|
Thursday, October
23, 2008
A Two Way Street
Galatians 4:8-11 Howbeit then, when ye
knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. (9) But
now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye
again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in
bondage? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (11) I am
afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (KJV)
Now that you are known of God it’s time
to put away the ignorance of the unbelief of our past, not trying to mix
and match it into our new life. A new life in Christ is one where you now
enter into His realm (which by the way totally contradicts the things of
this realm) and walk according to His Word, and not be influenced by man’s.
Hanging onto childish things, like holidays being a good example, will
eventually lead to separation from God if one thinks they can mix and
match, trying to please God and man at the same time.
James 4:7-8 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. (KJV)
Serving our Lord is a two way
relationship, one that requires communication and obedience. We need to
draw near to God; then as we allow Him access into our life He then reveals
more of Himself to us. Oh but I want a deeper relationship with God, well
it’s there for the taking if you are willing and obedient to what He is
asking; now it’s a matter of letting go of all these weak and vain things
we have learned from our past and walk in a new realm according to the
Spirit and not so influenced by the things of the flesh. The things of God
are above and beyond this fallen realm, and that is what you need to set
your affection on.
James 4:3-4 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. (KJV)
For those of you that are married or have
been married you know it is a commitment, one where communication is vital
for it to work. For many though, they find out that if they don’t
communicate with their partner they end up communicating with them through
a lawyer, ending up in divorce. Many have divorced themselves from the Lord
as well; no longer communicating with Him, but rather are becoming
friendlier with the ways and people of this world which is described as
spiritual adultery. Do you remember what the gospel said concerning
adultery, that it is grounds for divorce? Keep in mind as well what happens
in a divorce; the two parties separate, the one takes their old name back
again, and the two are no longer walking in agreement. So who are you in
agreement with today; are you more influenced by the things above, or are
you buddy buddy with the world seeking fulfillment in this realm?
Galatians 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so
soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another
gospel: (7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and
would pervert the gospel of Christ. (KJV)
Take notice that it was not the Lord that
left you, but rather you that took a hike. Instead of fighting a good fight
of faith you gave up without a fight and let the enemy pervert a wonderful
relationship you had going with the Lord. You know that it is not right
when someone goes out and cheats on a spouse, especially when they know that
there are consequences; so what makes you think the Lord is going to put up
with it either? Again we see it is the doctrine of Christ that the enemy
tries to discredit, trying to pull you back into the realm of the flesh and
cut off the lines of communication between you and the Lord. What happened
to that loving relationship which started out so strong and has now fizzled
and become stale? It sure wasn’t the Lord that bailed on you was it?
Psalms 12:1-2 Help, LORD; for the godly
man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. (2) They
speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a
double heart do they speak. (KJV)
When people spend more time trying to
please people they are worthless and vain, no longer of use to our Lord.
Why isn’t the godly man faithful? Because they are no longer hearing the
message from above, but rather are giving ear to the things below, well
below the standard God would have them operate in. So instead of seeking
first the kingdom of God which is spiritual and doing those things that are
pleasing in His sight, many would rather seek the approval of man, claiming
they are still one of God’s.
John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now
is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in
truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit:
and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (KJV)
Keep in mind folks that worshipping the
Lord is not being in a trance looking up to the ceiling and waving like
some drunk at Woodstock. True worship is a lifestyle, a way of life,
walking in the Spirit and no longer being so influenced by the flesh. If
one desires to truly worship our Lord, then as we see in verse 24 it must
be done in Spirit; the realm of the Spirit as well as in truth, which can
only come from the source of truth Himself. You wonder why there is doubt
and even fear in your walk? It’s because you’re spending too much time and
effort minding the things of this life and not renewing your mind with the
message from above.
Psalms 145:17-19 The LORD is righteous in
all his ways, and holy in all his works. (18) The LORD is nigh unto all
them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (19) He will
fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and
will save them. (KJV)
Are you close to the Lord today? Have you
been open and honest with Him, or have you spent more time and effort
trying to justify your lower nature rather than letting Him show you how to
overcome it? You know the closer you draw to Him, the closer He gets to
you. The more you stay seated in the Heavenly realm, the more you get to
hear His message. After all communication is a two way street; the question
is, ‘are you on the right path or have you hit a dead end?’
|
