“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults”
- Psalm 19:12
Did you know you have sins in your life you don’t know about? Don’t worry, everyone does. We all have undetected weaknesses like the earth has undetected faults from which massive earthquakes erupt. How we respond to these weaknesses is what builds spiritual steel into our lives.
We need the spiritual steel of God to make us inwardly strong against the schemes of Satan. How do we acquire the spiritual steel of God?
1. We must learn to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit above the roar of Satan who wants to deceive and lure us into sin. — 1Peter 5:8-9.
2. We need to also listen to the Holy Spirit’s call of conviction — cleansing and restoration. After we have heard the Holy Spirit’s voice, we need to heed His call, making every effort to stand firm with His empowering presence in our lives. To which voice are you listening?
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
The Purpose and Power of the “Amen”, or, Offsetting Political Correctness
1 Corinthians 14:8, 16 (8) For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? …..(16) Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
The word “Amen” is a Hebrew word which means sure, most assuredly, firm, or truth. It is a word used 78 times in the Word of God. It is used in the Bible as a person’s approval to a statement and the affirmation to a prayer.
The term “Political Correctness” has very little to do with a political party. Merriam-Webster Dictionary dates the origin of the term back to 1936.
They also write the term means:
“conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend should be eliminated.”
In other words, if the Bible clearly addresses a wrong action of people and it “offends” them, then the wishes of created humanity, takes precedence over the will of the Creator, God.
Political Correctness says many things which oppose the Word of God and vice versa, but let us as the people of God who serve as the salt of the earth and the light unto the world never waiver from two facts,
- Psalms 19:7-8 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure , making wise the simple. (8) The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Notice the connection between the “Amen” and “Political Correctness”. When the word of God is heard by the unlearned there will be things expressed which are strange to their ears.
If God says, and He does, mankind is a sinner, or, all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, or any other portion of Scripture that “steps on our toes”, we are forced to answer a question to ourselves. “Do I need to change to conform to God, or, does God need to rewrite His Book and conform to me?”
The “Amen” confirms to the world what is being said is true and sure; it says, we are in agreement with the message; it also says to the world, you would do well to heed the message. The pulpit preaching of the Word of God accompanied by the “Amen”, prayers from the pews, with the presence of the unquenched and ungrieved Holy Spirit of God will have a very powerful effect.
Notice what will happen in the following verses of the same text: 24-25, …and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
Isn’t that what we are attempting to achieve?
Post Author: John J. Bagby, Sr.
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