God has provided a way of escape for every man; for every temptation common to man. But man tries to bypass God, coming up with ways of his own; shortcuts; a means to an end. We think we know better than God or even those who have gone before us. We are a stubborn and stiff-necked people, exactly like those who have gone before us! We make the same mistakes over and over again; generation, after generation, after generation!
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”
Revelation 2:1-3 KJV
Here we find the church bypassing God! They have worked hard, persevered, endured and God sees their efforts. They think it is enough because they are working "for" Him! But Jesus calls them on it!
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5 KJV
In all of our striving, Jesus sees us as fallen and calls us back to start over! And it's serious enough that He threatens to remove our place with Him!
If we have lost our "first love" then we are backslidden no matter how much we "do for The Lord!" He calls us to repentance; TWICE in one sentence! Not the world, but the church; "remember from where you have fallen, and repent" and "and will remove your lampstand out of its place-unless you repent."
How did we get to, 'Jesus did it all on the cross' and 'I'm good'?
By listening to the devil! By looking for shortcuts! By being stiff necked and hard hearted! By NOT repenting when we sin; and sin we do - daily!
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7 KJV
If we do not "overcome" (through repentance) the temptation we face, we will lose out on Paradise! In our walk with The LORD, we must repent, (when we get a check in our heart by The Holy Spirit) especially of the little sins, because they keep us from being holy; sins like unforgiveness, judgements, bitterness, fear, worry, resentment, gossiping, grumbling and complaining, and anger!
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 KJV
We will miss out on eternal life with Jesus in heaven, if we refuse to forgive!
“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”
1 John 2:28-29 KJV
Abiding in Him; practicing righteousness; being holy - is just being obedient to His Word! It's not something that is granted to us, but what is perfected in us as we seek Him with our whole hearts!
Where we miss it is when we start justifying our humanity and loving the things of the world more than the things of God!
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 KJV
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalms 37:4-5 KJV
Your desire MUST be for Him!
You must commit!
"Remember from where you have fallen" - REPENT and find your "First Love", while there is still time!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 8/28/15
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