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1 Corinthians 8:11-12 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. (KJV)
Do you see how important your actions and example are, not only within the friendly confines of your church organizations, but what you do outside of them which speaks volumes also? Do you see how personally our Lord takes things, not only in the positive, but the negative also? So today it’s time to be quick to hear and slower to speak. James 2:1-3 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (KJV) Again we see our Lord letting us know how different His ways and thoughts are toward His people. Many judge by the outward instead of ministering to the inward man, and in reality they end up wounding our Lord again. James 2:5-7 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called? (KJV) While watching one of the many, and what seems like endless telethons which man’s religions keep dreaming up, they actually offer more perks to those that give the most. They give the most recognition to those that offer the most, but it’s the other way around with the Lord. Not a good place to be in come the day when our Lord will separate His sheep from the goats. Proverbs 13:6-7 Righteousness keeps him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthrows the sinner. 7 There is that makes himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that makes himself poor, yet hath great riches. (KJV) What is it that you really hunger and thirst for today? Is it the riches of this world and man’s recognition, or are you seeking to please God? The world today and its worldly preachers are pointing the people to the outward realm thinking more is better, while those few that are chosen of God are looking to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that is only found in Christ. Exodus 23:8-9 And thou shall take no gift: for the gift blinded the wise, and perverted the words of the righteous. 9 Also thou shall not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. (KJV) When you get caught up again in the outward fallen realm it can have a blinding effect on those that play favorites. That word gift is also referred to as a bribe, and many doctrines have been changed and altered by mankind to keep the gifts flowing in their direction. Ezekiel 22:12-13 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, says the Lord GOD. 13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. (KJV) You know when these false prophets preach about seed faith and the hundredfold return that is when you need to be heading for the exits and not for the ATM machine. Because when they do these things they are in essence wounding Christ personally and that’s not something you want to be lending your support to. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (KJV)
As a member of the body of Christ your vision of people should change from the outward appearance to the inward one. How you used to view people, especially the believers in Christ, is going to become new and different from how you viewed them in the past. If you desire to worship our Lord in Spirit and truth then you will have to be open to a new way of seeing within. Matthew 25:31-33 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (KJV) Our Lord is going to return and judge people according to His standards and not mans’. In order for you to be on the right side instead of left out you will need to look beyond the realm of the flesh. Matthew 25:34-36 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (KJV) Did you notice that when the Lord referred to one of His people that we encountered how personally He takes it, referring to them as I, one in the same? When you do things for members of the body do you see it as being done personally unto the Lord, or do you treat people less because of their outward appearance? Matthew 25:37-40 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (KJV) Do you provide the same effort to those that are looked down on by man, yet our Lord considers one of His? Do you notice how our Lord takes it personally, and when you minister to these people you are actually doing it unto Him? 1 Corinthians 12:22-24 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: (KJV) Feeble refers to weak, a member that could use some encouragement and uplifting. It seems those that could use the help and are considered necessary members of the body of Christ are actually those that are overlooked and neglected. That kind of thinking is considered old and should be passing away if you are going to walk in the new today. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Samuel 16:6-8 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, surely the LORD's anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, neither hath the LORD chosen this. (KJV)
Today our Lord is looking to see who is willing to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Our Lord is not concerned with the outward appearance, but is looking within. Now if the Lord looks at the inward thoughts and intents of the heart then shouldn’t we as His people follow suit? How do you judge organizations you attend? Do you judge based on how nice people are, or how well they dress? Or are you looking to hear sound doctrine by those who are not concerned with pleasing man? 1 Samuel 16:10-12 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. (KJV) So why wasn’t David brought in with the rest of the brothers? Haven’t you been influenced by those you thought God had chosen first to serve Him, only to find out later that they just are not doing it from the heart? You will find out that the last person you may have thought was of God was in reality His first choice; you know like Paul the Apostle? While those that claim they are God’s first choice are actually the last ones He would choose. 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: (KJV) So you have done some foolish things in your past, or maybe you realize how foolish it is at times when we the creation still try to tell the Creator how He should run His kingdom. Well, when you realize how foolish your thoughts and ways are you then give God someone to work with because you are willing to step out of the way and let Him take over. Most of what we see out there concerning salvation is based on what others think and not what our Lord is saying about how salvation truly works. 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord. (KJV) Yawn, yawn, boring, boring, boring listening to all these people who claim they are doing things for our Lord. Many fall into the category of works rather than faith. God is looking for those that are willing to let Him work on their behalf and not the other way around. Are you willing dearly loved? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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