- Sep 24, 2018
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I'm sure most if not all the brethren have experienced the following:
"My bowels are in ferment and know no peace; days of misery stretch out in front of me. I go about dejected and comfortless; I rise in the assembly, only to appeal for help." (Job 30:27-28 REB)
Such experience in life is not always because of our sin, because that was Job speaking:
"There lived in the land of Uz a man of blameless and upright life named Job, who feared God and set his face against wrongdoing." (Job 1:1 REB)
Often it is sin (or a false idea of sin embraced) that causes our misery, depression & anxiety:
"the wicked through all their days are racked with anxiety; so it is with the tyrant through all the years allotted to him. The noise of the hunter’s scare rings in his ears; even in time of peace the marauder swoops down on him; he cannot hope to escape from dark death; he is marked down for the sword; he is flung out as food for vultures; he knows that his destruction is certain. Suddenly a black day comes upon him, distress and anxiety overwhelm him like a king about to fall;" (Job 15:20-24 REB)
We have a sure and certain remedy:
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 REB)
"Consecrate them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17 REB)
But what about the Judaizers and Pharisees who exist everywhere in our day? We better know what God's truth is about sin, and distinguish from the lies of these Judaizers and Pharisees who invent sins and we've been warned by example from the OT:
The wicked indeed flee, but what if the definition of sin or wickedness if falsified?
"The wicked flee, even though no one pursues, but the righteous are as confident as young lions." (Prov 28:1 REB)
"How can you say, ‘We are wise, we have the law of the Lord,’ when scribes with their lying pens have falsified it? The wise are put to shame; they are dismayed and entrapped. They have spurned the word of the Lord, so what sort of wisdom is theirs?" (Jer 8:8-9 REB)
** Beware, followers the lying scribes are dismayed and entrapped also.
"Do not give false evidence against your neighbour." (Exod 20:16 REB)
** DO NOT consciously or sub-consciously repeat the false evidence of the Judaizers and Pharisees against yourself or you will suffer like those who are truly wicked according to the truth of God's word.
"There is only one lawgiver and judge: he who is able to save life or destroy it. So who are you to judge your neighbour?" (Jas 4:12 REB)
"But Peter and John replied: ‘Is it right in the eyes of God for us to obey you rather than him? Judge for yourselves." (Acts 4:19 REB)
"Peter replied for the apostles: ‘We must obey God rather than men.'" (Acts 5:29 REB)
"they worship me in vain, for they teach as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt 15:9 REB)
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1Cor 7:23 REB)
"Who are you to pass judgement on someone else’s servant? Whether he stands or falls is his own Master’s business; and stand he will, because his Master has power to enable him to stand." (Rom 14:4 REB)
The Scribes & Pharisees, "They make up heavy loads and pile them on the shoulders of others, but will not themselves lift a finger to ease the burden...‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces; you do not enter yourselves, and when others try to enter, you stop them. ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to win one convert; and when you have succeeded you make him twice as fit for hell as you are yourselves." (Matt 23:4,13,15 REB)
Jesus says, "Come to me, all who are weary and whose load is heavy; I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to wear, my load is light." (Matt 11:28-30 REB)
** The preceding is not to deny that with some situations, professional psychological help is required, but be cautious of the so-called 'Christian' counselors and psychologists.
"My bowels are in ferment and know no peace; days of misery stretch out in front of me. I go about dejected and comfortless; I rise in the assembly, only to appeal for help." (Job 30:27-28 REB)
Such experience in life is not always because of our sin, because that was Job speaking:
"There lived in the land of Uz a man of blameless and upright life named Job, who feared God and set his face against wrongdoing." (Job 1:1 REB)
Often it is sin (or a false idea of sin embraced) that causes our misery, depression & anxiety:
"the wicked through all their days are racked with anxiety; so it is with the tyrant through all the years allotted to him. The noise of the hunter’s scare rings in his ears; even in time of peace the marauder swoops down on him; he cannot hope to escape from dark death; he is marked down for the sword; he is flung out as food for vultures; he knows that his destruction is certain. Suddenly a black day comes upon him, distress and anxiety overwhelm him like a king about to fall;" (Job 15:20-24 REB)
We have a sure and certain remedy:
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 REB)
"Consecrate them by the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17 REB)
But what about the Judaizers and Pharisees who exist everywhere in our day? We better know what God's truth is about sin, and distinguish from the lies of these Judaizers and Pharisees who invent sins and we've been warned by example from the OT:
The wicked indeed flee, but what if the definition of sin or wickedness if falsified?
"The wicked flee, even though no one pursues, but the righteous are as confident as young lions." (Prov 28:1 REB)
"How can you say, ‘We are wise, we have the law of the Lord,’ when scribes with their lying pens have falsified it? The wise are put to shame; they are dismayed and entrapped. They have spurned the word of the Lord, so what sort of wisdom is theirs?" (Jer 8:8-9 REB)
** Beware, followers the lying scribes are dismayed and entrapped also.
"Do not give false evidence against your neighbour." (Exod 20:16 REB)
** DO NOT consciously or sub-consciously repeat the false evidence of the Judaizers and Pharisees against yourself or you will suffer like those who are truly wicked according to the truth of God's word.
"There is only one lawgiver and judge: he who is able to save life or destroy it. So who are you to judge your neighbour?" (Jas 4:12 REB)
"But Peter and John replied: ‘Is it right in the eyes of God for us to obey you rather than him? Judge for yourselves." (Acts 4:19 REB)
"Peter replied for the apostles: ‘We must obey God rather than men.'" (Acts 5:29 REB)
"they worship me in vain, for they teach as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt 15:9 REB)
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." (1Cor 7:23 REB)
"Who are you to pass judgement on someone else’s servant? Whether he stands or falls is his own Master’s business; and stand he will, because his Master has power to enable him to stand." (Rom 14:4 REB)
The Scribes & Pharisees, "They make up heavy loads and pile them on the shoulders of others, but will not themselves lift a finger to ease the burden...‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces; you do not enter yourselves, and when others try to enter, you stop them. ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to win one convert; and when you have succeeded you make him twice as fit for hell as you are yourselves." (Matt 23:4,13,15 REB)
Jesus says, "Come to me, all who are weary and whose load is heavy; I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to wear, my load is light." (Matt 11:28-30 REB)
** The preceding is not to deny that with some situations, professional psychological help is required, but be cautious of the so-called 'Christian' counselors and psychologists.
