Character Qualities...What are yours?

The Greek word for character is charakter. It is translated in Scripture as the “express image.” According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament, the word “originally denoted an engraver or engraving tool. Later it meant the impression itself, ususally something engraven, cut in, or stamped, a character, letter, mark, [or] sign. This impression with its particular features was considered as the exact representation of the object whose image it bore.” In Hebrews 1:3, Christ is referred to as the “express image” of God; He fully expressed the character of God through His life.

One of God’s primary goals for believers is to transform them into the image of His Son so that they may be a reflection of the character of Christ. We can take comfort in this purpose when we experience difficulties because “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Operational Definitions of 49 Character Qualities

Alertness vs. Unawareness

Being aware of that which is taking place around me so I can have the right response to it (Mark 14:38)

Attentiveness vs. Unconcern

Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided attention to his words and emotions (Hebrews 2:1)

Availability vs. Self-centeredness

Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I am serving (Philippians 2:20–21)

Boldness vs. Fearfulness

Confidence that what I have to say or do is true and right and just in the sight of God (Acts 4:29)

Cautiousness vs. Rashness

Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions (Proverbs 19:2)

Compassion vs. Indifference

Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others (I John 3:17)

Contentment vs. Covetousness

Realizing that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness (I Timothy 6:8)

Creativity vs. Underachievement

Approaching a need, a task, an idea from a new perspective (Romans 12:2)

Decisiveness vs. Double-mindedness

The ability to finalize difficult decisions based on the will and ways of God (James 1:5)

Deference vs. Rudeness

Limiting my freedom in order not offend the tastes of those whom God has called me to serve (Romans 14:21)

Dependability vs. Inconsistency

Fulfilling what I consented to do even if it means unexpected sacrifice (Psalm 15:4)

Determination vs. Faintheartedness

Purposing to accomplish God’s goals in God’s time regardless of the opposition (II Timothy 4:7–8)

Diligence vs. Slothfulness

Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it (Colossians 3:23)

Discernment vs. Judgment

The God-given ability to understand why things happen (I Samuel 16:7)

Discretion vs. Simplemindedness

The ability to avoid words, actions, and attitudes which could result in undesirable consequences (Proverbs 22:3)

Endurance vs. Giving up

The inward strength to withstand stress to accomplish God’s best (Galatians 6:9)

Enthusiasm vs. Apathy

Expressing with my soul the joy of my spirit (I Thessalonians 5:16,19)

Faith vs. Presumption

Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it (Hebrews 11:1)

Flexibility vs. Resistance

Not setting my affections on ideas or plans which could be changed by God or others (Colossians 3:2)

Forgiveness vs. Rejection

Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and allowing God to love them through me (Ephesians 4:32)

Generosity vs. Stinginess

Realizing that all I have belongs to God and using it for His purposes (II Corinthians 9:6)

Gentleness vs. Harshness

Showing personal care and concern in meeting the need of others (I Thessalonians 2:7)

Gratefulness vs. Unthankfulness

Making known to God and others in what ways they have benefited my life (I Corinthians 4:7)

Hospitality vs. Loneliness

Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, and spiritual refreshment with those whom God brings into my life (Hebrews 13:2)

Humility vs. Pride

Recognizing that it is actually God and others who are responsible for the achievements in my life (James 4:6)

Initiative vs. Unresponsiveness

Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it (Romans 12:21)

Joyfulness vs. Self-pity

The spontaneous enthusiasm of my spirit when my soul is in fellowship with the Lord (Psalm 16:11)

Justice vs. Fairness

Personal responsibility to God’s unchanging laws (Micah 6:8)

Love vs. Selfishness

Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward (I Corinthians 13:3)

Loyalty vs. Unfaithfulness

Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to God and to those whom He has called me to serve (John 15:13)

Meekness vs. Anger

Yielding my personal rights and expectations to God (Psalm 62:5)

Obedience vs. Willfulness

Freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely appointed authority (II Corinthians 10:5)

Orderliness vs. Disorganization

Preparing myself and my surroundings so I will achieve the greatest efficiency (I Corinthians 14:40)

Patience vs. Restlessness

Accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it (Romans 5:3–4)

Persuasiveness vs. Contentiousness

Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks (II Timothy 2:24)

Punctuality vs. Tardiness

Showing high esteem for other people and their time (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Resourcefulness vs. Wastefulness

Wise use of that which others would normally overlook or discard (Luke 16:10)

Responsibility vs. Unreliability

Knowing and doing what both God and others are expecting from me (Romans 14:12)

Reverence vs. Disrespect

Awareness of how God is working through the people and events in my life to produce the character of Christ in me (Proverbs 23:17–18)

Security vs. Anxiety

Structuring my life around that which is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away (John 6:27)

Self-Control vs. Self-indulgence

Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:24–25)

Sensitivity vs. Callousness

Exercising my senses so I can perceive the true spirit and emotions of those around me (Romans 12:15)

Sincerity vs. Hypocrisy

Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives (I Peter 1:22)

Thoroughness vs. Incompleteness

Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected (Proverbs 18:15)

Thriftiness vs. Extravagance

Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary (Luke 16:11)

Tolerance vs. Prejudice

Acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity (Philippians 2:2)

Truthfulness vs. Deception

Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts (Ephesians 4:25)

Virtue vs. Impurity

The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I obey God’s Word (II Peter 1:3)

Wisdom vs. Natural Inclinations

Seeing and responding to life’s situations from God’s frame of reference (Proverbs 9:10)

How Deceived By Man Are You?

How Deceived By Man Are You?                                 by  Kelly Durant  10-27-13

1. Matt 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

2. Have you ever been to a magician show? When I was a kid I loved them! Have you had a magic trick done to you? Some people are so fast with their hands it’s amazing! Like all the card tricks people do! In Bolivia I had a friend who gained his living by doing a show. He showed me how a pigeon could be flattened like this to fit in a hat (show hands 1 inch apart)! It is an amazing talent these people have!

One time I had the craziest experience at the border of Colombia and Venezuela. I had sold our old car and I had about $1,000 dollars in pesos on me. And as I am in the bus station, sitting at a table right beside the ticket booth 3 men came up and asked me if I was traveling on the bus line that I had a ticket with. I replied that I was and they explained that due to thieves stopping buses on the highway and stealing everyone’s things (which had been happening), they wanted me to declare the cash I had so they could write me a receipt of insurance from the bus company for my protection. Since they were right by the ticket door, it all seemed authentic to me. They counted my money in front of my eyes and it appeared like everything was fine. I got the receipt.

But while sitting on the bus while it was leaving I decided to recount the money and I discovered I was missing about $250! My eyes had been fixed on the counter’s hands like a dog stares at a piece of meat as bill by bill went by, so his talent to deceive was amazing! Until today I have no clue how he managed to slip some bills out from the ones of that stack! Down the road it struck me that they were not of the bus company either! And, guess what, when I asked the bus company didn’t have insurance either! What happened to me? I had forgotten for a moment how I am as a dumb sheep!

3. Isn’t it amazing how you and I can think we are fairly smart but then out of nowhere we get tricked by someone? When something happens to you beyond your recognition, do you replay it over and over in your head trying to figure out what happened? My conclusion from this event is I was naïve and I did not expect to meet up with a con man because I am not one, I don’t think like one, so I was unprepared for these tactics. If someone would have said to me, be careful with people pretending to be a part of the bus line with insurance because they are thieves, maybe that info would have prevented my loss!

Jesus knows man’s weakness of easily being tricked and being fooled and enticed. Usually it involves a personal gain or some false promise so He warned us, his followers, about trying the spirits, about not allowing yourself to be deceived by anyone, because evil deceivers would become worse and worse. Jesus told us to be wise as_(all say it) _and harmless as__(all say it)____.

4. What was going to be the main deception in the last days? People believing and accepting anything contrary to Christ’s teachings! 2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.  Jesus is the only one that leads us to the truth, and the life, He is the authentic and only Savior who liberates whosoever will accept Him from their spiritual and material poverty created from their bad choices of a life of sin and corruption!  

Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go ye not therefore after them. What we see in the world today is that, due to the ignorance of the truth of God in the Bible, people are swallowing what anyone says and they are being enslaved by sin.

Practically every law and attitude in our world today is diametrically opposed to the healthy values of the Bible. Satan has gained ground like never before by the darkening of the mind and hearts of any weak person who allows their self to be seduced. In the U.S. and around the world in past few years there has been an increase in gang violence and crime, drug use, theft, suicide, sexual perversion, corruption, narcissism and basically there is an exponential increase of everything bad!  The problem is people are being seduced to worship contemptible entertainers, hoaxed into supporting corrupt governmental officials, and being pushed into tolerating antichrist religions!

5. Why do people admire persuasive deceptive people? Hitler deceived the masses touting his cause to help Germany out of their dismal problems and millions loved and worshipped him. His followers were committing the mass murder of Jews (which was hid from the public) and he even killed multitudes of Germans who spoke out against him.  What a horrible lesson we learn from history, but this same lesson is being repeated many times over around the world! People want social solutions, but tyranny is what they get for taking action in a vacuum without a man of God as their guide.

What elements are in our bent human nature that causes so many people to ignorantly and blindly adore and support evil doers? Why do billions of people today praise people of power despite their sinful acts, violations against them, and the mounds of evidence proving them as abusers, con men, and deceivers?  Don’t people often appear enchanted by false words like a cobra dancing to a flute player?

6. Deception: Let’s look at it point by point and the first situation is this, the person being fooled makes the mistake of trusting the person giving the information. What happened to Eve in the garden? She trusted the serpent’s word more than trusting in the word that she had been told from God. This is still the problem with the world today! People are trusting in people they should have nothing to do with! We must pray over all influences in our lives. Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

What is disappointing is many Christians have become victims to many deceitful people. Today many churches have people who use false doctrines to manipulate the newcomers. Some church members go to church so they can use their friends as clients for some personal business. Many hypocrites come in Jesus name, but their plans are not Jesus plans which are to set people free from the lies of Satan and of their sins but rather to control others to use them for some alternative agendas. 

Right now there is a controversy over a book by a famous author John MacArthur who just published statements against the deceptive leaders of the Charismatic Pentecostals who abuse what they call the Holy Spirit; how they are burning a strange fire and offending God (see Lev. 9 and 10). Check it out on Christianpost.com. I thank the Lord for each of the Bible teachers we have here in the Hialeah Corps because I trust you totally to teach Biblically with veracity and sound doctrine!

7. Also, have you ever noticed the people deceptive with money in our world all want to appear to be doing good and they run their own charities? These bogus charities are widely promoted and the idea is to replace them from the honest religious ones. Hitler’s concept was that if you repeat a lie often enough to the people, then they will eventually accept it as truth. They claim, oh we care for you, the people, poor and minorities.

Always doubt everything! Always research the facts! Where is the financial proof of it? Ask how many millions of dollars are documented as going back to the poor? I challenge you to research this subject. Most charities connected with famous people use 90% on their administration flying in jets everywhere and give a meager 10% to the cause. With the Salvation Army that is reverse with 85% given back to the people in help in disasters, shelters, rehab, with food, clothing, and gift cards, using only 15% on administration.

8. The second problem with deception is the pride each of us have and we must purge it out.  People who see others in power today have a carnal jealous tendency in their bent nature to want to possess that glory and adoration for themselves! What did the serpent tell Eve? You will be like God, with your eyes opened! That is pride, wanting more than what you deserve! If you have not prayed for God to take away your pride, then do it urgently today or you are ripe to get ripped off from some deal offering you something too good to be true! Pride allows deception to work.

If you read about the history of the Romans, or about any leaders in our past cultures, their pride always was so huge that they lived in a paranoiac agony constantly worried about who would be more adored than them, or who would try to take their position. What egos our current dictators and wealthy influencers have in the world today! These egos make others suffer as they operate applying fear and intimidation, yet they are powerful only for a while because everyone secretly hates their arrogance, abuse, and selfishness.    

Do you recall how Herod felt so threatened by the birth of baby Jesus that he killed all the babies in his town? How absurd and how cruel! Never believe the words of the leader when they say they are on your side and really care about you, the little people! Historically the evidence proves that 99% of the time they are only looking out for their selves, as they scheme, exploit, abuse, and covertly rip off millions affirming power!

9. The third situation deception creates is the shame that follows. After buying into the wisdom that Satan offered Eve then Adam from the fruit on the garden, what happened? Adam and Eve were enticed and wanted a change, an upgrade in status and power, They expected to gain superiority to be like God. But the change they got was not what they expected as it was deceptive information that brought them into a severe downgrade and shame.

They then were motivated to hide from God due to their uncomfortable loss of innocence. The predicament we as humans have after being fooled by someone is later you feel ugly, dirty, ashamed and violated and discouragement and depression set in, and you just want to hide yourself away from God and everyone.

Sometimes we wonder in the church, what happened to so and so, they don’t come anymore.  It possibly could be due to their shame (but you nor I should never judge!), maybe they bought into a deception somewhere along the way and now they want to live a private life because they are ashamed of the truth that others will see in them, that they were fooled. It takes a lot of love and healing to win others back!

10. What is said of the ones living in shame in the word? Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Here is the solution to get free from the guilt and shame that comes from being deceived… Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.

The shame of nakedness is a very visible exterior condition symbolically depicting an inward condition of exposure, of one being unprotected by God’s righteousness. When a person is conscience that they are naked spiritually it is humiliating, and it incites ridicule and mockery from those that do not understand. If you have ever felt humiliated and shamed and think that was the worst feeling in the world, be comforted to know you did not suffer that alone! Jesus went through that for you as well. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

11. What are the greatest deceptions of all time invoking fanaticism and misguided convictions? It is from dark powers in high places, within governmental and religion systems.  Political systems such as communism offered a utopia of wealth from the purses of the rich into the hands of the poor? But until now there is no evidence that the poor got anything more than a few handouts. Since 1917 there have been many nations in history suffer because alternatives to God’s loving teachings on sharing does not work due to man’s greed. Christians share as in Acts 2:44, 45; only love for one another will provide for all.

With atheism, without God in the consciousness of the leaders, those in power are free to steal and kill with no restraints as they please. Stalin killed 10 million of his own people and Mao Tse Tung 26 million of his own that would not submit to them. The greatest deception today is that there is no God! Without God absolute power corrupts absolutely and they all end up as ruthless murderers!

Why is real Christianity, the most helpful religion to support the poor, and show compassion being hated and persecuted? Because its practicing and teaching expose the fakeness and cruelty of the other religious substitutes! The religion, whose translation means “submission” have throughout history killed millions in the name of religion and their princes have yachts and multiple wives while 99.9 % of their people live in abject poverty! What deception these systems offer young weak minds in the neighborhoods and in the prisons!

12. Jesus says that we, his followers, should be as a harmless doves, but wise as serpents? How wise is a serpent? A serpent knows when to hide in the rocks to not been seen. It knows when some powerful person or animal is putting it in danger and it strikes or escapes into the scenery as necessary; this is a quality of discernment we should pray to have. Jesus repeated several times to his followers to not be deceived.

Today in the world, because people are not reading the Bible, or praying to be led by the Holy Spirit for every decision they take, they are being deceived by misinformation supported by entities in power with absolute dominion in mind! Why are powers always trying to expunge God from every institution? Because God enlightens the mind and most Christians are not so gullible to obey blindly what corrupt leaders command. Jesus is their worst enemy competitor preventing them from having a total dominance of power over the people’s worship and devotion!

If there is anything you and I need to pray for today, it is for wisdom! I have claimed this promise of God a few hundred times and I hope you claim it too! James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Ask for the gift of discernment! Maybe you are more mature and no dark powers will convince you, but how good are you at warning others?! Since only a current 4% of the U.S. youth are active in churches, since only about 1/3 Americans even go to church, we have a huge job to inform a low information public concerning deception and spiritual matters. Start warning others of deceptions today! Jesus is truth!

God’s Culture Is Counter Culture!

God’s Culture Is Counter Culture                                         10-20-13     by Kelly Durant

1.Acts 21:27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had previously[e] seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

2. I hope by now you have learned to laugh at yourself when you are in one of those cultural situations that you just don’t know what’s going on. Like when I was young and before I met my wife I recall I arrived to Sta. Cruz on some holiday and everyone would say, “felicidades” to each other. I thought that was the way to say “good-bye” so for a few months I would say, “felicidades” to everyone after every conversation. People I noticed would smile really big.  Later finally they told me I should use that only for holidays, ha! Mistakes can be funny, right? Or my wife when she asked me, Why do Americans like to drink medicine in a soda?  I curiously asked, what do you mean? She replied, “Why do people think this Dr. Pepper will make them better, isn’t soda bad for you?” It tastes like medicine!  LOL!

3. Most of you here are culturally blessed by God! You know more than one language (sort of anyway, ha!) You also have a deep perspective of the United States culture and that of another one: the Caribbean Islands, South, or Central America. This gives you a great advantage in life with a broader perspective on life’s issues, believe it or not! You have lived extremes; you have experienced things others can only imagine. People of one culture may never imagine the traumatic events you have lived because their world is so very different from other realities.

Many of you have survived in circumstances that many people would go crazy under because you have been through horrible political persecutions, started a new life with just the clothes on your back, and gave up many things you grew up with.  Many of you have even given up ever seeing again your blood relatives as well! Well, today we can celebrate cultures with just a little nostalgia by bringing back some of the food & familiar things! These things you lived at one time but now you live a different life. Even those that visit their home birthplace often find it so dangerous criminally and politically they do not want to live there ever again!

4. So what culture are you now after all these years? Waiting for replies…Does it matter really? What is culture? The dictionary from “google” says it is: the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively (that of a certain society). The Bing search says: Culture is transmitted, through language, material objects, ritual, institutions, and art, from one generation to the next. The basics of culture are specific influences and I personally categorize them as this: (geographical) environmental influences, language, religious, artistic and political (philosophical) persuasions! And, in life anyone can change these!

The obvious is that God created everyone on the earth making made each one of us different but in many ways similar, and He loves everyone the same! As we say today, “without discrimination”! This embarks people of any skin color, of all races, and of all languages, and from all places. One of my favorite verses is Revelation 7:9 “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Each of us as Christians must adapt to our differences and contrasting cultures in this life, because heaven will be full of not just the cultures of today but of the past nations as well! That is a challenge! To love means to help anyone as the Good Samaritan did!

5. In the verses of today in Acts 21:27-31, Paul, being a Jew, broke away from the Jewish law and way of life and teachings, and he even invited the Greeks in the synagogue to teach them about Christ! This was shocking and very counter-culture!  The Jews got a mob together there wanting to kill him for disrespecting their race, place, and non-grace (the Law)! He was going against their norms. Sadly today some churches still reject new comers from other races & places! Some churches have doctrines that tell them only they have the truth, a shame, right?

But on the flip side of the coin Paul had a God given talent to be able to step into other cultures and relate to them in order to rebuke and convict them to live in the righteousness of Jesus. I Cor. 9:19 “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some”.

What a great example of adapting to others to persuasively love them with the gospel! Being a Jew, he wrote to the Jews about not confiding in their traditions and in their race inheritance in the books of Hebrews and in Galatians. Being a Roman he wrote to the Romans about their sexual perversions and about the true application of grace and the law. Growing up with Greeks, he exposed their pride and mental vanities of empty philosophies in the Corinthians.

6. In other words, Paul could contextualize and be as a chameleon changing colors and mindsets. He could get into the minds of his specific audience and call out their sins, correct with them, rebuke them, and also praise their good! I admire him so much that my oldest son’s name is Paul! Paul should be one of the Biblical leaders you want to imitate! I do my best!

But here is something to consider, before Paul became a Christian, he as Saul looked upon all of the other cultures as being inferior segregated groups with their own cultural practices. For example, being a Jew, it was normal for him to kill another person for subverting the faith away from the Jews. He was killing Christians because his culture had the expectancy that he should!

The trick of Satan in all cultures is to get you or I to believe that one’s race, or country, or music, or food, language, or even politics is superior to the neighbors around you near or far.  This is pure pride!  This is never a license to kill and dominate, but men do! All nations have their merits of achievements but there is the ugly truth that all nations have their sins, corruptions and perversions.  One of the best ways to get your eyes opened to see the corruption within your culture is to step out of it for a long time into a different one. This allows you to compare differences and then you will see your original culture is not as wonderful as you think!

After Paul’s Damascus experience with Jesus’ light he radically and totally changed mentally, culturally, and morally! After accepting Jesus, none of us can ever look upon our own culture, or other cultures, the same anymore. Suddenly there is no more willingness to participate in or tolerate the corruption, pride, and abuse most accept as normal. Jesus must rule within totally!

7. Christians with Jesus essentially become counter-culture! They receive a new culture of love and holiness that overrides all other cultural influences of their past, present, and future! I Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”.

There comes a time when you must denounce your own culture for its corruption! What happened to Moses while he was governing in Egypt? Hebrews 11: 24 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward”. Moses had a foreigner as his wife too! He rejected his own cultural upbringing (Egypt), and gave up everything living in the desert for the ways of God.

The term counter-culture in modern day terms was applied first to people of the love and peace hippie culture. But even today the youth take pride in saving the environment and resisting the huge rip-off corporations that produce fast food or name brand clothes and shoes by exploiting the ultra-poor in sweat shops. Certain counters and resistance is good. We should always go against the grain of abusive and corrupted systems! The problem is entire nations and media with propaganda are brain washing the youth to resist the good and accept the evil!

8. Being counter-culture is Biblical! It is better to obey God than man, right? Today Christians in this hostile world over and over get demonized as unpatriotic, uncouth, racist, pro-life, pro-marriage, antiquated conservative freaks! What an injustice, expose his filth! It is Satan’s people who are pretending to be better than you by being evil saying it is good! His motive is always the destruction of individual souls and all nations with divisiveness, perversions, hate, murder, and chaos! The haters of good  are on the rise and today many Christians are suffering!

Most of the Christians I know are the most non-racist loving people you could ever meet! Satan’s people always accuse others of what they are guilty of! Nero accused the Christians of burning Rome, but actually he started it! He blamed them so he could rebuild Rome as he wanted and eliminate the strange people who were exposing Rome’s false gods and sinfulness resisting him and his taste for blood. The irony is that later Rome converted to Christianity a few hundred years later! Paul was martyred in Rome for preaching Jesus essentially exposing the evil in their culture. Be prepared, some of us might even die in the future for Jesus as well as the world becomes more Satanic, anti-love, anti-Christian, which is anti-christ!  

9. The frustrating part is ever since the world was founded, people have gone from place to place hoping to find a better world, people, and land.  Possibly here in the U.S.A. some things are more still more favorable than in the former counties.  But this is summed up in Hebrews 11:16 “But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city”.

All cultures will pass away! This world is not our home, we are just a passing through! The love you have for Jesus, God and others will not pass away though! 1 Corinthians 13:8 “Love never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away”.  One day we will all flourish in a borderless, unified theocratic heavenly city with God’s love reigning over everyone! How wonderful, no more sin and pain, no more corrupt politics and murderous military coups, no more prideful abuse people to put up with; it will just be heaven to enjoy forever!

10. It does not really matter what culture you identify with or what you prefer in the way of food, language, art, music & dance, (as long as its use is not for temptation or divisiveness) We all should make a serious effort to culturally adapt or at least respect others. I have grown to like every food I have every tried in other countries. And music, I grew up on Country & Western, then switched to Rock & Roll, then Blues, then Hard Rock, but then in South America I grew to love Andean music, Salsa, Bolero, Bossa Nova, all of it! And Praise and Worship now is above all that!

What you like is a matter of choice and I have always told myself I can like everything! If you take a good attitude, you will always be enjoying the moment because you like everything, no matter how different! I love Spainish, Portuguese, Sign Language, as well as English, I love it all because all of it is a part of what God created! God loves cultures but reject their sins!

In the end what matters is whether you are living within the culture of Jesus Christ, in His holiness, righteousness and peace, authentically loving and serving unconditionally those next to you no matter their race, social status, or culture!  Come now and pray and ask God forgiveness if you think you have not loved your neighbor as yourself! If you haven’t loved others enough to adapt you are offending God by offending others, because God made everyone! Today more than ever we must be counter-culture and it is a new day for us to be depend on God to be new people molded into Christ’s culture of love winning souls to heaven! Use your cultural knowledge for the good of God! 

Words Matter!

Words Matter!                                           10-13-13             Kelly Durant 

2. Scientists have studied how many words we speak a day. They have determined that men speak about 10,000 per day and women speak about 20,000. The problem is when men get home from work they usually have already spoken their 10,000 so that will explain why when the woman asks the man questions and he just gives one word answers. How was your day at work? Fine.  Did you talk to your boss? Yes. What did he say? Nothing. Ha! We have to be careful what we speak, right?

Words are real things! They have the ability to lift up, or to knock down, to inspire, to encourage, or to discourage! Open your Bibles to:

Matt 12:36-3736 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

3. Every single word you and I speak is important! (repeat) Let’s contrast man’s words to the words that God gave us through Jesus, who gives us love, faith, and hope with His words of life! Not even money can buy the inspiration that words can give! Open your Bibles to:

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

What we all must do is strive everyday to spend our time with these words of God so we will be full of life and full of the Spirit! Comparing words to food, God’s Word is like meat, solid protein, but man’s words are often like a sweet dessert that will make you sick if you eat only that. We must control what we take in, as it will be what we speak out as well.

4. Lets now see how Our Lord reacts sometimes to our words, the words we speak when we are defending our wants and thinking about our own selves. Look up:

Matt 16:21-23

21      From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22      Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23      But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Any of us often can become the very mouthpiece of Satan if we are not careful. It seems so easy to open our mouth when things are not exactly the way we want them. According to the Word, we should not judge a person on the surface by his words only, but we should know their motive and we also must remember God takes into account they will answer to Him on the judgment day.

5. But amongst ourselves here I want you to please feel the freedom to correct with love and patience any brothers and sisters in the Lord when you perceive there are words coming out of their mouths that are just of their own selfish interest, and not in the overall interest of winning souls and building God’s Kingdom! Especially when there is criticism, gossip, and negative things being put into words. The word says:

Prov 27:5Open rebuke is better than secret love. 

One of the highest expression of your love to your brother is to correct him. Jesus did it and you must follow His example!  I know inside you may be asking yourself, is there a problem here in the church that you are talking about this? The answer is I don’t really see that there is a serious one but the Lord laid this message on my heart to be like a pre-emptive strike. You know in order to prevent a forest fire, the foresters will make a controlled fire to burn the brush on the ground so that way if a real fire comes it will not be able to stay lit.

6. Also, always there have been many churches that have lost many people due to the words of man and in house quarrelling. Why do you think the mega churches with 20,000 members are so popular? People would rather sneak in, then sneak out, no responsibilities and no commitments, but also there is no maturing on the part of those that choose that way because more than half of the New Testament is all about relationships and how to get along with each other and with God and He wants us to deal with it. 

In a small place like here we are all family and families have their disagreements, but they later hug and they forgive because they have the same blood, the blood of Jesus to unite them!  

Let’s look up:

Prov 18:21

21      Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

7. Have you noticed it is your own choice of words that determine if you are going to hell or to heaven? I would always get a chill when I would hear someone laugh and say they wanted to go to hell because that is where all their friends are! You cannot get into to heaven without confessing, using your own words, that Jesus is your Lord and savior and you receive Him. Look up:

Rom 10:9        That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10      For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

8. I observe there are too many people in this world using about 9,900 words a day in emptiness or trash talk, saying many things they should not be saying and only saying a little 100 word prayer to God! We must pray to change what is in our hearts and change what comes out of our mouths!

And when you correct someone for saying words that you know are not right, and they do not accept it so well, don’t worry about it! You cannot be responsible for another person’s pride, or immaturity, or whatever, but you owe them in love to set it straight. If a person speaks evil about someone to you, what is to stop them from later speaking bad about you too? We must defend the correct standard God wants us to have. Look up:

Eph 4:29 29      Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

9. And speaking of grace, how many of you here say kind words to those around you? When was the last time you said: Thank you to those here like:

Lizbeth for watching the kids every week…

Miquel, Joel, Rodrigo, Linda, Miquel Angel for the inspiring music…Sonia for being a driver all these years and picking up the children…Pedro for preparing the Bible classes…Thank you for preparing the food…etc.

And if I forgot to mention you, you tell me later, okay! I want to always encourage you because I sincerely love each person here! Today I have a special request. Like it says in the Word, that God will not hear your prayers if you have something in out heart with your brother. The word says to leave the altar and go to your brother and make it right and then come back to pray.

10. I want us to right now to all come to the front and pray for each other. We can take the time we need. If there is anything you need to share with your brother, anyone here, do it now or call them up on the phone later! Let’s pray for our maturity, spiritual growth, honesty with one another, and healing, and pray about every word that comes out of our mouth in front of others and behind closed doors.