Diligence

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, wither thou goest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Proverbs 22:29

Diligent = persevering and careful in work; hard working. Done with careful, steady effort; painstaking.

There are many right actions and thoughts that go into personal success, with diligence being the work ethic governing all.

For example, people who know how to do things are those who have undertaken their tasks with diligence. Through careful, steady effort, they are able to discover what works and what doesn’t work.

People who are skillful at what they do, proceed at the painstaking pace that allows them to get it right. Their principle to produce the finest product, employs the patience and determination to make it happen.

“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall alike be good.” Ecclesiastes 11:6 Diligence dismisses reluctance, excuses, and all other attitudes that prevent and disable undertakings. This is described well in Proverbs 31:13-27, which sets forth the characteristics of a virtuous woman. Mothers, who fill their roles well, develop a mindset to perceive what needs to be done, and they just do it the best they can without hesitation or delay.

“By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.” Ecclesiastes 10:18 To be successful, individuals must accept the responsibility to think and apply themselves diligently in the business of life.  No one is entitled to a free ride. “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 1 Timothy 5:8 “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11

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Fighting The Battle Against Sin

James 1:12-16: Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

WE DETERMINE WHAT PART SIN PLAYS IN OUR LIFE, James 1:12-14. Things get out of control by our taking liberties, rather than mortifying the flesh.

JUST AS SIN HAS A BEGINNING, IT ALSO HAS A FINALITY, James 1:15. Sin allows none to be a player, without making them a victim. Sin plays for keeps: there are no harmless sins; all sins are evil. Sin is what is wrong with the human race. All the things going wrong are due to sin.

THE NATURAL MAN IS DEAD IN SIN, THUS IT NEVER AWAKES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS. Thus, we see the same sins repeated over and over. Sin is due to the sinful lusts that lie deep within our natural man, James 1:14. Not being due to ignorance, it will not be prevented by knowledge. Adam and Eve had knowledge and good morals before they sinned. Sin is not due to deficient circumstances either, as sin conceived and brought forth in Eden’s utopia.

Neither is the answer to sin’s problem found in isolating ourselves from other men, to live in our own world. We would have to be able to first shed our own human nature. If we were the only person in the world, the problem of sin would still be with us, as we are sinners by nature, rather than by contagion. Even though God started the human race over again with Noah, it still had the inherent depravity of Adam.

The only answer to the sin problem, is the victories that are found in Jesus Christ, Romans 7:24-25.

THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHERE ONE STANDS IN THE BATTLE AGAINST SIN APART FROM HEARKENING TO GOD’S WORD. “…Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law…” Romans 7:7 NOTE: “by the law.” To set the law aside as the right standard, is to not know sin! What made the act of eating of the forbidden fruit to be sin, was not in how they saw it, not in how they picked it, not in how it looked or how they felt about eating it, but what made it sin was that it was the transgression of God’s law. Today, people are still judging things by how they see it, rather than according to what God’s law says, thus sin abounds!

WE MUST ACCEPT THE AUTHORITY OF GOD’S WORD IF WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT SIN. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” John 3:4 Beware of sinning against the law by rejecting it as being God’s definition of sin! There is no remedy for this wilful sin!

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The Disappearance Of Truth

“None calleth for justice, neither any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” Isaiah 59:4 People are choosing to trust in lofty human ideology (unproven promises) while rejecting the truth of God that never fails.

“They hatch cockatrice eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.” Isaiah 59:5-6 That which claims to be for the benefit of all, is designed to be the catch that will benefit a few.

“Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.” Isaiah 59:7-8 Human life is not considered in the context of that which is to be regarded as sacred. The killing of the innocent unborn is subsidized to allow for the unlimited subsidizing for the corrupt and violent. The door is wide open for perversion, while cracking down on those who stand for uprightness is being called for.

“Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.” Isaiah 59:9 Rather than uphold the intended tenets of the law, the law is being interpreted in ways to favor what is deemed to be politically correct.

“In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.” Isaiah 59:13 Denying the authority of God’s Word, while granting legal status to sin and moral perversion has been standardized.

“And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yeah, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.” Isaiah 59:14-15 THE CONSEQUENCE: when there is no place left for truth, all that is left are lies and deceits. Without the presence of the light of truth, spiritual darkness prevails. Without the knowledge of the truth, there is nothing left for men to see, to think and be, except that which is contrary to the truth. And without the acknowledging of the truth, there will be no repentance unto salvation, just perishing!

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

IT IS TRUE – MAN DOES NOT NEED THE TRUTH TO PERISH!

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Church Member Covenant Obligations

“WE ENGAGE…to abstain from having any part in the use of, sale of, or promotion of alcoholic drinks or drugs in any way” (It is understood this is not referring to medications prescribed by doctors.)

Many people are using alcohol and drugs today, causing much damage to individuals and society. The Bible everywhere condemns drunkenness, and that which contributes to it. If three drinks make you drunk, then one drink makes you one-third drunk. Drugs were not a problem in Bible days, so they are not mentioned by name, but categorically are the same, or even worse than alcohol.

THE BELIEVER’S BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”Since the Bible condemns drunkenness, all who glorify God will abstain from alcoholic beverages.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE DEGRADING: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1 “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink.” Proverbs 31:4Drunkenness inflames passions, impairs judgment, leading to foolish decisions and irresponsible actions.

THE BIBLE DESCRIBES A DRUNK AS LOSING HIS MORAL JUDGMENT: “But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.” Isaiah 28:7-8 Thus, God made it a capital offense for the priests: “Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.” Leviticus 10:9 Consider how ungodly it is today for clergymen to lead their congregations to drink fermented wine in the observance of the Lord’s supper! God declared this to be punishable by death for His priests.

GOD SENT HIS WRATH UPON ISRAEL BECAUSE OF THEIR DRINKING ALCOHOL. “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet: And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.” Isaiah 28:1-4 “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.” Isaiah 5:11,22.

AVOID THOSE WHO USE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers, among riotous eaters of flesh.” Proverbs 23:19-20.

DO NOT KEEP COMPANY WITH THOSE THAT DRINK. “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” 1 Corinthians 5:11

THE BIBLE COMMANDS US TO LIVE RIGHT AND TO AVOID STRONG DRINK. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:15-18

THE BIBLE TEACHES TOTAL ABSTINANCE FROM ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” Proverbs 23:29-35

WE BECOME A PARTAKER OF THE SINS OF OTHERS IF WE SELL, OR PROMOTE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS OR THE USE THEREOF: “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!” Habakkuk 2:15

ALL THE SCRIPTURES AGREE – CHRISTIANITY AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES DO NOT MIX!

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A Curse Or A Blessing? (Jeremiah 17:5)

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”

These are the days when multitudes are in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14) People are being tested by the course of events as to what their morals are, what their values are, what their principles are, whether they have a faith in God that will not be compromised, or whether they will yield to the world’s principalities and powers, that are contrary to God’s Word.

The Bible declares, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” (Jeremiah 17:7) Whereas, Satan’s anti-christ program is to cause men’s hearts to depart from the Lord to become dependent upon the policies and programs of man. The anti-christ will consolidate his control over the masses after he herds them into positions where their very livelihood depends upon compliance with the rules and regulations of his governmental powers, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:17)

For the anti-christ to have the say over people, forcing them to comply with his policies or they will not be able to buy, sell, etc., the ruling government must first get control over industry, over financial institutions, over the housing market, and over essential services such as education, health care, etc. Once governmental powers have control over these public entities, then the government can require that individuals meet government requirements before they can get an education, get a job, get a loan, get health care, etc.

It is tragic that so many people on all levels of society are placing their hope in the government to provide them the necessities of life, because they think it is free. But everything the government provides, the government controls. This turns out to be a curse upon the individual’s life and liberty, as they sell themselves into the systems of man that will have control over them.

Christians need to accept the responsibility for their own lives and their own welfare. We need to be fully given over to trusting in the Lord, living and walking by faith, with God on the throne of our heart, as Master over our lives. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

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