Gladness And Joy

Sunday, ‎September 17, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Ephesians 5:1

therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Memory verse: Philippians 4:8 ►Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Today's reading: PROVERBS 27-29 2 CORINTHIANS 10

Gladness and Joy

Oppress--unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power

Two opposites of oppression in the dictionary are gladness and joy.

Proverbs 14:31

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

It is my opinion that one of our greatest sins inside the church today is oppression. I found over 180 verses in the Bible that speak on the subject and in none of them is oppression justified in the eyes of God.

When someone seeks to control a situation from their own will-someone wants control over a few to achieve a selfish desire-(to get their way)--I believe the Bible calls that oppression. Exerting control over any person for selfish reasons is sin.

It has gone on since the beginning. Groups of Israelites came against Moses. Trouble makers who 'talked it up' gathered those who would follow them-those who would be under their control.

'Those who would follow them' suggests now a second type of sin. If you would allow yourself to be controlled by anyone but God is a sin.

We're not talking about the poor and oppressed as is seen in most of the scriptures. We're talking about those who follow voices who try to gather groups that seek to change something to their own fulfilment.

Sometimes they are not seen as trouble-makers. Sometimes they are seen as leaders-movers and shakers.

The cure is God's righteousness. The base problem is always the same: sin. The sin of wanting something that is not of faith. The sin of not waiting on God but surging ahead to gain support and 'authority'. The sin of taking advantage of the 'poor at heart'--'leaning on the weak' or coercing them.

Romans 14:23

For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Those who think they know it all and have a ready answer for everything deceive themselves and all who accept their words.

Galatians 6:3 ►If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.

The answer is easy but the solution is not. The answer is spiritual maturation.

The spiritually mature are not that because of their advanced education or experience. This is not of their advanced age and how much of that time has been spent in church or how much they give or do or not because of how many people follow them.

Spiritual maturity is seen in the humble person who seeks God with their whole heart. People of many words are usually not the humble.

Proverbs 17:27 Those with knowledge know when to be quiet,

and those with understanding know how to remain calm.

There are those who will hardly ever listen to God's righteous reasoning.

Proverbs 29:1 – “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.”

Proverbs 14:12 Before every person lies a road that seems to be right,

but the end of that road is death and destruction.

So, if you think you have the answer and it does not come from God, you do not have His answer.

God will give us all the answers we need. He will give us all that He tells us to seek for. But we must seek and stop thinking we 'presume to know what God wills'. Much prayer and seeking may sound old fashioned and it is-from old, God fashioned it all. He has known your story for all time.

Ask God what comes next. Stop leading people if the leading is not of faith. Stop following people it is not of faith.

Start more time with God. Seek, pray, love and walk humbly before God.

If you walk humbly before God, you will walk humbly before man.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me for trying to have my way all the time. I need to learn so much. I trust You with it all.

Great God of all wisdom and mercy and justice,

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen