Why Men Reject Truth
"Water seeks its own level" and men tend
to gravitate to the level of their understanding, Revelation 17:8.
They have to venture UP to receive greater
light. Some are slow to do so.
God MUST give
men eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to understand or they will never
see! If He does not do that …. YOU CANNOT TEACH HIM!
Psalm 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build
it:
Deuteronomy 29: Yet the Lord hath not given
you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto
this day.
Romans 9:15. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16. So
then it is not of him that willeth, nor
of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17. For the scripture
saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that
I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout
all the earth. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and
whom he will he hardeneth. 19. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet
find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20. Nay but, O man, who art thou
that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed
it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21. Hath
not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto
honour, and another unto dishonour?
John 3:27 John answered and said, A man
can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
Philippians 2:13. For it is God
which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
John 15:5 for without me ye can
do nothing.
Now you understand why you may preach with much wisdom and write words with
great expertise and not move men to repentence, change, or give them joy.
You as a human may want them to believe, but if Father has not cultivated their minds, your
effort will be fruitless! Only when Father does His
work on men will they understand and accept light!
Isaiah 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule
this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made
a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing
scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies
our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith
the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone,
a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make
haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the
plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters
shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled,
and your agreement with hell shall not stand when the overflowing
scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a
new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that]
I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant
they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this
shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those
days, saith the Lord, I will put
my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their
God, and they shall be my people. (“I
will do” does not mean YOU will do it and it excludes me, too!)
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also
will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take
away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes,
and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (This part definitely
excludes men! None of us have power to DO any of these things!)
31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not
good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and
for your abominations.
Preachers and teachers sometimes are frustrated,
because we want "sinners" to hear us and change and they
do not do it. We are always ready to "save" someone. Unless
Father is ready and makes the necessary changes to a man's eyes, ears and
heart, all human effort is fruitless. As you can see the
Clay Master is required to build His own house Himselfand to
do that "personally"! This may deflate ego-centric men, but we cannot do
God's work for Him. He must undo much of what men have built with partial
understanding and misunderstanding, 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Isaiah 43:26-27.
No man can boast of any great work he
has done!
Men who have not been "cultivated by
the Clay Master" can give the best teachers problems!
John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another
shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour
one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner
or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen,
nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be
made thee. 13. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the
lame, the blind: 14. And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense
thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. 15. And
when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto
him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16. Then said
he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17. And sent
his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all
things are now ready. 18. And they all with one consent began to make excuse.
The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs
go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19. And another said, I have
bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master
of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets
and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and
the halt, and the blind. 22. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou
hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23. And the lord said unto the servant,
Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my
house may be filled. 24. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden
shall taste of my supper.
How do you deal with the last line here? In any large group of people you
will find a wide range of "talents". There will be more people with "few"
talents and even less people with
five or more talents. Many of in the large group are extremely carnal,
natural-minded, and very arrogant. Devils speak through their mouths and
pens and they are not aware of it, Matthew 16:23, Luke 9:51-55. Yet many
of them think they can discern the spirits. They do not comprehend light
when they see it, because "those who lead them cause them to err" in spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet
not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come
to nought: 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of
man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit
of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit
which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us
of God. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded
is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it
is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that
are in the flesh cannot please God.
Problems from
demons on our own bodies
Matthew 12:43. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through
dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44. Then he saith, I will return
into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it
empty, swept, and garnished. 45. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven
other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:
and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it
be also unto this wicked generation.
Psalm 23:5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup Runneth over.
Habakkuk 1:4. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth:
for the wicked doth compass about the righteous;
therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Isaiah 3:2 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule
over them. O my people, they which lead
thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. 13 The Lord
standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
Isaiah 9:16 For the leaders of this people
cause them to err;and they that are led of them are destroyed. 17
Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have
mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an
evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned
away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Isaiah 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: 9 That this is a rebellious
people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:10
Which say to the seers, See not;
and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth
things, prophesy deceits: out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to
cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel,
Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and
stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready
to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an
instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel
that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be
found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take
water withal out of the pit.15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One
of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence
shall be your strength: and ye would not.
KJV Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride (demonic thorns), to the drunkards
of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head
of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! 2 Behold, the Lord
hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying
storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth
with the hand. 3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden
under feet: 4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley,
shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which
when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth
it up. 5 In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and
for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, 6 And for a spirit
of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that
turn the battle to the gate. 7 But they also have erred through wine, (from
Babylon, Revelation 17:1-6) and through strong drink are out of the way; the
priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed
up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision,
they stumble in judgment.
Inability
to trade and receive "talents" of light
God will not "give"men truth
all the time. He has designed a program to "exercise" men in brotherly love
by use of the 2nd Great Commandment. You must love all men as yourself.
He wants you to prove it. He has made "trading talents" a MUSTfor many to gain greater light. Those
with prejudice and "vain ego" will have a hard time doing this because of
their pride. They will not read someone else's work with an eye to learn
and take what he has to offer. Some are afraid to put a talent God gives
them on the trading block for "usury" (so men may "use" it)! One reason
for this is what God gives may be so controversial and non-contemporary that
the recipient may be afraid to share it fearing the objections and rejection
of men. Keeping quiet is
a safety alternative chosen by these persons, because they are "man-pleasers" who prefer acceptance from men rather than God-pleasers.
Matthew 25:14. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far
country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to
every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same,
and made them other five talents. 17. And likewise he that had received two,
he also gained other two. 18. But he that had received one went and digged
in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
Another problem
is "bias" against those who are not from "your" niche, clique, or group.
Mark 9:38. And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out
devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he
followeth not us. 39. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man
which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40.
For he that is not against us is on our part.
John 10:16. And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall
hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Those outside one's group are not approved as men God will use. Their words
are not given much attention or they may be totally ignored. Even though
men are aware that the functions of the various members of BODY of Christ
has been clearly described, in reality the human response of the flesh is
to ignore its reality, 1 Corinthians 12:12-25. Those who ignore truths from
these men ("uncomely members to whom God has given the greater honor")
deprive themselves of their "talents" and retard their own spiritual growth.
Many conceited men cannot take "correction". "Excellent oil breaks their
heads"! Psalm 141:5, 133:1-3. If they are "oiled", they are offended by
it. By claiming that God did not send the writer to correct them, it is easier
to reject the counsel and denounce the writer. This tactic denies them greater
light.
Carnal and
natural thinking is prohibitive
Romans 8:5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be
carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh
cannot please God.
1 Corinthians 2:11. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit
of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the
Spirit of God. 12. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but
the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which
man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of
the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Men in this world tend to think like this world using human logic. Use of
carnal and natural thinking is detrimental to one's spiritual health. The
Word of God is a smorgasbord of parables, similes, metaphors, prophetic "acts"
which must be analyzed, and also plain words. All these constitute a series
of "keys" which unlock light to the kingdom of Heaven. God is having fun as our Teacher. He has
made learning a game like those "find the treasure" games we are familiar
with. You must find the hidden clues in a series of stories and link them
together in the right sequences to find hidden treasure at the end of the
trail. It is the same way with the Word. God has set many keys and clues
throughout the written record. The astute student must find them all and
put them in their correct order to discover the hidden light. YOU MUST have all the books in the legacy
record if you want to be successful. Limiting the volume-record to
66 Dark-age Catholic approved books stunts and blocks one's capabilities
for learning. Use of "Roman eyes" to view truth is binding and blinding.
There is only One Guide who know it all, namely the Author of the Book, God
Himself. He must personally direct the path of His student.
Psalms 50:16. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare
my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17. Seeing
thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. 18. When thou
sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with
adulterers. 19. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
20. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine
own mother's son. 21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou
thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove
thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
Proverbs 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding. 6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths. 7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from
evil.
Psalms 91:14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver
him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15. He shall
call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will
deliver him, and honour him. 16. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew
him my salvation.
Isaiah 42:16. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will
lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before
them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and
not forsake them.
From these texts we learn that FATHER WILL SHEPHERD AND TEACH
HIS STUDENTS HIMSELF! No man is involved. These students
must be able to hear and recognize Father as He speaks to their minds from
Heaven. Those who are not taught by God in this manner must man-trust getting
second hand information from human writers and teachers they believe in.
They have no revealed truth given to them, but they push someone else's
testimony as light. God does not select everyone and anyone to teach as
His students in this life. Those desiring to learn more must show him they
have mastered and understood the preliminary foundational concepts that He
gave them. Take math for example. You cannot pass on to take algebra until
you master general math. Even so, God will not gave a man greater light
for which he lacks the necessary foundation for understanding.
Luke 16:10. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in
much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11. If therefore
ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your
trust the true riches? 12. And if ye have not been faithful in that which
is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
By doing this, God is not "being mean" to those praying to Him for greater
light. But this is a practical and logical approach all teachers use when
you consider the steps and parameters needed for learning.
The reader's
attitude also makes a difference
Attitude is also a factor, which can block a person from gaining more "talents".
Those persons who attempt to psychoanalyze a writer from afar are EXTREMELY
CARNAL. They seek a MAN AFTER THE FLESH so they can attribute the message
to the human instrument rather than to God who uses him. This makes rejection
of the light a whole lot easier.
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,
and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while
one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed,
even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but
God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither
he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (They do not build temples
to Moses and Elijah, but they build them to Paul, Matthew 17:1-5)!
2 Corinthians 5:16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea,
though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him
no more.
Isaiah 2:10. Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of
the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. 11. The lofty looks of man shall
be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord
alone shall be exalted in that day. 12. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall
be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted
up; and he shall be brought low:
Jeremiah 17:5. Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man,
and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. 6. For
he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh;
but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and
not inhabited. 7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose
hope the Lord is.
Psalm 31:19. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them
that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before
the sons of men!
Exalting men as bastions of truth, catering
to the flesh, and trusting in menis a stumbling block for such persons.
When the worldly and carnal thinking mind comes across real truth given
to someone outside their "group", they do not look for the presence of the
Holy Spirit. They look for a human
connection to credit with authorship of the work. They do this despite
the fact that God said He will use and speak through special elect men and
He … God …. Will be doing all the work!
Acts 13:41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work
in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare
it unto you.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do
of his good pleasure.
By ascribing God's Words to the human vessel used, they are emboldened to
object to the message and to reject it, especially when that message refutes
and corrects some of their "cherished errors" … or "pet bull frogs", Revelation
16:13. If they can be convinced the work IS FROM GOD, they would be required to
drop the lies they hold as doctrine, Matthew 15:7-9. Their "crown of thorns"
will not let that happen. They work overtime to convince their human slave
that the message is that writer's opinion or interpretation, which did not
come from God as the writer claims. They want their slave to reject the
message, which will defeat their lies and oust them, Matthew 12:43-45, Habakkuk
1:4. This spirit world phenomenon occurs every time a man chances upon real
truth.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness
for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Think about these things and how they may affect your growth and progress
in learning.
John,
GOOD NEWS, Inc.