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Hello, this is Ken, your podcast preacher.
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Welcome back to my podcast Deep Waters.
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This podcast is brought to you by Applied Strengths Ministry, where we believe working together on our strengths is the effect of working out the will and calling of God and into our lives.
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Thanks for joining me.
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Let's open up no prayer.
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We pray that you would give us a revelation within this message that you intend on us receiving with the understanding.
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In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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So before we kick off this message, I just want you to know that I will be attending a conference and attending to other ministry responsibilities.
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So there won't be another posted message from October 30th through November 10th.
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I would recommend that you use the time to catch up on other messages, as we are truly running out of time, and there's no time like now to prepare for what's coming.
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The title of this message is Mistakes or Intentional Deception.
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I thought another good title would be Heretical Pickle, but I don't think that this title covered enough of the subject matter, and it's hard to say that really quick three times.
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So why make mistakes made by believers a cover story?
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And well, how are they any different from those who are intentionally trying to deceive you?
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First, but not really as I've already begun, is to mention a partial list, and I say partial because even those from within the church who are authentically born again, at times, during their growth process, can work against you.
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But I didn't include them or us in the group of falsies because they, like us, will make mistakes.
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In judgment, for example, or at some given time, believe that they or we have a lock on some specific thing that the Bible discusses, and they or us will kick back like a mule in a heavy.
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Of course I'm referring to myself in this example because I know how to kick when someone bumps up against what I believe to be the truth.
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I have since learned to take off my donkey shoes and hang them up for good.
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In other words, I am way more teachable than I was when I thought that I knew everything.
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Okay, so those who are intentionally against us, and for some, it is done in ignorance, but nevertheless it is done.
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They are as follows the make believers, the fake believers, the non-believers, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the attorneys, the scribes, the chief priests, the elders, the Sanhedrin, and some of those in civil and political areas.
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And I'm talking about the spirit of those people, not the actual people.
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It would be kind of weird to see a Pharisee walking down the street, right?
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Many in the crowds who could be swayed by the wind exiting any of these already mentioned as their toxic breath, breathing lies about Jesus left their mouths, as well as the falsies, such as the false teachers, false prophets, false apostles, false pastors, hypocrites who disguise themselves as righteous, but promote deceptive teachings, selfishness, and ungodly lifestyles.
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Those who preach a different gospel, distorting the truth, such as many do in false religions, which is all of them that do not preach and teach that Jesus is God and is the only way to the Father, because of his own blood being shed to pay for the sins of humanity.
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False spirits, demons, and workers of his who appear as angels of light, and those who are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing, and finally we can also include false evangelists.
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I know that's a big list, but don't worry, not all of them all at once will be against you, and God will never give you more than you can handle.
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The key is to test every spirit, that is both the supernatural spirits as well as the spirit of humans, try and discern their motivation for what they're doing.
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And so but to put to sleep the ignorance statement and what that can look like in a believer's life, we can refer to an extraordinary believer who wreaked all kinds of havoc on the Christian community in his days, and so made a confession, and but also because we read the whole Bible, we can also see his humility, so that we don't by mistake think that Paul is simply making an excuse for his destructive behaviors.
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Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
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And but how did he feel about his destructive past after he got saved?
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First Corinthians fifteen nine.
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For I am the least of the apostles, and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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Ephesians three eight.
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Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given to me to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.
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Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.
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Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
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And how did God use this destructively converted Pharisee?
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Well he wrote as many as thirteen of the New Testament epistles in the Bible, and did it while he was vacationing in various prisons.
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He also paid a high price for being a real Christian, and not because of his past life as that every last bit of it was covered in the blood of Jesus and forgotten by God.
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Acts nineteen, eleven twelve.
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Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
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Could you imagine throwing your socks at somebody who had a demon and the demon left?
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Well, depending on how long you wore your socks, there might be another reason.
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Okay.
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This is why we cannot judge even a wayward Pharisee, as you never know if they are under the god pull in their life.
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Yes, some people who definitely have the seed of Satan operating in their life, such as a wolves in sheep's clothing or the falsies, we should be leery of.
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Okay, so that section was necessary for this next portion to have the intended impact.
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Unfortunately, we have far too many Christians who have a quick trigger to call out other believers and whom they think are falsies or any one of a number of other non believing groups of people at the first blush of judgment.
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The problem with this mentality is that it is not biblically accurate to do so.
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There is a method and process for looking into false teaching, for example, without throwing someone in whom with today's relational human mindset, you probably don't even know.
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By passing judgment on an unknown person in your life, you make the scripture that states you will know them by their fruits, null and void.
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Matthew seven sixteen twenty.
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You will know them by their fruits.
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Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?
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Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
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A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
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Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
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Therefore by their fruits he will know them.
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Now we must define fruits because many do not know what exactly spiritual fruits are.
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Galatians five twenty two through twenty three.
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The Bible defines spiritual fruits as a visible, internal character traits that the Holy Spirit naturally produces in the life of a believer.
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Rather than being a checklist of rules or personal achievements, they reflect Christ like nature and serve as proof of a living connection to God.
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The primary definition and list comes from Galatians five twenty two through twenty three, written by the apostle Paul.
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Paul contrasts these spiritual qualities directly against the works of the flesh, that is destructive human behaviors.
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Jesus also introduces the concept of spiritual fruit in John fifteen, four through five, comparing believers to branches attached to a vine.
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A branch only bears fruit when it stays connected to the vine, that is Jesus.
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So what are they and how are they defined?
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Love, selfless, unconditional care and commitment to act for the good of others, joy, an enduring, heart swelling gladness and confidence rooted in God, independent in outward circumstances, peace, deep eternal tranquility and relational harmony that remain steady despite chaos or anxiety, patience that is long suffering, slow to anger, enduring difficulties or mistreatment without retaliation and extending mercy, kindness, genuine compassion and benevolence expressed through generous, helpful actions towards others, goodness, moral excellence, integrity, and uprightness that promotes the well being of others, faithfulness, trustworthiness, loyal and reliable allegiance to God and his will, gentleness or meekness, a tender, humble approach that offers safety and respect rather than harshness or arrogance, self control, that is temperance, disciplined self regulation over personal desires, impulses, and temptations.
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Now I would also add that there is another element that is essential for measuring if a person has the fruit of God working in their life.
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The Bible defines love in Corinthians thirteen four through eight as an active, self sacrificing and enduring choice rather than a fleeting emotion.
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In the original New Testament Greek, this type of love is called agape, an unconditional, godlike love that seeks the highest good of others.
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What is love that is positive traits?
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Paul describes biblical love through active qualities, patient, long suffering, endures difficult people and circumstances without striking back.
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Kind, actively does good and shows warm concern for others, rejoices with the truth, celebrates honesty, righteousness, and moral truth rather than deceit or wrongdoing.
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But now right there, just be careful because you don't want to go around looking for deceit and wrongdoing and pointing that out in other people.
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That's not what rejoicing with the truth means.
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Bears all things, protects others and shields them from harm, and harm could come in your judgmental words, believes all things and trusts, maintains an attitude of trust rather than immediate cynicism or suspicion, hopes all things, stays optimistic and confident in God's goodness and the future, endures all things, stands firm and perseveres through heavy trials and suffering, never fails, that is never ends, outlasts spiritual gifts, prophecies, and temporary human achievements through the activities of the Holy Spirit.
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What love is not?
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Negative traits.
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Paul also defines love by what it rejects and refuses to do.
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It's not envious or jealous, does not resent others for their success, status or possessions, not boastful or arrogant, does not parade itself or puffed up, does not brag or act with a sense of superiority, not rude, does not dishonor others, does not act unbecomingly or lack basic courtesy and respect.
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It's not self seeking, does not insist on its own way, does not demand that everything be on its own terms or cater only to personal desires.
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It's not irritable, it is not easily provoked, does not fly into a rage or get easily angered by slights, not resentful, keeps no record of wrongs, thinks no evil, does not harbor grudges or tally up past offenses, does not rejoice in wrongdoing, does not rejoice in inequity, finds no pleasure when others sin or fall into injustice.
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The broader context, Paul wrote this passage to the church in Corinth, a community plagued by division, pride, and misuse of spiritual gifts.
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He emphasizes that spiritual gifts, great faith, elegant speech, and even radical sacrifices mean nothing without agape love.
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So if you are inclined to openly criticize another Christian regarding their ministry, you should first know if these things are working in your life and in the life of the person you are about to lay judgment on.
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Now this doesn't mean that if they have areas that they are still working on, that this gives you permission to attack.
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Nope.
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Look, the NLT states it like this Matthew seven, one through two.
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Do not judge others, and you will not be judged, for you will be treated as you treat others.
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The standard you use in judging is a standard by which you will be judged.
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The context of the scriptures that Jesus warns against harsh, hypocritical, or condemning judgment towards others, noting that God will use the same standard when evaluating us.
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Further on down the road in Matthew seven, three through five, Jesus follows this statement up with the lessons of the speck and the plank, urging people to examine their own faults before criticizing somebody else's.
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The message Bible states it like this Matthew seven, one through five.
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Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults, unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
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That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.
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It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.
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Do you have the nerve to say, let me wash your face for you when your own face is distorted by contempt?
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It's this whole traveling roadshow mentality all over again, playing a holier than thou part instead of just living your part.
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Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
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We need to understand that making mistakes does not automatically indicate that you are a false preacher, teacher, apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist, a wolf in sheep clothing, or a heretic.
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In fact, if you are running for God, you will indeed make mistakes.
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If you are sleeping on your watch, then you may not.
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Let's look again.
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The Bible explicitly states and alludes in several key passages that even after people are saved, they still struggle with sin and make mistakes.
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Key biblical passages.
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The Apostle John writes directly to believers stating If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
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He adds that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us.
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Romans seven fifteen through twenty.
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The Apostle Paul describes a deep internal struggle where he does the very things that he hates instead of the good things that he wants to do.
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He attributes this battle to the sin living in me rather than his new identity in Christ.
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James three two, the New Testament notes that we all stumble in many ways, acknowledging that human imperfection remains part of life, even for those who follow God.
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Galatians five seventeen, Paul explains that the flesh, that is human weakness, and the spirit, God's presence, are in constant conflict, which is why believers do not always do what they intend.
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Matthew six twelve.
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Jesus instructs his disciples, who are already his followers, to regularly pray for the forgiveness of their debts and sins, showing that ongoing need for grace is expected.
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What this means, the Bible teaches that salvation changes a person standing before God and starts an ongoing process called sanctification, growing to be more like Christ over time.
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However, it does not claim that human beings become completely sinless or immune to mistakes in their earthly lives.
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This applies even to those who are called into the fivefold ministry and or Christians who have been running for God for forty years.
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There is room for error in the body of Christ, and if you take the position that there is not, then you fall into grave sin and are no better than any one of the unrepentant falsies that have already mentioned.
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So what if you say, yeah, but what about those who are young in the faith and need to be taught what is right and what is wrong regarding the things of God?
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And well, I'm just the person to do that.
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The instruction to bear with those who are weaker or less mature in the faith is found primarily in Romans 15 1 and Romans fourteen one, with complimentary guidance in Ephesians four two and first Timothy four twelve.
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Those verses Romans fifteen one.
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We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
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Context Paul instructs spiritually mature believers, that is the strong, to patiently support, help carry, and accommodate those whose consciences or understanding of Christian freedom are underdeveloped, that is weak, rather than demanding they conform or mocking their scruples.
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Romans fourteen one as for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
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Context Paul addresses how the early church should handle differences and personal convictions, such as dietary choices or sacred days, urging acceptance without judgment or argument.
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Ephesians four two be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.
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Context a general instruction for all believers to exercise long suffering, patience, and grace towards one another's human limitations and spiritual imperfections.
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And first Timothy four twelve, don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
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Context often associated with young believers, this verse turns the perspective around, encouraging younger Christians not to be dismissed for their age, while calling them to live exemplary lives.
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The believer who simply misses it will still be exalting God, Jesus, and or the Father as their primary objective.
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If they still hold fast to the truth in spite of their mistakes, then God has them, and doesn't need anyone to stand in judgment against them.
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And maybe here is a good time to mention this.
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The older Christians are told to tolerate and to stay away from judging the younger ones.
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But the inverse of that, and it is what I have found in my life, is that oftentimes it's the younger Christians who are going after the more mature Christians, and this is a problem and it's rebellion.
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The Bible says that it is good for a student to be like his teacher.
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It is good for a disciple, someone who's constantly learning to be like his teacher.
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To simply believe that you have been given more revelation than someone who's been running for God longer can be a critical mistake, and God won't let you get away with that.
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You have to manage your newfound energy in Christ.
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And I know because I had a lot of it when I first got saved, and I thought I knew a lot of stuff, and actually I didn't.
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And unfortunately, it took looking back on my Christian life to realize that.
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The solution to that problem, of course, is being discipled and coming under someone who can teach you all about the traits of humility and how to remain teachable and humble.
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The last condition that I can think of comes from the fact that we are all growing, and as we are growing, we are working in our ministry.
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What this looks like is that I might teach on the current revelation that I have in a particular season.
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I can't teach on what I don't know, in other words.
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And but as I continue to grow, my understanding of a particular thing, it might change.
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And when it does, it might completely contradict my earlier teaching.
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But we must leave room for that because we are all growing and our faith grows from season to season.
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The revelation and understanding that I have about the word today is very different from the revelation and understanding of the word that I had when I was younger in the faith.
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This is very normal.
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In fact, every single Christian will go through the same process.
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And here again I want to mention for the younger believers, sometimes you run into one of the falsies, and it's okay.
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It may not be your job necessarily to correct them, and if they're in a church that you're just starting at, no one is obligated to remain at a church that is being led by falsies.
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Just simply leave quietly and go find another church.
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In finishing, I asked Google the following question Does the Bible allow us to make mistakes as we grow in our relationship with God?
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I received the following input.
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The Bible teaches that human imperfection is universal, and making mistakes or sinning is an inevitable part of living in a fallen world, though God does not give license to sin intentionally.
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Universal imperfection.
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The Bible openly acknowledges that everyone stumbles and falls short.
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Romans 3 23 states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and James 3 2 notes that we all stumble in many ways.
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Examples of biblical figures, major figures in the Bible, such as David, adultery and murder, Peter, denial and temper, Moses, anger, and Paul, persecuting the church, made severe mistakes and poor choices, yet God still worked through them, using those experiences for redemption and character growth when they turn back to him.
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And that is the key.
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When you make mistakes, turn back to him.
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Redemption and grace.
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Rather than discarding believers when they fail, God offers continuous grace, forgiveness, and restoration.
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1 John 1.9 promises that, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
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Turning mistakes into growth, passages like Romans 8.28 indicate that God uses all things, including human stumbles, trials, and poor decisions, to bring about good and shape the character of those who love him.
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Proverbs 24, 16 also highlights resilience, noting that, though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.
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Repentance versus intentional sins.
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Scripture distinguishes between struggling with weaknesses and deliberately exploiting grace.
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Romans 6, 1 through 2 asks, Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
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By no means.
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Growth means learning from errors, seeking transformation, asking for God's help, in other words, and relying on Christ's power in weakness.
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2 Corinthians 12.9.
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Rather than using mistakes as an excuse to continue to make the same mistakes, let's be tolerant of one another as we grow.
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Criticism is not a method of growing.
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In fact, I believe that when we do this, we are doing it out of selfish motives or brokenness that has yet to be healed.
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Jesus tells us to love one another as I have loved you.
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I've often used this statement that hurt people, hurt people.
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So for example, if you've ever had to deal with a bully in your life, oftentimes it might be that they are being bullied at home, and so they simply manifest that in other places in their life.
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John 13, 34 through 35.
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Let me give you a new command.
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Love one another in the same way I loved you.
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You love one another.
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This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples when they see the love you have for each other.
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Well that's it for today.
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Remember us not what you find wrong or disagree with regarding these messages, but what you can take away from it.
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Together we can do more to impact the kingdom than if we work alone.
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Let's flip the script and still kill and destroy the works of the enemy and create space for the light of light to shine through into people's lives.
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And as even click on the like and subscribe button.
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Repost on your social media platform and help us to make disciples.
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Link this message out or teach from it in your Bible study, your life or style group, and yes, even in your church.
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You can be assured a console won't call the teach, and though imperfect, you have the Word of God to use to test everything at stake.
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Let's build this ministry together.
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Thanks and see you next time in Deep Waters.
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Hello, this is Ken, your podcast preacher.
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Welcome back to my podcast Deep Waters.
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This podcast is brought to you by Applied Strengths Ministry, where we believe working together on our strengths is the effect of working out the will and calling of God and into our lives.
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Thanks for joining me.
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Let's open up no prayer.
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We pray that you would give us a revelation within this message that you intend on us receiving with the understanding.
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In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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So before we kick off this message, I just want you to know that I will be attending a conference and attending to other ministry responsibilities.
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So there won't be another posted message from October 30th through November 10th.
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I would recommend that you use the time to catch up on other messages, as we are truly running out of time, and there's no time like now to prepare for what's coming.
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The title of this message is Mistakes or Intentional Deception.
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I thought another good title would be Heretical Pickle, but I don't think that this title covered enough of the subject matter, and it's hard to say that really quick three times.
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So why make mistakes made by believers a cover story?
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And well, how are they any different from those who are intentionally trying to deceive you?
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First, but not really as I've already begun, is to mention a partial list, and I say partial because even those from within the church who are authentically born again, at times, during their growth process, can work against you.
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But I didn't include them or us in the group of falsies because they, like us, will make mistakes.
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In judgment, for example, or at some given time, believe that they or we have a lock on some specific thing that the Bible discusses, and they or us will kick back like a mule in a heavy.
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Of course I'm referring to myself in this example because I know how to kick when someone bumps up against what I believe to be the truth.
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I have since learned to take off my donkey shoes and hang them up for good.
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In other words, I am way more teachable than I was when I thought that I knew everything.
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Okay, so those who are intentionally against us, and for some, it is done in ignorance, but nevertheless it is done.
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They are as follows the make believers, the fake believers, the non-believers, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the attorneys, the scribes, the chief priests, the elders, the Sanhedrin, and some of those in civil and political areas.
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And I'm talking about the spirit of those people, not the actual people.
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It would be kind of weird to see a Pharisee walking down the street, right?
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Many in the crowds who could be swayed by the wind exiting any of these already mentioned as their toxic breath, breathing lies about Jesus left their mouths, as well as the falsies, such as the false teachers, false prophets, false apostles, false pastors, hypocrites who disguise themselves as righteous, but promote deceptive teachings, selfishness, and ungodly lifestyles.
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Those who preach a different gospel, distorting the truth, such as many do in false religions, which is all of them that do not preach and teach that Jesus is God and is the only way to the Father, because of his own blood being shed to pay for the sins of humanity.
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False spirits, demons, and workers of his who appear as angels of light, and those who are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing, and finally we can also include false evangelists.
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I know that's a big list, but don't worry, not all of them all at once will be against you, and God will never give you more than you can handle.
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The key is to test every spirit, that is both the supernatural spirits as well as the spirit of humans, try and discern their motivation for what they're doing.
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And so but to put to sleep the ignorance statement and what that can look like in a believer's life, we can refer to an extraordinary believer who wreaked all kinds of havoc on the Christian community in his days, and so made a confession, and but also because we read the whole Bible, we can also see his humility, so that we don't by mistake think that Paul is simply making an excuse for his destructive behaviors.
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Although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man, but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
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And but how did he feel about his destructive past after he got saved?
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First Corinthians fifteen nine.
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For I am the least of the apostles, and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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Ephesians three eight.
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Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given to me to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.
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Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.
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Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
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And how did God use this destructively converted Pharisee?
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Well he wrote as many as thirteen of the New Testament epistles in the Bible, and did it while he was vacationing in various prisons.
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He also paid a high price for being a real Christian, and not because of his past life as that every last bit of it was covered in the blood of Jesus and forgotten by God.
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Acts nineteen, eleven twelve.
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Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
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Could you imagine throwing your socks at somebody who had a demon and the demon left?
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Well, depending on how long you wore your socks, there might be another reason.
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Okay.
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This is why we cannot judge even a wayward Pharisee, as you never know if they are under the god pull in their life.
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Yes, some people who definitely have the seed of Satan operating in their life, such as a wolves in sheep's clothing or the falsies, we should be leery of.
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Okay, so that section was necessary for this next portion to have the intended impact.
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Unfortunately, we have far too many Christians who have a quick trigger to call out other believers and whom they think are falsies or any one of a number of other non believing groups of people at the first blush of judgment.
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The problem with this mentality is that it is not biblically accurate to do so.
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There is a method and process for looking into false teaching, for example, without throwing someone in whom with today's relational human mindset, you probably don't even know.
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By passing judgment on an unknown person in your life, you make the scripture that states you will know them by their fruits, null and void.
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Matthew seven sixteen twenty.
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You will know them by their fruits.
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Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?
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Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
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A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
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Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
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Therefore by their fruits he will know them.
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Now we must define fruits because many do not know what exactly spiritual fruits are.
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Galatians five twenty two through twenty three.
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The Bible defines spiritual fruits as a visible, internal character traits that the Holy Spirit naturally produces in the life of a believer.
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Rather than being a checklist of rules or personal achievements, they reflect Christ like nature and serve as proof of a living connection to God.
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The primary definition and list comes from Galatians five twenty two through twenty three, written by the apostle Paul.
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Paul contrasts these spiritual qualities directly against the works of the flesh, that is destructive human behaviors.
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Jesus also introduces the concept of spiritual fruit in John fifteen, four through five, comparing believers to branches attached to a vine.
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A branch only bears fruit when it stays connected to the vine, that is Jesus.
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So what are they and how are they defined?
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Love, selfless, unconditional care and commitment to act for the good of others, joy, an enduring, heart swelling gladness and confidence rooted in God, independent in outward circumstances, peace, deep eternal tranquility and relational harmony that remain steady despite chaos or anxiety, patience that is long suffering, slow to anger, enduring difficulties or mistreatment without retaliation and extending mercy, kindness, genuine compassion and benevolence expressed through generous, helpful actions towards others, goodness, moral excellence, integrity, and uprightness that promotes the well being of others, faithfulness, trustworthiness, loyal and reliable allegiance to God and his will, gentleness or meekness, a tender, humble approach that offers safety and respect rather than harshness or arrogance, self control, that is temperance, disciplined self regulation over personal desires, impulses, and temptations.
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Now I would also add that there is another element that is essential for measuring if a person has the fruit of God working in their life.
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The Bible defines love in Corinthians thirteen four through eight as an active, self sacrificing and enduring choice rather than a fleeting emotion.
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In the original New Testament Greek, this type of love is called agape, an unconditional, godlike love that seeks the highest good of others.
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What is love that is positive traits?
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Paul describes biblical love through active qualities, patient, long suffering, endures difficult people and circumstances without striking back.
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Kind, actively does good and shows warm concern for others, rejoices with the truth, celebrates honesty, righteousness, and moral truth rather than deceit or wrongdoing.
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But now right there, just be careful because you don't want to go around looking for deceit and wrongdoing and pointing that out in other people.
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That's not what rejoicing with the truth means.
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Bears all things, protects others and shields them from harm, and harm could come in your judgmental words, believes all things and trusts, maintains an attitude of trust rather than immediate cynicism or suspicion, hopes all things, stays optimistic and confident in God's goodness and the future, endures all things, stands firm and perseveres through heavy trials and suffering, never fails, that is never ends, outlasts spiritual gifts, prophecies, and temporary human achievements through the activities of the Holy Spirit.
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What love is not?
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Negative traits.
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Paul also defines love by what it rejects and refuses to do.
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It's not envious or jealous, does not resent others for their success, status or possessions, not boastful or arrogant, does not parade itself or puffed up, does not brag or act with a sense of superiority, not rude, does not dishonor others, does not act unbecomingly or lack basic courtesy and respect.
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It's not self seeking, does not insist on its own way, does not demand that everything be on its own terms or cater only to personal desires.
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It's not irritable, it is not easily provoked, does not fly into a rage or get easily angered by slights, not resentful, keeps no record of wrongs, thinks no evil, does not harbor grudges or tally up past offenses, does not rejoice in wrongdoing, does not rejoice in inequity, finds no pleasure when others sin or fall into injustice.
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The broader context, Paul wrote this passage to the church in Corinth, a community plagued by division, pride, and misuse of spiritual gifts.
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He emphasizes that spiritual gifts, great faith, elegant speech, and even radical sacrifices mean nothing without agape love.
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So if you are inclined to openly criticize another Christian regarding their ministry, you should first know if these things are working in your life and in the life of the person you are about to lay judgment on.
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Now this doesn't mean that if they have areas that they are still working on, that this gives you permission to attack.
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Nope.
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Look, the NLT states it like this Matthew seven, one through two.
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Do not judge others, and you will not be judged, for you will be treated as you treat others.
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The standard you use in judging is a standard by which you will be judged.
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The context of the scriptures that Jesus warns against harsh, hypocritical, or condemning judgment towards others, noting that God will use the same standard when evaluating us.
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Further on down the road in Matthew seven, three through five, Jesus follows this statement up with the lessons of the speck and the plank, urging people to examine their own faults before criticizing somebody else's.
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The message Bible states it like this Matthew seven, one through five.
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Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults, unless, of course, you want the same treatment.
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That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.
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It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.
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Do you have the nerve to say, let me wash your face for you when your own face is distorted by contempt?
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It's this whole traveling roadshow mentality all over again, playing a holier than thou part instead of just living your part.
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Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
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We need to understand that making mistakes does not automatically indicate that you are a false preacher, teacher, apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist, a wolf in sheep clothing, or a heretic.
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In fact, if you are running for God, you will indeed make mistakes.
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If you are sleeping on your watch, then you may not.
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Let's look again.
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The Bible explicitly states and alludes in several key passages that even after people are saved, they still struggle with sin and make mistakes.
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Key biblical passages.
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The Apostle John writes directly to believers stating If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
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He adds that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us.
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Romans seven fifteen through twenty.
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The Apostle Paul describes a deep internal struggle where he does the very things that he hates instead of the good things that he wants to do.
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He attributes this battle to the sin living in me rather than his new identity in Christ.
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James three two, the New Testament notes that we all stumble in many ways, acknowledging that human imperfection remains part of life, even for those who follow God.
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Galatians five seventeen, Paul explains that the flesh, that is human weakness, and the spirit, God's presence, are in constant conflict, which is why believers do not always do what they intend.
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Matthew six twelve.
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Jesus instructs his disciples, who are already his followers, to regularly pray for the forgiveness of their debts and sins, showing that ongoing need for grace is expected.
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What this means, the Bible teaches that salvation changes a person standing before God and starts an ongoing process called sanctification, growing to be more like Christ over time.
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However, it does not claim that human beings become completely sinless or immune to mistakes in their earthly lives.
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This applies even to those who are called into the fivefold ministry and or Christians who have been running for God for forty years.
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There is room for error in the body of Christ, and if you take the position that there is not, then you fall into grave sin and are no better than any one of the unrepentant falsies that have already mentioned.
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So what if you say, yeah, but what about those who are young in the faith and need to be taught what is right and what is wrong regarding the things of God?
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And well, I'm just the person to do that.
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The instruction to bear with those who are weaker or less mature in the faith is found primarily in Romans 15 1 and Romans fourteen one, with complimentary guidance in Ephesians four two and first Timothy four twelve.
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Those verses Romans fifteen one.
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We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
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Context Paul instructs spiritually mature believers, that is the strong, to patiently support, help carry, and accommodate those whose consciences or understanding of Christian freedom are underdeveloped, that is weak, rather than demanding they conform or mocking their scruples.
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Romans fourteen one as for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
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Context Paul addresses how the early church should handle differences and personal convictions, such as dietary choices or sacred days, urging acceptance without judgment or argument.
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Ephesians four two be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.
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Context a general instruction for all believers to exercise long suffering, patience, and grace towards one another's human limitations and spiritual imperfections.
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And first Timothy four twelve, don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
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Context often associated with young believers, this verse turns the perspective around, encouraging younger Christians not to be dismissed for their age, while calling them to live exemplary lives.
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The believer who simply misses it will still be exalting God, Jesus, and or the Father as their primary objective.
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If they still hold fast to the truth in spite of their mistakes, then God has them, and doesn't need anyone to stand in judgment against them.
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And maybe here is a good time to mention this.
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The older Christians are told to tolerate and to stay away from judging the younger ones.
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But the inverse of that, and it is what I have found in my life, is that oftentimes it's the younger Christians who are going after the more mature Christians, and this is a problem and it's rebellion.
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The Bible says that it is good for a student to be like his teacher.
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It is good for a disciple, someone who's constantly learning to be like his teacher.
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To simply believe that you have been given more revelation than someone who's been running for God longer can be a critical mistake, and God won't let you get away with that.
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You have to manage your newfound energy in Christ.
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And I know because I had a lot of it when I first got saved, and I thought I knew a lot of stuff, and actually I didn't.
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And unfortunately, it took looking back on my Christian life to realize that.
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The solution to that problem, of course, is being discipled and coming under someone who can teach you all about the traits of humility and how to remain teachable and humble.
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The last condition that I can think of comes from the fact that we are all growing, and as we are growing, we are working in our ministry.
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What this looks like is that I might teach on the current revelation that I have in a particular season.
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I can't teach on what I don't know, in other words.
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And but as I continue to grow, my understanding of a particular thing, it might change.
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And when it does, it might completely contradict my earlier teaching.
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But we must leave room for that because we are all growing and our faith grows from season to season.
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The revelation and understanding that I have about the word today is very different from the revelation and understanding of the word that I had when I was younger in the faith.
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This is very normal.
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In fact, every single Christian will go through the same process.
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And here again I want to mention for the younger believers, sometimes you run into one of the falsies, and it's okay.
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It may not be your job necessarily to correct them, and if they're in a church that you're just starting at, no one is obligated to remain at a church that is being led by falsies.
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Just simply leave quietly and go find another church.
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In finishing, I asked Google the following question Does the Bible allow us to make mistakes as we grow in our relationship with God?
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I received the following input.
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The Bible teaches that human imperfection is universal, and making mistakes or sinning is an inevitable part of living in a fallen world, though God does not give license to sin intentionally.
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Universal imperfection.
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The Bible openly acknowledges that everyone stumbles and falls short.
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Romans 3 23 states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and James 3 2 notes that we all stumble in many ways.
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Examples of biblical figures, major figures in the Bible, such as David, adultery and murder, Peter, denial and temper, Moses, anger, and Paul, persecuting the church, made severe mistakes and poor choices, yet God still worked through them, using those experiences for redemption and character growth when they turn back to him.
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And that is the key.
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When you make mistakes, turn back to him.
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Redemption and grace.
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Rather than discarding believers when they fail, God offers continuous grace, forgiveness, and restoration.
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1 John 1.9 promises that, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
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Turning mistakes into growth, passages like Romans 8.28 indicate that God uses all things, including human stumbles, trials, and poor decisions, to bring about good and shape the character of those who love him.
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Proverbs 24, 16 also highlights resilience, noting that, though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.
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Repentance versus intentional sins.
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Scripture distinguishes between struggling with weaknesses and deliberately exploiting grace.
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Romans 6, 1 through 2 asks, Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
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By no means.
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Growth means learning from errors, seeking transformation, asking for God's help, in other words, and relying on Christ's power in weakness.
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2 Corinthians 12.9.
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Rather than using mistakes as an excuse to continue to make the same mistakes, let's be tolerant of one another as we grow.
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Criticism is not a method of growing.
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In fact, I believe that when we do this, we are doing it out of selfish motives or brokenness that has yet to be healed.
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Jesus tells us to love one another as I have loved you.
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I've often used this statement that hurt people, hurt people.
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So for example, if you've ever had to deal with a bully in your life, oftentimes it might be that they are being bullied at home, and so they simply manifest that in other places in their life.
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John 13, 34 through 35.
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Let me give you a new command.
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Love one another in the same way I loved you.
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You love one another.
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This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples when they see the love you have for each other.
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Well that's it for today.
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Remember us not what you find wrong or disagree with regarding these messages, but what you can take away from it.
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Together we can do more to impact the kingdom than if we work alone.
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Let's flip the script and still kill and destroy the works of the enemy and create space for the light of light to shine through into people's lives.
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And as even click on the like and subscribe button.
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Repost on your social media platform and help us to make disciples.
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Link this message out or teach from it in your Bible study, your life or style group, and yes, even in your church.
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You can be assured a console won't call the teach, and though imperfect, you have the Word of God to use to test everything at stake.
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Let's build this ministry together.
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Thanks and see you next time in Deep Waters.
