Buttons

Pastor J. R. Wilhite, author   Close Window

Do you realize you have buttons. What are buttons?

Buttons are things in your life people can use to get you mad, into offense or strife.

Satan knows your buttons better than you, and that should make you mad.

Yes, mad, you are to always be angry with Satan, just not people.

So, if you get angry with people then you need to find out what caused the anger and then remove it. That is a button and it should not be in your life.

When you get angry because of what someone says, does, how they say, or even when they say it, then you need to stop allowing it to happen. It was not the other person's fault so do not blame them for your anger or offense. You are the only one who controls your buttons.

So many of us go through life with the knowledge of the word, and know it says that offense and strife are bad and that we are not to judge others and always forgive, but how can you be in offense or strife if you do not judge or you always forgive. You can not be. So, if you are, look and see where you are still judging or not forgiving others.

Luke 6: 37
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: Condemn not, and ye shall not be
condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even
as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Matthew 7

1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

If at this point you do not see we are not to judge here is one more.

John 3

17.

|3756| not

|1063| For

|0649| sent

|3588| -

|2316| God

|3588| the

|5207| Son

|0846| of Him

|1519| into

|3588| the

|2889| world

|2443| that

|2919| he judge

|3588| the

|2889| world,

|0235| but

|2443| that

|4982| may be saved

|3588| the

|2889| world

|1223| through

|0846| him.

17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

We read condemn, and the word condemn is correct to use, but a better word inthis context would be judge. How can we rightfully judge anyone when Jesus did not?

Yes, in Matthew 7 Jesus talked about judging, but not in the light we think about it, but in a different light. The true light of Jesus maks it apparent that we are not to judge, but we are to know His disciples by their fruit. What fruit is that? Well after reading Matthew 7:15-23 that it is not the fruit of our labor (as most would want you to believe) but the fruit of the Spirit; it is the only true fruit. No one can be of this fruit unless they have a very personal, one on one relationship with God Himself.

Galatians 5

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

If you are operating in the first fruit love, then you will not, can not judge anyone. You understand, if they are not of the fruit of the Spirit they need to grow and our prayers then are for their growth.

If you are operating in joy there is no way (while in joy) you are going to judge or be un forgiving.

Of course peace only comes when you learn how to avoid judging and are truly forgiving.

I had some of our ministry staff stay for awhile this sumer at my house due to the flood we had in June.

The first two comented back in the first of July that there was a level of peace in our house that was awesome. One of the last two (while still with us) made the coment that she wished they could and maybe after the flood would have the same level of peace at their home.

Now, do not get me wrong. They have peace and they are very giving and loving family, but the level of peace we have will be theirs very soon, but it can not be obtained if you are judging others or are unforgiving.

Ok, Jerry we got it, we need to forgive and not judge. Do you have it? Are you sure?

I have taught this for years and still I see people judging others and not realizing they are doing it. Judging is not always saying something judgemental. Even a thought can be damaging. If you see someone doing something you think is wrong and think it, and do not cast it down, it will become yours and in time you will say something that may be tame to you, but to others cut to the heart and hurt.

Judging starts with a thought and it is with this thought you have to control it, or it controls you. From judging will come offense or strife which leads to anger, hate, violence and so on. You can add all of the v chips to your t.v.'s and not see another violent act, and/or add chips to bleep out bad words so you do not hear them. But if you do not control your mind all the technology in the world will not help.

Remember Jesus said He did not know a group of people in Matthew 7 that outwardly appeared to be of Him.

Matthew 7

22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

You see faith will work for the just and the unjust. When God said it rained on the righteous and the unrighteous He meant that faith was like a force of nature and it effects / benefits were for all. It did not need to be of God to operate in the laws God established.

So, if it is not works, or at least the fruit of our labors, then what is the only way we please Him?

Hebrews 11

1. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

So faith was part of it, but not all of it. We must also seek Him as well.

Ok, now you take every thought and do what?

2 Corinthians 10

5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Romans 7

25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Romans 8

5. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
6. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 12

2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

As you notice in the above 4 verses we are definitely speaking of the mind as where we live or die. So to live is to have the mind of Christ.

Now start today by taking each and every thought into captivity, keeping only those that would reflect God, and casting the rest down.

My prayer for you is:

3 John 1
2. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth

Remember to show faith when you pray, then praise and give thanks.

God Bless You as you hear His words and follow His leading.

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