OUTLINE:
What the Spirit’s Been Saying
The Lord is the Giver of all things good (Jas 1:17), beginning with life eternal, His life (Jn 3:16). His grace provides us with every ability to obey Him (1Co 15:10) and to love Him (1Jn 4:19). This gives us confidence and affords us the “life is good” attitude (Ro 8:28).
When you’re under pressure, who do you turn to?
2Co 6:14-15 [TLB]
Don’t be teamed with those who do not love the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people of sin? How can light live with darkness? And what harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a Christian be a partner with one who doesn’t believe?
Ro 2:11
For God shows no partiality.
Partiality “starves” our desire to obey God.
There’s No Room For Partiality
This includes family members and loved ones. In fact, this warning is especially important when it comes to such individuals in our lives. Do we “disown” them? Of course not; however, we must face the facts the way Jesus did. (cp Mk 3:31-35)
Mk 3:35
For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Who are you more loyal to: Jesus or family and loved ones?
There’s No Room For Partiality
This includes family members and loved ones. In fact, this warning is especially important when it comes to such individuals in our lives. Do we “disown” them? Of course not; however, we must face the facts the way Jesus did. (cp Mk 3:31-35)
Every Circumstance In Life Is a Spiritual One Blog 3/6/20
Avoiding the Trap
If we are to apply the lens of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, the very mind of Christ, to life, itself, the very LAST thing we want to do is be PARTIAL! Partiality just might be one of THE greatest destructive forces of all in our lives.
Partiality Debilitates Children
Partiality with children is bad parenting. It sets a child up for a life of disappointment (aka failed expectations that the weak parent instills in their kids). It’s also an affront to the Lord, the One rightful “hero” in this world. Parents who show partiality injure their own children, the ones they love the most. That’s not love for them, it’s love for self.
Sowing Darkness In Children
To whatever degree a parent shows partiality to their children, to that same degree they are not exercising godly love, but rather fleshly love, which is tantamount to sin, which “brings forth
death” (ala Jas 1:15).
Areas To Watch For Partiality
– Parenting (or any family relation)
– At work, with those of influence
– Towards self when it’s time to give
– Towards others willing to feed your flesh
Mt 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”
Partiality Is a Thief
If we want to live a life of peace and contentment, we’ve got to live a life of integrity. That is Jesus’ impeccable example to us. To allow partiality into our thinking is to be robbed of our eyesight (our ability to “see it all as truth” – ala Eph 5:13-14a).
Eph 5:13-14a
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
EVERY circumstance in life is a spiritual one.
Part
The word “part” is the root word for “partiality”. Our goal is to see it all as truth, not only part of it. This goes with every circumstance in life, which means that spiritual truth is the light we must shine on all circumstances (cp Jas 1:7-8).
Jas 1:7-8
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded [dipsuchos – means properly, “two souled”; (figuratively) “double-minded,” i.e. a person “split in half,” vacillating like a “spiritual schizophrenic”] man, unstable in all his ways.
Integrity to Truth
If every circumstance in life is a spiritual one, then shouldn’t we be testing every spirit, by default???