Spiritual Ignorance

The maintenance of the devotional mood is indispensable to success in the Christian life.

A. W. Tozer I am very blunt. I always have been very blunt about my faith. Actually, I have been very blunt since I discovered that I can "hear" when I first got my hearing-aid at 4 years old. Over the years, I got fed up with conversations that are not at the heart of the issue. Since, then, I am rather blunt and stick with the core of the issue. No matter how sincere Christians may be, Christians without discernment are sure to err. Their conclusions are either ignorance or loyalty to a specific cause or person. I am seeing that there are Christians out there who are neglecting their Spiritual call to discern. Christians speaking, even quoting Scripture, are not the same as practicing their faith. Faith will express itself in faith deeds not just words. Is our Christian practice consistent with Jesus Christ? 1 Corinthians 15:34 (NIV)

Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

Entangled Christians

Christianity today is so entangled with "reasonings". Unwillingness of professing Christians to take the Word of the Lord seriously and discern the spiritual world. Coming up with reasons that its "okay" for this or for that whatever the topic is. A person is a Christian because of Holy Spirit which dwells in a believer. Only that which is born by the Holy Spirit is spirit, no matter how much Christians are relying on "outward" motivations. When a Christian joins up with the worldly view of "Christianity", it is the true Church no longer spiritual but rather, non-spiritual which is an abomination to the Lord. 2 Peter 2:20 (NIV)

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

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Spiritual motivation

Depending on what kind of spiritual growth you are looking for. What kind of spiritual growth you should be growing? I don't remember seeing in the scriptures about being motivated, or having a title "motivator teacher". The Holy Spirit is our source for motivation encouragement. I want a teacher that REALLY teaches. We live in a society that are looking that lovers of pleasure which ties to motivational agenda more than lovers of God. Today people as did people during Paul's days, their ears itch for a soothing "word" of entertainment. People have strong desires for pleasures and wealth more than God and will not endure sound doctrine. People are having itching ears so they will be motivated to do something for themselves rather than sound docrine. In reality, we need the Word that corrects and rebukes as well as encourages. We need the preaching and teaching of the Word. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. — 2 Timothy 4:3 Christians: Look around, look in your own heart and see which of these pictures describes your relationship with God. Do you desire from your heart to love God's Word or do you desire from your heart to be motivated?

Regarding: To DISCERN

My position is to look at the whole ministry rather than having a tunnel vision of a teacher. I look at their spiritual health, financial health, ministry health, and other areas health. The over-all package. I do the same thing when I look for a "local" home church. I will notice that if they "don't practice with they teach", its a flag. If I see alot of red flags, I am spiritually uncomfortable to even listen to them. For example: My wife accepted Christ while watching Jim Bakker's TV PTL ministry. Later, she discovered that even though there are preachers preaching God's message of salvation but they don't practice Christianity themselves. This is why we have to look at the whole picture of each ministry. I have several factors I look for when I look at ministries and churches. I do this locally and abroad. Its my responsibility as a Christian to discern and I don't want to be gullible. You either be gullible or discerner. I love it when Paul said in these verses:

Philippians 1:17-19 (New International Version) The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

The Gospel is being spread regardless. People are hearing the word "Jesus". Before we were saved, our minds & hearts were planted over the years about Jesus from various source. Its the Holy Spirit that convicted us to accept Christ. After we are saved, we are to discern the spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to proper teachings. Many times, people don't allow the Holy Spirit to guide instead, they follow their desires they think God approves. 1 John 4:1 (NIV) [ Test the Spirits ]

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Christian using emotions......

Human emotions, the ways of God and His mysterious movings of His Spirit. God does not play on my emotions to bring me to the point of spiritual decision. People are using emotions rather than spiritual to make their decisions. Bible taught me that I am to walk by faith not by sight, mood or feeling. Faith is at the foundation of all Christian living, and because faith has to do with the character of God, not my feelings about God. God accepts my faith in Him and worship in Him spiritually soundly and effectively even when my emotional mood is low, so low that I am hardly aware that I am alive emotionally at all. I don't know why I need "motivational" speaker to help my relationship with God. As a Christian, our hearts should have strong desire to serve God through the Holy Spirit. If we do that, we will be motivated to attend church, fellowship with other Christians and more importantly, I get more motivated from reading the Scriptures and prayers. When I read the scriptures and pray, God is with me spiritually. Emotionally and physically, I am motivated by people around me who loves me, like my wife, my kids, my co-workers, fellow Christians and other people. the scriptures where Christ says in John 14:16 (KJV): And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Does God need help from men/women to motivate me to worship and glorify God ? This is scary when people are relying on man/woman rather than Holy Spirit for spiritual motivation.