20 Minutes
1 Corinthians 2:12-14 KJV
[12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The scripture says that we may know the things of God when we are taught by the Holy Spirit and not by the wisdom of man and that we as His friends, His sheep, have received the spirit of God, not the spirit of the world. We make the choice to follow God by following His word or to follow man by following man’s traditions or things that simply are not found in the Word of God. Have you ever heard someone comment about living a life, fully devoted to Christ as being foolish, or that you will be missing out on something? (That is for you to answer for yourself, maybe it is something that is said subconsciously)
Isaiah 8:19-20 KJV
[19] And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? [20] To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Many will say that we should go find people that think like we do. Shouldn’t people seek unto their own God and if our God is the God of heaven that has spoken to us through Jesus Christ and has made it plain what He desires of us, shouldn’t we seek that God? The Word goes on to say that what they are saying is not according to the Words of God, which is a very powerful reason, for there is NO light in them. The Word is saying that if you are not following the Word of God, but you enjoy being around people that are not following the Word, then which god are you seeking?
James 1:17 KJV
[17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Every perfect thing comes from above from God from whom is no variation. No variableness… Does that mean that we can’t just choose to follow God the way we choose to, or based on what is convenient for us…?
Hebrews 13:8-9 KJV
[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. [9] Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Christ’s character is the same, always. His Word is the same, always. We should not be taken away from God by listening to strange doctrines and things that are not of the Word of God. He states that our hearts should be established with grace and not with meats because many lost focus on what God gave us instructions for and placed higher meaning on traditions (such as the foods to eat) than actually loving God.
Luke 6:46-49 KJV
[46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? [47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: [48] He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. [49] But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
Many will call Him Lord but will not do what He says, and Jesus makes it clear that this is the example of not building your house on a solid foundation (Psalms 62:1, 2) will fall immediately when adversity strikes. This does not lead to peace in the heart.
Psalm 62:1-2 KJV
[1] Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. [2] He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
Jesus again informs us that we cannot be professed followers of God by word only but that our very actions must be in direct correlation with God’s Holy Word and what He commands us. Jesus is that rock.
Does that seem rigid of God to say that? If so, let’s see what He tells us yet again…
Titus 1:14-16 KJV
[14] Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. [15] Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. [16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
When we are pure and of God, ALL things are pure, not some things, ALL things.
Is that rigid or is that God?
Many will and do profess to know God, but their actions show that they deny Him.
When the Word says that unto them is nothing pure, it does not mean that they don’t read the Word as being pure, it means that because of their unbelief, nothing they do is pure.
A reprobate work is a work that is not fit in the eyes of God.
1 John 3:18-24 KJV
[18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. [19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. [20] For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. [21] Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. [22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. [23] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. [24] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Love in deed and in truth, not just by what comes forth from our mouths. Deeds, of course, then being our actions, the way that we live our lives day by day. Our heart can condemn us and by our heart condemning us, it is finding fault within us, but if our own heart condemns us, how much more does our Father in heaven know? We know that we are of Him when we listen to, obey, yield to Him, as these things are pleasing to Him. When we are doing the things that please Him, we can then have confidence towards Him, and our hearts will not be troubled. Is your heart troubled at this very moment with the truth that God is placing before us? God tells us that those who keep his commandments are in Him and He is in them. What better place can we be in?
Proverbs 15:14 KJV
[14] The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
When we obtain knowledge and truth in our mind and our hearts are no longer stony, the Holy Spirit can unite the two; the heart then seeks the knowledge from the mind and our actions reflect the love, the truth, the knowledge, given to us through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 12:34-35 KJV
[34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Job 9:20 KJV
[20] If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Often we justify the life that we choose to live with our words and in our own minds. We must be especially careful in doing so. None of us is perfect and when/if we say that we are, we are condemning ourselves. We are striving to be perfect as Christ instructs us to do and if our heart and mind are connected, we have the knowledge and understanding to know that we have not yet attained perfection. But when the heart is speaking what it feels, without seeking after the knowledge that is in the mind, false statements can be made.
Matthew 5:48 KJV
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
1 John 5:1-6 KJV
[1] Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. [2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. [3] For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. [4] For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? [6] This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
If we believe that Jesus is Christ, then we are the children of God. And how do we show that we love Him?
John 14:15 KJV
[15] If ye love me, keep my commandments.
His commandments are not grievous and that is what He means, it is not a difficult thing to follow God, it is not a chore to follow God, it is a beautiful thing that brings peace to our troubled hearts. We must understand the influence that satan has had on this world and how he has “normalized” the distance from God’s truth. This makes it “strange”, “inconvenient” to follow God’s Word but it does not change God’s Word. It is us that has changed, our perception of how things should be. Imagine if ALL, followed God’s Word, the peace that would be on this planet. It is satan that brings about confusion, doubt, and wants to destroy you.
1 Peter 5:8 KJV
[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV
[33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
James 2:10 KJV
[10] For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Is God so rigid to hold us accountable for breaking just one law…? Do we really need to keep the whole law? Seems pretty clear to me that we do based on the Word of God. If that is true, then who gives us or anyone else the authority to pick and choose which of the commandments we will keep?
Proverbs 3:11-13 KJV
[11] My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: [12] For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. [13] Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
God loveth those that He corrects, and we must recognize that because He loves us so much that He gave His life for us, to be an example for us and how we should and can live perfectly in harmony in Him while providing a blueprint for us to have eternal life. That is part of the love that He instructs us to have one for another and especially for our children.
Hebrews 12:5-9 KJV
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: [6] 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. [9] 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?
Revelation 3:19 KJV
[19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Jesus corrects us and points out our mishaps through His Word because He loves us and wants us to have eternal life with Him.
Psalm 31:1-5 KJV
[1] In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. [2] Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. [3] For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. [4] Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. [5] Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
We must put our trust in Him, not in any man. He was never ashamed of us, why are we ashamed of Him? Ask the Lord to hear us and accept Him as that rock for us to be saved and have eternal life. That net is one that is impossible for us to escape alone, hence why we depend on Christ to be our strength and our rock. In order to allow that we must commit our spirit to Him. To commit means to make a commitment to Jesus. Are we ready to make that commitment or would we prefer to live on with a troubled heart?
Luke 9:26 KJV
[26] For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
We cannot be ashamed of God or God’s words but if we are, Jesus will be ashamed of us when He returns. The Son of man is Jesus.
Matthew 4:4 KJV
[4] But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Not just some of God’s words, but every single one of them as the scripture tells us through the words of Jesus himself. We are not to pick and choose the words that we want to live by based on what is comfortable for us, but we must live by ALL of His words.
Psalm 64:10 KJV
[10] The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
We may not be doing things the right way, we may be viewed as extreme, we may appear to be rigid, we may appear to live a very boring life in the eyes of others in the world, but I love the Lord, I am striving to be a friend of His, and I am doing my very best to serve the Lord the way that I believe is right and I am glad knowing that by trusting in Him, I will glory because I have lived upright to the best of my ability. We will all have to answer to God, and He will determine if we did enough or if we were righteous or not. No man can do that.
Psalm 139:23-24 KJV
[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Should this be our prayer daily? Shouldn’t we be asking the Lord to search every crevice of our lives, identify any way that opposes God, and for Him to lead us to everlasting life? The Lord tries our thoughts when we are put in every situation, do we apply the knowledge that He has given us? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to connect the mind to the heart? In doing so, our heart will not be troubled. When any portion of that path is altered, the heart suffers greatly and we feel a sense of being lost, of confusion, of sadness.
Matthew 5:48 KJV
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Does He tell us that we can be perfect, just as He was…? Perfection is ONLY attainable through Christ Jesus. He would not have instructed or commanded that we be perfect if it were not achievable for us and we know this to be truth because He tells us that He gives us a way.
Luke 18:27 KJV
[27] And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
John 14:1-3 KJV
[1] Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Knowing this very thing, that Jesus tells us not to have a troubled heart because we believe in God and He will return to get those that believe in Him, in His words, and in His commandments. This truth gives my heart peace. What does it do to yours?
Lord we ask for you to give us a brand new heart, one that does not have fear, concern, sadness, desires that are against your will.
Psalm 51:10 KJV
[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 KJV
[26] A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Luke 9:61-62 KJV
[61] And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. [62] And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Don’t wait to follow the Lord, follow Him while the light is available to show us where we are going. If we are walking in darkness, we have no idea where we will end up. If we take hold of that plough, let us look forward and not backwards as God has instructed us that looking backwards and going back to our old ways makes us individuals that are not fit for the kingdom of God. Ponder that very thought.
Please verify that every Word read here has been truth according to the Word of God, the Holy Bible.
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