Category Archives: Abiding IN Jesus or the World?

Inside Out Or Outside In??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #239

14 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Inside out or Outside In?, It's All About The Cross, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Living Stones, Living TODAY!, Salvation, Seeing Truth, SIN, Sin IS the issue, The Blood Cleanseth us from all Sin, The Blood Of Jesus, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way, The Broad or Narrow Way?, The Call of God!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Word, This is the Way, Tomorrow, Too Late To Call?, Transformed life, Words Matter, Worldliness, You can't get yesterday back!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Inside Out Or Outside In???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #239

I heard a message today that pricked my heart, for we seldom hear a message which reminds us that, contrary to popular opinion, it’s not what’s on the “outside” that counts; and scripture is replete with teachings that God’s work is always from the inside out (not to say that we are to neglect the outside!)!

“Thus saith the LORD;

Cursed be the man

that trusteth in man,

and maketh flesh his arm,

and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert,

and shall not see when good cometh;

but shall inhabit the parched places

in the wilderness,

in a salt land

and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man

that trusteth in the LORD,

and whose hope the LORD is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters,

and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,

and shall not see when heat cometh,

but her leaf shall be green;

and shall not be careful in the year of drought,

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?

10 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 17:5-10

We must recognize that we choose to hear the voice of God and respond to Him in repentance and trust in His saving power through the blood of Jesus; or we choose to refuse His call to our hearts and trust in ourselves, the arm of man, or just depart from God, His Son and His Word.  It’s a matter of the heart and what we choose to believe, follow and live out—but we can never live good enough to change our heart, apart from Jesus’ sacrifice.

One of the greatest reminders of this is found in Proverbs 3.

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

The problem is that we have exalted ourselves to think that we are “god”!  But there is only One God and One Way to Him, The Lord Jesus Christ.  You get to choose but the consequence comes without your control.  God gives us the privilege to choose, but the consequences are in His hands.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

if we faint not.”  Galatians 6:7-9

Are you listening to God?  Are you sowing to the flesh or seeking Jesus’ provision for being born again and having new life in Jesus.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.”   Matthew 7:13-14

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Isaiah shares this same message from the Lord to the people of Judah—a word that is also apropos to us today.

“Wherefore the Lord said,

Forasmuch as this people draw near me

with their mouth,

and with their lips

do honour me,

but have removed their heart

far from me,

and their fear toward me

is taught by the precept of men:

14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed

to do a marvellous work among this people,

even a marvellous work and a wonder:

for the wisdom of their wise men

shall perish,

and the understanding of their prudent men

shall be hid.

15 Woe unto them

that seek deep to hide their counsel

from the LORD,

and their works

are in the dark,

and they say,

Who seeth us?

and who knoweth us?”  Isaiah 29:13-15

People who claim the name of Jesus, yet go their own way, not the way of Jesus or His Word are who this passage is referring to.  Whom are you following? Believing? Trusting in?  Ordering your steps after?  Jesus paints one of the most profound pictures of the choices that face us, reminding us that “saying so, doesn’t make it so”.  Are we just talking about Jesus, or have we been transformed by His blood?  Are we being led by His precious Holy Spirit.  (See Romans 8:9, it tells us that if we don’t have The Holy Spirit, we don’t belong to Jesus!)  The Word said it, not just me.  Is your house built on the “Rock of Ages” or the “sand”?   Note that the storms will come no matter who you are—and the foundation does matter—in fact it’s a life and death choice.

“Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree

that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever

heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one

that heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”                  Matthew 7:17-27

Have you been changed from the inside out—by being born again?  Are you trying to put on a show by impressing others with the outside, but have not received God’s work of salvation to transform a lost sinner into a saint of God?

“The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man,

thou dwellest in the midst

of a rebellious house,

which have eyes to see,

and see not;

they have ears to hear,

and hear not:

for they are a rebellious house.”  Ezekiel 12:1-2

Rebellion is costly and can cost your soul, or your walk with The King.  It cost King Saul his kingdom—all because he did it his way, rather than God’s.  (Read all of 1 Samuel 14 & 15). There is a point of no return, which forgiveness can’t always restore.

“And Samuel said,

Hath the LORD as great delight

in burnt offerings and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey

is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion

is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness

is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,

he hath also rejected thee from being king.

24 And Saul said unto Samuel,

I have sinned:

for I have transgressed the commandment

of the LORD,

and thy words:

because I feared the people,

and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee,

pardon my sin,

and turn again with me,

that I may worship the LORD.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul,

I will not return with thee:

for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,

and the LORD hath rejected thee

from being king over Israel.”  1 Samuel 15:22-26

May God open our eyes and show us the true condition of our heart, so that we may receive the true work of redemption and recreation, and live it before a lost and dying world!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect, will of God.”   Romans 12:1-2

Amen & Amen!!!

Get It? Got It? Holding To It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #238

12 Friday Jul 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Eternal Consequences, Eternal Treasures, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Laying up treasure in heaven, Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Living For Jesus, Nothing New, Now is the time...., Order my steps, Salvation, The Word, Trendy Or Truth, Worship Him!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Get It? Got it? Holding To It???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #238

We continually wrestle with the draw of the world, the call of the bling, the ads, promos, and enticement to get the newest, fastest, most fashionable things of some celebrity; all the while not realizing that these things will pass away.  We will pass away; and when we do, we will face Jesus as our Lord and Savior and give an account of our life; or we will stand before Jesus The Judge and pay for our own sin!  It’s not about stuff, it’s about peace, joy and loving Jesus more than the world.  And even more subtle, the people and things that offer to make us healthier, wealthier and smarter by using, promoting and making money off of some new thing.  Solomon said it best.

“All things are full of labour;

man cannot utter it:

the eye is not satisfied

with seeing,

nor the ear

filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said,

See, this is new?

it hath been already of old time,

which was before us.”  Ecclesiastes 1:8-10

We lost two people in our circle this week, one knew Jesus intimately and went right into the presence of Jesus (See 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.); the other may or may not have met Jesus, I don’t know.  But one thing I do know, each of them carried nothing with them but the life they lived, and everything they had collected, they left behind.  What are you collecting?  What did you get that you had to have, and now you’re ready to put it in a garage safe?  Even the priceless treasures that we may value greatly can’t be held onto when we die and face eternity.  What have we invested in that is of eternal value.  First and foremost to be born again, secondly (in my opinion) is to have sent on treasures to heaven that are of true eternal value.  As I heard someone once say, the only thing we can take to heaven with us is love and those we have helped to come to salvation in Jesus!  It has merit!  While I don’t find anywhere is scripture that we are bound to take a vow of poverty, we are called throughout scripture to hold the value of riches loosely and not hoard them to ourselves, but to use them to bless others as we have opportunity.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also…

…24 No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life,

what ye shall eat,

or what ye shall drink;

nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

Is not the life more than meat,

and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air:

for they sow not,

neither do they reap,

nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.

Are ye not much better than they?…

…33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Portions of Matthew 6:19-34

Peter also reminded the early believers that riches are not eternal, but Jesus and His Word is!  May we not lose sight of the things that are truly eternal, important, and of real value!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness;

but is longsuffering to us-ward,

not willing that any should perish,

but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come

as a thief in the night;

in the which the heavens shall pass away

with a great noise,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat,

the earth also

and the works that are therein

shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation

and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting

unto the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens being on fire

shall be dissolved,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we,

according to his promise,

look for new heavens

and a new earth,

wherein dwelleth righteousness.”                            Portions of 2 Peter 3:9-13

So, my friends, the question comes to us, “What will we spend our life on?”  Will we spend our lives accumulating things or pursuing the Kingdom of God and sending our real, eternal treasures on before us.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  May we ask God to search our heart and reveal to us the true state of our affairs?  James has a stern word to those claiming the name of Jesus; will we take heed?

“Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

 ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.”  James 4:3-8

May we get it!  May we ever keep it in our heart!  May we ever hold to JESUS in true love and devotion, as we “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil…”!

Amen and Amen!!!

I Love Jesus, But…??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #236

05 Friday Jul 2024

Posted by in A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Believe God?, Believe IN Jesus, Biblical Boundaries Matter!, Blessed by God, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Following Jesus or the World?, Fruit of the Spirit, Full Of what?, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Salvation, Serving God or Using God?, Sowing and Reaping, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spiritual Hacking???, The Word, Who's Listening?, Who's Your Father?, Whose Sheep are You?, Whose Side Are You On?, Wisdom, Wise As Serpents, Wolves in sheep's clothing!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I Love Jesus, But…??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #236

Sometimes what we say, doesn’t’ match what we live; so today I’d like to challenge us to examine our lives and consider what God’s Word says.  Then decide if we really love Jesus, or someone or something else more than Him?  Are we His child?  His sheep?  Or are we dressed up to look like a sheep?  It’s your call, and I pray we will each hear from Jesus!

“Jesus saith unto them,

Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land

full of great fishes,

an hundred and fifty and three:

and for all there were so many,

yet was not the net broken.

12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.

And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou?

knowing that it was the Lord.

13 Jesus then cometh,

and taketh bread,

and giveth them,

and fish likewise.

14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself

to his disciples,

after that he was risen from the dead.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me

more than these?       

He saith unto him,

Yea, Lord; thou knowest

 that I love thee.

He saith unto him,

Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

He saith unto him,

Yea, Lord; thou knowest

that I love thee.

He saith unto him,

Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time,

Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

Peter was grieved because he said unto him

the third time,

Lovest thou me?

And he said unto him,

Lord, thou knowest all things;

thou knowest that I love thee.

Jesus saith unto him,

Feed my sheep.”  John 21:10-17

While many Bible scholars, teachers, and preachers comment on what “more than these” might mean, for our purposes we’re going to try to apply it to our lives!  Now, for Peter, Jesus could have been talking about the ‘going fishing’, or the ‘other disciples’, or the ‘weakness’ that he displayed when he denied his master, Lord and Messiah’!  But the important thing is that we let Jesus’ words sink into our hearts and ask God to search us and be sure that we really do belong to Jesus.  Are we one of HIS sheep or are we just wearing a sheep costume and going around saying the right ‘Bah…Bah…Bah”.  Truthfully, I was one of the fake sheep until Jesus came and spoke right to my heart, “You are not mine!”  And after much wrestling and arguing with Jesus, I fell on my face, repented of the sin in my heart and life (even though I had tried so hard to hide my sin and imitate a genuine believer—but Jesus knew, and that day so did I, finally) and asked Jesus to forgive my sin and save me!  And He did—gloriously He did!

The question that we each must hear from God is, are you mine?  And no matter who else we may fool, God knows, and He will save us if we will but face our sin, repent and trust in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice to save!  Yet even when we do that, we may stumble like Peter did, but Jesus will never leave His own in failure, rebellion and self-will for long.  He will discipline His own.  What do you love more than Jesus?  Do you know the pleasure of His sweet presence or are you running as fast as you can to not hear His voice.  Has the hand of discipline fallen into your life?  Stop running and receive the restoration into the sweet fellowship of our Lord; even as Peter was forgiven, restored and in a few weeks, would be filled with The Holy Spirit to preach with a bold power that he had never known.  We can know and walk in that same power—not in the same way as Peter, but in the way that God wants to use us—to HIS glory not our own!

“For whom the Lord loveth

he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening,

God dealeth with you as with sons;

for what son is he whom the father

chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement,

whereof all are partakers,

then are ye bastards,

and not sons.”  Hebrews 12:6-8

Are you a true son?  Are you walking in the power of Jesus’ precious gift of The Holy Spirit?  Or are you loving something else more?  Are you a fake sheep trying to fool God and man? Have you lived your own way, and never known the discipline of Jesus? You can fool man, for a while, but Jesus proclaimed that the tree would bring forth the fruit of its nature in Matthew 7 (check it out, read all of Matthew 7, it may surprise you!). Jesus promised that The Holy Spirit is the evidence that we belong to Him, and His fruit (no ‘s’) will show to one degree or another. Are you hearing His voice?  What’s He saying?  Will you heed and obey?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely there is a test, with eternal consequences.

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.”  Romans 8:8-10

How can this be?  Paul makes it clear for us; have you come to Jesus and received His gift of salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Whose Spirit does your life reflect; Jesus or the world (Satan’s)?

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Are you that “new creature”?  Have you been born again by the power of the cross?  Only you can answer that question; so, rather than making a long list for you to compare your life to, I’ll simply let Paul do that, and ask that each of us will lay our hearts open before God to do the restorative work in us that He did in Peter; or if you’ve never come to Jesus, that He will convict your heart and bring you to the cross.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way

in me,

and lead me

in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139-23-24

Jesus is not only the great physician, He is also the great restorer of His own sheep, even if He has to discipline us to ‘get our attention’, so to speak.  Don’t waste time serving the enemy of not only your soul, but the souls of all those whom you/we love.  Who is watching you?  Will you lead them to Jesus or lead them to the enemies’ bus stop!  What fruit is your tree yielding? Remember that what you sow, you will reap; and as the old saying says, “You’ll reap more than you sowed, later than you sowed, costing you more than you wanted to pay!”  And often that cost in seen in the lives of those we love the most! (And if you don’t know the meaning of some of these words, look them up, you may be alarmed!)

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

 and these are contrary the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,      

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.”  Galatians 5:16-22

I pray that you find this post helpful, enlightening and life changing by the power of The Holy Spirit and The Word of God!  I’ll simply close with Jesus’ own words given to His disciples just before His death.  They are still true for us; and we never have to walk alone or in doubt if we will but listen to His voice—it’s all about Jesus, not me/you!

“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,

that will I do,

that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name,

I will do it.

15 If ye love me,

keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father,

and he shall give you another Comforter,

that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth;

whom the world cannot receive,

because it seeth him not,

neither knoweth him:

but ye know him;

for he dwelleth with you,

and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless:

I will come to you.”  John 14:13-18

 Amen and Amen!!!

Did You See That??? What??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #234

01 Monday Jul 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Choose you this day?, Evil and Adulterous Generation?, Eyes that SEE HIM, Eyes that see not, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Looking up Or around?, Salvation, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spiritual Warfare, The Word, Victorious Living, Wise As Serpents, Witness

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Did You See That???  What??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #234

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us?

Then said I,

Here am I;

send me.

9 And he said,

Go,

and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.”  Isaiah 6:8-9

Isaiah was sent to preach to a people who would not heed his message!  We often get discouraged but we need to understand that even Jesus was rejected because He spoke God’s truth, and just like today, every man wants to walk his own way. Even as Solomon recorded, “there is no new thing under the sun…” (See Ecclesiastes 1:9,) we live in a day when even much of the church is rejecting God, His Son, His Word and His ways!  We must not let the unwillingness of others to hear or heed our words change our commitment, we must continue to proclaim the truth.  What are you hearing?  What are you seeing?  Are you allowing the world to dull your senses to the things of God?  Isaiah had even more to say from the Lord in this regard.

“That this is a rebellious people,

lying children,

children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

10 Which say to the seers,

See not;

and to the prophets,

Prophesy not unto us right things,

speak unto us smooth things,

prophesy deceits:

11 Get you out of the way,

turn aside out of the path,

cause the Holy One of Israel

to cease from before us.”  Isaiah 30:9-11

This could have been written to America just as easily as God told Isaiah to prophesy to the people of Judah.  Will we heed his word and open our ears and our eyes and judge with righteous judgment.  Or will we fall to the world’s ideology?  Jeremiah had the same message, just a little later down the road to this same people who had ignored and rejected Isaiah’s warnings; and this precious prophet of God was given the same message, and a warning that while God would protect him, the people would be against him, and for some forty years he proclaimed the warning to God’s people to repent or fall into captivity.  He could have been right here—right now.

“Hear now this,

O foolish people,

and without understanding;

which have eyes,

and see not;

which have ears,

and hear not:” Jeremiah 5:21

I so love the book of Jeremiah, for it is so pertinent to us.  Oh, God, may we hear you?  Oh God, may we see you?  Oh God, may we heed your word?  Is God calling you?  Do you measure with God’s Word or the world’s standard?  Oh, my friends please heed the call.

“But the LORD said unto me,

Say not, I am a child:

for thou shalt go to all

that I shall send thee,

and whatsoever I command thee

thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces:

for I am with thee to deliver thee,

saith the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand,

and touched my mouth.

And the LORD said unto me,

Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee

over the nations

and over the kingdoms,

to root out,

and to pull down,

and to destroy,

and to throw down,

to build,

and to plant.”  Jeremiah 1:7-10

May we heed the call to share God’s truth as God gives us opportunity; whether it be in the small things, the big things, in our homes—first and foremost–in our churches, in our interaction with others.  And more than anything else may we bathe our hearts and lives with prayer—real Spirit led, heart-felt, earnest prayer for our own path as well as the salvation, holiness, and maturity of God’s own. Remember my friends, if we don’t see the peril we can’t escape it, and we are called to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves”, we are to love and be kind, but trust is something that must be proved and earned!  (Just say’n, as the kids say!) The peril is at hand!  Are your eyes trained to see truth?

“This know also,

that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures

more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Don’t be afraid to disagree with untruth!  Don’t be afraid to excuse yourself!  Remember Joseph ran when Potiphar’s wife attempted to seduce him—we can follow his example, and run from sin, temptation and lies.  We can stand fast without being rude or unkind—but firm yet gentle!  May God open our eyes and our ears to be in tune with HIS way not man’s.  Do you know the shepherd?  I pray that you do; and if you don’t you can.  If you hear His voice respond in repentance and faith in Jesus’ own substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin!

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.”  John 10:27-28

Amen and Amen!!!

Still Will I Trust Him??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #233

28 Friday Jun 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Job, Look UP, Look up and Praise The Lord, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, The Word, Trials, Tried by FIRE!, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth, Tuned In To Jesus

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Still Will I Trust Him??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #233

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation:

for an hypocrite shall not come before him.”  Job 13:15-16

Job, the well-known sufferer, is one of my favorite characters, even though the first time you try to read through Job it is seemingly boring, but as you read it over again, the flow will begin to lift your heart as you see this man stand fast in The Lord. It is a great encouragement to believers as we go through trials and difficulties—especially the seemingly unexplainable kind!  I want to simply share some words from Job to encourage you today.

“Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind,

and who can turn him?

and what his soul desireth,

even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing

that is appointed for me:

and many such things

are with him.”  Job 23:12-14

May we draw nearer to our Lord so that even in the crises we will know that our faith rests securely in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, The Lord!

“Surely God will not hear vanity,

neither will the Almighty regard it.

14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him,

yet judgment is before him;

therefore trust thou in him.”  Job 35:13-14

And in closing some profound encouragements and challenges from the Psalmists.

“The steps of a good man

are ordered by the LORD:

and he delighteth

in his way.

24 Though he fall,

he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him

with his hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me

from the oppression of man:

so will I keep thy precepts.

135 Make thy face to shine

upon thy servant;

and teach me

thy statutes.”  Psalm 119:133-135

 So, get into The Word—stay in The Word—and listen to the leading, prompting and direction of The Holy Spirit within you!

Amen and Amen!!!