This is a truth the church, at large, has discarded!
We have been taught to be self sufficient; self reliant; use self restraint; be self confident; be self motivated; use self control! When we can't - we are considered weak; useless. In a throwaway society; if it's broke, it's discarded. We are "fixers" and quitters! Few see value in "broke"!
We have it all wrong!
We don't want to suffer and we don't want those we love to suffer; suffering hurts; pain hurts.
You don't become broken without pain.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalms 51:17 KJV
When we are in pain, we run to have it alleviated; whether it be pills, surgery, therapy, or alternative medicine. Pain management is big business; so is rehab for the addiction to pain meds.
Jesus is usually the last resort!
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3 KJV
Jesus was broken for us; He endured the pain of the Cross for our sins! He bore our iniquities and by His stripes . . .
“And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24 KJV
We know Isaiah 53:5 and we want the results, but we want it without the suffering!
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:38 KJV
We want salvation; we want the blessings without obedience!
“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24 KJV
This is a hard message, for the sugar coated gospel teaches gain with no pain! If faced with the choice of salvation without suffering the majority would indeed make that choice; because they have not read The Word and they believe the lie. There is great deception in the church. You cannot believe any man (or woman) without verifying, for yourself, what The Bible says!
Jesus knew the deception that would come!
“And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” Luke 21:8 KJV
He led the way; gave us Commandments to follow to enable us to walk in His Way!
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 KJV
Salvation is not a one time event! It is a hard narrow road that requires a focused reliance on God. It requires being remade into the likeness of Jesus, which means giving up what you want for what God wants! It means going through the fire! It means facing many storms. It means surrendering and dying to self; your only confidence is to be in Him.
The storms in this life have purpose. Their design is to drive us to Him; to expose our idols; to bring us to repentance!
In this life, the trees that bend in the storms, submitting, survive. Those that "stand" rigid are blown over, uprooted and die.
How do you repent, if you don't know you have sin? The church has compromised so much, it has even made the sin of unbelief acceptable. Unrepented sin leads to cold, hard hearts.
“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12 KJV
We have put up with sin for so long it is the new norm.
“For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” II Corinthians 11:4 NKJV
The first and last message of Jesus was "repent!"(Matthew 4:17, Revelation 3:19)
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19 KJV
Jesus speaking to the church!
Of what should you repent? Unforgiveness buried in your heart! Judgments you have made! Resentment, bitterness, anger, fear & worry (which are unbelief), gossip, grumbling and complaining, just to name a few! See, these are all acceptable in the church! "Everyone does them!"
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent (lacking self restraint), fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV
“And such were some of you:”
1 Corinthians 6:11a KJV
And still are!
Don't take my word for it; pick up your Bible and read it for yourself!
Church we must repent; for time is short!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 5/4/17
No comments:
Post a Comment