‎Jim Vining‎ to Understanding the Times SS Class

1 hr · 

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

Unless we are willing to truthfully acknowledge our weakness, we will never understand what it means to embrace our Lord’s strength. Rationalism and tolerance is man’s justification of his own desires and ambitions; setting aside the purity of God’s Word and the convicting presence of the Holy Spirit. We can have faith in a Savior because it enhances our potential and provides promise – but we balk at His Lordship because it challenges our will and directs our choices. We are losing the spiritual battle to the desire to comfort our existence and resist our Lord’s desire to transform our hearts. Truth has become a means to validate man’s existence – if it convicts or condemns it is rejected – if truth comforts, promises and provides it is accepted. Truth is not provided to validate the listener; it is given to challenge and instruct us toward holiness. In our penchant to appease men we have angered God. Trying to create heaven on earth has all but destroyed the sense of our Lord’s presence in our hearts. Spiritual warfare is destroying the foundation of our society by transferring dominion from God to man. Man has extolled his abilities and exalted his accomplishments in spite of a sovereign God that has given life to His creation and provided our only hope to enjoy it. 

Read through the Bible in one year – May 4/ Luke 22:47-71; 1 Kings 16,17,18