What do we do about those things that should be causing us to stumble?

[Shoshanah]

Matthew 5:29-30 (NAS)
29 If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
30 If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 18:8-9 (NAS)
8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

At least twice in Matthew and once in Mark we hear Yeshua exhorting the people to part company with anything that causes us to sin…but we often don’t do it. It is too uncomfortable. Everything we think, do, watch, listen to, etc. is to be evaluated by God’s standards. Instead we see all around us professing Christians claiming to be living a good Christian life while blending into their standard of this good life they are living, the enjoyable things the world has to offer.

We have lost the sense of just how important the way we live really is. Partly to blame is the antinomian doctrine that now permeates American churches regardless of denomination – or lack thereof. “Non-denominationals” are equal in this point with any other organized religion. Time is too short to change the masses but we can repent as individuals and “throw from us” those things that don’t belong in our lives.

 

[Skinski7]

Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luk 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luk 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

Luk 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luk 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luk 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

[crossnote]

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

 

[just-me]

I continue to struggle with things today, but I'm not disappointed for there is a future in Christ. One major thing is that the more I learn about the magnificence of our Almighty God the more I realize I do not know. I wish I could live according to His original commands, but there are so many things blocking my way, that I have no power to overcome by myself. I am forced to put my trust in Him for the future. Therefore my only hope is in Christ Jesus to make it right.

Romans 7:13-25
[SUP]13 [/SUP]Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
[SUP]17 [/SUP]Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
[SUP]19 [/SUP]For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
[SUP]23 [/SUP]But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
[SUP]25 [/SUP]I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

[shotgunner]

The Lord doesn't mind us having good things as long as we remember him.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12King James Version (KJV)[SUP]10 [/SUP]And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

[SUP]12 [/SUP]Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Psalm 112:1-3King James Version (KJV)
112 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
[SUP]2 [/SUP]His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.


Genesis 13:2King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]2 [/SUP]And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold

Psalm 35:27King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.


We are speaking of things that cause us to stumble. Do we stumble when we see men and women serving God who are wealthy? Do we judge them by our standards and our tradition or by God's word?

 

[just-me]

The Lord doesn't mind us having good things as long as we remember him.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12King James Version (KJV)[SUP]10 [/SUP]And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
[SUP]11 [/SUP]And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

[SUP]12 [/SUP]Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Psalm 112:1-3King James Version (KJV)
112 Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
[SUP]2 [/SUP]His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.


Genesis 13:2King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]2 [/SUP]And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold

Psalm 35:27King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.


We are speaking of things that cause us to stumble. Do we stumble when we see men and women serving God who are wealthy? Do we judge them by our standards and our tradition or by God's word?

Good post! Only His word defines what is good and what isn't. It's not our call.

 

[Shoshanah]

The first reaction from most professing Christians is, “I don’t!” or a variation of the denial that they are guilty. And I understand why people react that way. But it’s not okay just because ‘everybody does it.’ Then come the questions of ‘what do you mean’ and ‘how do we do that’ and such.

Sadly, the ‘Old Testament is void now since Messiah was crucified in our place’ false doctrine has evolved even further from truth into the ‘grace is everything and the old covenant, the Old Testament, the law – however one wants to phrase it – is sinful to observe because of grace.’ Those who have taught that doctrine will suffer (Matthew 5:17-20) but we can’t just lay the blame there. We are given instruction to study for ourselves (2 Timothy 2:15) as the Bereans did in Acts 17:11. When we don’t study every single word that Almighty God has preserved for us in the entire Bible, we are vulnerable to accepting things we shouldn’t.

A.W. Tozer explains it this way:
Take the man with gangrene in his leg. If he could get enough people to glorify it and pay him to exhibit it, write books and poems about it and sing jive songs about it, we soon could glorify gangrene. The gangrene, however, will kill its victim just as sure as there is a God in heaven. Unless he cuts the gangrene out and gets rid of it all, it will kill him. You can never negotiate terms with gangrene.
To violate the laws of God is to bring pollution to the poor of the race. To continue this and excuse it and justify it, and not repent of it, and build it into our reasoning and write books around it is to glorify something that will kill us as sure as we live.

 

[Shoshanah]

We are speaking of things that cause us to stumble. Do we stumble when we see men and women serving God who are wealthy? Do we judge them by our standards and our tradition or by God's word?

I had not thought of that aspect but I do know many people who resent those who are better off financially than themselves, and do fall into sin because of those feelings - envy, covetousness, etc. We are told to judge RIGHTEOUS judgments. And that can only come from God's Word.

When our kids were young we tried to teach them that it is easy to do the wrong thing and sometimes difficult to know if something is good or bad to take part in. So we taught them a simple way to determine whether or not they would be better off walking away from something. We told them to imagine that Jesus was standing next to them in the flesh and think about whether they would take Jesus with them where they thought they wanted to go... if Jesus was sitting next to them as they played a board game and the opportunity arose that they could cheat and win the game, would He be pleased with their decision...would they be happy for Jesus to hear the music they were listening to...and so on.

 

[notuptome]

Today we are saved from the penalty of sin. We will inherit eternal life through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Each day we progress in our sanctification in Christ. More Spirit and less flesh as we yield ourselves to Him and resist temptation. As we feed upon His word and enter His presence through prayer.

One day we will be saved from the very presence of sin. When were are glorified together with Him in eternity. Until then we have persecution and buffeting in this world.

The closer we draw to Christ the more distant the distractions of this world will become.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[crossnote]

Romans 8:3 (KJV) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Set free to serve Him not the flesh...

Galatians 5:13 (KJV) For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

[popeye]

The responses and the op could easily be written to orthodox Jews for righteous living

They are obsessed w/ keeping the law.

In christianity,the law giver now resides in the believer,offering his finished work,and it's POWER to the believer. And yet this is NOT THE STRATEGY to overcome temptation or the basis for the walk of the overcomer.

The way is clearly demonstrated in the upper room. This is the purpose for JESUS LEAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.

he basically said "you guys kinda got a mess now,and BTW,I am leaving,but,the way I did my ministry and walk is the same way I am fixing to empower you."........AND HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID ..."RECEIVE YE THE HOLY SPIRIT"


There are to ways to skin the "sin cat"

1) mechanically,(what most do and teach)
2) Through the basis of one who overcame sin,temptation,and had,and empowered,the ones that dare to take him at his word.

We do not hold prayer,or even the bible up against temptation. We hold the person of Jesus against it. We put jesus between it and ourself.

 

[Shoshanah]

Set free to serve Him not the flesh...

I am wondering since you seem to be one of the main contributors to the forums, what is or how do we "serve" Christ in this 21st century? I ask because my contact with professing Christians at this time is quite limited aside from CC.

 

[popeye]

Originally Posted by shotgunner

We are speaking of things that cause us to stumble. Do we stumble when we see men and women serving God who are wealthy? Do we judge them by our standards and our tradition or by God's word?

I had not thought of that aspect but I do know many people who resent those who are better off financially than themselves, and do fall into sin because of those feelings - envy, covetousness, etc. We are told to judge RIGHTEOUS judgments. And that can only come from God's Word.

When our kids were young we tried to teach them that it is easy to do the wrong thing and sometimes difficult to know if something is good or bad to take part in. So we taught them a simple way to determine whether or not they would be better off walking away from something. We told them to imagine that Jesus was standing next to them in the flesh and think about whether they would take Jesus with them where they thought they wanted to go... if Jesus was sitting next to them as they played a board game and the opportunity arose that they could cheat and win the game, would He be pleased with their decision...would they be happy for Jesus to hear the music they were listening to...and so on.

.........not to mention the sins of omission.

 

[popeye]

I am wondering since you seem to be one of the main contributors to the forums, what is or how do we "serve" Christ in this 21st century? I ask because my contact with professing Christians at this time is quite limited aside from CC.

Find what your purpose is,and walk in your assignment.

But the starting place is always an intimate ,sold out obsession with Jesus,and a separated life filled with worship.

 

[Shoshanah]

The responses and the op could easily be written to orthodox Jews for righteous living

They are obsessed w/ keeping the law.

In christianity,the law giver now resides in the believer,offering his finished work,and it's POWER to the believer. And yet this is NOT THE STRATEGY to overcome temptation or the basis for the walk of the overcomer.

The way is clearly demonstrated in the upper room. This is the purpose for JESUS LEAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT.

he basically said "you guys kinda got a mess now,and BTW,I am leaving,but,the way I did my ministry and walk is the same way I am fixing to empower you."........AND HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID ..."RECEIVE YE THE HOLY SPIRIT"


There are to ways to skin the "sin cat"

1) mechanically,(what most do and teach)
2) Throughthe basis of one who overcame sin,temptation,and had,and empowered,the ones that dare to take him at his word.

We do not hold prayer,or even the bible up against temptation. We hold the person of Jesus against it. We put jesus between it and ourself.

What are you insinuating by bringing up "orthodox Jews" and the law? I may have a very small amount of Jewish blood but I fully understand and wholeheartedly believe that "in Christianity" we are the temple (Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NAS) of the "LIVING GOD"

I don't mean to sound unkind but it does appear you are a little mixed about the Word of God and its place in the life of a genuine Christian. For instance, when Messiah was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, he was able to give the perfect, un-flawed, nothing better, etc. answer to the Adversary and He quoted directly from Deuteronomy - every time! He didn't say to hold Him up between us and sin in order to "skin the sin cat" (?) because He is supposed to be already living IN true believers. We are to follow His example if we endeavor to be His disciples.
No offense intended, but you have been deceived.

 

[popeye]

What are you insinuating by bringing up "orthodox Jews" and the law? I may have a very small amount of Jewish blood but I fully understand and wholeheartedly believe that "in Christianity" we are the temple (Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 NAS) of the "LIVING GOD"

I don't mean to sound unkind but it does appear you are a little mixed about the Word of God and its place in the life of a genuine Christian. For instance, when Messiah was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, he was able to give the perfect, un-flawed, nothing better, etc. answer to the Adversary and He quoted directly from Deuteronomy - every time! He didn't say to hold Him up between us and sin in order to "skin the sin cat" (?) because He is supposed to be already living IN true believers. We are to follow His example if we endeavor to be His disciples.
No offense intended, but you have been deceived.

Well,maybe read my post again???

You partially state my position.

The "deceived" comment is juvenile though.

 

[Shoshanah]

Find what your purpose is,and walk in your assignment.

But the starting place is always an intimate ,sold out obsession with Jesus,and a separated life filled with worship.

I am trying to find common ground with you on this. I sort of agree with you. The Great I AM is who gives us our 'assignments' but humans tend to feel once they "know" their "assignment" that they just carry on and neglect hearing His direction in every detail. Hopefully I am explaining this understandably! If we think we know what God wants us to do, we just go for it and abandon daily listening to Him for His detailed, moment-by-moment instructions...kind of like this: oh, you want me to make a pie - I know how to do that - and I proceed to make a pie. I don't bother to see if it is apple, cherry, blueberry...streusel top or regular pastry top crust, etc.
I do agree that the starting place must be an intimate relationship with El Shaddai because if that relationship is intact, we will hear Him speak.

 

[Patnubay]

I had not thought of that aspect but I do know many people who resent those who are better off financially than themselves, and do fall into sin because of those feelings - envy, covetousness, etc. We are told to judge RIGHTEOUS judgments. And that can only come from God's Word.

When our kids were young we tried to teach them that it is easy to do the wrong thing and sometimes difficult to know if something is good or bad to take part in. So we taught them a simple way to determine whether or not they would be better off walking away from something. We told them to imagine that Jesus was standing next to them in the flesh and think about whether they would take Jesus with them where they thought they wanted to go... if Jesus was sitting next to them as they played a board game and the opportunity arose that they could cheat and win the game, would He be pleased with their decision...would they be happy for Jesus to hear the music they were listening to...and so on.

Yeah and Jesus will say to them: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

 

[Shoshanah]

Yeah and Jesus will say to them: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

I would be very interested in your opinion of what "follow Me" consists of.

 

[oldthennew]

GET RID OF THEM........!!!!!!!

as it is written,
'I will not be brought under the power of any fleshly DESIRE = food, drink, sex, drugs-legal or illegal'....
SELF-WILL......

1COR.6:12.
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me,
but I will not be brought under the power of any.

if we can't OVER-COME it, then to ABSTAIN IS THE ONLY OTHER OPTION..
if we can't be 'temperate' in ALL THINGS, (we must never partake of evil)..

and, ANYTHING can become EVIL TO US, all we have to do is COVET IT, and then it comes into the
category of LUST.....