Have you willfully been taken captive?
Colossians 2:8
¶ See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Colossians 3:2
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:23 (22-25)
¶ Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth,
not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.
It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
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There are a few things here that it seems most Christians have not grasped:
Think about this;
When a fellow Christian is talking about their employment or employer, it positive?
Or negative?
This will show you who they are truly working for, The LORD, self or man.
Working as unto the Lord you have no reason to complain, gripe or grumble, for you are working for GOD Himself.
Psalms 56:11
In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Psalms 118:6
The LORD is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
Psalms 56:4
In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?
being on the wrong side of Father GOD should bring fear to your heart.
If you have excepted Christ and are still trying to please men or self you are walking a fine line that is filled with landmines, things that you can not see nor do you have any defense from.
The LORD will not break you r will and if you chose to live in sin, live for the things of this world you should not except Father God, Christ Jesus nor the Holy Spirit to answer your prayers.
GOD is not a short order cook;
He is not a genie in a bottle you can call up only when you want something.
Either you have repented of your sins and turned from them and turned to GOD or you have not.
It is not and can never be a no/off situation,
for if that is the way you live you need to recommit to the LORD and change the way you live.
Chose this day whom you will serve; GOD, man or self.
If you chose GOD you have no reason to live in fear,
If you chose self or men, you better fear GOD,
the one who will pronounce judgment against;
To sentence you to the pit of fire, hell.
If you chose men or self-realize that you are striving for wealth, for it is all for worldly gain, and for worldly gain you need wealth.
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and wealth.
Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and wealth.”
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Colossians 3:12-17
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning;
for some have no knowledge of God.
I speak this to your shame.
A word from Christ our Lord to the Christian:
Revelation 3:15-22
I know your deeds,
that you are neither cold noe hot;
I wish that you were cold or hot.
so because yo are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,I will spit you out of My mouth.
Because you say,
"I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,"
and you do not know youare wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
I advise you to but from Me gold refined by fire so that you may becaome rich, and white garments so that you may cloth yorself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed;and eye salveto anoint your eyes so that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline;
therefore be zealous and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock;
if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
He whho overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne,
as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spiritt saya to the church."
are you the chruch?
have you allowed yourself to be taken captive by the world and its ways?
Christ Jesus is patiently standing at the door of your heart, knocking, waiting for you to ask Him in.