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!!!
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