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Are You Responding to the Moral Light God is Giving You?

Here is an excerpt from the sermon, "The Carnal Christian" (1) that speaks strongly to my heart:

 "All true men of God have forsaken all KNOWN sin, and are not knowingly living in sin. A Christian "grows" by responding to moral light given and disciplining new areas as God reveals."

Wow! He said it far better than I could, and I wanted to add a few thoughts because the refusal of Christians to respond to God in repentance and change as more light is given to them is the norm today rather than the exception to the rule.

Why is this the case? The answer is simple. The false, unbiblical definition of grace is giving Christians a false confidence that all is well with God even though they will not walk in the Spirit and even though they continue to fulfill their own wants and desires (walking in the flesh). Believers are swallowing Satan's lie that grace means they will not reap what they sow. The Bible is plain: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."-Gal. 6:7 What does the believer reap if he continues to sow to his flesh? Corruption! (See Gal. 6:7-9)

I am astounded at how many women I have attempted to minister to that have hardened themselves to the ministry of the Holy Ghost in their lives. The Holy Spirit is GOD and these ladies will just push the conviction aside rather than run to the Bible and get on their knees and seek God about things I've been commanded to bring up.

What are some examples of sins the Lord has commanded me to meekly bring to some sisters' attention? One is the use of the Bible as the brunt of jokes. God, Bible characters, events, and biblical principles are now considered to be jesting material in most Christian circles, and this is a serious sin in God's sight. I did bring this up quite humbly to one woman who has an email list and she responded graciously and said she prayed about it, but she did not see that it is sin in this situation.

One sister was allowing her son to play with Pokemon cards and also play occult video games, and the Lord led me to bring it up if she provided an opening in the conversation.  I went to her home with some information printed off the internet about it and waited for her to bring up something relating to this and she did. When I tried to present the material and discuss the spiritual principles involved (and this was a sister that I had been praying with for years) she rejected them (and me) outright and said, They are just toys and are harmless!" I assure you I said this with kindness and love, but this sister has never spoken to me again.

Another sister (a friend for years) needed a job badly (she is single) and I offered to fast and pray with her on a certain day. She was so glad and agreed to fast with me concerning this need. Much to my surprise, the Lord impressed strongly that I was to tell her of two things that needed to be repented of in her life: one was the "rock music" in the church she was a member of, and the other matter was the NIV "Bible" she was using. I did not want to because I had brought it up before, and she was not open to either of these subjects so I had not touched the subject again. Nevertheless, I "tested" what the Lord had impressed upon me with my husband, and he also knew it was the Lord's ministry to this sister. This sister did not receive what I told her, and went to her church and asked her pastor about these issues: the church's "rock music" and the Bible "versions" issue. Her pastor assured her that these things were not wrong. This sister dismissed me and refuses to relate to me any longer. What is most important of course is this: Did she dismiss or quench the Holy Spirit? Will He try to speak to her again? Will she have "ears to hear"?

The narrow way spoken of in the Bible is much narrower than our hearts can imagine. The Holy Spirit narrows our way as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Are you allowing Him to narrow your way? Or are you hardening your heart and believing that grace covers your continued rebellion? These are serious questions I pose to you (and myself). May grace continue to "reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."-Romans 5:21

I could give you other incidents, but I think that is enough to help you see that the Lord just might be using a "foolish thing of the world" to show you something that needs correction in your life. God uses base things of this world to bring you light to something you might be blind to. He rebukes me in this manner too. Please pray when a brother or sister brings up an area in your life that they believe is not in conformity with the will of God. Test the spirits and see if they are of God. Ask God to confirm it to you if this person's words are His way of trying to reach you.

Being obedient to the Lord costs something, and the ministry of correcting a sister (or brother) who is in sin is NOT being observed in the church at large today. And why not? Partly because it is so unpleasant to do. (The one admonishing should always speak the truth in love.) Romans 15:14 says, "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another." The Bible teaches that believers are to submit to one another in the fear of God. All admonishment must be given and received in the fear of God! Ephesians 5:21 teaches us: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." This submission has a qualifier: the fear of God. God will often give one believer an admonition for another believer. All admonitions should be tested to see if they are "in the fear of God."

Another reason the ministry of admonishing is not often practiced among believers is the word of God is not "dwelling richly" in the lives of many believers, (Col. 3:16) and because of this they are not able to be wise and on the lookout for the souls of their brethren.  Most of the church has strayed so far from scriptural teachings concerning salvation that they don't think it matters if believers are practicing sin, and are not alarmed if their faith is being held with a BAD conscience. 1 Timothy 1:19 warns: "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:"

Please be meek when a brother (or sister) admonishes you in love. He is concerned that you hold your faith with a good conscience, and avoid having it shipwrecked.

A true Christian has forsaken all known sin and is not knowingly practicing sin. A true Christian will also respond to the Lord in meekness when He gives more light to reveal areas that need to be placed under his authority.

(1) The Carnal Christian http://www.libraryoftheology.com/writings/natureofsin/The_Carnal_Christian_Winkie_Pratney.pdf

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Liberty To The Captives Established in June 2001