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1 Corinthians 15:49-50 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (50) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (KJV)
In order to be a partaker of an inheritance one must be a member of that family. God is a Spirit so only those that worship Him in spirit and in truth will be partakers as well as inheritors of His kingdom. Many people think that someday they will go to heaven and then see all their family members, and there will be a great reunion. However the truth be known, once you accepted the Lord’s plan of salvation you were adopted into a new family with a pure bloodline, that being the blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sin and allows us to be a part of His spiritual family. Luke 8:19-21 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. (20) And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. (21) And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. (KJV) Which realm do you hold to now; in other words which one has the most influence in your life, the spiritual or the flesh and blood realm? Despite the fact that our Lord was very clear in who His family truly is, today many still hold and put more value in the fleshly realm than the spiritual one, and then wonder why their relationship with the Lord goes stale. If you were brought up in a Christian home that’s great, but what if those of your own household were not likeminded with you? In fact many times those of your own household may be more of a hindrance than a help to your spiritual welfare. My question is today, did the Lord make you the savior of your physical family, or does His word give specific warnings on how to handle these situations? Mark 6:1-6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. (2) And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? (3) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (4) But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. (5) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. (6) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. (KJV) Isn’t it interesting that the Lord Himself wasn’t given the royal treatment when around His own physical family, in His own country? So if our Lord didn’t fare to well with flesh and blood what makes you think you will either? Why let the enemy lay a guilt trip on you because you think you are a failure if your family doesn’t get saved the way you think they should? Let me share this tidbit also, at the end of verse three we see that they were offended in Him, which by the way included His physical family. Before you pack your bags to embark on a guilt trip, realize that you are in good company if some are offended in what you believe, even those of your own household. The theory of relativity doesn’t work with God; in other words once you entered the kingdom of God and sought out His righteousness you entered a whole new realm populated with a whole new spiritual family in Christ. Many people still look and see only the outward man, as with Jesus, they judged according to the flesh and blood line, and were unable to acknowledge who the Son of God is, who was standing in front of them, which was Christ in Him the only hope of glory. Today the majority of people still have this veil on their heart and only give credence to the outward, while a few ever truly come to a working knowledge of the inward man Christ and become partakers of His divine nature. Psalms 69:7-8 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. (8) I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. (KJV) Did not our Lord say that if they persecuted Him they would do it to you also? Whether you believe it or not, Jesus of Nazareth’s own flesh and blood family were not on board with where the spirit of Christ was leading Him; which eventually ended up at a cross. While many teach and preach that you should be holding to your physical family until they get saved, the truth be known that the word of God is quite clear that the realm of the flesh is contrary to that of the Spirit. It is basically like trying to mix water and oil together. So Church, if you don’t quite jive with those of your own household don’t take it personally, because quite frankly you are in good company and good standing with our Lord. Matthew 10:34-38 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (35) For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (36) And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. (37) He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (38) And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (KJV) Choose you this day who you will serve, because no man can serve two masters, and a house divided will definitely fall. The Lord said quite clearly that they who were not with Him were against Him. So just because you made a decision to serve our Lord doesn’t mean everyone else around you will. The question now becomes, if you are not finding peace where you are at, and around those you have been familiar with are you willing to move on in order to maintain that peace you have with God, or will you keep trying to find peace in a realm the Lord said it wouldn’t be found in? Nobody said it was an easy path to heaven; now the question becomes, will you take up your own cross in order to follow our Lord no matter who or what form it manifests itself in? When the Lord put these instructions in the Bible they are put there for our benefit; like throwing a lifeline to someone about to drown in destruction and despair. Luke 18:28-30 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. (29) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, (30) Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (KJV) We just talked the last couple of days about relationships, those between a man and a woman and why we entered into these situations. Your life in the past was based on flesh and blood, the carnal mind that chose things that were pleasing to the flesh and not the Spirit. Now that you are a new creation in Christ old things are passed away and all things are become new, including your family in Christ and who our Lord now considers are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe these people you are surrounded by are just not edifying you anymore and it is time to move on; again, no matter who or how it manifests. The question today is which realm are you holding more to, the Spirit or the flesh? Because while one will allow you to continue in your walk with the Lord, the other is a dead end that will have you coming up short if you continue to hold to an anchor and not a lifeline of escape. Revelation 21:4-5 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (KJV) Do you wish to partake of a new life? Then that needs to start today in order to partake of it for an eternity. While many people think that someday they will see lost loved ones based on flesh and blood ties; the truth be known, a spiritual God is only going to allow spiritual people access to His kingdom. There will be a family reunion in heaven that will be based on those in Christ; His brothers and sisters that chose to be lead of the Spirit and not the flesh. If you are unable to recognize the spiritual now then don’t expect to be recognized by a spiritual being in the here-after; because they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Who do you consider to be your true family; is it the family in Christ and what His word says, or are you holding more to the traditions and doctrines of man? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 13:10-12 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (KJV)
When you think back to your childhood, much of how you view life, the way you talk, relate with others, and your priorities change as one matures. When I was younger, not only physically, but spiritually young in the Lord, instead of being quicker to hear, and slower to speak, I to would usually speak first, then come to an understanding of what I just said, finally thinking, wow I shouldn’t have said that. When one matures in the Lord, and is able to come to a clearer understanding of how to walk and talk in the Spirit, then the order is changed; you think about what you are going to say, understanding it is words of life, before speaking them forth. Perfect refers to maturity, and the more one grows in the Lord, the more they can relate to Him, as well as He with us. After all, how much of a conversation can an adult have with a child? It is limited to where their understanding is. And if you have ever worked for a construction company, how well could a four year old read a blueprint, let alone work a job? So like a child, when one is young in the Lord, their vision, their understanding is limited, or in part, but as one grows, then they are able to look in the mirror and see a mature Christian looking back at them; having a clearer vision into the realm of the Spirit, as well as resembling more and more their Father. Ephesians 4:11-15 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (KJV) Many, tell children of Santa Clause, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy, which makes them wide eyed and excited, but does nothing for their spiritual growth. Many of what man calls preachers and teachers of the word of God do the same thing; which unless one is mature enough in the Lord, grounded and settled in the truth, they will end up falling for the same gimmicks. In order to speak the truth in love, one needs to be honest with themselves first so that they can stand clean before the Lord, before He will entrust them with His work. Though many wonder ’why Lord, don’t you use me more?’ they need to ask themselves if they would entrust their riches with an immature liar and a thief. I use the term immature liar because many hold man to be true instead of God. I use the term thief, because many rob God the opportunity to work through them, because they hang on to their old childish ways, and thus limit Him. 1 Corinthians 11:28-31 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (KJV) It takes someone mature in the Lord who is willing to examine themselves; that when they look in their spiritual mirror they see Christ looking back at them. Here’s a thought, could you imagine your walk with the Lord, and where you would be if you were as willing to scrutinize yourself as you do others? What if you could see your own shortcomings and faults as good as you see it in others? Or maybe you do and that’s what irks you, things that reflect your own life. You wonder why Christians become weak, sickly, and are asleep at the wheel heading for a ditch. It’s because they don’t come clean with God, but rather live in a state of denial, which if we deny Him access to our life, He will deny us access to His eternal life as well. James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (KJV) Being Christ like is a way of life, not some part time occupation to appease others. Many have the talk, but not the walk. Is your walk with the Lord in line with the talk, or has one gotten ahead of the other? I have found those that I consider mature in the Lord are those who let their walk do the talking for them, so that when they do share their insights, it has substance. Are you a continual doer, or a casual hearer, like a child hearing only those things that appeal to the flesh, and not the things that will set one free, and keep them free? Grow up, so that your life will be a mirror reflection of our heavenly Father in a dark and obscure world. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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