WELCOME TO OBLIVION…the city of the masses!
It is a quaint place…a place where there is no trouble, no dissension, no clutter, no hardship, no judgment, no worry, no pain, no rebuke, no reproof, no discomfort, no repentance, no confession, no conviction, no remorse, no death, no wrath, no tomorrow, no eternity…and NO REALITY.
You see…the path leading to this city is DECEPTION AVENUE. Once inside the city limits, you will find EASY STREET and COMFORT COVE and PROSPERITY LANE. You will find no dead ends in OBLIVION…every path leads to BLESSINGS PARKWAY which feeds back in to PROSPERITY LANE.
The town square is lined with ROSES…because EVERYTHING is always coming up ROSES in OBLIVION. The historic homes which surround the square are all in pristine condition…at least on the OUTSIDE. The laws of OBLIVION regulate the APPEARANCE of the residences…and so much time is spent maintaining the FAÇADE that there is no time left to deal with the INTERIOR of each dwelling place. The landscape is IMMACULATE…a source of PRIDE of the community.
There are no JUDGES in OBLIVION: they are just not needed…nor are they welcome. The LAW? No…there is no SHERIFF, no POLICE: who needs law enforcement when no one breaks the law!
There IS a FIRE DEPARTMENT…just in case a FIRE breaks out and it needs to be QUENCHED quickly! Oh…do not misunderstand: there ARE fires…but those are CONTROLLED burnings which are PURPOSELY SET. But be sure…the FIRE DEPARTMENT is on top of things…and no FIRE will break out on its own…especially one fueled by a CLEANSING WIND.
The Newspaper is a source of GREAT PRIDE within the community! THE NEWS LEADER always contains such POSITIVE MESSAGES. You never read anything which isn’t UPLIFTING and ENCOURAGING! And the ADVERTISEMENTS are TERRIFIC! Of course…there are no WANT ADS: I mean, in OBLIVION, everyone already has all they could possibly want. Every desire is met as it is simply DECLARED and PROCLAIMED. Long ago, the founders of OBLIVION realized that they could CREATE by the power of their SPOKEN WORD. So…day in and day out…THE NEWS LEADER makes sure that what is spoken into the lives of the OBLIVIONS are words of POSITIVITY.
Of course…there is no ELECTRICITY within the boundaries of OBLIVION: Negativity is NOT ALLOWED…and, as you know, you cannot have POWER without a POSITIVE and a NEGATIVE. But…the OBLIVIONS see that as a BLESSING: that way, when darkness comes, they cannot see what is staring them right in the face…and they, therefore, do not have to DEAL with what they CANNOT SEE.
The RECREATIONAL AREAS of OBLIVION are IMMACULATE…and they are ALWAYS FULL! People FLOCK to the PLAY AREAS daily! They are the MOST POPULAR places in the whole city! Well…they share that honor with the CHURCHES of OBLIVION.
The Churches? OH…WHAT A SIGHT! They are all WHITE and they are sources of GREAT PRIDE within the community. Never before has MAN built such EXTRAVAGANT EDIFICES…with STAINED GLASS WINDOWS through which light can enter, yet you cannot see the INTERIOR through them. But…they are OH SO BEAUTIFUL in their APPEARANCE! The ACTIVITY around the CHURCH is only equaled by the AMUSEMENT found in the RECREATIONAL AREAS! You can depend on the CHURCH to be a CONSTANT: always there, always encouraging, never judging. The sermons are PRACTICAL…not CONFRONTATIONAL: no DISCOMFORT or UNEASINESS in the message which would create a sense of CONVICTION. NO! The Churches in OBLIVION realize that ATTENDANCE is the KEY to GROWTH…so APPEALING is the CENTRAL GOAL of its existence. The ULTIMATE GOAL is…and must be…to GET PEOPLE TO CHURCH. If they are CHURCHED…they MUST be OK!
LOOK! I see the Mayor of OBLIVION coming down EASY STREET now! Let me introduce you to him: he is a GREAT man!
Everyone…this is our LEADER. Say hello to…the Honorable Dr. D.C. Lucifer!
Come be a part of OBLIVION! It is a place where YOUR DESIRE is OUR DEVOTION...and YOUR PLEASURE is OUR PURPOSE! It is a great place to live…and a great place to raise your children! You will LOVE it!
Hope to see you there: god BLESS!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Righteous Indignation and Holy Discontent
Here is a my response/comment to a post today. I feel so strongly that God is speaking this. No...let me rephrase that...I am SURE that God is speaking this. How you read this will determine your willingness to accept what God is speaking: it can be read with SKEPTICISM or it can be read with CONVICTION and DISCERNMENT...allowing God to begin a REVIVAL in each of us...a REVIVAL which begins with REPENTANCE and OBEDIENCE to God...and a REVIVAL that could TRANSFORM our lives and our churches and our communities and even our Nation and World. It is up to US...it is NOT up to God! God WILL do HIS PART...He is simply waiting on US to do OUR PART.
This is just my personal take on this...based on what God is speaking to me: The Church has gotten so involved in pleasing people...based on what the people want to hear...that we have truly entered the time that Jesus spoke about...a time where people "will not endure sound doctrine." The Church no longer seems to want to hear about our sinfulness...our need of God...the need for repentance...the need for obedience to God in our lives. We have become complacent and somehow we believe we are to ATTRACT people to Church. God is telling me that as we seek to ATTRACT people...we are REJECTING and REPULSING Him. I was driving the other day and my fiancé and I saw a brand new church. It had just recently been built...it was not large...it was simple yet a very attractive structure. But as I looked to the right of the building...there I saw softball fields and soccer fields...all expertly manicured and kept so very nice. It was all part of the church's property. I immediately felt a STRONG impression (voice) from the Lord, saying "When did I ever speak to the Church to get into the softball and soccer business? The Church has become SO FOCUSED on keeping the people happy and entertained and LOYAL to them that they have left their primary purpose: to focus on and to worship ME." I immediately told my fiancé what I felt God was speaking. I was DEEPLY troubled…as I have been for SEVERAL years…but especially over the last 2 to 3 years. God continues to speak to me that we have fallen SO FAR from His desires and purpose in the Church. Yet…the Church is CONTENT in its present state…believing that CROWDS equate to God’s blessing on the Church. Yet…the Bible fully describes that CROWDS will gather around teaching and teachers who will say what they want to hear. And…nobody seems interested in EVALUATING their own ministry and their own church by GOD’S standards…they simply view a large crowd as the sign that they are doing things right and that they are obeying God and that they are preaching truth. There is no HOLY DISCONTENT with the status quo. Instead, happiness and busy-ness reigns. I think back to when I was young…and when ALL statistics show that the Church was at a point of some of its greatest successes. We had no gym. We had no softball and soccer fields. We had NO CONCEPT that the CHURCH was supposed to provide for us our ENTERTAINMENT in ANY area. Church was where we came to hear what God had to say to the people of God…and, even as a teen, with the same fluctuations that every teen seems to possess spiritually…I recognized the importance of distinguishing between ENTERTAINMENT and HEARING FROM GOD and WORSHIPING GOD. Church and the service was a VERY SERIOUS matter. It did not matter WHAT was going on with the youth…whether we were listening to the sermon or not…but when we KNEW God was speaking, we shut up and felt the HOLY PRESENCE of God…and a HOLY HUSH filled the room. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit…and the CONVICTION that was taking place. How small I felt in the Presence of God! How SINFUL I felt in His Presence! How UNWORTHY I felt before such a MIGHTY, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, JUST, AND ALL POWERFUL GOD! Yet…today…I SELDOM, if EVER…see that occurring in MOST churches today! Instead…I see…and feel God noting in my spirit…that the Church wants to be MOTIVATED instead of MADE NEW…CHARMED instead of CHANGED…PAMPERED without God’s PRESENCE. You see…the TRUE Presence of God is AWE INSPIRING and THE MOST HUMBLING POWER ON EARTH! In Scripture…every person who faced ALMIGHTY GOD was brought down…with His Presence being SO OVERWHELMING and SO HOLY that those who experienced it fell before Him! When God’s glory filled the Temple…look what happened: the Bible says that it was SO OVERWHELMING that the priests could not even stand to minister! The Church has been told for so long that it is “the head and not the tail”…that God wants us “victorious”…that God wants us “financially wealthy”…that God’s focus in on our “blessing”…that we have forgotten to EXAMINE OURSELVES and we fail to realize just how GREAT God is and just how LITTLE and SINFUL and UNWORTHY and DEPENDENT we are on Him! We have become SELF-EXALTED by the MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING of ministers who seek to “make us feel good about ourselves”…but we have become SO FOND of ourselves that we have exalted US and relegated God to our ALMIGHTY helper and supplier! Today, most in the Church serve God for what they can GET from Him…NOT for Who God is! God has become our TICKET to wealth and health and happiness…and He has ceased to be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, the God Who will one day JUDGE all that has been said and done here on earth! We want God as the God of LOVE…but we reject Him as the God that we must OBEY and SERVE…and we reject Him as the God we must BOW BEFORE! We do NOT want to HUMBLE ourselves in any form or fashion…we want to be EXALTED and LIFTED UP and PRAISED and DEIFIED in many cases! We make GODS out of ministers who “build” a large church…falsely assuming that they did so by FOLLOWING GOD! We ignore the truth of God’s Word when He tells us that the CROWDS will follow those who say what they want to hear…a sign of the last days! Again…no minister or church seems willing to EXAMINE itself to see WHICH spirit it was that helped them grow! They ASSUME it was God…and that GROWTH is the sign of God in their ministry. Again…they are CONTENT with what THEY have built…never realizing that God’s Word shows TWO HOUSES being built…IDENTICAL in outward appearance, I always picture…yet ONE house was built on the ROCK…and the other was built on the SAND! And…WHEN the storms came…the foundation of each house was REVEALED. But…keep in mind…this parable was not just speaking of the Church…it was speaking of INDIVIDUALS who helped build each house. And…WHEN the storms come…those who built their HOUSE on the false beliefs and false teachings of false gospels will find that they do not have the FOUNDATION to endure the storm…and they will FALL in DESTRUCTION. Notice this SERIOUS distinction in this passage…as those who THOUGHT their house was built on the ROCK find out that they put their FAITH in a FALSE GOSPEL: they thought they were doing the work of the Lord…yet Jesus tells them otherwise:
Matthew 7:22-27
“Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
We NEED a HOLY DISCONTENT with our present status! We need REVIVAL…but that is NOT a good thing! As I wrote recently, the need for REVIVAL recognizes that we are NOT in the proper relationship with God. We have FALLEN! You only REVIVE something that is UNCONSCIOUS or NEAR DEATH or even DEAD! God CAN bring the DEAD back to life…but it is up to US to do this:
2 Chronicles 7:14
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
This is just my personal take on this...based on what God is speaking to me: The Church has gotten so involved in pleasing people...based on what the people want to hear...that we have truly entered the time that Jesus spoke about...a time where people "will not endure sound doctrine." The Church no longer seems to want to hear about our sinfulness...our need of God...the need for repentance...the need for obedience to God in our lives. We have become complacent and somehow we believe we are to ATTRACT people to Church. God is telling me that as we seek to ATTRACT people...we are REJECTING and REPULSING Him. I was driving the other day and my fiancé and I saw a brand new church. It had just recently been built...it was not large...it was simple yet a very attractive structure. But as I looked to the right of the building...there I saw softball fields and soccer fields...all expertly manicured and kept so very nice. It was all part of the church's property. I immediately felt a STRONG impression (voice) from the Lord, saying "When did I ever speak to the Church to get into the softball and soccer business? The Church has become SO FOCUSED on keeping the people happy and entertained and LOYAL to them that they have left their primary purpose: to focus on and to worship ME." I immediately told my fiancé what I felt God was speaking. I was DEEPLY troubled…as I have been for SEVERAL years…but especially over the last 2 to 3 years. God continues to speak to me that we have fallen SO FAR from His desires and purpose in the Church. Yet…the Church is CONTENT in its present state…believing that CROWDS equate to God’s blessing on the Church. Yet…the Bible fully describes that CROWDS will gather around teaching and teachers who will say what they want to hear. And…nobody seems interested in EVALUATING their own ministry and their own church by GOD’S standards…they simply view a large crowd as the sign that they are doing things right and that they are obeying God and that they are preaching truth. There is no HOLY DISCONTENT with the status quo. Instead, happiness and busy-ness reigns. I think back to when I was young…and when ALL statistics show that the Church was at a point of some of its greatest successes. We had no gym. We had no softball and soccer fields. We had NO CONCEPT that the CHURCH was supposed to provide for us our ENTERTAINMENT in ANY area. Church was where we came to hear what God had to say to the people of God…and, even as a teen, with the same fluctuations that every teen seems to possess spiritually…I recognized the importance of distinguishing between ENTERTAINMENT and HEARING FROM GOD and WORSHIPING GOD. Church and the service was a VERY SERIOUS matter. It did not matter WHAT was going on with the youth…whether we were listening to the sermon or not…but when we KNEW God was speaking, we shut up and felt the HOLY PRESENCE of God…and a HOLY HUSH filled the room. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit…and the CONVICTION that was taking place. How small I felt in the Presence of God! How SINFUL I felt in His Presence! How UNWORTHY I felt before such a MIGHTY, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, JUST, AND ALL POWERFUL GOD! Yet…today…I SELDOM, if EVER…see that occurring in MOST churches today! Instead…I see…and feel God noting in my spirit…that the Church wants to be MOTIVATED instead of MADE NEW…CHARMED instead of CHANGED…PAMPERED without God’s PRESENCE. You see…the TRUE Presence of God is AWE INSPIRING and THE MOST HUMBLING POWER ON EARTH! In Scripture…every person who faced ALMIGHTY GOD was brought down…with His Presence being SO OVERWHELMING and SO HOLY that those who experienced it fell before Him! When God’s glory filled the Temple…look what happened: the Bible says that it was SO OVERWHELMING that the priests could not even stand to minister! The Church has been told for so long that it is “the head and not the tail”…that God wants us “victorious”…that God wants us “financially wealthy”…that God’s focus in on our “blessing”…that we have forgotten to EXAMINE OURSELVES and we fail to realize just how GREAT God is and just how LITTLE and SINFUL and UNWORTHY and DEPENDENT we are on Him! We have become SELF-EXALTED by the MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING of ministers who seek to “make us feel good about ourselves”…but we have become SO FOND of ourselves that we have exalted US and relegated God to our ALMIGHTY helper and supplier! Today, most in the Church serve God for what they can GET from Him…NOT for Who God is! God has become our TICKET to wealth and health and happiness…and He has ceased to be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, the God Who will one day JUDGE all that has been said and done here on earth! We want God as the God of LOVE…but we reject Him as the God that we must OBEY and SERVE…and we reject Him as the God we must BOW BEFORE! We do NOT want to HUMBLE ourselves in any form or fashion…we want to be EXALTED and LIFTED UP and PRAISED and DEIFIED in many cases! We make GODS out of ministers who “build” a large church…falsely assuming that they did so by FOLLOWING GOD! We ignore the truth of God’s Word when He tells us that the CROWDS will follow those who say what they want to hear…a sign of the last days! Again…no minister or church seems willing to EXAMINE itself to see WHICH spirit it was that helped them grow! They ASSUME it was God…and that GROWTH is the sign of God in their ministry. Again…they are CONTENT with what THEY have built…never realizing that God’s Word shows TWO HOUSES being built…IDENTICAL in outward appearance, I always picture…yet ONE house was built on the ROCK…and the other was built on the SAND! And…WHEN the storms came…the foundation of each house was REVEALED. But…keep in mind…this parable was not just speaking of the Church…it was speaking of INDIVIDUALS who helped build each house. And…WHEN the storms come…those who built their HOUSE on the false beliefs and false teachings of false gospels will find that they do not have the FOUNDATION to endure the storm…and they will FALL in DESTRUCTION. Notice this SERIOUS distinction in this passage…as those who THOUGHT their house was built on the ROCK find out that they put their FAITH in a FALSE GOSPEL: they thought they were doing the work of the Lord…yet Jesus tells them otherwise:
Matthew 7:22-27
“Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
We NEED a HOLY DISCONTENT with our present status! We need REVIVAL…but that is NOT a good thing! As I wrote recently, the need for REVIVAL recognizes that we are NOT in the proper relationship with God. We have FALLEN! You only REVIVE something that is UNCONSCIOUS or NEAR DEATH or even DEAD! God CAN bring the DEAD back to life…but it is up to US to do this:
2 Chronicles 7:14
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Created for Christ
The Modern Church seems to view God as though He exists to please them. The truth is this: WE were created to please GOD. When we return to the purpose for which we were created we will experience the Presence Of God again: not an EMOTIONAL experience...but a TRUE visitation of the Almighty God.
It is much like a variation on the famous quote from John F. Kennedy: Ask not what God can do for you...ask what YOU can do for GOD!
In many Christian circles...the CROSS was simply NOT SUFFICENT...and Jesus' death was just NOT ENOUGH. In those circles and churches, God has to do MORE...and if He somehow fails to make them wealthy, He is not a worthy God. You see, it is a theology which negates the power of the cross, subordinating the death of Jesus to a "gospel" which seeks earthly blessings and financial wealth and earthly contentment...all while ignoring the truth: that we are to take up our CROSS and we are to follow Christ. We fail to realize the meaning of that calling...yet Paul saw it clearly as he said "that I may know Him (Jesus) and the power of His resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.."
Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus would define the price of DISCIPLESHIP:
Mark 10:17, 21 NKJV
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" …21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
But there is something VERY TELLING and VERY SIGNIFICANT in this passage that is often overlooked or quickly skimmed over. First, notice the rich man comes asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. As we all know, Jesus responded with the words of verse 21 which I posted above. But…once the rich man walks away dejected, Jesus then reveals that the focus of our TRUST is essential.
Mark 10:23-27 NKJV
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
What we discover is that the rich man placed his TRUST in riches…as does the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. Not only is the PROSPERITY GOSPEL a FALSE GOSPEL, but the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a society that places its TRUST in RICHES. The entire premise of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a false belief that RICHES are NEEDED to bring contentment and happiness. Face it…if RICHES were described by false teachers as “troublesome” and “fleeting” and “seductive” and “deceitfulness” then riches WOULD NOT be sought after NOR trusted. Yet…these are the words used by God throughout Scripture regarding RICHES.
The Church must realize that EARTHLY RICHES will pass away. Even Scripture describes a time when money will be USELESS. Yet…society and Christians alike place their trust in RICHES.
Jesus was inviting us to participate with him in something…yet it was NOT riches. Jesus called us to participate in the SUFFERING OF THE CROSS! Seeing Christianity as a PROMISE OF RICHES is to view God as existing for OUR enjoyment. Seeing Christianity as a CALL TO TAKE UP THE CROSS is to view US as existing to SERVE CHRIST.
The futility of riches? Here are just SOME of the passages in God’s Word about RICHES:
Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psalm 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
Psalm 49: 6-7 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him
Psalm 52:7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."
Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.
Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Proverbs 13:7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.
Jeremiah 9:23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
NOW…examine just a few passages that focus on TRUE riches:
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Ephesians 1:7-14
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The “inheritance” we have obtained is ETERNAL in nature…and the Holy Spirit is our “guarantee” of that inheritance (the guarantee is NOT earthly riches) UNTIL the day of “redemption” of that inheritance. You see…we will one day die…or we will one day be RAPTURED. And…on that day, we are able to REDEEM our INHERITANCE. Yet…even then…the RICHES will not equate to EARTHLY WEALTH: RICHES in heaven are measured SPIRITUALLY…not TEMPORALLY.
Have you ever REDEEMED anything? There was a time when people collected GREEN STAMPS…and those stamps could be REDEEMED for other things…you EXCHANGED your GREEN STAMPS for MERCHANDISE. Spiritually…our MORTAL will take on IMMORTALITY! We are REDEEMED by the BLOOD OF JESUS…and the Holy Spirit within us NOW is the GUARANTEE that we will one day EXCHANGE our EARTHLY existence for our HEAVENLY existence! Amen!
All of this is possible…when we TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. Forsake ANY and ALL gospels that focus on the seeking of EARTHLY RICHES…supposing that we can TRUST God while TRUSTING in the futility of seeking wealth.
But…more than that…cease from seeing God as being there FOR US…and let us begin to see OURSELVES as existing for the GLORY OF GOD…to serve Jesus Christ…and to KNOW Him in the “fellowship of His sufferings.”
THAT is our calling.
It is much like a variation on the famous quote from John F. Kennedy: Ask not what God can do for you...ask what YOU can do for GOD!
In many Christian circles...the CROSS was simply NOT SUFFICENT...and Jesus' death was just NOT ENOUGH. In those circles and churches, God has to do MORE...and if He somehow fails to make them wealthy, He is not a worthy God. You see, it is a theology which negates the power of the cross, subordinating the death of Jesus to a "gospel" which seeks earthly blessings and financial wealth and earthly contentment...all while ignoring the truth: that we are to take up our CROSS and we are to follow Christ. We fail to realize the meaning of that calling...yet Paul saw it clearly as he said "that I may know Him (Jesus) and the power of His resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.."
Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus would define the price of DISCIPLESHIP:
Mark 10:17, 21 NKJV
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" …21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
But there is something VERY TELLING and VERY SIGNIFICANT in this passage that is often overlooked or quickly skimmed over. First, notice the rich man comes asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. As we all know, Jesus responded with the words of verse 21 which I posted above. But…once the rich man walks away dejected, Jesus then reveals that the focus of our TRUST is essential.
Mark 10:23-27 NKJV
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
What we discover is that the rich man placed his TRUST in riches…as does the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. Not only is the PROSPERITY GOSPEL a FALSE GOSPEL, but the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a society that places its TRUST in RICHES. The entire premise of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a false belief that RICHES are NEEDED to bring contentment and happiness. Face it…if RICHES were described by false teachers as “troublesome” and “fleeting” and “seductive” and “deceitfulness” then riches WOULD NOT be sought after NOR trusted. Yet…these are the words used by God throughout Scripture regarding RICHES.
The Church must realize that EARTHLY RICHES will pass away. Even Scripture describes a time when money will be USELESS. Yet…society and Christians alike place their trust in RICHES.
Jesus was inviting us to participate with him in something…yet it was NOT riches. Jesus called us to participate in the SUFFERING OF THE CROSS! Seeing Christianity as a PROMISE OF RICHES is to view God as existing for OUR enjoyment. Seeing Christianity as a CALL TO TAKE UP THE CROSS is to view US as existing to SERVE CHRIST.
The futility of riches? Here are just SOME of the passages in God’s Word about RICHES:
Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psalm 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
Psalm 49: 6-7 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him
Psalm 52:7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."
Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.
Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Proverbs 13:7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.
Jeremiah 9:23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
NOW…examine just a few passages that focus on TRUE riches:
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Ephesians 1:7-14
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The “inheritance” we have obtained is ETERNAL in nature…and the Holy Spirit is our “guarantee” of that inheritance (the guarantee is NOT earthly riches) UNTIL the day of “redemption” of that inheritance. You see…we will one day die…or we will one day be RAPTURED. And…on that day, we are able to REDEEM our INHERITANCE. Yet…even then…the RICHES will not equate to EARTHLY WEALTH: RICHES in heaven are measured SPIRITUALLY…not TEMPORALLY.
Have you ever REDEEMED anything? There was a time when people collected GREEN STAMPS…and those stamps could be REDEEMED for other things…you EXCHANGED your GREEN STAMPS for MERCHANDISE. Spiritually…our MORTAL will take on IMMORTALITY! We are REDEEMED by the BLOOD OF JESUS…and the Holy Spirit within us NOW is the GUARANTEE that we will one day EXCHANGE our EARTHLY existence for our HEAVENLY existence! Amen!
All of this is possible…when we TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. Forsake ANY and ALL gospels that focus on the seeking of EARTHLY RICHES…supposing that we can TRUST God while TRUSTING in the futility of seeking wealth.
But…more than that…cease from seeing God as being there FOR US…and let us begin to see OURSELVES as existing for the GLORY OF GOD…to serve Jesus Christ…and to KNOW Him in the “fellowship of His sufferings.”
THAT is our calling.
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