Thanks to a timely word by an old time preacher named Charles Finney and through the words of other faithful men of God I have been convicted and shown to be guilty. Let the word of the Lord Jesus remind you of the peril of not living for God. Mat 24:42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Mat 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Mat 24:45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Mat 24:47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. Mat 24:48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ Mat 24:49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, Mat 24:50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, Mat 24:51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In the previous chapter Jesus calls the Pharisees Hypocrites and asks them how will they escape the judgements of Hell! Friend, hypocrites go down into Hell, the place of torment prepared for the Devil and his angels. Outward obedience but inside there is still self on the throne. God is not mocked and sees our heart. Can we go on calling Him Lord Lord, when we do not do the things He commands us? When He comes to us in His love and nudges our heart to obey Him in some matter in our life and yet we resist Him, we say no Lord. Luk 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. 3) to reject, to refuse, to slight Have you been doing this when someone sent from God tries to speak to you about coming back to God, about surrendering your life to God? Do you bring out your arguments that always have worked before…to nullify the argument your goader presents you? Have you enjoyed frustrating the person who loves you so very much, by rejecting their advice and care? Do you always set aside as something unimportant the claims of Jesus Christ upon your very soul? I am talking to backslidden Christians here and non Christians too. Pride will bring you down friend. Even to the pit of Hell! God may have been wrestling with you to surrender your life to Him…not may have been, but most certainly has been! But like Jonah you have run the other way. You have gone down to into the bottom of the ship and gone to sleep. Perhaps that is why you are so unhappy friend. Perhaps that is why you are in a pit of personal despair and depression? That is not God’s intention for your life! But the result of your own stubborn will ….and you know it! Just as Jonah did. He knew the storm was a result of his rebellion. You have run from Gods will , God’s call, from what He wants you to do or say or give away or give up. But where are you running away to friend, where can you go from His presence, if you make yourself wings and go to the farthest shores even there He will find you…you cannot get away from God my friend. Ps 139. Perhaps you have tried or indeed are still trying to flee from His will. For your sake you better hope your plans fail. Do you not know that it is only in doing His will, that the storm will stop? His will is good…His ways are good….. Do you know that some years ago, I saw by the Spirit that I was like Jonah. That within me was this horrible hard thing that would not, no, could not , serve God. That I would rather drown in the sea than surrender my soul to His will. I was born again, I was in a prayer meeting when I realised this of my self. 1Co 2:11a For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?… Even though I would cry out to God in prayer that I wanted to serve Him and to do whatever He wanted me to do, to go wherever He wanted me to go, I realised that He must slay me first!! It’s called willful rebellion, the sin of Satan! But who knew this about me? Only me and God. Oh, I know how to pull the wool over the eyes of other Christians and leaders in the church. Just look religious, go to the prayer meetings, say amen in the preaching, Give your money…but does that mean that one is surrendered in their innermost life. Does that mean one has truly given over the reigns to Jesus Christ, that every thing he has and every thing he is, is God’s?! Psa 81:15 The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him, But their fate would endure forever. No, it’s easy to decieve yourself until God begins to prick you. That is what happened with the Pharisees and our fearless Lord. The people were in fear of the Pharisees…they were very religious, they were doing it so well! But along comes the humble Man from Gallilee, who challenged one and all to forsake all he has, and is …his very self-life, and follow Jesus. “Stop pretending! ” He was saying to them…give me your hearts, come clean with your sins, clean the inside, come on! But their pride would not allow them to give in, to surrender…”What would others think if they knew I was weak?” Reputation…or the Cross. Friends and family…..or the Cross. How can we say we love Him and do not do the things He is asking us to do. How can you pray over your children at night, and know in your heart that you do not intend to change a thing for Jesus in your own life! Woe to you HYPOCRITE! How will you escape the judgement of Hell? So the Lord will send His messengers to buffet you and to stir you and to remind you that He loves you. Do not think to comfort yourself with some idea that you gave your heart to Jesus once , so can never lose your salvation. Scripture teaches otherwise! Rom 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Rom 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. Rom 11:23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. Friend, God is able to cut off and to graft in. He is the Gardener. Any branch that does not abide and remain in Him does not produce fruit. It will be cut off and thrown into the fire. John 15 We stand by faith, the saving faith He Himself gave us. That is the condition. If we are moved away from the hope that is in the gospel and begin living an un concecrated life like an unbeliever we are in danger of being cut off! That is why the scripture in Romans warns us to FEAR and not to be haughty. The haughty attitude would be to say in your heart, “Oh it does not matter how I live, because I cannot lose my salvation any way.” Tell me , why would Paul warn us if he did not mean what he clearly says. Come back to God, repenting , turning away from self and selfishness! Turn and be saved. Stay in the Olive tree, do not be unbelieving.
|
|
Heb 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; Heb 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “TODAY,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, Amen! My brothers and sisters, read the whole passage in Hebrews 3 and 4 and you will see the seriousness of departing from the living God. To depart from God…means in the Greek – to remove, that is, (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.: – depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. Have you done that? Have you withdrawn yourself from the call of God on your life. Have been knocked out of the race by the woundings of some past experience? Come on , my dear brother, get up again, go again! The race is not over yet , turn your face back toward your loving Father….He will reinstate you in a moment…you are not disqualified. Do not listen to the lies of the Devil any more. You are not disqualified. If you stay in unbelief in departing from God , you will be. See in the scriptures above…another warning to perservere in the faith. It is conditional upon us holding fast our confidence in the gospel firm to the end. The writer is compring the experience of the Israelites in the wilderness to ours today. They perished in the wilderness because of unbelief. They departed from God in their hearts. They always went astray in their hearts it says. So God swore in His wrath that they would not enter His rest – Canaan. Canaan is a type of heaven or the kingdom friend. Unbelief will keep people out of the kingdom. You may say , I believe though, even though I am not living like I should.” There are other warnings as I have already shown. Jesus’ parables clearly show that the unprofitable servants who bury their talents will be cast out into outer darkness! He said that the servant who begins to beat his servants and to get drunk with the rest will also be cast out of His sight! Paul says clearly in his letters that if we go off into immorality and become practiced in it without any change or repentance that we will not inherit the kingdom. 1Co 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1Co 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. John tells us in 1John that we know the children of the devil and the children of God ,, those who practice righteousness and those who practice unrighteousness. 1Jo 3:10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. Rom 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. See those, “ifs”, friend? It is either true or false. This is God’s solemn word. This is the ‘evil heart of unbelief’, that departs from the the living God, spoken of in Hebrews 3. When we refuse to yield to God , to repent of our sins. When we do not come to Him any more surrendering our rights to do as we please. No matter if you say, Lord Lord!! It is a slap in the face of Jesus to ask Him to do things for you if you will not do what He says. Rom 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. You are only IN CHRIST JESUS by faith friends. Yes God will keep you…but only as you keep yourself!! Therefore there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 Some may argue that the scripture says there is no condemnation for those who are in Him. Absolutely!! Can we say we are in Him is we we live according to the flesh. Do you think that the angels in heaven would be IN heaven if they lived in sin? No they would be cast out! Do you think you are abiding in Him when you live for self and the flesh? No , you are abiding in self. You have an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God! Repent! And Live! Rom 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. We must perservere in faithfulness to God and His word. We must put down our self at every opportunity lest we drift away. Rom 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. IF YOU CONTINUE IN HIS GOODNESS!! ep-ee-men’-o From G1909 and G3306; to stay over, that is, remain (figuratively persevere): – abide (in), continue (in), tarry. We are exhorted to stay in Him friend, to remain, to abide to continue…to perservere in Him. If we can remain, then we can also leave! If we can abide then we can also leave, we can give up. BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL The word of God tells us that we are no different than the Israelites. What happened to them because of their disobedience and unbelief can also happen to us. They are our examples. It is a solemn warning to those who would live ungodly. They were all priviledged to have God in their midst. We have Him in us, joined to us. But as we have seen we must abide in Him. We abide through faith and obedience through faith. All working through love. 1Co 10:3 all ate the same spiritual food, 1Co 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 1Co 10:5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 1Co 10:6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 1Co 10:7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY.” 1Co 10:8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 1Co 10:9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 1Co 10:10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1Co 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1Co 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. Can you see the warning friend? God will help you by making a way of escape for you…but if Joseph had not run away from Potiphars wife he would have been guilty. He took the escape route. ARE you? When God is callin g you to come daily to Him, the fount of living waters, do you respond? When you have free time do you spend it on your self? Have you really given your heart, your life and all that you are to Him? Are you abiding in Him today? Return to the shepherd and overseer of your soul today my friend. He cares for you. He will fill you with His peace if you will stop running the other way like Jonah. Below, in Ps 34 …the righteous are those who trust in Him and do righteousness. This is always true in scripture. Even the devil believes in Christ…but does not Do righteousness in response to the inner promptings of God! Psa 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Psa 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psa 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. Psa 34:16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. Psa 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. Psa 34:18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psa 34:20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Psa 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. Psa 34:22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. That is a continuing trusting in Him…not a once off thing way back when you gave your heart to Him!! That is why we I am exhorting you brother/sister. So much the more as I see the day approaching. If you continue to resist Him, you will experience many sorrows. His love for you will not stop. He will persue you and cut off those other lovers that have won your affections. They have stolen you away from Him. He is a jealous God. You may go through hard times friend , unless you stop running away from Him, your husband. Then when you return to Him, MERCY, MERCY MERCY!! Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return to the LORD; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
|