In their unrepentant, darkness-loving hearts, many today have created a false god in their own sinful image. Jesus told us that evil “men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19-21) They choose to look only at the goodness, grace, mercy, and love of God while intentionally refusing to acknowledge that the LORD is “Holy, holy, holy” and that “The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth.” (Psalms 9:16-17; Romans 11:22; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Just as the Holy Spirit warned us, these same counterfeits have also “heaped to themselves”, or set up before them, self-serving false teachers who conjoined them in their deliberate corruption of the image of a Holy loving God who is just and will judge each of us.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
The only proper image of God in our hearts comes from acknowledging “All” that He’s given us in His Word.
“ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Those who stay in and worship God on the record and the terms He gives in His Word learn sound “doctrine”, are reproved, and corrected, and instructed by the LORD. They are perfected, matured, equipped and “furnished” through and through by the LORD.
Those who truly love God supremely desire to know Him fully, to know all about Him, and to please Him, to do things His way and not their own (John 14:15; 15:14; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:3).
We cannot worship God on the basis of what we think He is but rather on who He says He is. The psalms gained understanding by being in God’s Word and therefore hated “every false way” or everything that didn’t align with the Word of God.
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9
“God is not the way we say He is, God is the way the Bible says He is.” A.W. Tozer
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:104
When a man decides to truly repent, he will then worship God on the basis of who He tells us He is. Such a man will love and be “valiant for the truth” and therefore he will “HATE every false way.” (Jeremiah 9:3)
“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:128
Many today render false worship toward the LORD in that they have not dethroned the god of self and therefore are seeking God for what He can give them or do for them – instead of loving and worshipping Him for who He is. Do we seek the heart of God or the hand of God? (Psalms 33:11) Do we only know the Word of God and not the God of the Word?
Saul’s Rebellion
Saul did not remain in the Word as Israel’s kings were instructed to do (Deuteronomy 17). He therefore became wise in his own conceit because of his evil heart of pride, arrogancy which is witchcraft or control, doing things our own way and not God’s
“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.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Saul was full of pride. He not longer saw himself as “little” or humble and small in light of the Almighty. No, he was full of arrogance for not keeping his heart pure before God and therefore leaned to his own darkened understanding instead of trusting and obeying God.
“And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?.” 1 Samuel 15:17
In 1 Samuel 15: The LORD reminded Saul what Amalek did to Israel after God brought His people out of Egypt and told him to annihilate Amalek. In the Old Testament Amalek represents the flesh, the “old man” which must be “put off” (crucified) by the cross life (Colossians 3:3,9). Egypt represents the world. The LORD saves and delivers His people out of the world and commands us to kill, to crucify the flesh perpetually (Amalek). See 1 Corinthians 9:27. Like many Christians today, Saul chose do things his own way instead of God’s way, which is the way of the cross. Therefore Saul did an impartial job at dying, at killing the flesh. He let it (Amalek) live and for that God called him a rebel and took away his ministry. The same happens today to many who do not take up the cross wholly, who make concession for the flesh, who do not lay down their lives in this fleeting world, living a crucified life. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:23)
“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.” Proverbs 3:5-7
Worshipping God for who He truly is is essential, and not having a distorted image of the Almighty with whom we have to do (2 Timothy 4:1-4).
PRAYER: Father, we come to You in Jesus’ name, asking You to clarify in our hearts and minds who You are and to clear up any and all misconceptions, false notions that are in us….
Knowing the LORD Involves Worshipping and Serving Him on His Stated Terms
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10
How can we possibly get to know God except on the basis of who He said He is?
“CHRIST” appears 532 times in the New Testament Scriptures. The Greek word is CHRISTOS and means the anointed One, the Messiah. | Christology (the study of Christ).
This is a fascinating study sure to mature the believer’s understanding, relationship, and fellowship with the LORD. The whole of God’s Word reveals who He is and so the more of the full counsel of His Word we know and understand, the more we can know Him and how He operates. In fact, He is very “jealous” and tells us that even His name is “Jealous.” (Exodus 34:14) And, if we have the image of a false god in our hearts, erected by false notions, philosophies, we have another god in place of the LORD. This further underscores the necessity of searching the Holy Scriptures in diligent, daily digging and Bible Study.
The LORD levels a scathing rebuke to the three friends of Job for their misrepresentation of the LORD, of His attributes.
“And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.” Job 42:7
Nothing has changed. Job’s friends spoke incorrectly of God while Job kept the Word of God, held to the declarations the LORD had given them of Himself. As the wrath of God was kindled against the friends of Job for misrepresenting Him, so is His holy wrath set against those today who do the same – and they are many.
Like “many” today, Job’s friends did “corrupt the word (the record) of God.”
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
The words of God are the record of God – that which is on record directly from Him concerning who He is and who will be His and who will be excluded from His eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:8). Like Paul, men of God keep His Word unfailingly. They speak with “sincerity,” they speak “in Christ” or out of a crucified life, disposition (Galatians 20:20; Colossians 3:3).
NEWSFLASH: Dear sinner: You don’t get to decide or choose who God is. Read His Word honestly, with sincere heart, and own all of His truth (Proverbs 23:23). The immutable divine nature and attributes of the Almighty are perfect and don’t change, aren’t altered because a piece of dust (you, I) denies them, Him. Repent now sinner.
The problem with fashioning a god after our own sinful image, one who justifies our sin instead of judging it, is that such is not the God we shall give account to, the God who is the very Judge of our eternal souls and has given us His Word to which we are fully and personally accountable.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:12
Face and take God at His Word or perish with every other rebel.
“Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13
“Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23
An attribute is simply something you attribute to someone and taking the name of the LORD in vain is prohibited by Him.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
Study to Know Him and His Attributes – and You Will IF He matters to You – and You Won’t if He Doesn’t
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Proper and thorough assimilation is essential in apprehending divine truth (Isaiah 28:13; 1 Corinthians 2:13, etc.). – “Rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) There’s serious error and danger in diminishing from one divine attribute to accommodate another Deuteronomy 4:2). Beware! (2 Timothy 2:15) One divine attribute in no way negates nor diminishes from another (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:18-19, etc.).
Just because “God is love”, gracious, forgiving, and merciful to those who fear and obey Him, does nothing to negate that He is “Holy, holy, holy.” (1 John 4:8, 16; Psalms 103:10-12; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) And, just because God is “Holy, holy, holy” does not diminish from His merciful kindness! (Psalms 86:5, 15)
Beware of going to seed on one Bible truth to the exclusion of what is transmitted in the whole counsel of God’s Word.
When we don’t yet know and understand His divine attributes, are we not susceptible to having the image of a false god in our imagination?
One of the goals of this post is to simply quicken your understanding of the revealing of the divine attributes in His Word. It’s the source, the treasure chest of blessedness!
“Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. … For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Exodus 34:7, 14
The LORD’s attributes are in His Word shown both in direct statements of revelation and also in His acts and ways towards the children of men throughout recorded biblical history spanning 6,000 years and into eternity future.
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalms 107:8
God Reveals to Us that He is both “Good” and “Great” …
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5
“But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” Psalms 86:15
God is also both good and severe in His justice and judgment to those who despise instead of receiving His goodness. We are warned to “behold” both “the goodness and severity of God”:
“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” Romans 11:22
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15
“That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:14-16
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:3
“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8
Here are some examples of the emotions of the LORD ….
God grieves: “his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel”
“And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” Judges 10:16
The LORD weeps …
“But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.” Jeremiah 13:17
The LORD rejoices ….
“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. … Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:7, 10
QUESTION:
“Was Jesus always sad on earth?”
REPLY
Notice the word “above” in Hebrews 1:9:
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness ABOVE thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:9
Christ was “a man of sorrows” for the things He suffered as the very Son of God and for being persecuted unto death for our sins (Isaiah 53). Yet, Jesus had more joy than any man who ever walked the earth (Heb. 1:9). This should be understandable due to joy coming from obedience and He was perfectly obedient (John 15:11). Jesus also supplied wine at a marriage celebration (John 2). It’s obvious that we are all still learning … but only if we remain teachable. Jesus was not a prude … the image of Jesus being a prude is catholic actually …. they have no image of Jesus except sad and emaciated ….. also, the idea that Jesus was a prude seems to be consistent with self-righteous, novice believers who find out some truth and take it to seed and do not continue to grow in grace and in discovering the whole of who Jesus was …. He invented joy, celebration, etc., and has a Great Supper and eternal celebration awaiting His own (1 Cor. 2:9; Rev. 21-22, etc.)
“Jesus wept” when He beheld the rebellion of His own people or those who were supposed to be His (John 11:35).
Christology (the study of Christ).
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How We Know the Bible is the only Holy Book on Planet Earth [podcast]
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A Word of Encouragement on Ministering to Others
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23
It’s God’s Word, the “incorruptible seed” of the truth of God that shatters that which stands between Him and sinners. Listen closely and grasp these divinely inspired Word through the prophet Jeremiah:
“Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29
The rock of unbelief is broken by the words of God entering the hearts of men. The light of divine truth pierces the darkness:
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalms 119:130
When the very words of God enter the human heart, by its nature – light – darkness is exposed for what it is.
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalms 19:7
YOUR PRAYER: Father, please make me a consummate soul winner, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Many times, due to a lack of the cross in our lives, are we not rather in the flesh instead of the Spirit and therefore do we not attempt to force or coerce the truth of God on others?
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
EVER BEEN THERE? There are times when we are to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” and other times when the enemy is trying to get us to take the bait, to bite on something minor and not be quiet, listen, and meekly minister the Word and love of God (Jude 3-4; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 2:24-26). May God bless each of His children to be led by His Holy Spirit in each instant and glorify Him, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Preaching AT someone and ministering TO someone are mutually exclusive. Are we preaching in our own self-righteous wrath and don’t yet realize it? The words of James are stinging and should be memorized:
“For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
May God fill us with His love and bless each of us to edify (build up) the members of His body.
Both rebuking and ministering are certainly Scriptural and yet, personally, I can look back in regret and see that when God wanting me MINISTERING TO someone, I was instead preaching AT the intended target/person. They are not a target but an eternal soul heading to Heaven or hell. And at times, God will mercifully lead His people to send forth a strong rebuke in order to turn the sinner to Himself.
There are many instances in Scripture where unrepentant rebels are dealt a hard blow with strong preaching, strong rebuke – the call to repent (Matthew 23; Acts 13:10; Revelation 3:19, etc.).
I wonder if it would help up today if we paused to consider the process that transpired in our own lives. Though salvation is instantaneously imparted upon repentance, it most likely took a few people sowing the seed of God’s Word in our hearts before we repented and received Christ, right? Is that what happened in your life? It sure is in mine. I didn’t stop and get saved the first time some bless-ed disciple ministered to me. Did you?
When we put a seed in the ground to get a crop, it has to first be planted and then it begins to germinate, right? Then comes the crop and the fruit. This is a process and Paul speaks of it when he writes:
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Here below is a passage the LORD quickens my heart to pour prayerfully over on a regular basis:
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26
PEOPLE go public about a lot of things. It’s time for God’s people to GO PUBLIC about JESUS!
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Like everything in Christ’s kingdom, nothing works outside of the cross – the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ happening in our lives daily.
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Recovering Biblical Womanhood [podcast]
by Lindsey Griffin
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 ‘𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱’ 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗱?
The more I think about this, the more I wonder whether we have been taught to look at male responsibility through the eyes of a child watching someone else get something she didn’t get.
“He gets to be in charge? That’s not fair! I want a turn.😠”
But what if what we have been calling a privilege was actually a responsibility?
The more I study the responsibilities Scripture places primarily upon men, the less I find myself coveting them. Headship sounds wonderful if all you see is the seat at the head of the table. It looks very different when you realize that the man sitting there is supposed to answer for what happens at that table.
Biblical authority isn’t simply getting your way. It comes with responsibility, sacrifice, service, provision, protection, difficult decisions, and ultimately accountability before God. Scripture repeatedly connects greater authority with greater accountability. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48). James even warns that not many should become teachers because teachers “shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1).
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” James 3:1
And that has made me rethink the entire way women have been encouraged to view male leadership.
Maybe instead of asking, “Why does he get to have that authority?” we should have been asking, “What does God require from the person to whom He gives that authority?”
Because I don’t think we can demand all of the authority traditionally associated with men while simultaneously asking society to make allowances for us whenever the realities of being women become inconvenient. We cannot insist, “Don’t treat me differently because I’m a woman. I can do anything a man can do,” and then turn around and argue, when accountability becomes painful, that our hormones, emotions, reproductive stage, or sex should substantially change what is expected of us.
If we want identical authority, then logically we are also asking for identical accountability.
The Bible never says that men are more valuable and women are less valuable. God gave men and women DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES, with DIFFERENT BURDENS attached to them, and neither sex needs to covet what God entrusted primarily to the other.
I’m increasingly grateful that I don’t have to occupy every position a man occupies simply to prove that I am his equal in value.
I have a seat at the table. I don’t need to usurp his seat in order for mine to matter.”
“I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” 1 Timothy 5:14
More on God Fearing Women here.
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Abiding
Either Crucify the Flesh or it will Crucify Christ out of Your Life [podcast]
Fight the temptation or die the death?
Where’s the victory come from?
The Cross – something counterfeits intentionally evade (Philippians 3:18-19). The cross is how we know who is real and who is fake. Refusing to take up the cross means one has denied Christ. This would account for the vast majority of men in ministry today. They are cross-less.
The only people who are truly following Christ are those who are doing it HIS way – and His stated way is the cross, the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24). There is no other way to follow Jesus.
If we don’t crucify the flesh, the evil deeds of the body, the flesh will crucify Christ out of our lives. Pray and read Romans 6 each morning this week.
Jesus conquered sin, death, and Satan by dying and not by first rising up (Hebrews 2:14). This is how we also are brought forth into His victory by Him – through our own weakness. Let’s give our ear to hear Christ’s apostle Paul:
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
It’s interesting that the vast majority of pastors today insist that it’s impossible to stop sinning and be delivered – as if Jesus failed, didn’t provide a perfect redemption that dealt with past, present, and future sin and complete victory through it all (1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Titus 2:11-14).
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. … 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:31-32, 36
Victory and our place with Christ are contingent upon our continuing in His truth, abiding, remaining in Christ after He saves us (John 15:1-6).
They have no faith in the overcoming grace of Christ but instead treat it like a license to justify their sin, as they pretend to be trusting God by grace and faith… yet they never make the connection that Jesus came to redeem us and establish us with Him in His holiness as we look with joy for His soon return (Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16, etc). | Walking in the Full Victory of Christ!
The cross is surrendering. Don’t try harder, just die deeper!
The reason so many don’t take sin seriously and sit under sin-justifying wolves in sheep’s clothing, is because they do not fear nor take God seriously. Then they attack the true messengers of Christ who are declaring that God is holy and His requirement is non-negotiable: that anyone who will know and be with Him eternally cut off occasion for all sin as Jesus commanded in Mark 9:43-49 KJB. They talk about grace but only in the respect that their sins were initially forgiven, yet never in respect to divine grace being the divine influence and enablement in their daily lives to overcome all that displeases Him – as they worshipfully with great gratitude deny self, take up the cross and follow, abide in Jesus (Titus 2:11-14; Luke 9:23-24; John 15:1-6, etc.).
Death, Burial, Resurrection – You go down and God raises you up, daily. That’s the Gospel re-enacted in your daily life. There’s no other way to walk with, to follow Jesus (Luke 9:23-24).
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
Once He shows you this cross revelation it’s over for your sin and Satan! This is the way we “Taste and see that the LORD is good” beloved (Psalms 34:8). The divine economy is a cross economy which cannot be short circuited. There are no shortcuts.
The safest place in His Universe is for us to be “HID with Christ in God.” How does such occur? (Colossians 3:1-4)
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
The more His Word runs rich in your spirit, soul, and mind, the richer, the more cutting and divinely blessed your praying is going to become.
We are crucified with Christ today saints. Christ alone is reigning supreme in us, raising us up out of that death and burial posture. In Jesus’ Name, the “old man” is dead and buried and Christ now lives and reigns in His resurrection power in our lives through us! (See Ephesians 4:22-24.)
Say, pray, memorize Galatians 2:20 beginning right now. Let it be the original Gospel anthem of your life from this day forward.
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Becoming prayerfully and steadily saturated in the cross message, concept, and application, is the only thing that brought a consistent victory over sin to this disciple.
In the divine economy, the death and burial guarantees the resurrection!
When we His people are dead and buried, His resurrection power is guaranteed. Nothing could stop the resurrection of Jesus Christ when the stone was rolled away! And nothing can stop the resurrection power of Christ working in His saints as they lay down their lives in this fleeting world!
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:25
Must Take a Ruthless Stand
Concerning the necessity of a ruthless perspective toward the flesh via the cross, we must recognize that the flesh is a terrorist which means it cannot be negotiated with.
Yet there must be forged in us a ruthless perspective, toward our perception of the “never-going-to-die” flesh, a veritable terrorist with which you cannot negotiate or give place to. It will not die until forced, therefore the disciple must take a ruthless posture toward it – showing no mercy to the enemy of God! See Romans 6, 8; Galatians 5.
Never ever underestimate the depth of the deceit that is in the fallen human heart, human nature 1 (Corinthians 10:12; Hebrews 3:12-14; Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9).
We must allow no mercy for what God calls sin…the iniquities, the relentless evil within. It must be honestly dealt with, and perhaps we can observe that there are onion-type layers of evil, of deceit that we are buried in from which only God calls us and brings us forth (Proverbs 8:13; Psalms 97:10; Mark 9:43-49).
While Satan and his masquerading ministers seek to diminish the violation and penalty of sin, Jesus exponentially heightens our awareness of sin’s offense against a holy God when He warns us to cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that cause us to offend Him (Mark 9:43-49).
There is nothing in existence more important to stay safe from than HELL. That’s exactly what Jesus Christ taught. Read Mark 9:43-50 in the King James Bible (new versions have butchered that passage).
Rom 7. The cross must be applied with no respect to the evil desires, the sinful dictates of the flesh.
Our outlook toward the flesh should be “kill or be killed.”
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13
Kill or be killed – picture yourself being put in a room, locked in with just one opponent. Only one of you will be exiting.
A showdown – conquer or be conquered.
Life or death.
Sink or swim.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” 1 Corinthians 9:27
Either the cross will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the cross.
“The Cross = The Signature of Jesus.” A disciple
“WHEN THOU WAS LITTLE IN THINE OWN SIGHT”
The LORD removed Saul from his place of kingship due to the pride found in his heart that previously was not there. We must remain humble before our God and the only way this can happen is the daily cross.
“And Samuel said, WHEN THOU WAS LITTLE IN THINE OWN SIGHT, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?” 1 Samuel 15:17
The Bible clearly teaches us that if we do not obey the LORD, He will replace us. We are not irreplaceable and only pride in the heart of a person would convince him of such a lie.
When Esther was called upon by the LORD to go before her husband, the king of Persia, and intercede for the people of God, she was warned that if she chose not to obey God, she’d be replaced and her father’s house destroyed.
“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
Ruthless simply and only applies to the PERSPECTIVE the believer must take toward the terrorist, the flesh.
There can be no concession, no compromise, no negotiating with the flesh. It must die and that only happens as we submit to the LORD.
The flesh will never be reformed, it is inherently evil, and must be crucified.
Those who’ve been saved and aren’t learning the daily cross, the crucified life, will never grow in Christ. The cross life is at the center of the kingdom economy of Christ. There are no shortcuts. Jesus taught that in order to follow Him, we must “deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23-24). Any person whom Jesus has saved and isn’t learning the daily cross, is not truly following Jesus. Listen to the Lamb:
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24
PRAYER: Holy Father, in Jesus’ Name, please do Your deeper work in me. Bless this life You died for to be truly crucified with Christ. Please make me Your authentic disciple. Cut away, circumcise every falsity, fakery, deceitful thing from my heart – everything that defiles me in Your holy eyes. Use me LORD, please. I love You. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Prayer | Manhood | The Conquering Cross of Christ [podcast] | The Cross Victory | Sin – Man’s Core Problem
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