The hardest thing to remember is that not everyone can hear, not everyone can see; that actually the majority of people have not escaped the snare of the devil, but are in fact being held captive!
I actually have to remind myself that this is the case when a brother or sister turns away, to walk back in the world! The fact is that - deceived people do not know they are deceived!
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV
Everyone, will at some point experience conflict with a brother or sister in The Lord, and may even be left scratching their head in bewilderment, asking themselves, "what did I do?", when they walk away. The enemy is quick to try and make you think you are in the wrong; after all he is the accuser of the brethren! We have to examine our heart and, if God exposes something then we are to go to them and set it right. However, if we are guiltless, then we must not hold it against them!
“For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:” 1 Peter 2:19-21 KJV
Not to "take offense" is what we are called to do, and is easy to accomplish IF we keep the following in mind:
“if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil”
Sin causes a person to lose their sense of direction. It cause their moral compass to go awry! A willingness to repent helps keep all of us on the narrow way! An unwillingness to repent is most often a pride issue, which compounds the sin! We must pray for the backslidden person, that "God will grant them repentance"; to turn them away from their sin!
We also, have to watch that we too, do not fall into sin by listening to the enemy; causing further separation from our brethren!
We have to keep our hearts pure by walking in repentance! It is very easy to fall into judgment when wronged and that is what the enemy wants! Our sin (of judgment) will bind them to us! We must release (them) for them to be set free, and so we will not be bound also!
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2 KJV
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 KJV
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5 KJV
We must endure afflictions with a pure heart! Without grumbling and complaining! OR we will continue in that area of the wilderness, going round and round, until we get it right! This is part of the perfecting of our faith!
We may even end up like Paul: “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” 2 Timothy 4:16 KJV
We may, indeed, stand alone, unable to have any defense, but we are to take comfort (that we are in good company) in the fact that Jesus did the same! We are to take up our cross and follow Him! We walk in love and we walk in forgiveness!
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 KJV
A friend calls it "getting our lemon squeezed!" When you squeeze a lemon, lemon juice comes out! However, when we have overcome and our lemon gets squeezed, honey comes out! It is an amazing feeling to realize you have learned the lesson well; and learn it we must, for what lies ahead!
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Timothy 3:1-7 KJV
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Timothy 3:13-17 KJV
Read your Bible!
Walk in love!
Walk in forgiveness!
Walk in repentance!
Finish the race!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 4/26/15
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