II John 8-11 ... Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full rew
Sometimes we go through an "emotional" downturn and we don't even know what happened.
But when we have experience with God, we know HE will rescue us.
II Peter 1:2 ... Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
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Our experience with God reveals to us that God will never fail us nor forsake us.
We are also promised this in Hebrews 13 and again in Joshua 1:5 ... As God promised Joshua, we see this in our own lives ... God does not forsake HIS children.
Heb. 13 ... Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for HE (God) hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
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Joshua 1:5 ... God says ... I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
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I was born again in 1975. Shortly thereafter I went through a very strong downturn. I didn't know what was happening to me at the time. I just kept saying, "Praise God ... thank YOU for my salvation..."
Sometimes we just don't know but we cling to God in spite of our emotions, in spite of how we feel, in spite of how everything looks.
Our experience with God in past trials helps us also for we know God did not let us down then and neither will God let us down now.
Just keep giving yourself to God.
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
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What is the doctrine of Christ?
Concerning divorce/remarriage, homosexuals/lesbians, fornication, drunkenness, scorners/hating and such.
It is what we are taught in the Bible, the Holy Scriptures.
My neighbor was having an anniversary celebration and several friends and relatives were coming to town for this event. He asked me if his wife's daughter and her friend could sleep in my spare bedroom.
It hit me, "her friend"? What is this? So I asked this man and he said his wife's daughter was a lesbian and her friend was her partner.
I told him I could not have lesbians in my house. He replied that he did not approve of them either, and he said no more to me. I never even saw him again in the years between this phone call and his death.
What is the doctrine of Christ concerning homosexual/lesbians?
Romans 1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
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A Baptist woman had a granddaughter who was raised in the Baptist church. When she became of age, she began living with different men in sexual relations, one man, then another. I couldn't understand how Aline could receive this granddaughter into her house.
What is the doctrine of Christ concerning fornication?
I Cor. 6:9-10 ... 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, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
How can you allow such into your house?
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My cousin and her husband were members of the Church of Christ group. Another cousin and her lover would visit them and stay in their home. I couldn't understand how they could permit this to happen.
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How can we who are of God bring sin into our homes?
Mt. 5:32 ... Jesus said ... But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
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I Cor. 7:10-11 ... And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
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This is the doctrine of Christ.
Can I allow those persons who violate these things spoken of by Christ into my house? And if they try to come visit, don't I need to take Bible and read appropriate scripture to them making it clear that I will not go along with them?
How can I allow sin into my own house? I couldn't see that we could do this and I refused them.
My cousin, her husband and one of her adult aged sons came to visit me. I learned this son was "dating" a divorced woman. I explained to him it would be adultery if he married this woman. (I had no idea he and this woman were already committing fornication. Had I known this, I would not have allowed him into my house and I would have given him scripture on fornication.)
At the time of sexual intercourse the two become one flesh ... I Cor. 6
All other sins are outside the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own body ... I Cor. 6
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He married the divorced woman but certainly his blood is not on my hands.
Paul said ... Acts 20:26-27 ... Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
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I don't care if the person visiting is a Christian or not a Christian.
These are the doctrines of Christ of WHOM I am.
And we are speaking of who comes into my house.
If they come to my house, they will hear the doctrines of Christ.
It is "my" house. I am responsible for those who come into my house.