Pam Padgett - teacher
Judges 6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him (Gideon), Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: 26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock,
in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt
sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
As I read of Gideon being instructed to destroy his father's altar of
Baal and to build an altar to God on a rock, I was reminded of the
following ...
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood
of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily
was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in
these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised
him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might
be in God.
traditions: customs and beliefs transferred from generation to generation
When we are born again we are redeemed, bought back, from corruptible
things ... traditions of this world and false doctrines which have been
passed down to us by those of the world who have taught us. As we read
the Bible and pay attention to what the Holy Spirit teaches us, our
eyes are opened to things we were previously taught which are
not according to the Word of God. These things are torn down from our lives when we are shown the truth and choose to no longer walk in them.
Many of us were taught to depend on our own wisdom and abilities to
provide for ourselves. Before we were born again, this is all we could
do. But after we were born again and given the Holy Spirit, we learned
that we can and should turn to God with each matter we face and depend
on God to show us what to do. And we learned that God will provide all of
our needs.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean
not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and
he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
We may have been taught to always try to think well of others. But
as the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth, we see that only God is
good, that the whole world lies in wickedness, and that to be a
friend with those of the world (on the same side as, joined in common affection with, approving, encouraging, supporting) is to be an enemy of God.
Matthew 19:17 And he (Jesus) said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God ...
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a
friend of the world is the enemy of God.
We worship God as we believe what God has said, His Word, and go in His ways, .
Placing our faith and hope in God as we build our lives on the foundation of His Word. Breaking down in us the traditions of the
world we once lived in.
Comments by Joan Boney ...
To try to stay "sober" about people, I have begun making notes on individuals when they say and do things that shows the truth about them. This seems to help me to see truth. Like Pam, I tend to gloss over "bad" things they do but we cannot afford to do this for then we get an unrealistic picture which is not true. We need to live in truth rather than fantasy.
I shared with you yesterday and again today the story of my yard man.
Here is the note I have in my notebook to focus on the truth.
Taylor - lawn service:
- Word of God is not important to him. Recent phone call, he just wanted to rush though call when I spoke of truth. He wanted to call next customer on his list and make another sale of yard plants.
- Cancer gift announced by Taylor ... I was reminded by Holy Spirit of his note telling of this gift. I was reminded of Mt. 6, don't sound trumpet before you. And I was shown to depart from Taylor and cancel lawn service.
It is important for me to remember Holy Spirit working in these points because if I am attacked by Taylor for what I did, I will remember it was not I who did this but God by HIS Spirit.
I Peter 2:20 ... if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: