Thoruhg much of Paul's wrtings, he tells us about some apostles and disciples who deserted him out of fear,because he took a hard nose stand to defend the gospel against the opposition, and cared less whether he lived or died, or went to prison ofr preaching and teaching what God had given him.
He also instills this strength in Timothy, and charges him with encourgement throughout his letters to Timothy, to preach and teach the gospel in season (meaning when its proper and feels good to the hearer) and out of season (meaning when its not proper and does not feel good to the hearer), without compromise. Because "God has not given us a spirit (this means that fear is a spirit) of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
In Revelation chapter 21, God tell us the the fearful (cowardly) and unbelieving will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So just what is a COWARD?: A coward is a person who yeilds to fear of pain or harm, a person who lacks courage to take a stand for what is right, timidity, is spineless, yellow, and compomises to keep peace out of fear of being rejected by others.
Here are two excerpts from sermons on being a spiritual coward.
Excerpts from Pastor Mark Downey's Sermon
"The Ungodliness of Being A Coward"
�Woe to the scribes, men of letters, who mold opinion as a potter with clay 'because they shut off the Kingdom of Heaven from men and prevent people from entering the government of God'. When a coward pretends to exercise the authority of God's Word and it is merely self-righteousness, I guarantee you from the Bible that their pretentious perspective of wonderfulness will receive the greater damnation and judgment. 'God bless America'? Not if we're cursed with cowards, a cancer of fraudulent leadership. When the talking heads (or is it tails? � remember in cartoon theology, the devil has a tail) tell us not to judge, what they are really telling us is to not try or test the spirit to see if it is of God. That would spoil their celebration of compromise and perversion.
Nobody has a free pass or pardon from sin other than from the blood of Christ. The power of a lie can have people in abject submission, quivering in fear, but it is the truth that sets us free. A coward will exploit love for all the wrong reasons and in so doing, is not cultivating honor or virtue, but rather the rotten spiritless poltroon that is spoiling our race and faith.
We stand on the prism of a new millennium in which we Christians speak and act upon the wisdom of the ages bearing witness of that light that shineth in darkness. I say, give the cowards no quarter, because there is no panacea as effective for the paradigm of Christian revival than the wholehearted defiance against the enemies of Jesus Christ and that includes the cryptic oxymoron of judeo-churchianity and the heretical mutations of Christian Identity. No matter how much we offend those who are always offended at the slightest hint of truth, let us offend with the perspective that people have been offended for the last 2000 years. What prevents us from entering the Kingdom of Heaven is the ungodliness of cowards. Do we become someone's enemy because we tell them the truth? Obviously such was the case with Jesus whom they murdered. Indeed, Christianity has survived because of its martyrs. The circumstances surrounding the crucifixion are an excellent example of cowardice on all sides....
The problem we have today with people who call themselves Christians and betray Christ at every opportunity for self gain is that they don't, or can't or won't recognize their cowardice, and if they do, there is no shame, no choking tears and certainly no repentance or change of heart. That is ungodliness approaching a reprobate mind.�
Excerpts From Pastor Roger William's Sermon
�Spiritual Cowards�
Too many people are the products of preachers who play games with the word of God.The Scripture says they must be ready to preach the word whether the time is right or not. They are to point out errors, warn people, encourage them and be patient when they teach 2 Timothy 4:2. Go into many churches today and you will observe smilers in the pulpit majoring (with great patience!) on �encourage-ment,� at the expense of pointing out errors and bringing warnings.
They don�t do that � or if they do, it�s done in an almost apologetic manner, resulting in the people failing to get the seriousness of what�s said. These men and women are what I call spiritual cowards. Spiritual cowards love to appeal to people�s senses, reasons, opinions and imaginations � all the time failing to understand that God has nothing whatsoever to say to them. Unless a person is willing to humble themselves before God and turn to Him for for-giveness of sin in Jesus Christ, God has nothing further to say accept, �I love you, but you are lost in your sin and will continue to be throughout eternity.� That is also what God is saying to us in John 3:16.
Spiritual cowards can stand in pulpits, forever smiling as they talk of God�s love, grace, mercy, patience and forgiveness, but that�s the extent of it. You won�t hear them preach on God�s hatred of sin and forthcoming judgement.
As a new Christian I was deeply impressed by the words of a writer, who said that in the Scriptures we have a spiritual letter from God telling us what He wants us to do. We don�t change the contents or the interpretations of that letter because our minds don�t understand it, or like it. It was an old book, even back then. I wonder what would he think today! Another common trait among spiritual co-wards, they are people pleasers. They express more fear of people than they do of God. They will not preach the hard things knowing that if they do so there�s every chance the people will stop their financial giving or even worse � leave the church. Possible loss of finances is a risk they are not willing to take....
Speaking of people pleasers, a few years ago I attended an evening meeting to view and discuss a proposed �seeker-friendly� video Bible course that the pastor showed great enthusiasm for. Like most of those studies, it was based on the needs of unbelievers more than the needs (will, commands) of God. The pastor (smiling) asked the group something like, �If you have the unchurched among you and are about to have a meal, do you believe it a good idea to say grace & give thanks to God, or remain silent?� The majority of the group believed it would be too threatening to the unbelievers, opting therefore to remain silent. I strongly disagreed. Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, what better witness? was my question.
That pastor did not like my response in the slightest! It cut across his unspoken viewpoint. Spiritual cowards often refrain from sharing their true viewpoints until they first find out those of others. They work hard at giving impressions that they�re Christ-followers, but once again, the harder they work the greater the sham. I don�t know if they went ahead with the course but I do know that like all churches that please people more than they please God, it is spiritually dead. Lots of activity, but very little of it �according to knowledge.� Unlike the people of Israel however, they are not altogether ignorant of God�s righteousness, they simply prefer the establishment of their own Romans 10:2-3.
It grieves me that so many Christians devalue the Bible God has given us. In my opinion there�s no greater treasure than to be told by Jesus, �You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.� John 15:3 That means, however, if we don�t value the Bible, we are dirty � regardless of how religious we believe we are. This truth and principle needs to be fully grasped by all who declare allegiance to God in Jesus� name. It�s very difficult to hear or discern divine guidance if one is not clean before God. Just like a rusty water tap gives hindrance to a healthy, vibrant flow of water - so too a rusty, dirty, self-willed spirit, soul and body.It is time for Christians to come out from sitting under smiling, spiritual cowards.Time is short and it is time to get real.
It is time to renounce all that cuts us off from receiving the vibrant, vital flow from God. There can be no room for compromise. The narrow way is the only pathway to fulfillment in any person�s life. If it were any different, the Lord Jesus Christ would not have chosen to come to die in our place on that cross. He would have simply left us to our own religious devices, smiling at our efforts. �But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.� 2 Timothy 2:20-21.
Margo, you are right on target! People would rather hear and believe a lie than hear and believe the truth of what God has to say.
Chevy, I have read your's, PJ,'s and Debrah's comments toward me on several thread of this form calling me" mean" and "arrogant." I've never responded in-kind, because your comments are your own personal opinions about what you think, who YOU guys think I am, and yes, others make think the same, which I would care less, because I also have my personal thoughts and opinions and labels for all of you who think I am mean and arrogant as well, which I have not expressed yet...
Yet, when I have spoken in response to PJ or Deborah, what they have said toward me, it seems no one is able to take what my thoughts are about what I feel and think about them, and thus, I am classicifed as being mean and arrogant.
So since you have felt a need to continue speaking and have come to me once again, I will speak directly to you, and tell you something about who I am, and you consider what I have to say, and your response, whether you likewhat I say or not.... I didn't come on this site four or five years ago bitting my tongue, and don't plan to start just to perserve acceptance.
As to arrogance and being mean... you know what sweetheart, I was in the entertainment business for over 20 years, traveling overseas, working with entertainer on all levels, and had a great followering in show business and in the community. And in all my days, I have never had anyone tell me nor have heard of anyone saying that I was arrogrnat or mean.I have been in ministry for over 27 years, and travelled all over the US working with people on all level, from the poor on the streets, to the rich seeking charitable donations. And I have nevere had anyone, or heard tell of anyone calling me or classifying me as being arrogant or mean. Only in America on CDFF... makes me laugh:ROFL::excited:
Now of course, my two grown sons call me mean and say I am bossy, and they are rightly so, but in the end they always find out the truth of the matter and come to their senses, find that I was right in whatever. So yes, I am not a person who tolerates foolishness in certain things, and you either do the right thing or we have need to talk.
And especially when it come to God's word as is the case on this forum when I hear error, I will speak out in no uncertain terms. When if I have tried to present what God has said in scripture and there is not an ear that hears, because they are set in their own OPINIONS about what God says, and have not read, and/or is not staying steadfast in the word. Instead someone cares to fight or gets intimidated when I speak what God has said and they don't like it.
I don't play games when it comes to God's word or His work. And I refuse to tip-toe through anyones tulips to pease their emotions or to make friends or whatever. My duty and job as a minister of God's word, is to speak what God has given me to speak toas to waht He said in His word, whether you or anyone agree or disagree, whether you like or dislike it, take that up with God. Plus, I feel Im in great company because so they called Jesus and Paul and Peter and all the disciples and apostles names. I'm not offended the least.
And if you come up against me, after I have had enough, I too, will do as we are taught in scripture and as Jesus did and the apostles and discipels did, and there are only two choices fight or flight, well, expect a fight. Before I take flight, I will fight for what is right and proper and defend the faith and God's word of truth.
This being said, Now..
(1) You tell me what it is that I have done to you that give you cause to classify me as being mean?
(2) You tell me what I have done for you to deem me as being arrogant?
BTW, if the BIble says cowards will not inherit the kingdom, why would you deny what God has said? It is obvious you did not take the time to read the two sermons to make such a comment. In fact, after reading over some of the comments, not many have taken the time to read the post otherwise one would know this has nothing to do with their comments in question. So is this being arrogant and means? Or is it telling the truth about the matter?
This thread has to do with people cowardly denying to speak out boldy God's word, and try to justify and make peace with those in error of the truth, as not to offend those they call their friends or anyone for that matter. The silent ones who would rather please men and keep friends than speak out boldly in favor of what God speak regardless of who is offended at risk of being called mean and arrongant.
And there are many on this forum who refuse to speak the truth which is the good news of the gospel of God. Instead they would rather keep friendships and deny God when they see one of their firends in error. That's being a spiritual coward... so is this being mean and arrogant? Or is this telling the truth of the matter?
Also, you don't have to call me miss ET... clla me either ET or ella as everyone else does...
Since no one seem to know and/or understand who this spirit is I thought I would ost some information about him.
The meaning of the word satan means adversary, and he is the enemy of God, and the chief of the fallen spirits from heaven. he e is not just and adversary of God, But he is the grand adversary of God and man. He is hostle to everything good that belong to God.
the devil, the accuser of the brothers, Beelzebub, the deceivers of the whole world, the great dragon, and the father of lies, god of this world, the prince of this world, the old serpent, the eveil one, and the prince of the air, and many other names are used to describe satan.
Satan (geezzz, I hate using caps in his name, that give him tooo much respct), anyway, he is NOT an independant agnet or rival of God, BUT he is able to go ONLY as far as God will allow him and give permission. God has ALL POWER over satan, God has ALLL power over things on earth, in heavne and under the earth which is hell.
He was originally good and an angel over the music in heaven, BUT was kicked out because of his pride, along with his followers who are also fallen angels.
He is ruler over a powerful kingdom of evil which stands in opposition to God, and his goal is to over throw and defeat God's kingdom and God's people, and God's divine plans of grace, BUT Christ defeated satan at Calvary on the cross.
God has PREDESTINED him for the lake of fire, when Jesus returns, this will be his final eternal place of torment.. he is doomed.
AND because God has ALL powe5r, satna is under God's total contorl, and must obey whatever God permits him to do. Satan's works of evil, are all for God's good. AND God uses satan to do HIS WILL in order to bring about and fulfill God's divine plans... this also proves that not only man does not have free will, satan does not have free will
Because he would like to be equla and over God, he imitates everything God does, even Satan's kingdom si set up as that of God's
God's kingdom: Satan's kingdom:
God .............. Satan
Here is a perfect example of the arrogance, not to mention the error it is full of.
Come up against you? Lol I don't care how long you were in the entertainment industry or how far you've traveled, ella, if you're saying you've never responded to people who disagreed with you, you're telling a lie. More than once you posted scriptures your flesh wanted you to. God had nothing to do with it!
I'm on my mobile now but when I get to a computer, I can cut and paste many many of your un-kind flesh driven posts to those who simply disagreed with you and the way you treated other Christians. And the things you're accusing people on this forum of doing is exactly what you do! Praise and talk sweetly to those who agree with you and belittle and talk down to anyone who doesn't. I don't want to fight with you: Just want you to understand how you come across to some of us. To be honest I'm just tired of seeing you bully the meek in spirit. You seem to be led by your flesh a lot. Any scriptures you throw at me will be disregarded because ONLY GOD is who I will listen to: not ladies who like lots of attention.
Chevy, you have not answers the two questions I asked of you. And I think when you can properly answer the two questions there will be a clearer understand as to what your problem and fight is toward me. You keep making accusations but you have not presented any information. There must be something other than your complaint against me, that going on beside of you are fostering...
Plus, I never said that I have never responded to anyone who disagree with me, so I'm not a liar, you are just not reading with comprehension, and allowing your own imagination get the best of you... and, what did my responses do to you that YOU say I have made? And what did the scriptures you claim I have posted do to you, and what were the correct scriptures Ishould have posted, on what topic? If you claim were posted in my flesh do to you, I suppose now you have become a prophet to know if the scripture were in my flesh or of God... are these things a sins, if so provide the scriptures that I posted that were in my flesh, so that I may correct my error and repent of my sin of error and be enlightened into the truth..
Also, all of this is rather immature, and this thread is not about me, and I will not carry on with you, because your complaints and murmuring is much to do about nothing. Therefore, know that I will not be go back and forth with you in this matter. Nor is this thread about your complaint against me, so whatever the deeper anger you have toward me if you only can come up with the charge you have you're speaking about, as if you would to censor me in what I speak, then you have a serious spiritual problem that does not involve me.
This thread I had hoped would deal with the spiritually coward people who are afraid to speak boldly about the word of God, lest they are rejected for telling the truth about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and what God has to say in His word, in season or out of season, regardless who is offended. the spiritually coward are those who will side with error to keep friendships or for gain of whatever.
Spiritually coward people who refuse to tell the truth and speak out about good and evil, right and wrong, lies and truth, sin and righteousness according to what God says based on His standards, because they are for fearful of rejection. Spiritually coward people who call wrong right, good bad, lies truth, and consider sins as mistakes and should be looked upon in love and with compassion.
Chevy, Answer my two question if you have a rightful charge against me... .otherwise...
uh, PJ, right... uh, yeah, thank you posting that topic about satan on here because it also helps people to see how the devil will work in using people with his lies in an attempt to hide and cover the truth. He is a deceiver of the mind, and of the darkness and prevents light fromshinning throw darkness, and this makes poeple fearful to speak out in the word, and holds them in spiritual bondage, making them cowards.
Chevy!!!...what in the world is your PROBLEM? spell it out!
Is it that you just need someone to fight wth? Ok, I will spar with you, if this is what you desire, and prayerfully this will make you happy.:applause:
Sweetheart, I could go through all your posts and everybody elses on this forum, and find all your comments of error and scriptures of error, mostly you just speak opinions, but I really don't have time to do such silly immature things!
So what are you so angry about that you are going through such extremes? What are you after to prove? What do you figure to profit from all of this madness?
Tell me this... Is it a sin to falsely accuse someone, and harbor anger and resentment without cause? If so, you have need to repent, don't you think? Enough is enough is enough already... I am not one who gets angry easily, because I do speak my peace openly, up close and personal, and tend to move on, so you might be here on this matter forever all by yourself... so consider keepin it moving, you're going no where fast...
I love you just as I do all the others, if you are feeling I have left you out, I'm sorry, please know that you are loved as well... :hearts:
