The Number One

The number one sin in the church is unbelief. It is so full of fear and worry. Trusting God seems to occur when every other avenue the world/man has to offer; prayer - the last resort. We are so deceived we do not even know we have sunk this low!

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”  Jeremiah‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

(For a complete explanation of God's blessings and curses, read Deuteronomy. They have not changed.) 

However, we are as stiffnecked and stubborn as the children of Israel and Judah, ever were. Sin is mentioned and immediately we claim, "God knows my heart!"

God says:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If we would just examine our hearts.

“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah‬ ‭17:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We do not see, for we are blind, and we like it so. We are happy in our sin. We may be miserable, hurting and paralyzed with fear, but we have believed the lie of the enemy who said we are "saved, sanctified and delivered", and we rattle our chains as proof!

Would that we would proclaim:  “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” Jeremiah‬ ‭17:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

No, we trust in man. Because we refuse to deal with the sin in our hearts, man is our only recourse. 

However, God is merciful; if we would just turn in repentance! 

“At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” Jeremiah‬ ‭18:7-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” Jeremiah‬ ‭18:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Repent while there is still time.

Even so - MARANATHA! 

From 3/4/16