Reconciling with God and other Saints
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law (the Word), even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9
Those who do not love God enough to seek Him in the Word, to learn, and to obey Him, will not be heard by Him.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
In general, because God is “Holy, holy, holy,” when there is sin, God will not answer prayers – until the sinner repents and reconciles with the LORD and any person involved as needed (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; Proverbs 28:9, etc.).
“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 11 Israel hath sinned …” Joshua 7:10-11
In other words, God said to Joshua “Why are you seeking My face, praying to me, talking to me, when there is sin in the camp? Get the sin our of the camp and then you can approach Me in prayer.”
STOP PRAYING AND LEAVE IT!
God is not going to bless our lives unless we are willing to sincerely admit our sins, repent and confess them, and make amends (restitution) with anyone we’ve harmed. In the divine economy, there’s no such thing as being right with God when you’ve done another person wrong, haven’t repented, and haven’t made amends for what you’ve done. Such a person will be outside of the will and blessings of God until he makes things right with God and man.
God is not hearing the prayers or worship of any person who has done someone else wrong and refuses to make restitution (Matthew 5:23-24).
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; FIRST be reconciled to thy brother, and THEN come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
God will not answer the prayer of any person who does not honor and obey His Word and if a person has an outstanding offense He wants them to clear up these matters (Proverbs 28:9, 13).
Here Jesus gave us the instruction to stop praying! What!? Someone may be thinking “Todd, are you being sacrilegious now!? What is your problem brother!?” Keep reading okay.
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Psalms 66:18
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7
According to the Son of God, just when (if ever) should the believer stop praying? When he remembers that a brother has “aught against” him. Yes, I know this may raise eyebrows to say that Jesus told us to stop praying, but He certainly did. That’s what we read of His very words in Matthew 5.
He instructs us not to wait for the other person to come to you. Go to them and make peace. Work things out so that neither of your relationships with God will be in any way hindered. Forgive. Seek restitution and forgiveness. The Christian life is all about relationship – vertically first and them horizontally.
Jesus is saying here: “Stop praying or doing any form of worship until you have first done all you can possibly do to make peace with that person you had strife or misunderstanding with, offended, or wounded – the person that still has aught against you, whose heart isn’t yet clear in the matter. Your prayers and any form of supposed worship will not be honored in Heaven until you take care of this matter. Since I am holy I require certain things of you and one of them is that you do your best to keep unity with others, especially My people. Remember how I told you to love one another and to treat others as you wish to be treated? I love you and want clear communion with you and am simply not going to allow you to have a clear conscience until you work things out with that other person who has aught against you. Remember that though I love you, I care about others as much as I care about you. Get that human relationship right first and then come and seek My face in worship and we shall commune.”
God forgives us through Christ’s perfect sacrifice and as we choose to give it out to others! WHO might you have aught against in your heart today beloved?
As a believer, the LORD holds me personally accountable to facilitate reconciliation and peace in others when there is a rift and no matter whose fault it is (Matt. 5:23-24).
First and foremost we must realize that when we sin it is against the One who is “holy, holy, holy” (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 4:8). After that fact, we at times sin against or offend men (James 3:1). So, when we have wrongly offended someone who is created in the image of God, we should first confess that sin to the LORD and then do whatever it takes within our power to make it right with the person.
“Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.” Proverbs 3:27-28
“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:25-27
Child of God, are you aware of anyone who might be upset with you for something you have done or they thought you did? Is anyone offended at you?
This writer is no stranger to wronging people, but is learning to follow this simple truth in Matthew 5, making sure to openly and transparently facilitate healing in those I have brought hurt to or who are offended at me for any legitimate reason.
Granted, we are going to offend people at times when it is not our fault. I am not talking about that. I am talking about when it is our fault or the situation is questionable or a close call.
Have you been offended? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where someone else held the key to your closure, your healing? Think back in your life: Have you ever needed someone else’s help in getting free in your heart from something concerning a situation?
Jesus called the divine Person of the Holy Spirit “the Comforter” (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:7). God is all-powerful and can help us walk through a heart-rending ordeal where another person has hurt us and is unwilling to partake of the healing process according to the Word/instructions of the LORD. This He can and will do, yet He holds that other person responsible for doing their part – “Leave there thy gift before the altar – FIRST be reconciled to thy brother.”
Those made righteous by the blood of Christ are to do all in their power to facilitate healing in others.
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18
Jesus Christ came to make captives free and such freedom is the desire of all who follow Him. They desire also to see people set free and do their part when it is in the power of their hand to help (Prov. 3:27).
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
When need be, we are to work hard to make sure God’s peace abides among the saints.
“Endeavouring (working hard) to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3
“Endeavouring” – it’s hard work at times to keep unity in the body. Have you noticed that things happen that need attention, patience, humility, admission where wrong has been done, etc.?
It is our personal responsibility to keep schisms out of Christ’s body as much as it is in our power.
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-27
The LORD promises us that He commands His precious peace where brethren dwell together in unity.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there (in the unity of believers) the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Psalms 133:1-3
The person who is truly born again cares for the body of Christ. Peace among the saints is where God’s blessing abides.
“We know that we have passed from death unto life (we know we are saved), BECAUSE we love the brethren.” 1 John 3:14
Without love we are nothing (1 Cor. 13). Divine love, authentically demonstrated in our lives, is the earmark fruit of the Heaven-bound disciple. There are no exceptions – “He that loveth not knoweth not God” (1 Jn. 4:8). If such charitable love does not presently appear in our lives, we should consider going before the throne of grace and making things right with God (repentance). The genuinely born again person is filled with God’s love and teachable in the precepts of the LORD. When he discovers a previously unknown (to him) truth, he swiftly hearkens and obeys. Remember, God’s eternal kingdom and the terms for entrance into it are based on the LORD’s terms and not any individual’s. Either we meet the terms and conditions or we shall be found without (Matt. 7:21-23; Lk. 6:46-49; 13:24-30; 1 Jn. 2:3-5; Rev. 2-3).
“We know that we have passed from death unto life (we know we are saved – been brought from spiritual death to spiritual life), BECAUSE we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:14-16
Child of God, do you have a key that would help another get free? If you possess the key that would assist in obtaining their freedom, the LORD holds you personally responsible to use it to help unlock that person’s heart and assist in their returning to a heart that is right with God, free from anything that hinders that relationship.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Ephesians 4:26
Don’t let the sun go down upon that which you can do to cause reconciliation in Christ’s body for which He bled. Leave your prayer closet and any and all worship and go get things right with that person the LORD may be placing on your heart. You will be glad you obeyed the LORD in this.
You see, if we truly have an intimate and saving relationship with Christ, we realize that nothing could be more important to us – and others. Knowing Jesus is everything. Armed with this knowledge and moved upon by the Holy Spirit, we are to be compelled to help others in their relationship with Jesus in any way we possibly can.
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for sending Your only begotten Son Jesus to live and die for me – for all of my many sins. This moment, I turn my life to Thee O God – asking Your merciful forgiveness on my sin of departing from You. Right this instant I ask You to please be my first love LORD Jesus! Bless this heart with sensitivity and a deep conviction for Your truth. Please allow this heart to have godly conviction! Please bless this life You graciously gave lift others to You and help them in any and every way I have opportunity. I am all Yours and You are all mine my LORD. Quicken my heart in any matter that You wish me to make amends with another person. Right now I now humble myself under Your mighty hand and ask You to use me to help facilitate peace between You and others Jesus, and in Your body. Please bless Your body to live in Your love, and Your truth and in peace with You and one another. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
For a topical study of deeper proportions on this subject, see The Blood of Jesus.
If you truly desire to know more about how to really know the LORD, go here: Born Again: What is It?
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Victory in Jesus | Discipleship | The Glorious Grace of God | The Restoring Love of Our God | God’s Mercy | Spiritual Warfare | Justification | Grace and Good Works [podcast]



Abiding
Mary hath Chosen that Good Part [podcast]

Luke 10:38-42
Mary = loving relationship with Jesus, not just being busy with doing, with labor, with performing works such as what Martha was doing. First and foremost, Jesus saved us for relationship with Him and the Father (John 17:3). And here our Savior expresses that knowing, loving, adoring, and listening to Him are at a divine premium, they are most important to God. That’s what God desires – for us to delight ourselves in Him (Psalms 37:4).
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
David’s brothers looked the part but they couldn’t and wouldn’t even face Goliath, much less slay him. David though, was spending time alone with the LORD, listening to His voice and tending to the sheep. He who is the only man God ever said was “a man after mine own heart,” was used mightily of God to slay the giant (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 17).
Isn’t this how we are with our children? Wouldn’t every parent rather their precious children sit in their mom or dad’s lap telling their parent how much they (the child) loves them (the parent)? That’s the biggest heart melt we know, right?
Like David, the most powerfully used warriors are first worshippers.
Our real, our genuine relationship with the LORD is that place out of which His power and grace (divine enablement) will flow. Like David, we must be primarily, and first and foremost worshippers. Out of that rich communion with the Savior will flow the warrior anointing of the LORD who is “a man of war” (Exodus 15:3).
Many who sense the call of God on their lives to minister go to seminary. Sad. We must go to God ourselves – in prayer, a life of prayer, relentlessly seeking His holy face in His Word for ourselves.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6
Private prayer with the LORD precedes God using us. Those who seek God in “secret” will be “openly” rewarded by Him.
“The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it.” EM Bounds
“A sinning man stops praying. A praying man stops sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill
Luke 10
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
“Mary hath Chosen that Good Part”
The “good part” Mary chose consists of…
- Mary made the only wise choice “Mary hath chosen.”
- Mary put Jesus first. She put the Savior first, not herself or her idea of what it meant to serve Him.
- Jesus says here that choosing to put and keep Him first is the “one thing [that] is needful” or most necessary (v39, 42).
- Sitting before Jesus Himself and not searching for God outside of God Himself, primarily that is. All other learning is supplemental and subservient to that which the LORD tells us specifically, in His Word.
Worshippers become the most powerful workers God uses!
Like many today who are shallow rooted, Martha was a worker but not first and foremost a worshipper. Mary was a worshipper who loved to spend time with Jesus. Therefore she was empowered by God Himself via that fellowship with Him to walk in His holy compassion and to do His works with His power and for His glory (1 Corinthians 15:10).
When our works are not fruitful as they should be, perhaps it can be traced back to our lack of fellowship with our LORD. As we fellowship with Him, putting Him first and not ourselves, our vessel, our cup will run over with His goodness…. it will spill over onto others! (See Psalms 23:5.) That’s when our labor will carry His eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalms 23:5
When Jesus came, it was God bringing Heaven to the people – to forgive their sins and make them whole (Matthew 9:6). This was the foretold fulfillment of His kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
When Jesus came, He went to the people, to heal, to save, to make whole (Matthew 9:35-38; Acts 10:38, etc.).
As we go, Jesus is with us, “even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).
Daily, our LORD is using His people to bring Heaven to the people. As the Holy Spirit fills our lives, His blessed presence and fruit in our lives is going to over overflow onto others.
A sister in Christ once told me that “The best Marthas are first Marys.” Think about that one in light of what we read in this passage when Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Those who sit at Jesus’ feet to hear His holy counsel, are changed into His image and become reservoirs for His blessed glory. Their cups run over onto others!
“Prayer is of transcendent importance. Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God’s work. Praying hearts and hands only can do God’s work. Prayer succeeds when all else fails.” E.M. Bounds
When worshiping Jesus is our first priority, the work He uses us to do WILL carry His unction and bring fruit to bear for His eternal glory.
Rote obedience to minister to others, while not anchored in intimacy with our LORD, will not yield an abundant harvest, fruit. In contrast, we can be blessed to have God’s power and grace to do His work and that happens as we are truly communing, fellowshipping in the construct of that oneness relationship He made us for (John 15; 17).
Knowing God’s Word and obeying Him is not an automatic progression (John 8:31-36). One can know the Bible and not its Author. Or, one can know the Bible well and not know the Author well (Job 22:21-28). Obeying God’s Word requires knowing Him, abiding in an intimate fellowship with Him, thereby enabling that saint the grace (divine enablement) to obey Him (John 5:39-40; 7:17; 14:21-23; 15:1-16, etc.).
Martha “received him.” Many of us have “received” Jesus, have been saved by Him (John 1:12), yet like Martha we aren’t sitting at His holy feet, listening to Him speak through His Word. Like Martha, we also are “cumbered about much serving.”
It should be understood that our work can exceed our worship, our hospitality can exceed our holiness, our serving can exceed our sanctification, etc. That would be defined as imbalance (Proverbs 11:1).
In Luke 10:38-42, notice that Mary sat directly at Jesus’ feet and no other. When we arise in the morning to commune with the LORD, such is to be direct communication between you and Him, alone (Matthew 6:6). That would mean perhaps that when you arise in the morning you aren’t reading some other book about God or turning on a podcast or TV program to find and commune with the LORD. No, those things involve others. We must directly commune with the LORD in prayer and in HIS Word. How else shall we be able to discern the “MANY false prophets” Jesus warned us “shall deceive many”? (Read Matthew 24:11; 1 John 4:1.) How can we know the counterfeit if we don’t know the real? We can’t.
In principle, Martha is a person like Cain, a person who chose to do things their own way, not God’s – because they are not truly submitted to God. Does that describe your life friend? Jesus calls us home to Himself (Matthew 11:28-30).
Are we attempting to serve the LORD on our own terms or are we sitting before Him, hearing His voice as we are worshipfully, joyfully submitted to Him on His stated terms?
“The men who have done mighty things for God have always been mighty in prayer, have well understood the possibilities of prayer, and made the most of these possibilities. The Son of God, the first of all and the mightiest of all, has shown us the all-potent and far reaching possibilities of prayer. Paul was mighty for because he knew, how to use, and how to get others to use, the mighty spiritual forces of prayer.” EM Bounds, The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, P. 341
When we are brought to the point of true repentance it will be obvious in that we will do things God’s way and no longer our own. Like Mary, we will be settled at His feet, hearing His Word, His voice. The Mary person is in love with and submitted to the LORD and Savior she so joyfully worships.
“Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to people. Power with God is the first thing, not power with people. Christ loves to teach us how to pray.” –Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, pp. xxiii-xxiv
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast] | More on the Sabbath of the New Testament – Jesus!



Apostasy
Modern Day Frauds and How They Operate [RADIO]

THIS is so very important! Please listen and share to help others (Ezekiel 44:23).
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Deeds and Doctrines of the Nicolaitans 1 | Witchcraft in the Pulpits | Witchcraft in the Church | Are You Under the Spell of Witchcraft? | Getting Delivered from Witchcraft | Fellowship God’s Way | Beware of the “I Love My Church” Deception [podcast] | Un-Biblical Local Church Structures [podcast] |



Abiding
Putting God First [podcast]

If God’s Word isn’t important to you, it’s because He isn’t important to you.
If anything comes before the LORD in your day, you are an idolater.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
GOD’s WORD cannot get into you if you aren’t into it.
“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
Jesus commanded:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
As you seek God, putting Him first, you are not going to be able to prevent, to stop His blessings coming upon your life. 100%
Memorize this promise from your Savior, today.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
What putting Christ first looks like:
Prayer.
“Early will I seek thee.” Psalms 63:1
Read. Study.
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12
The Bible is far from just amazing information (Psalms 119:98-100; 2 Peter 1:3-4, etc.). More important than vital information coming from our Maker, God’s Word is your spiritual food and without it, without daily ingesting it, you will famish, fall, and ultimately perish.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2
Read that again: The only way to “grow” is to “desire” and to devour the Word of your great God and King Jesus. He made you to know Him (John 17:3).
The only way to keep, to guard your heart before the LORD, is to keep it full of God’s Word.
“Keep (guard, till the soil of) thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23
In fact, like Job, we must make the spiritual food of God’s Word more important than the food that fuels and keeps healthy our physical body.
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
“He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart RETAIN my words: keep my commandments, and live.” Proverbs 4:4
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalms 1
Find. Eat. Rejoice.
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
YOUR PRAYER: Father please unite my heart to fear Thy name. Forgive my sins of spiritual adultery, of self-idolatry. Here and now I renounce my own ownership on my life. It’s Your life LORD. Reign on the throne of this heart and cut away, circumcise any and everything of iniquity in my heart and life. You must increase but I must decrease, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison Ministry | Mexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | Bible/Word of God | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God | Grace and Truth Bible School [modules] | 7 Study Guides to a Greater Foundation in Christ | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ




America11 months agoThe Drugging of America: The Pharmakeia Sorcery Deception [podcast]
Articles2 years agoChildren being Rescued in Tunnels: Happening Now – UPDATE!
Articles8 years agoSelf-Examination in Preparation for the Lord’s Return
Apostasy2 years agoSHOCKING List of False Prophets Most Believe are True





































