Although the Church seems to have declared its slogan as "It's about RELATIONSHIP"...I believe it is more appropriate and true to say "It's about RIGHT RELATIONSHIP!"
RELATIONSHIP must be defined...and put in a proper context...to be a HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP. Too many in the Church simply denote "relationship" in a way that denounces and actually seeks to NOT follow the precepts and commands of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said: "If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15...also see verses 21-24...powerful example of LOVE by OBEDIENCE).
There are many Biblical examples of our relationship with Christ...but each is tempered and defined by OBEDIENCE. LOVE and OBEDIENCE must walk hand in hand regarding our RELATIONSHIP with Christ. Along with that OBEDIENCE also comes FAITHFULNESS. We are called the "Bride of Christ" and Christ is noted in Scripture as the "Bridegroom". In EVERY case of RELATIONSHIP denoted in this way...whether an EARTHLY marriage or a SPIRITUAL marriage between the Church and Christ...there is an expectation of FAITHFULNESS. That faithfulness is shown by our adherence...OUR ODEDIENCE...to the Word of God and the Laws of God. Jesus ONLY came to do away with MAN-MADE RELIGIOUS LAW...and He FULFILLED the CEREMONIAL/SACRIFICIAL LAW. Jesus STILL wants us to OBEY His commandments and laws that are eternal and ongoing precepts of life here on earth!
We are "saved by grace through faith" and NOT by works. But, as Jesus said above, there can be no TRUE love without OBEDIENCE to His commandments. True RELATIONSHIP with God is a relationship that accepts the LORDSHIP of Jesus in our lives. True RELATIONSHIP is definitive and has boundaries. There are MANY examples of RELATIONSHIPS....but all relationships are not HEALTHY...and some are actually DESTRUCTIVE. A healthy RELATIONSHIP with Christ accepts the FATHER/CHILD, CREATOR/ CREATION, LORD/SERVANT relationships that are denoted in Scripture. We must interpret Scripture with Scripture…and each RELATIONSHIP mentioned in the Word of God is IMPORTANT to understand in our walk with Jesus. We CANNOT simply choose which relationship with Christ that we want! We MUST accept the fullness of ALL that is taught to us in Scripture.
Modern theologies espoused within the Church are excluding many of the RELATIONSHIP necessities mentioned in Scripture…especially regarding the OBEDIENCE factor. And any RELATIONSHIP that calls itself “love” yet it is absent of OBEDIENCE is actually A LIE AND A FALSE LOVE: IT IS NOT LOVE AT ALL! The Church MUST understand this VERY ESSENTIAL point: We can ONLY love the LOST properly if we love GOD properly. And, with that truth in mind, we then realize that we cannot have a proper relationship with ANYONE if we do not FIRST have a proper relationship with JESUS.
Note: I would urge you to read my previous post/blog regarding love to get a better understanding of the necessity to correctly and Biblically define LOVE. Here is the link:
http://journeyinsightandlife-truths.blogspot.com/2012/06/love-perversion-satans-secret-heresy.html
Relationships can vary: and they can range from GOOD to BAD. There are parent/child relationships, sibling relationships, boss/employee relationships, Pastor/church member relationships, and many more. Each of these relationships are found to have BOUNDARIES that define them. When these boundaries are breached…then the resulting problems can range from detrimental to severely perverted and evil. It is Satan’s intent and desire to do just that: pervert relationships…whether with each other or between us and God. Between humans, it can lead to such perversions as: incest, rape, molestation, sexual harassment, homosexuality, and many other sins and consequences. When we are deceived into believing that a relationship with God is, or can be, absent of OBEDIENCE TO GOD then we are in severe spiritual danger.
We are CONTINUOUSLY warned by the Word of God about the deception of false doctrine and false teaching…and LOVE and RELATIONSHIP are two areas where Satan is working his illusion on millions and millions of people…both in the Church and outside of the Church. Satan perverts and distorts both of these TRUTHS and turns them into LIES…yet, his deception is so subtle…and even convincing…that many within the Church are successfully deceived, actually becoming a part of propagating Satan’s “new gospel”. Notice the words of Jesus as He taught His Disciples:
(Matthew 7:13-27) "Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits ye shall know them. "Not every one that saith unto Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that Day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works?' And then will I profess unto them, `I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.' "Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
Here, we see a few examples of those who might BELIEVE that they have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with Jesus…yet, in truth, the relationship is NOT as they think. Jesus paints a picture of two gates, two paths, two trees, two fruits, and two houses. Each of these denote a WRONG RELATIONSHIP and a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP. And, by the Words of Jesus, we learn that some will have been involved in ministry…and yet they are NOT involved in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the Lord.
Therefore, it is IMPERATIVE that we evaluate and assess our relationship with Jesus…and, in so doing, that we make the necessary adjustments to bring that relationship in line with the Word of God. Further, that RELATIONSHIP must LEAD us somewhere. Our relationship with Jesus MUST compel us to “good works”…it MUST lead us down a path that causes our sights to be set on two things: JESUS and THE LOST. If our relationship with Christ only causes us to focus on OURSELVES then we are NOT in a proper relationship with God!
I pray today that the Church will examine itself…and that the Church will examine its relationship with Christ. In doing so, I pray that the Church will recognize the false doctrines of SELF that have been “secretly” introduced into the Body by Satan. I pray that the Church will denounce the personal wealth teachings that are CLEARLY (I cannot even understand how ANYONE would be deceived by this obviously SELFISH and SATANIC “gospel”) NOT of God…they are Satanic…which cause so-called “Christians” to focus on their personal financial status and personal comfort while ignoring the fact that we are living in THE LAST DAYS…and that time is short. The LOST…the UNSAVED…need to be reached. And the Church MUST get its eyes back on the purpose for its existence: to focus the eyes of the LOST on JESUS! We are to take the Gospel…the TRUE Gospel…to the LOST of this world. They need CHRIST…they DO NOT NEED wealth and the “prosperity gospel”. Remember:
(Mark 8:36) “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
It is time that the Church remembers this: wealth in HEAVEN is NOT EQUAL to wealth here on EARTH. In heaven, earthly wealth…GOLD…is simply PAVEMENT! (Revelation 21:21) Wealth in heaven is SPIRITUAL…not EARTHLY AND CARNAL! And NOTHING (earthly wealth) we gain here on earth has ANY bearing on ETERNITY! Every home…every car…every boat…every golf club…every vacation house…every pension fund…every DOLLAR…will be AS NOTHING at the return of Jesus Christ! Every earthly treasure will be BURNED UP…every “high place” will be BROUGHT DOWN. And every MOTIVE and MESSAGE will be seen for what it truly is…and Satan’s deceptions will be fully exposed! I pray…before that time comes…that the Church will awaken from its SLUMBER and DECEPTION and SATANIC SEDUCTION and that the Church of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will become the MIGHTY ARMY that God called it to be!
In the end….when it is all reduced to a simple thought…I pray that the Church will enter into a proper, obedient, and healthy RELATIONSHIP with God; and, in doing so, that the Church will accomplish all that is possible in the time it has left on this earth. And remember: WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
God bless!
Ron
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