Notes on Psalm 26

If we are serious about living for God and living a life of holiness, we should not be afraid to ask the Lord to examine our hearts that we have no hidden sin which causes us trouble in the flesh. We may not even see it but you can believe the old devil will make sure others will see it. His purpose is to cause us to mess up and ruin our testimony before the world so that others will not find the salvation through Jesus Christ. The church has been a stumbling block to many through the centuries. Instead of spreading the true gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus, we begin to tear down one another. Some in the middle ages condemned others to death because they believed a little different than the established church at that time.  We do this when we get our eyes off Jesus as our source of salvation and transfer it to a group of people or a church body. 

The Catholic church condemned many protestants to death by burning at the stake. The Church of England condemned Puritans, Anabaptist, Baptists, Reformers and others forcing them to flee to other nations. They put a few to death but not as much as the Catholic Church. The Reformed Church put to death some Anabaptists. Even in the United States the Puritans put to death a small few for their faith. I believe the persecuted ones were of the Quaker and perhaps the Baptist faith. There have been a few stories of some of other (Christian or non-Christians)  burning down the churches of the first Pentecostals or Holiness groups.   It goes on and on. This should not be. We are not doing God a service when we persecute others for not believing the way we do. Preach the gospel with love. Preach holiness, preach the bible and when someone disagrees, leave the judging to God. Satan causes these things to hinder the gospel and get us sidetracked from the main purpose to save the lost.

Error in doctrine must be corrected but it must be done with as much patience and love as we can and never should we persecute or kill someone who disagrees in doctrine. Trust God to take care of these things. Let love and restoration be in our minds and not get even and get rid of. We should grieve if one leaves us and care for that one. If they go to another church fine but we should make sure they don't give up on God. One soul is so precious. What will help us is faith in God's ability to change a life. Don't give up on anyone. Plead the throne of God for the souls of the lost and those who have backslidden. Let us not help them to get further away from God by lashing out in cruelty and accusations.

This kind of love overlooks unimportant things but also will correct serious error. If we truly loved our children, we would not let them do something that will cause themselves harm.

Notice the spirit we are to correct in: MEEKNESS.

Determine to walk in the truth of God's word.

A dissembler is someone who pretends to be something he or she is not. To be vain is empty show or for nothing, a waste of time. Pretense is to be avoided and not to make a habit of keeping company with such persons.

Follow not a multitude to do evil. If we become unequally yoked with unbelievers, we may become like them.

Being thankful is so important. How many times do we thank God for sending Jesus to save us from sin? How much do we thank God for His presence, for His word, and for His Holy Spirit that He gives to all who obey Him. Publish to tell of His goodness to others.

How much do we love to be with other believers in the House of the Lord?

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is trouble.

Coming together to worship God among others that believe is so precious.

God has even given us at least here in the United States such a variety of churches with different worship methods. There is so many to choose from. I don't worry about going around trying to find the right church. If we make sure our own hearts is right, God will lead us to a good place of worship. It will not be perfect because that which is perfect has not yet come. (Jesus Christ's Second Coming). If every saint of God was already perfect, then we wouldn't need bible study, correction, preaching or the gifts of the spirit.

Don't look for a perfect church but study the bible and find one that teaches the closest to what the bible teaches according you what understanding you have, so that you don't cause a lot of division by be disagreeable. Have a teachable spirit though and be ready to change if the Holy Spirit shows you some other understanding. Check everything out by the word of God though because there are some that are out for just money, there are some that want followers after themselves and rob Jesus Christ of glory and then some are agents of Satan teaching doctrines of devils. Our God provided the bible for us to read and understand so that we are not lead astray by false doctrine. Take heed though. There isn't one church that is the right one to the exclusion of all the others. Many have been led into error by claiming their church is "the church". The true church is made up of many believers from all denominations, non-denominations and anywhere where the gospel is believed. It is not limited to the Catholics, the Baptists, the Methodists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, or Charismatic churches. We can't put God in a box and claim that He is going to save one group of people and send all others to hell. Please wake up. Jesus died on the cross to save the lost. He is not going to limit that to any one group.  The only exception is that we have to come through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to be saved.

Listen to what Jesus said: No ones comes to the Father (God) except through faith in Jesus. Not faith in the Mormon Church, the Jehovah's witness, the Catholic Church, or any Protestant Church. Jesus is our salvation. Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Churches are good and we need them but Jesus is our Lord and savior. He is not limited to any one of the churches in the world today. That is why I do not speak of my own church affiliation in these articles.  I'm not here to push one church above another but to exalt Jesus Christ. 

Another fact to consider is the worship methods. Some like the new contemporary style of praise and worship singing chorus songs. That is great. It is not the way I like particularly, but many love that type of worship and it should not be mocked and put down as evil when faithful worshippers are worshipping God in Spirit and in truth. I see articles on the Internet condemning these and comparing them to cults.  I cringe at that.  We must not false accuse.  God sees the hearts of these believers.  He knows if there are for real.  There is no way we can know that.  If you are uncomfortable with this type or worship, God has provided many others for you.  He loves you,  but don't condemn innocent people who love God just because you disagree with them. 

We must avoid entertainment in the church and stick to true worship.  We like good music and we must be careful that we are not attending church to be entertained.  Worship and to hear the word of God should be are desire. 

My own preference is southern gospel singing of hymns like Victory in Jesus and Heaven's Jubilee. I pick a church that sings those types of songs. That is what lifts my heart to praise and worship. However, many may not like that way so our wonderful God provides you something else. Isn't He good?

There are older traditional hymns of faith that older denominations enjoy.

One thing I would like to say to worship leaders. As you are trying to attract the young, remember the older crowd who sometimes long to hear "When we All Get to Heaven" or "How Great Thou Art". "Amazing Grace" will never get too old. You want the spirit to move in your services, then try to remember what stirs the souls of the older ones who grew up with southern gospel or traditional hymns. They were written by men and women of faith who loved the Lord and didn't know anything about making money from writing songs.  I think it would please God that you care for the older worshippers as well as the youth.

Whatever method of worship we prefer, remember that one way isn't necessarily the way the apostles did it and the only way to worship. People are different, traditions are different and it doesn't have to be all one way or all another. True worship comes from deep inside our spirits. God sees that. There may be places where they have no music, they can still worship God in prayer and praise. Some worship God in the service they do for the church or for others. God seeks us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Our worship with or without music should be toward our savior and Lord.

If we can keep just two commandments: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself, you would automatically be able to keep all the commandments in the bible. -Dorna

Psalm 27

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