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Wednesday,
October 22, 2008
Unknown Too Many
Galatians 4:9-11 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)
The question the Lord is asking His
people is ‘why are you trying to please man when it is man that fell from
grace from the Lord not the other way around?’ Why are you seeking the
approval of many, and trying to be well known and popular with them when
the Bible says that the many are headed down the wrong path? The more you
seek first the kingdom of God and right standing with Him the more you will
know Him, and more importantly, you will be known by Him. Talk about weak
and beggarly; there are actually so called church organizations who are
having Halloween get togethers; so rather than come out and be separate
from the world they try to one up them by their self righteous acts. Then
they wonder why they are not known by our heavenly Father.
2 Corinthians 6:9-10 As unknown, and yet
well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
(10) As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (KJV)
Talk about totally opposite to what the
Word says. Many people think that just because they are a big name or have
a big name ministry that is popular with people, that it makes them popular
with God. For the most part a true man of God is unknown to many, yet well
known to God. What about chastening; while you may think it is a bad thing
the reality is, that it means that God still loves you and you are one of
His.
Hebrews 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth
he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7) If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all
are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (KJV)
You know, part of a Christian’s walk with
the Lord does involve chastening, which even though it is not pleasant it
is for our benefit. And before you get all bummed out and down in the
dumps, keep in mind that it is a sure sign as well that you are one of the
Lord’s and still considered as being a part of His family. If you endure
chastening and if you are willing to take the correction and make the
necessary changes that are needed so that you can walk in the Spirit and
discard those things of the flesh that are hindering you. Sad to say, this
is where many draw the line and go another direction, seeking an easier
path, which the enemy is more than willing to provide directions to. In
fact if you were not being chastened by the Lord that would tell you that
you were no longer considered a part of His family and known by Him.
Hebrews 12:9-11 Furthermore we have had
fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall
we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
(10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure;
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (11) Now
no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby. (KJV)
Keep in mind that the chastening is for
our benefit so that we can remain on good terms with our Father and endure
to the end. The peaceable fruit is brought forth by those that learn to
exercise their spiritual senses, knowing the difference between good and
evil; otherwise you will be like the rest of the backwards world, calling
evil good and good evil. Many people don’t like the correction; they don’t
like what the Lord is asking of them and direction He is leading; they are
seeking more to please the carnal man than the spiritual one.
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 Moreover, brethren,
I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under
the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto
Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) And did all eat the same spiritual
meat; (4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of
that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (5) But
with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the
wilderness. (KJV)
History has a tendency to repeat itself,
especially for those in the carnal realm, which the Bible consistently
warns us that many are operating in. God had a clear cut plan for the
children of Israel as He does for you as well. The problem is many didn’t
want to follow that plan, but rather allowed the enemy to paint them a rosy
picture of a different path, which is why they were overthrown and no
longer walking in the blessing of our Lord.
Williams New Testament translation
of John15:1-4
1. "I am the real vine, and my
Father is the cultivator. 2. He cuts away any branch on me that stops
bearing fruit, and He repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear
fruit, to make it bear more. 3. You are already pruned because of the teaching
that I have given you. 4. You must remain in union with me and I will
remain in union with you. Just as no
branch by itself can bear fruit unless it remains united to the vine, so
you cannot unless you remain in union with me.
It’s a continual ongoing process folks if
you wish to stay in good standing with the Lord and not end up overthrown
with the many in the wilderness of this fallen realm of man. Draw near to
God and He draws near to us; we must abide and stay in union with Him by
hearing His message of love through His Son, and then following through
with what is being asked of us.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be
without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly
say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
(KJV)
The Lord promised us that He would never
leave or forsake us; however, the Bible is quite clear that we can cut and
run anytime, which in fact is what many have done. Do you desire to be able
to boldly say the Lord is my helper? Well, then quit being concerned with
what man is doing and seek the approval from above. What is unknown to many
is well known to God, which hopefully includes yourself.
John 10:14-15 I am the good shepherd, and
know my sheep, and am known of mine. (15) As the Father knoweth me, even so
know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (KJV)
Here is another bold statement by someone
who was well known by His Father. See the order it is in also, as you allow
the Lord into your life He allows you access into His.
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