We have two Scriptures which depict judging others but let's take special notice of the Spiritual Blindness in the one who is passing judgment on others. If one is able to criticize, run down, condemn or even scrutinize another for something they, themselves are guilty of doing, must be a gross deception to be under!! This doesn't APPEAR to make sense to condemn someone for a sin that one is guilty of himself, however, sin is deceiving and so much so sometimes that it blinds us to our own sin. We have to remember though that sin will cause an individual to recognize itself in others yet blind itself in his own life. That's why it's SO important to remain grounded in the Word but also to grow closer to the Lord Jesus Christ daily so we can show ourselves approved, so we can help others through those things we've been guilty of but have overcome through the Lord Jesus Christ....to remain in fellowship with our Father!
3) TALK THE TALK BUT DON'T WALK THE WALK - Luke 6:46, "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" And also in Titus 1:16, "They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." In these Scriptures, we are shown the words of the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul. Both bring out the disparity between some of the so-called believer's confession and their ACTIONS. And in some instances, the LACK of actions. But how can one call Jesus "LORD" which means Ruler, Master, King, and Possessor of All, yet refuse to do what He says? How can one profess to be walking with God, yet have works that are detestable, loathsome, unbelieving, disobedient, disloyal, and rebellious in his life? How can one profess their love of Jesus, profess a relationship with Him yet remain closely tied to the worldly things? The only explanation is the Sin of Inconsistency, and believe me - It Is Very DECEITFUL! Because of the inconsistency that is so widespread and prevalent among God's chosen people, the Name of God is reviled. That is the most disheartening consequence of being an Inconsistent Christian. If it's not that disheartening to you, then maybe you should reevaluate your relationship with Jesus because I assure you, it grieves Him! The Gospel is treated with contempt. The Things of God are scorned, ridiculed, and disdained. His commands to us on how we should live our lives in the face of the evil ones who are without the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ, are being totally ignored. If they aren't being ignored, they are being replaced with a much "easier" "fluffier" and "less convicting" teaching. THIS is dangerous! Not only to the Christian but to the very ones they are trying to reach in His name's sake!
Let's pause here for a minute and talk about the heart. All sin starts with a thought. The thought, if not controlled and replaced, drops 16-18 inches down into the heart and takes root. That root grows and whatever we allow into our thoughts, will eventually grow into who we become! That's why we are commanded to be and think like Christ!!! Having HIS thoughts, having HIS mind, will fall into our hearts and make us BECOME more Christ-like whereby having us ACT and SPEAK Christ-like. The fruits of the Spirit! Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,V23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Hearts are deceitful and man always has an "intent" deeply planted in their hearts. Being able to replace much of our deceit with the fruits of the Spirit is IDEAL! And it is here, that I will remind us all again, what is said in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?" It concerns me when I hear someone say they KNOW someone's heart. I'm not talking about a passive statement, I'm talking about those I've heard say, "I know "their" heart and that's all that matters." Well, NO, that's NOT all that matters. It's what GOD thinks. It's what GOD commands and instructs that matters. Lining up with the WORD matters, not what a man thinks.
Every individual can convince someone who is "susceptible" to believe something they want them to believe. It's part of the manipulation of thought. Just like someone can always find SOMETHING to back up or JUSTIFY something THEY want or desire to believe. In order to bypass all of that, one must always seek from the LORD first. He will ALWAYS answer you, correct you, guide you, heal you, or send you someone to mentor you. But it's important to make sure it lines up with the WORD. NOT as YOU see it, but as GOD SPOKE IT! We may have to wait...and wait....and wait for His answer or intervention, but it's not about US. It's about HIM. I strive daily to be more Christ-like, to think like Christ and do like Christ. I fail. But I try! I keep on doing His will as I'm led. I pray for Him to use me, flaws and all, to be a witness to others. It grows me. It strengthens me. It inspires me. We're all broken and in need of mending. I genuinely desire to be like Him and to be a good witness to others that He chooses to have me cross paths with. I also truly try NOT to listen to my heart!! I've learned many hard knock lessons about how deceitful the heart really is and how IMPORTANT and IMPERATIVE it is to have patience to wait on the voice of the Lord!!! Over all things!!! Big and small! Once I learned that, it was a much more satisfying life!!! And a beautiful one at that!
| Christian Transformation by God |
The world is easy to walk in when you don't want to do the will of the Lord. It will offer all kinds of "advice" and compliment your sinful manner and ways. It's what it's supposed to do...but it's NOT where WE'RE supposed to LOOK for counsel! We are living IN the world, but we are not OF it! That isn't popular though and a lot of Christians are taking that fall-away path, which inevitably will sabotage their walk and their testimony. If your desires are of the world then you'll find everything and anything you want....but it comes with a price. If you want to play in the world's playground, with the world's playmates, the be prepared to suffer the consequences. I constantly tell others that the choice of friends you make is a direct reflection of WHO you ARE and what YOU WANT! I'm seeing this more and more too. You are EITHER the LIGHT to shine in the dark world of others OR you're part of the darkness. You can't profess to belong to the light and CHOOSE, WILLFULLY, to play in the dark. Hypocrisy is not favored in the Kingdom! The world has a costly price tag attached to its garments and is it really what you wish to pay for a few minutes of fulfilling some fleshly, fleeting desires? Who will take you seriously about how the Lord WILL transform you from all of your sins, addictions, co-dependencies and make you new, if they can't SEE that transformation IN you first!?! Who will turn away from your words because they see you living IN the world, thinking like the world, following the world trends, loves and desires, because your words aren't matching your actions or how you live! And even your words don't match your "words!" That happens too! You can profess the love of God, profess how much you know, quote all the scriptures in "judgment" yet your own nasty words towards other, about others, AT others, contradict what you're preaching. People are WATCHING! People LISTEN. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be deceiving about the Power of God!
One way in which sinners frequently excuse themselves, while deceiving, is by endeavoring to get some apology for their own iniquities from the inconsistencies of God's people. This is why it's so dangerous to be an Inconsistent Christian! They lead others astray. This is the reason why there is much slander in the world. A true Christian is a rebuke to the sinner, wherever they go, they are a living protest against the evil of sin. They have a countenance about them. A light within them. God's language is in their hearts, they accuse and yet they can't bear the sight of their holy character which is Christ-like and it tends to make the darkness in their own lives appear more unbearable when they see it compared to the lightness contrasting it! If the unbeliever still fails to open their eyes, they will next try to invent a fault; they will slander; they will talk of vicious intent and even there he will fail. "Doth Job serve God for nought?" said the devil in Job 1:9!
The first distortion is cultural gluttony. It's best described as being in sinful compromise with the world. The consequence of this distortion however is being missional without being theological. More often than not, it's masked in the guise of desiring to win the world, but rabidly pursuing the likeness to the world. Which, over time, eventually and unfortunately, those worldly values, objectives, desires, and hungers become our values, objectives, hungers and desires. Cultural gluttony can more closely be described as the act of ravaging and consuming the culture until it forms us into it's likeness. The second distortion is cultural starvation. It takes on the form of a radical withdrawal from the world of which the consequences are of being theological without being missional. Since some are SO determined not to let the world shape them, they isolate, insulate, and withdraw from the world altogether. And before long the Church eventually evolves into a kind of an enclave, an island of irrelevant piety, and eventually we lose the ability to speak to non-Christians. Worse yet, our hearts become filled with a compassion-less indifference toward such people. Arrogance eventually emerges. These distortions have a compromise.....it's the testimony of the righteous to the unbelievers! ANY extreme is a hindrance and a hindrance becomes an obstacle....
On the one hand, as followers of Jesus Christ we are exhorted in James 1:27, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Moreover, we are informed in James 4:4, "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." On the other hand, none of us can deny that God Himself loves the world (Jonn 3:16). Nor can we ignore Jesus’ repeated self-identification as the one whom the Father has "sent into the world" (John 10:36, et al). These are NOT contradictions. We are commanded to go out INTO the world and become disciples, but we are not to BECOME as the world! A big difference. This is where the inconsistent Christian falters and falls by the wayside. They are all too often becoming like the world, living like the world, desiring worldly things, that they compromise the gospel and allow non believers to turn from them. A "worldly Christian" is someone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, but still clings to, and loves, his or her old ways of living. Their BEHAVIOR, ACTIONS, WORDS and ATTITUDES aren't much different from those of their unbelieving neighbors, friends and family. Their motives and goals seldom take God into account. If they DO take God into account, they defy and rebel anyway. When the Apostle Paul addressed the Christians in the city of Corinth, he had to rebuke them for their worldly ways. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:3, "Since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?" That's why one should choose their friends wisely! And to remain in wise counsel because if you want to FEED your worldly desires, all you have to do is become friends with the world....and there are plenty of worldly people to befriend in this world we live in right now!
One of my mentors recently reached out to me and we regained our sisterhood. The impeccable timing of the Lord was amazing!!! And for many reasons was it amazing! He always KNOWS before we even blink! Anyway, they posed a question to me not long ago....."When someone needs their hand held every step of the way, through every part of their life for years, and the claim to be a solid Christian, would it be safe to say that one would need to question their relationship with God if they can't, or CHOSE NOT to rely on Him? We need others to assist us from time to time. That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking about the "needy" ones who cling and need someone to walk them through their entire lives." That took me by surprise. Actually, it took my breath away. I asked some questions to get some clarity and some of those were "Is this person someone who can't make decisions on their own? Do they ever hear the voice of the Lord or are they seeking His voice through others? DO THEY MAKE CHOICES THAT THEY JUSTIFY BY THE WORLD?" That last question was the ONE. We discussed that in great length. Something struck me about that last question and the conversation lasted a long time. It tied nicely into this posting, and this updated post, because it was based on the inconsistencies of a Christian. Sometimes, if you can't "heal" by going to the Lord, seeking His face and His WILL, and you are always seeking out "man's" voice over the Lord's, then really, how close are you? God gives us people in our lives to help us in our walk. He sends us mentors, sometimes He just sends us a Godly friend, and other times still, He may send us a passing "angel" to teach us, speak to us, or guide us with whatever needs to be conveyed. We weren't speaking about that, but rather, the ones who solely rely on daily "hand-holding" through their walk. Those who don't seem to "get it" and don't want to do the work of walking circumspectly in the Word. Most of those types of people, I said, were worldly people who were "control" freaks, for a lack of a better word, and "refused" to give up control, or FULL control, to the Lord Jesus. Most of those types of people, I continued, were typically "entitled" or "spoiled" and tend to hear their own voice then give credit to the Lord, but THEN when that "voice" fails, they go into a tailspin, and get MAD at God. A viscous cycle ensues. You can be a follower OR you can be a LEADER. Leading others OUT of the darkness by shining my light is MUCH more appealing than PURPOSELY dimming or diffusing my LIGHT to LIVE IN THE DARKNESS for a momentary fleshly fulfillment!
Christians today face a barrage of worldly temptations and demonic deceptions. Everywhere they look there are images, music, television shows, movies, billboards, and a slew of other ways we are being bombarded. Christian conduct is very important in today's world and we mustn't forget how the worldly still watch us, still secretly and inwardly are curious about who we are and who we belong to that's filled us with so much light and love. If Christians are out to the bars, partaking in the evil doings of the "nightlife" how does that reflect on their testimony? If a Christian is giving themselves to others outside of a marital union, how does that reflect on their testimony? If a Christian is always talking about other people's sins in judgmental ways, yet are caught doing those same things, how does that reflect on their testimony? If a Christian is swearing, using foul language, telling off color jokes, and trying to fit in with non believers, how will those non believers be able to tell them apart from themselves? If a Christian is joining secret societies, laying up treasures here on earth (materialistic) and trusting in the promises of the world for their protection, then how, pray tell, will they be able to separate themselves apart from the world to profess the Promises of our Lord God when we are to be laying up treasures in Heaven? The spirit of Christianity and the spirit of the world are directly opposite in their nature. Why? Because the Spirit of Christianity is the Lord Jesus Christ and the spirit of the world is Satan. Plain and simple.
We really can’t claim to serve Jesus if we continue to WILLFULLY CHOOSE to fornicate, lie, steal, kill, etc. We can’t continue to deliberately trample the Son of God, insult the Spirit of grace and cheapen the blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary for us. We ALL have moments of weakness when we sin, but the blood of Christ gives us second chances to repent. To be convicted and turn away. We may have to reap the consequences of our actions, but we are still forgiven (I think of the story of David) It's one thing to fall, scrape our knees, sin and get back up, but then it's a totally different story to constantly CHOOSE to live a life of sin without conviction or repentance or TURNING AWAY! Big difference! God said that you cannot serve two masters, you have to be hot or cold, not lukewarm or He will spit you out of his mouth......this is not saying you can LOSE your salvation, because as God has said over and over in His own living WORD, you cannot. But, one must question WHY there isn't a "true transformation" and "growth" in one's life if they do claim to serve Jesus but continue loving and living in their worldly ways.....food for thought. Willful choice is different than slipping and falling. HUGE difference!
So, then, why are some Christians this way? Well, sometimes it's because they don't really understand what God wants to do in their lives. They don't understand what having a relationship with Jesus means or how that relationship will renew their minds and transform their lives. God wants them to become more like Christ, but they've never understood this, some out of ignorance because once they became a Christian, they were left to fend for themselves instead of having discipleship in their lives. Others, however, just don't want to give up their sinful ways. It's much easier for some to remain in sin, to remain in the worldly things, than it is to turn from what's comfortable, what's worldly and become new. But no matter what the reason, God's will is for us to submit ourselves completely to Jesus Christ. To SURRENDER! He will help us do the rest! It takes committing yourself to Christ then asking Him to help you in your Faith! Ask, and it shall be given....seek and you shall find.....We need to take a good look at the lives that we're living and make sure it's in line with God’s will. If you see a friend living in sin, loving the sin more than having the desire to be transformed into the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ, talk to them about it because that's our duty as Christians. God has not given us the Spirit of fear, so we need to do what Paul did to the Corinthians and just do what needs to be done. I assure you that if that person is serious about his/her Christianity, they will appreciate you even more.
If you're a worldly Christian, living in the world and being like the world, yet professing your love for Jesus, then you are serving two gods...the god of this world which is the devil and all of his deceptions and trying to serve Creator God. Truth and LIES don't mix very well. You can't have one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom because that too is serving two gods......Be a CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN and let the world see Jesus through YOUR transformed life! There comes a time in our lives when we have to do things for Christ that we are afraid to do, and it starts with being consistent, being spiritually mature and not living in the world in order to witness TO the world.
He died for our sins, nothing we can do can ever compare to that!

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Excellent points, Thank You!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I pray you found it useful. Thanks for stopping by and may God Bless you in His Perfect Will!
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