Saturday, March 26, 2011
Journal
John 6
(:23)Jesus is continually thankful and grateful. We are to be the same, if Christ lives in us, offering the praise of our lips, sometimes a sacrifice of praise, other times the fruit of our lips. Giving thanks in all things(Eph5:20).
(:26)They believed because they ate and were filled physically. Ye seek Me, not because of seeing the miracles. It is good that they sought Him but they sought Him for the temporary gain. Miracles were done to confirm the truth, that He is God, so they may seek Him and believe. He does miracles so that we may seek Him. But Jesus knew their hearts. So He warns them not to labour for the bread which perishes. They sought Him for the physical provision, not for the miracles in awe of what He has done.
(:27)Labour for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life. Which the Son of man shall giveth unto you. We are not to labour for the bread which perisheth. We ARE to labour for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. We are to run the race, we are lay hold of eternal life. We are to labour and He will give. What is the meat? (Heb5:12) Strong meat of the Word. He is the Word (John1). (John4:34)My meat is to do the will of the Father and to finish His work. The meat is Him, and it is to do His will, to finish it. He is the True Bread(:32,33)
(:36) Ye also have seen Me and believe NOT. They obviously had to "believe" they were talking to and hearing an actual person, just like speaking to any stranger, you know or have to believe you are talking to someone. But to believe ON Him is more than acknowledging Him as a Person or knowing and believing He does miracles. They even believed He to be a Prophet and a King (:14,15) yet He says they don't believe. How many people "believe" Him to be a Prophet, a King, they believe Him, but Jesus says you don't believe on Me. He knows the heart. Many will say Lord, Lord, open unto us; we have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, but He will say depart from Me ye workers of iniquity, I know not whence ye are, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luk 13:25-28). Many will trust in their own belief, all the while, they have not come to Him for faith.
Believing is to have faith upon, to entrust Him, commit yourself to Him, put trust with Him.
(1Pet1:8) they have not yet seen Him, yet they love Him, and believe, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Those that didn't see Him believe. But they that saw didn't believe. Belief is more than a cognitive agreeing something true, it's by the Spirit of God belief comes. It is through His power (Rom15:13).
(John1:12,13) By God. Not flesh nor man's will. It's not a decision of just an agreement or profession of Him, they saw Him yet believed not. Yet if you would've asked who are you speaking with? Jesus. Amen. But Jesus says you believe not.
I have to stop and pause and praise the Lord for the fresh revelation, oh Lord thank you! I have read this chapter for years and knew it was wonderful but it has never been alive like you've given it life to me now. I praise You Jesus! You are the Word of God. It is living and precious. How gracious to show me, a wretch, please give me grace now that you have revived my spirit with quickening. You have made me alive from the dead and I come to You and I do not hunger, I am fed manna from heaven. THE MANNA. Thank You Father for calling me, I love You, precious Savior.
(:35) "I am the Bread of life, he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and He that believeth on Me shall never thirst." It's not that I will never thirst nor hunger ever again now that I know Him in this life. It is that if I "come to Him" I will never hunger(Psalm 42:1). If I come to Him I have to believe on Him and I will never hunger. Because when I come to Him I am filled, I am fed and revived, and quickened in the Spirit. If I don't come to Him I do thirst and even faint. When I come to Him I do no longer hunger.
When I come to Him, though my flesh rebels, He gives me Manna, True Bread of life, and I am strengthened and filled and the Holy Spirit makes His Word a delight as the Psalmist says over and over again of the Word of God, as he writes in the Spirit.
(:23)Jesus is continually thankful and grateful. We are to be the same, if Christ lives in us, offering the praise of our lips, sometimes a sacrifice of praise, other times the fruit of our lips. Giving thanks in all things(Eph5:20).
(:26)They believed because they ate and were filled physically. Ye seek Me, not because of seeing the miracles. It is good that they sought Him but they sought Him for the temporary gain. Miracles were done to confirm the truth, that He is God, so they may seek Him and believe. He does miracles so that we may seek Him. But Jesus knew their hearts. So He warns them not to labour for the bread which perishes. They sought Him for the physical provision, not for the miracles in awe of what He has done.
(:27)Labour for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life. Which the Son of man shall giveth unto you. We are not to labour for the bread which perisheth. We ARE to labour for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life. We are to run the race, we are lay hold of eternal life. We are to labour and He will give. What is the meat? (Heb5:12) Strong meat of the Word. He is the Word (John1). (John4:34)My meat is to do the will of the Father and to finish His work. The meat is Him, and it is to do His will, to finish it. He is the True Bread(:32,33)
(:36) Ye also have seen Me and believe NOT. They obviously had to "believe" they were talking to and hearing an actual person, just like speaking to any stranger, you know or have to believe you are talking to someone. But to believe ON Him is more than acknowledging Him as a Person or knowing and believing He does miracles. They even believed He to be a Prophet and a King (:14,15) yet He says they don't believe. How many people "believe" Him to be a Prophet, a King, they believe Him, but Jesus says you don't believe on Me. He knows the heart. Many will say Lord, Lord, open unto us; we have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, but He will say depart from Me ye workers of iniquity, I know not whence ye are, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luk 13:25-28). Many will trust in their own belief, all the while, they have not come to Him for faith.
Believing is to have faith upon, to entrust Him, commit yourself to Him, put trust with Him.
(1Pet1:8) they have not yet seen Him, yet they love Him, and believe, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Those that didn't see Him believe. But they that saw didn't believe. Belief is more than a cognitive agreeing something true, it's by the Spirit of God belief comes. It is through His power (Rom15:13).
(John1:12,13) By God. Not flesh nor man's will. It's not a decision of just an agreement or profession of Him, they saw Him yet believed not. Yet if you would've asked who are you speaking with? Jesus. Amen. But Jesus says you believe not.
I have to stop and pause and praise the Lord for the fresh revelation, oh Lord thank you! I have read this chapter for years and knew it was wonderful but it has never been alive like you've given it life to me now. I praise You Jesus! You are the Word of God. It is living and precious. How gracious to show me, a wretch, please give me grace now that you have revived my spirit with quickening. You have made me alive from the dead and I come to You and I do not hunger, I am fed manna from heaven. THE MANNA. Thank You Father for calling me, I love You, precious Savior.
(:35) "I am the Bread of life, he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and He that believeth on Me shall never thirst." It's not that I will never thirst nor hunger ever again now that I know Him in this life. It is that if I "come to Him" I will never hunger(Psalm 42:1). If I come to Him I have to believe on Him and I will never hunger. Because when I come to Him I am filled, I am fed and revived, and quickened in the Spirit. If I don't come to Him I do thirst and even faint. When I come to Him I do no longer hunger.
When I come to Him, though my flesh rebels, He gives me Manna, True Bread of life, and I am strengthened and filled and the Holy Spirit makes His Word a delight as the Psalmist says over and over again of the Word of God, as he writes in the Spirit.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Born-againism
Born-Againism
There is much talk these days about the rapid growth of the cults. Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Mormonism, the Unification Church and the host of lesser-known groups are making converts at astounding rates. Yet, the combined effect of all these groups is overshadowed by a movement that in the last few years has grown to include over 30% of the U.S. population. The amazing development of what might be called "born-againism" is affecting all sectors of our society. In face, if the latest figures presented in the religious polls are accurate, the current Born-again phenomenon could well be viewed as the fastest growing cult in America. Born-againism has permeated fundamentalist denominations as leaven in dough, and expanded into the culture at large. Candidates espouse it in order to get votes, entertainers use it to attract crowds, pro-football players proclaim it to give respect to their Sunday afternoon brutality, and the business world promotes it in order to make money. Even the secular press, radio, and T.V. have found it fashionable to occasionally slip the little words "born again" into their speech and print.
That the world has jumped on the Born-again Bandwagon in order to exploit it is sad but not surprising. We really shouldn't expect anything else from the spiritually blind world. The real tragedy is that the whole mess was spawned and spread by the "church", and is now lauded as a great revival of Christianity.
The truth is that much of contemporary evangelicalism, like the church of Sardis, appears to be alive, but actually is dead (Revelation 3:1). And we can't blame the atheists, the agnostics, or the liberals for this condition. No, the fault lies with the supposed "Bible believers". Error has been preached as truth and propagated with cultish zeal. As a result multitudes have believed a lie and are headed for hell from fundamentalist church pews with the Bible in their hands and a prayer on their lips. Many others have become disillusioned with all the hypocrisy and false "fulfillment" and have concluded that there is really nothing to this "born again" stuff after all.
But doesn't the Bile teach that men must be born again? Was this not an absolutely fundamental teaching of our Lord, His apostles, and the Church down through the ages? Yes, of course it was, and without this there is no true Christianity. But error clocked in Biblical terms is still error. In the case of the current born-again movement, Scriptural terminology is being used to teach just the opposite of its original meaning. The great doctrine of man's need for regeneration (i.e., miraculous new birth) is being presented in a way that denies the very point it is supposed to teach. Stated simply, the error is this- that men are born again as a result of something they do. This something may be "going forward" at the close of an evangelistic message, making a "decision" for Christ or "repenting" and "believing" the Gospel. Whatever the requirement that is put before the sinner, the impression is given that sinful man himself is the one who brings about regeneration.
The sad results of such a teaching can be seen all around us. Evangelists, who believe that men dead in sin can and will turn to God if the right kind of emotional and psychological inducement is presented, push and pressure lost people into making "decisions." Whatever is necessary to get people to come forward, or raise their hand, or sign a card, is tried by today's "soul winners." Highly emotional meetings, prolonged appeals, repeated musical choruses, and even the deceitful tactic of having counselors strategically placed in the audience to come forward at the time of the "appeal"-all smack of the techniques of crowd psychology.
Those who do come forward (or raise their hand, or sign a card) are then coached into believing that God has come into their lives and that they are now "saved." Deep down though, they know that nothing has really happened. The evangelist has done something, the lost person has done something, but GOD has done nothing. There has been no miracle. The person may give mental assent to the doctrine of the new birth and try to rejoice in it, but there has been no supernatural passing from death to life (Ephesians 2:4-5). This is why most of the "converts" of this kind of "born-againism" show no real zeal for God, and many fall away completely after a month or two. Some remain religious.
That some people are brought into the kingdom in these situations is no doubt true. But it is in spite of these methods, not because of them. If we turn to the section of Scripture most often quoted regarding the new birth, we find the Lord teaching just the opposite of the modern "soul-winner."
In the third chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "You must be born again." What did the Lord mean by this statement? First of all, it should be noted that Jesus said nothing of any action or decision that Nicodemus must make, nor did He even tell him to repent and believe the gospel. As a matter of fact, Jesus was not telling Nicodemus to do anything! "you must be born again" was not a command Nicodemus was to obey, it was simply a statement of fact. Nicodemus, in his blindness, misunderstood this statement and asked how anyone could do such a thing as that-a man "cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" To this Jesus said in effect, "I'm talking about the Spirit of God coming and miraculously generating life in you. You being flesh can only produce flesh. Only the Spirit of God can produce the spiritual birth you must have in order to enter the Kingdom of God, and God's Spirit blows where He wishes" (See John 3:1-8). The modern evangelist's techniques and teachings are conspicuously absent in this account. The Lord gave Nicodemus no "Four Spiritual Laws", nor any instructions on "How To Be Born Again;" and He certainly used no manipulative tricks. He was concerned to emphasize just one thing: Regeneration is a miraculous work of God's Spirit.
We can and must tell men to turn from their sins and believe the Gospel, but in doing this we should realize that when a man does repent and believe, it is the result of God's prior regenerative working within him. If this were not the case, if man must actually initiate his own salvation, then it would be impossible to escape the conclusion that men do not need regeneration at all, but possess in themselves an innate goodness which causes them to seek after God. Though it be ever so slight, this goodness is then the ultimate reason why one man is saved and another is lost. But the Apostle Paul clearly teaches the contrary when he writes:
"There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one" (Romans 3:10-12).
Here Paul states plainly that there is no "spark of goodness" in man that causes him to respond to the Gospel. In fact, man, blinded by sin and Satan, does not even understand the Gospel. He is in total rebellion against God and His truth. If regeneration were contingent upon man first desiring God, no one would ever be born again, for "there is no one that seeketh after God." Moreover, if man must ultimately be given credit for coming to God, Christianity is turned into just one more of the world's man-centered religions or cults which teach salvation by works. All such man-centered systems offer a false hope; for it is simply impossible for sinful man to make himself different than he is-he needs a new heart, he needs to be "born again!"
Again, it should be stressed that we are certainly to tell men to seek God. We must tell them to believe and receive Christ. But these commands will fall on spiritually dear ears unless God first generates life through the inward workings of His Holy Spirit.
You may protest that this makes God the ultimate determiner of who is saved. To this the apostles and prophets with one voice cry, "Amen!" "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:0). Christians, as John puts it in the opening chapter of his Gospel, are people, "who were born not...of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). That's why we give thanks to God when someone is converted. We know that God has graciously wrought a miracle-the sovereign, supernatural miracle of the new birth.
This truth should give us confidence to present the pure Gospel, knowing that it is not up to us to somehow maneuver and manipulate men into Christianity. It should also bring us to our knees before the God who is sovereign in salvation. Only He can remove the heart of stone and give a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Only He can give life to the dead. Only He deserves the blessing, glory and honor.
-Richard R. Ochs
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44)
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast give me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)
"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Revelation 19:6)
"Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."(Romans 9:18)
There is much talk these days about the rapid growth of the cults. Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Mormonism, the Unification Church and the host of lesser-known groups are making converts at astounding rates. Yet, the combined effect of all these groups is overshadowed by a movement that in the last few years has grown to include over 30% of the U.S. population. The amazing development of what might be called "born-againism" is affecting all sectors of our society. In face, if the latest figures presented in the religious polls are accurate, the current Born-again phenomenon could well be viewed as the fastest growing cult in America. Born-againism has permeated fundamentalist denominations as leaven in dough, and expanded into the culture at large. Candidates espouse it in order to get votes, entertainers use it to attract crowds, pro-football players proclaim it to give respect to their Sunday afternoon brutality, and the business world promotes it in order to make money. Even the secular press, radio, and T.V. have found it fashionable to occasionally slip the little words "born again" into their speech and print.
That the world has jumped on the Born-again Bandwagon in order to exploit it is sad but not surprising. We really shouldn't expect anything else from the spiritually blind world. The real tragedy is that the whole mess was spawned and spread by the "church", and is now lauded as a great revival of Christianity.
The truth is that much of contemporary evangelicalism, like the church of Sardis, appears to be alive, but actually is dead (Revelation 3:1). And we can't blame the atheists, the agnostics, or the liberals for this condition. No, the fault lies with the supposed "Bible believers". Error has been preached as truth and propagated with cultish zeal. As a result multitudes have believed a lie and are headed for hell from fundamentalist church pews with the Bible in their hands and a prayer on their lips. Many others have become disillusioned with all the hypocrisy and false "fulfillment" and have concluded that there is really nothing to this "born again" stuff after all.
But doesn't the Bile teach that men must be born again? Was this not an absolutely fundamental teaching of our Lord, His apostles, and the Church down through the ages? Yes, of course it was, and without this there is no true Christianity. But error clocked in Biblical terms is still error. In the case of the current born-again movement, Scriptural terminology is being used to teach just the opposite of its original meaning. The great doctrine of man's need for regeneration (i.e., miraculous new birth) is being presented in a way that denies the very point it is supposed to teach. Stated simply, the error is this- that men are born again as a result of something they do. This something may be "going forward" at the close of an evangelistic message, making a "decision" for Christ or "repenting" and "believing" the Gospel. Whatever the requirement that is put before the sinner, the impression is given that sinful man himself is the one who brings about regeneration.
The sad results of such a teaching can be seen all around us. Evangelists, who believe that men dead in sin can and will turn to God if the right kind of emotional and psychological inducement is presented, push and pressure lost people into making "decisions." Whatever is necessary to get people to come forward, or raise their hand, or sign a card, is tried by today's "soul winners." Highly emotional meetings, prolonged appeals, repeated musical choruses, and even the deceitful tactic of having counselors strategically placed in the audience to come forward at the time of the "appeal"-all smack of the techniques of crowd psychology.
Those who do come forward (or raise their hand, or sign a card) are then coached into believing that God has come into their lives and that they are now "saved." Deep down though, they know that nothing has really happened. The evangelist has done something, the lost person has done something, but GOD has done nothing. There has been no miracle. The person may give mental assent to the doctrine of the new birth and try to rejoice in it, but there has been no supernatural passing from death to life (Ephesians 2:4-5). This is why most of the "converts" of this kind of "born-againism" show no real zeal for God, and many fall away completely after a month or two. Some remain religious.
That some people are brought into the kingdom in these situations is no doubt true. But it is in spite of these methods, not because of them. If we turn to the section of Scripture most often quoted regarding the new birth, we find the Lord teaching just the opposite of the modern "soul-winner."
In the third chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "You must be born again." What did the Lord mean by this statement? First of all, it should be noted that Jesus said nothing of any action or decision that Nicodemus must make, nor did He even tell him to repent and believe the gospel. As a matter of fact, Jesus was not telling Nicodemus to do anything! "you must be born again" was not a command Nicodemus was to obey, it was simply a statement of fact. Nicodemus, in his blindness, misunderstood this statement and asked how anyone could do such a thing as that-a man "cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" To this Jesus said in effect, "I'm talking about the Spirit of God coming and miraculously generating life in you. You being flesh can only produce flesh. Only the Spirit of God can produce the spiritual birth you must have in order to enter the Kingdom of God, and God's Spirit blows where He wishes" (See John 3:1-8). The modern evangelist's techniques and teachings are conspicuously absent in this account. The Lord gave Nicodemus no "Four Spiritual Laws", nor any instructions on "How To Be Born Again;" and He certainly used no manipulative tricks. He was concerned to emphasize just one thing: Regeneration is a miraculous work of God's Spirit.
We can and must tell men to turn from their sins and believe the Gospel, but in doing this we should realize that when a man does repent and believe, it is the result of God's prior regenerative working within him. If this were not the case, if man must actually initiate his own salvation, then it would be impossible to escape the conclusion that men do not need regeneration at all, but possess in themselves an innate goodness which causes them to seek after God. Though it be ever so slight, this goodness is then the ultimate reason why one man is saved and another is lost. But the Apostle Paul clearly teaches the contrary when he writes:
"There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one" (Romans 3:10-12).
Here Paul states plainly that there is no "spark of goodness" in man that causes him to respond to the Gospel. In fact, man, blinded by sin and Satan, does not even understand the Gospel. He is in total rebellion against God and His truth. If regeneration were contingent upon man first desiring God, no one would ever be born again, for "there is no one that seeketh after God." Moreover, if man must ultimately be given credit for coming to God, Christianity is turned into just one more of the world's man-centered religions or cults which teach salvation by works. All such man-centered systems offer a false hope; for it is simply impossible for sinful man to make himself different than he is-he needs a new heart, he needs to be "born again!"
Again, it should be stressed that we are certainly to tell men to seek God. We must tell them to believe and receive Christ. But these commands will fall on spiritually dear ears unless God first generates life through the inward workings of His Holy Spirit.
You may protest that this makes God the ultimate determiner of who is saved. To this the apostles and prophets with one voice cry, "Amen!" "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:0). Christians, as John puts it in the opening chapter of his Gospel, are people, "who were born not...of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:13). That's why we give thanks to God when someone is converted. We know that God has graciously wrought a miracle-the sovereign, supernatural miracle of the new birth.
This truth should give us confidence to present the pure Gospel, knowing that it is not up to us to somehow maneuver and manipulate men into Christianity. It should also bring us to our knees before the God who is sovereign in salvation. Only He can remove the heart of stone and give a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Only He can give life to the dead. Only He deserves the blessing, glory and honor.
-Richard R. Ochs
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44)
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast give me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)
"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Revelation 19:6)
"Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth."(Romans 9:18)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Our Heart And His Heart
What the Word of God says about our hearts and our sin:
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
*Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:3-6) *I was shapen in iniquity, In sin did my mother conceive me.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. (Psalm 36:1,2) *The wicked says what he is doing is not that bad, he flatters himself.
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
And it come to pass, *when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. (Deuteronomy 29:18-20) *This man refuses to acknowledge his sin, he says oh I shall have peace, but he walks in the imaginations of his heart. The imaginations of our heart are telling us that we are at peace, that we don't sin, or our sin is not that bad, it justifies us wrongfully. We cannot listen to the imagination of our heart, that says we are good. We have to listen to the Word of God, what GOD says about our heart and our sin.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) *Man thinks, my heart is not that wicked, my sin not so sinful, Well this is what God says about our hearts.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15) *Are you they that justify yourselves before men? God knows your heart. What is highly esteemed among men is AN ABOMINATION in the sight of GOD! So you can justify sin all day long, BUT GOD says it is an abomination!
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26) *God says if we trust in ourselves, in our own heart we are fools.
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16) *He is crying out for us to walk in the good path, to follow the good path. But they were trusting in their own heart, and would not listen to God. They would rather trust in their own way.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7) *Let the unrighteous man forsake his thoughts. Then he can return to the Lord. Forsake your own thoughts that God will not save, He promises if your forsake your wicked way and come, because His word says it, not because you feel you have faith, but because He says it.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) *Acknowledge this before the Lord, that our heart looks like this!
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:23-24)
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) *All the imaginations of the heart are abominations and He hates it.
*We do stand condemned in His sight. He has opened up our heart, shown us, this is what is in there. See the wickedness, the sinfulness of it, don't justify yourself as if you even can. Mourn, cry, in desperation, believe Him.
But...
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. (Psalm 81:8,9) *If you will hearken unto Him God will take away your idols. Cast yourself upon HIM, He wants to save. But as long as you are trusting in yourself, in your own imaginations of the heart, justifying yourself, you won't cast yourself upon Him, and He won't save because you are not hearkening unto His voice, His Word.
Yes we have this wicked heart, but God desires...
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17) *That we no longer walk after the imaginations of our evil heart.
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? (Jeremiah 4:14) *He desires that we wash our heart from wickedness, that we might be saved.
LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2) *He desires we speak the truth in our heart. Seeing our hearts clearly as He sees them.
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20) *He desires to put a new heart, a new spirit within us! So that we CAN walk in His ways! And be pleasing to Him!! Knowing that we have wicked hearts, in agreement with His Word, we can look to Him to save us and give us a new heart!
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. (Ezekiel 36:26)
This is what the Lord desires of thee...
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:8-10)
*Search for Him with all thine heart. His thoughts are good toward you.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
[Mostly taken from our girls night :)]
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
*Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:3-6) *I was shapen in iniquity, In sin did my mother conceive me.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. (Psalm 36:1,2) *The wicked says what he is doing is not that bad, he flatters himself.
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;
And it come to pass, *when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven. (Deuteronomy 29:18-20) *This man refuses to acknowledge his sin, he says oh I shall have peace, but he walks in the imaginations of his heart. The imaginations of our heart are telling us that we are at peace, that we don't sin, or our sin is not that bad, it justifies us wrongfully. We cannot listen to the imagination of our heart, that says we are good. We have to listen to the Word of God, what GOD says about our heart and our sin.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) *Man thinks, my heart is not that wicked, my sin not so sinful, Well this is what God says about our hearts.
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15) *Are you they that justify yourselves before men? God knows your heart. What is highly esteemed among men is AN ABOMINATION in the sight of GOD! So you can justify sin all day long, BUT GOD says it is an abomination!
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26) *God says if we trust in ourselves, in our own heart we are fools.
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16) *He is crying out for us to walk in the good path, to follow the good path. But they were trusting in their own heart, and would not listen to God. They would rather trust in their own way.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7) *Let the unrighteous man forsake his thoughts. Then he can return to the Lord. Forsake your own thoughts that God will not save, He promises if your forsake your wicked way and come, because His word says it, not because you feel you have faith, but because He says it.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) *Acknowledge this before the Lord, that our heart looks like this!
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:23-24)
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) *All the imaginations of the heart are abominations and He hates it.
*We do stand condemned in His sight. He has opened up our heart, shown us, this is what is in there. See the wickedness, the sinfulness of it, don't justify yourself as if you even can. Mourn, cry, in desperation, believe Him.
But...
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. (Psalm 81:8,9) *If you will hearken unto Him God will take away your idols. Cast yourself upon HIM, He wants to save. But as long as you are trusting in yourself, in your own imaginations of the heart, justifying yourself, you won't cast yourself upon Him, and He won't save because you are not hearkening unto His voice, His Word.
Yes we have this wicked heart, but God desires...
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17) *That we no longer walk after the imaginations of our evil heart.
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? (Jeremiah 4:14) *He desires that we wash our heart from wickedness, that we might be saved.
LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2) *He desires we speak the truth in our heart. Seeing our hearts clearly as He sees them.
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20) *He desires to put a new heart, a new spirit within us! So that we CAN walk in His ways! And be pleasing to Him!! Knowing that we have wicked hearts, in agreement with His Word, we can look to Him to save us and give us a new heart!
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. (Ezekiel 36:26)
This is what the Lord desires of thee...
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:8-10)
*Search for Him with all thine heart. His thoughts are good toward you.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
[Mostly taken from our girls night :)]
Saturday, March 12, 2011
They Hear Thy Words
Before I was born again I went to the Word of God. When I was down or I
was moody, I would say, just send me to spend time with the Lord(aka
then that meant to read my bible). It made me feel better, it
encouraged me, it made me in a better mood. I had "joy" from reading
it. How would it encourage me and make me in a better mood if I wasn't
already saved?
Because this was me...
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
(Ezekiel 33:30-32)
I would tell people, come, hear the Word of the Lord! I would come to the Lord as His people, and sit before Him as His people. I would hear His Words. BUT I would not do them! I would show much love with my mouth BUT my HEART WOULD GO AFTER MY COVETOUSNESS. To hear the Word of the Lord was as a very lovely song to me, one that had a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument, for I heard His Words, BUT I DID NOT DO THEM.
He shows mercy to those who love Him and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS (Exodus 20:6). Oh, that is Old Testament, you say. Well, Jesus says, if you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15). And Jesus yet again, he that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21).
And commandments are not just a mere outward action in the flesh. It is of the heart, as Jesus said, if you lust after a woman you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. He sees the heart, not the outward appearance. If He looked on outward appearance, He would not have condemned the Pharisees. The Pharisees looked perfect on the outside, following all commandments, but He calls them white washed sepulchers. They look great on the outside, nice and clean and pretty, but on the inside dead man's bones.
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)
It is not about showing much love with your mouth, the Pharisees also did this, in whom He condemns and gives eternal woes to. Your mouth can show much love, all the while your heart can be going after your own covetousness, as mine did. What was in my heart was much different from what people outwardly saw. I looked very religious, very Christian-like, yet my heart was ugly and sinful. Only God saw it.
I heard His Word, it was as a lovely song to me, yet I did not do it. Also another trait of the Pharisees, who Jesus said, do the things the Pharisees say (because they taught the Word of God) but don't do as they do!! They did not keep any of the things they said. (Matthew 23)
I was a hypocrite, a Pharisee. Judgment was coming upon them whom Ezekiel was warning. They were a stiff-necked people, the Lord sent Ezekiel to a rebellious nation who He knew would not turn from their ways, but He sent him anyway. That was me. Is it you too? Do you do all these "righteous" things yet your heart goes after covetousness, jealousies, contentions, gossiping, lusts, selfishness, vain glory, lying vanities, hatred or anything like it? This is not the fruit of a new heart, this is the bad fruit of a man not having the Spirit of God, not having a new heart. Is this you? We are called to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. In God's mercy He has given us another day. Is it you?
Because this was me...
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
(Ezekiel 33:30-32)
I would tell people, come, hear the Word of the Lord! I would come to the Lord as His people, and sit before Him as His people. I would hear His Words. BUT I would not do them! I would show much love with my mouth BUT my HEART WOULD GO AFTER MY COVETOUSNESS. To hear the Word of the Lord was as a very lovely song to me, one that had a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument, for I heard His Words, BUT I DID NOT DO THEM.
He shows mercy to those who love Him and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS (Exodus 20:6). Oh, that is Old Testament, you say. Well, Jesus says, if you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15). And Jesus yet again, he that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21).
And commandments are not just a mere outward action in the flesh. It is of the heart, as Jesus said, if you lust after a woman you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. He sees the heart, not the outward appearance. If He looked on outward appearance, He would not have condemned the Pharisees. The Pharisees looked perfect on the outside, following all commandments, but He calls them white washed sepulchers. They look great on the outside, nice and clean and pretty, but on the inside dead man's bones.
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)
It is not about showing much love with your mouth, the Pharisees also did this, in whom He condemns and gives eternal woes to. Your mouth can show much love, all the while your heart can be going after your own covetousness, as mine did. What was in my heart was much different from what people outwardly saw. I looked very religious, very Christian-like, yet my heart was ugly and sinful. Only God saw it.
I heard His Word, it was as a lovely song to me, yet I did not do it. Also another trait of the Pharisees, who Jesus said, do the things the Pharisees say (because they taught the Word of God) but don't do as they do!! They did not keep any of the things they said. (Matthew 23)
I was a hypocrite, a Pharisee. Judgment was coming upon them whom Ezekiel was warning. They were a stiff-necked people, the Lord sent Ezekiel to a rebellious nation who He knew would not turn from their ways, but He sent him anyway. That was me. Is it you too? Do you do all these "righteous" things yet your heart goes after covetousness, jealousies, contentions, gossiping, lusts, selfishness, vain glory, lying vanities, hatred or anything like it? This is not the fruit of a new heart, this is the bad fruit of a man not having the Spirit of God, not having a new heart. Is this you? We are called to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. In God's mercy He has given us another day. Is it you?
Nor Sinners In The Congregation Of The Righteous
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. (Psalm 1:5)
[sinners are not to sit with the righteous in the congregation.]
And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel. (Ezekiel 44:6-9)
[There was judgment upon these people, because the Lord commanded no stranger, no uncircumcised in heart, which in the New Testament means an unsaved person, shall enter into His sanctuary. Only those circumcised in heart shall enter, only saved.]
Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. (Lamentations 1:9-10)
[Judgment upon Israel again because of her transgressions and sin, one of them being that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom He commanded they shall not enter into the congregation. Judgment was come upon Israel in the Old Testament for such a thing, all the time. And we are the spiritual house of Israel, in the New Testament, so why does this not apply to us, as if God changes over time? No, He is the same, yesterday today and forever.]
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:17-18)
[We are to discern between who is serving God and who is not. We are to have discernment in knowing if a person is born of God or not. We don't just take no thought to it and let everyone congregate together, saved or not. God's people or not. No. God brought judgment upon them in the Old Testament, He is still the same today.]
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:11-18)
[Can someone worshiping the Lord God, Jesus Christ of the bible, be right next to someone who is worshiping another god? No. What does light have in common with darkness? There is no communion with the two, you are either light in the Lord, a born again Christian, or you are not. Either someone worships idols or they worship the Living True God. God tells us to come out and be separate, and He will be our Father, and we will be His sons and daughters. If we are unequally yoked with unbelievers and are calling ourselves Christians, He will not receive us.]
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: (Psalm 26:2-9)
[He is talking about dwelling in the sanctuary where the Lord is worshiped, the vain persons and the dissemblers, the evil doers and wicked all do not sit with him.]
I cannot help but see these verses in the Word of God, and read them plainly, and know that I cannot come into the solemn assembly with unbelievers. I cannot worship God with someone who is not circumcised in heart, they must be circumcised in heart(Colossians 2:11), they must be born of God. Because the Lord commands it. Because the Word of God declares it. Because His judgment will come upon disobedience. Always has, always will. The Lord loves His Bride, He wants to keep His church pure and undefiled, holy, and set apart just for Him. His commands are not grievous (1 John 5:3). He is protecting His people from wolves, from leaven, from defilement, since He has washed us whiter than snow with His blood, His intercession, commands and guidance is to keep us that way and sanctify and continually cleanse us.
Will you heed the Word of God?
[sinners are not to sit with the righteous in the congregation.]
And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel. (Ezekiel 44:6-9)
[There was judgment upon these people, because the Lord commanded no stranger, no uncircumcised in heart, which in the New Testament means an unsaved person, shall enter into His sanctuary. Only those circumcised in heart shall enter, only saved.]
Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.
The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. (Lamentations 1:9-10)
[Judgment upon Israel again because of her transgressions and sin, one of them being that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom He commanded they shall not enter into the congregation. Judgment was come upon Israel in the Old Testament for such a thing, all the time. And we are the spiritual house of Israel, in the New Testament, so why does this not apply to us, as if God changes over time? No, He is the same, yesterday today and forever.]
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:17-18)
[We are to discern between who is serving God and who is not. We are to have discernment in knowing if a person is born of God or not. We don't just take no thought to it and let everyone congregate together, saved or not. God's people or not. No. God brought judgment upon them in the Old Testament, He is still the same today.]
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:11-18)
[Can someone worshiping the Lord God, Jesus Christ of the bible, be right next to someone who is worshiping another god? No. What does light have in common with darkness? There is no communion with the two, you are either light in the Lord, a born again Christian, or you are not. Either someone worships idols or they worship the Living True God. God tells us to come out and be separate, and He will be our Father, and we will be His sons and daughters. If we are unequally yoked with unbelievers and are calling ourselves Christians, He will not receive us.]
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: (Psalm 26:2-9)
[He is talking about dwelling in the sanctuary where the Lord is worshiped, the vain persons and the dissemblers, the evil doers and wicked all do not sit with him.]
I cannot help but see these verses in the Word of God, and read them plainly, and know that I cannot come into the solemn assembly with unbelievers. I cannot worship God with someone who is not circumcised in heart, they must be circumcised in heart(Colossians 2:11), they must be born of God. Because the Lord commands it. Because the Word of God declares it. Because His judgment will come upon disobedience. Always has, always will. The Lord loves His Bride, He wants to keep His church pure and undefiled, holy, and set apart just for Him. His commands are not grievous (1 John 5:3). He is protecting His people from wolves, from leaven, from defilement, since He has washed us whiter than snow with His blood, His intercession, commands and guidance is to keep us that way and sanctify and continually cleanse us.
Will you heed the Word of God?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Letters to the Churches
The Lord declares who HE is, because it is completely about Him. He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. The first and the last which was dead and is alive! He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. The Word of God, the two edged sword! The Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass. He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth and no man openeth. The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. He doesn't allow one of these letters to be without first declaring who He is in truth.
The commendation for each church, if they were commended for anything follow this. Thy works, thy labour, thy patience, how thou canst not bear them which are evil, and has tried them which are evil, and thou hast tried them that say they are apostles and are not and hast found them liars. Thou hast borne and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured and hast not fainted. Thou hast hated the deeds of the Nicolatians, which I also hate. I know thy works and tribulation, poverty. Thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satan's seat is, and holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith. Thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first, not knoing the depths of Satan, many not having the doctrine of Jezebel. Thy works, thou hast kept the word of My patience. Notice these encouragements and acknowledgements of their faithfulness and of their works.
Following comes the rebukes though. We need to heed these things as well. Knowing we have the same potential to fall into sin as these churches did. And Jesus will have words for us to repent and if not we will have the punishment to bear as these churches He warns. The rebukes: I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love, thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. Thou also hast them that hold the docrtine of Nicolaitans which thing I hate. I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead. For I have not found thy works perfect before God. If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews and are not, but do lie; behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot, I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of thy mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and I have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Wow, that is some intense rebuke and fault the Lord finds in them. Is any of this pricking our heart and putting finger on anything in our life?
The commands the Lord has to the churches after the rebukes, are remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent, do the first works. Be thou faithful unto death. Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Repent of their deeds. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent. Behold I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Be zealous therefore and repent.
Look at all these wonderful promises that come after the commands!!! He that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. He that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. He that overcometh and keepth my works unto the end, to him that I will give power over the nations. And I will give him the morning star. He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go no more out: and i will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God and I will write upon him my new name. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne. These are all for the overcomer! How do you overcome!?
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. The blood of the Lamb and their testimony, this is how we overcome! It is not our works, for apart from Him they are dead works. It is by the blood of the Lamb, He is the One who overcame the world. Our testimony is just as precious and important, as it is the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, when you met Him, when He bore you of His Spirit, when you were born again. It is your testimony that overcomes as well as the blood of the Lamb. A true testimony is worth dieing for. Just as the blood of Jesus, of the Lamb, is more than worth dieing for. Your testimony of what the Lord has done, of when He came in power to disperse the blood of Himself upon you makes you an overcomer! How spectacular and fearful! What is your testimony? Do you have one?
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Our faith in the blood of the Lamb, our belief in the Lord Jesus, in His salvation overcomes! Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Our belief, faith, is born of God! Not of the intellect, not of man, nor of flesh. But of God, if it is true faith. Do you think it was your will to be saved? Do you think it was a will of man, that you have faith? Then it probably is not true saving faith given to you by the Lord. If it is true faith from the Lord, you know it was the Lord and your desire is to give Him all the glory because you know it had nothing to do with you. It is His work. He alone deserves the glory! He makes men overcomers. After all if it is our faith which overcometh the world, He is the author of your faith.
Revelation 2:1-3:22; Revelation 12:11; John 1:13; Luke 4:4; Prov 30:5
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