Where do we draw the line?
“Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 12:8
There is a fine line between making personal decisions based off of facts and using the excuse that ‘it is in the Lord’s hands’ verses spending too much time putting things in your hands verses the Lord’s.
Christians are wise of Satan’s planning. These things have bombarded the churches and we should not be ignorant of them.
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16
However, how far do we need to study? Well if we see something coming into the church or someone introduces some sort of doctrine that we haven’t heard of before then we should rebuke it. However new things like the Purpose Driven-Church suddenly appear and it must be checked into, researched, to understand how to properly speak against it. However our purpose is not to expose the works of darkness nor know the depths of Satan. We can not let our focus be taken off of Christ as doing research could be a lifelong ordeal that would most likely leave one with more questions than one began with.
“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: The making of many books has no end, and much study is a weariness to the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is for every man. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:12-14
“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.” Revelation 2:24
Our focus is to be on the things of God.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
As a Christian this is our main focus:
“Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
In order to go out in the world on a daily basis we need to put on the armor of God.
“Put on all the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies. 13 Therefore take up all the armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints;” Ephesians 6:11-18
However, once again, we are not ignorant of Satan’s agenda.
“so that Satan should not take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his purposes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11
Many will not hear even when warned.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own lusts, desiring to hear pleasant things, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to myths.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:3-5
The point of this little additional study is to clear up a point Brandon brought up about not knowing who Jesus’s brothers were.
First here is the answer to that question:
“Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers Jacob, Joses, Simon, and Judas?” Matthew 13:55
The bible lists the names of Jesus’s brothers here, four of them, but never lists the names of his sisters.
A Christian, especially someone who has been a Christian for a little while should know the basic ‘facts’ of the bible and the major biblical stories/events throughout the bible. However if one does not read the bible on a consistent basis then how is one to learn these things?
We have talked about before of what a Christian should do in the event of a hurricane heading his way. The Christian has a few extra hundred dollars to spare and is told that a powerful, dangerous hurricane is going to head to his Orlando, Florida home area. While he will not know for sure if it is going to hit, the overall likeliness of the matter is that it will hit his neighborhood. Should that brother purchases a few batteries, a radio, store a couple weeks worth of water, some food and board the windows? Should the brother say that ‘it is in the Lord’s hands’ and take shelter inside? Should the brother take it one step further and say ‘it is in the Lord’s hands’ and then proceed to bring his family on the rooftop to watch as the storm rolls over? The answer is obvious. The brother has the means that God has given him to prepare for this situation. Now if he had no money and no way of acquiring the necessities that would be needed to ride out this storm then it would truly be in the Lord’s hands.
In Rachelle’s case (a former co-worker) she is warned about the vaccinations, the swine flu scam and then is of the sort that watches the storm out on the roof. Simply letting what is going to happen happen but yet not allow the children to receive the shots would at least be reasonable as noone is going to be able to stop what potential swine flu disaster the government has decided to unleash except God Almighty Himself. So we are defenseless against that but of course there is no reason to not warn others about the dangers ahead.
How much should we warn them? Well as we talked about recently the fact that this nation appears to be coming underneath God’s deserved judgment would pretty much rule out warning the general public or trying to take political actions to stop or slow the onslaught of evil heading our way, unless the Lord has called any of us individually to do so. There are those, like Brandon’s grandparents, who no matter the amount of information you present will not believe. Likewise many who call themselves Christian are the same:
“And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” Luke 9:5
No matter what we need to keep our focus on Christ and as was mentioned on Tuesday we should all know enough information that none of us needs to go digging, unless the Lord calls you to do so. We are amply prepared but must touch up with the news to keep current, not to dig in the past, in order that we not be ignorant and are ready. However in these things we must trust in the Lord.
“Trust in Jehovah with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in Jehovah.” Psalms 112:7
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Jehovah shall be exalted.” Proverbs 29:25
So where do we draw the line?
If you are not spending the proper amount of time reading the bible and praying then that is what you should spend your time doing. If you are not living holy and righteously than you should first do so. Our time should be spent being an example onto others and speaking of the gospel with our lives focused on the things of God, not man’s realm. This does not just go with having researched the NWO topics but other aspects. HOW MANY HOURS OF TELEVISION DID YOU WATCH IN THE PAST MONTH? Now, how many hours did you spend with the Lord in His Word or in prayer last month? You see there are many things that are in the Christian’s life that distracts him from the true purpose which is serving the Lord. How many hours did you spend on the cell phone last week? Was it for the Lord, any of it? How many hours did you spend smoking or wasting time literally looking at the ceiling!? The possibilities are endless. If you are not living holy and righteously then it is a VERY SERIOUS problem that you should resolve between you and the Lord at once.
Let’s finish with this:
“Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
Are you doing that?
