Living By Faith Or Entertainment? A Word from THE WORD!!! #88

I’m sorry to be so long in posting, but it’s been a bit hectic at our house, and I’m glad to be back with you all.  Yet my heart is heavy for the things I see going on around us, and so many who claim the name of my Lord Jesus seem to have missed the boat, so to speak, and make no connection between claiming the name of Jesus and walking according to HIS WORD and not our own ways!  While this is a heavy burden on my heart, I hope that this message will be used by The Lord to touch hearts, open eyes, and ears to respond to the work of the precious Holy Spirit in convicting hearts and drawing people to Jesus and HIS Word “he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith”!

“I will stand upon my watch,

and set me upon the tower,

and will watch to see

what he will say unto me,

and what I shall answer

when I am reproved.

2 And the LORD answered me, and said,

Write the vision,

and make it plain upon tables,

that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time,

but at the end it shall speak,

and not lie:

though it tarry,

wait for it;

because it will surely come,

it will not tarry.

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up

is not upright in him:

but the just shall live

by his faith.

5 Yea also,

because he transgresseth by wine,

he is a proud man,

neither keepeth at home,

who enlargeth his desire as hell,

and is as death,

and cannot be satisfied,

but gathereth unto him all nations,

and heapeth unto him all people:

6 Shall not all these

take up a parable against him,

and a taunting proverb against him,

and say,

Woe to him that increaseth

that which is not his!

how long?

and to him that ladeth himself

with thick clay!”  Habakkuk 2:1-6

I hope we will hear from God and open our hearts to His call to holy living before a lost and dying world, standing in “the gap”.  May we live by our faith in JESUS, not the world, entertainment or our flesh!

“And I sought for a man among them,

that should make up the hedge,

and stand in the gap

before me for the land,

that I should not destroy it:

but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation

upon them;

I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath:

their own way have I recompensed

upon their heads,

saith the Lord GOD.”  Ezekiel 22:30-31

I plead with those of us who belong to Jesus, may we examine our heart and life by God’s standard not by Hellywood’s! Is modesty a part of my life?  Is moderation?  Sobriety (not just lack of substances but an upright, sober thinking life)?  Holy in my speech (not ‘holier than thou’ talk, but a noticeable absence of profanity and vulgar references, or mean talk!)? Do I express kindness and compassion toward people who are different than me–toward all people?  Am I kind and considerate toward those who serve me (at the bank, at the café, at the dollar store, in the retail line when it’s busy, to other drivers–even at 5 O’clock)?  To people on the phone who annoy me?  To my children and/or grandchildren?  Am I compassionate and understanding of my parents/grandparents who may have limitations that annoy and try my patience?  I could go on, but you get the point.  Do I love with God’s love not the selfish lust of the world?

Jesus gives us one of the greatest examples of the difference between what “looks good to men” and “what is acceptable to God”.  Let’s spend just a bit of time considering His words; and even though it’s a lengthy passage I think it well worth our consideration.  May The Holy Spirit open our eyes to GOD’s truth, without the spin of the world!  We will have a hard time being successful sharing the Gospel with others when our lives don’t measure up to the “Good News” that we want to share.  And just before we look at the message from Jesus, a brief word (a preface, if you would) worthy of our consideration from Jeremiah.

“Hath a nation changed their gods,

which are yet no gods?

but my people have changed their glory

for that which doth not profit.

12 Be astonished,

O ye heavens, at this,

and be horribly afraid,

be ye very desolate,

saith the LORD.

13 For my people have committed two evils;

they have forsaken me

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed them out cisterns,

broken cisterns,

that can hold no water.”  Jeremiah 2:11-13

Now, the words of our Lord 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.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 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.

28 And it came to pass,

when Jesus had ended these sayings,

the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29 For he taught them as one having authority,

and not as the scribes.”  Matthew 7:13-29

Which gate have you gone through?  What’s your house built on?  Are you looking good to the world but deficient before God.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  My love and prayers are sent with this message–may God do that which pleases HIM, even as Jesus taught us to pray:

“Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:10

And just as a ‘P.S.’, notice that Jesus didn’t say, “I knew you, but you fell–or I knew you but forgot you–or even I knew you, but you just didn’t measure up”; what He said was “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity…”. What’s not of God, can’t please God! (see 1 Corinthians 3:11-18 for Paul’s message this subject)!

Amen and Amen!!!