More than a few think this is an acceptable practice, and that humanity has advanced so far as to not to be in NEED of certain of HIS instructions, precepts, or decrees! This has become woven into the way we are reared, and IS endangering FAR too many, BECAUSE those who NEVER take the time to KNOW THE TRUTH, or to ADHERE to it, are as lost!!!
THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE *GOD* HAS SPOKEN IN GRIEF because SO many of HIS people ARE lost to the world due to ignorance, and falseness! HE HAS SPOKEN of blind leaders blindly leading HIS people right to the throat of Sheol! People have a tendency to follow other people, especially those they are convinced are leaders, which too often, HAS proven faulty, incomplete, or with any of many negative ideals, hence, results!!!
FOLLOW THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and HIS WORD, as ONLY HE SHALL DELIVER us from the chains of eternal woes! By DOING so, we LEARN HOW to empty the self, and to be FILLED WITH HIM, THE HOLY SPIRIT; then we are SINCERELY compelled to PRAISE, and WORSHIP aright, as we progress towards our BLESSED HOPE of TRUE, and EVERLASTING LIFE!!!
MANY are those uninformed, thus unable to WORSHIP THE LORD in SPIRIT, and TRUTH! MANY are those whom, based on human understanding, believe that they CAN exist both in the world, and in *GOD*! MANY are those who continue in the flesh while imagining it is common to our having been born into this world! MANY are those who think of *GOD* occasionally, but expect HIS EVERY GOOD GIFT continually! On the list goes, as do the perils!!!
PRIDE IS ENMITY with *GOD*, HE DETESTS the deep well of aspects, causes, influences, and other components which make up the seas called PRIDE, and for good reason! PRIDE sees us thinking, saying, and doing that which benefits the self first, and foremost, without much consideration for HIM, if any, or others! PRIDE gives us permission to err, to pursue, to desire whatever makes us happy, albeit we are rarely ever truly happy in the self/flesh! The enemy of LIFE has infiltrated through the generations a belief system which allows us to be self-inclined, and to expect satiation, WHILE counting on *GOD* to NOT hold us accountable; AND more than not, those who cling to the self KNOW THE TRUTH, but ignore it, or believe the lies of the enemy!!!
Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted. When men ask of God prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty.
Here is a decided warning to avoid all criminal friendships with this world. Worldly-mindedness is enmity to God. An enemy may be reconciled, but enmity never can be reconciled. A man may have a large portion in things of this life, and yet be kept in the love of God; but he who sets his heart upon the world, who will conform to it rather than lose its friendship, is an enemy to God. So that any one who resolves at all events to be upon friendly terms with the world, must be the enemy of God. Did then the Jews, or the loose professors of Christianity, think the Scripture spake in vain against this worldly-mindedness? or does the Holy Spirit who dwells in all Christians, or the new nature which he creates, produce such fruit? Natural corruption shows itself by envying. The spirit of the world teaches us to lay up, or lay out for ourselves, according to our own fancies; God the Holy Spirit teaches us to be willing to do good to all about us, as we are able.
The grace of God will correct and cure the spirit by nature in us; and where he gives grace, he gives another spirit than that of the world. The proud resist God: in their understanding they resist the truths of God; in their will they resist the laws of God; in their passions they resist the providence of God; therefore, no wonder that God resists the proud. How wretched the state of those who make God their enemy!
God will give more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, pray for it are thankful for it, and such shall have it. Submit to God, ver. 7. Submit your understanding to the truth of God; submit your wills to the will of his precept, the will of his providence. Submit yourselves to God, for he is ready to do you good. If we yield to temptations, the devil will continually follow us; but if we put on the whole armour of God, and stand out against him, he will leave us. Let sinners then submit to God, and seek his grace and favour; resisting the devil. All sin must be wept over; here, in godly sorrow, or, hereafter, in eternal misery. And the Lord will not refuse to comfort one who really mourns for sin, or to exalt one who humbles himself before him.
We HAVE to LEARN HOW to WORSHIP THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY properly; in doing so we remove much sorrow, pain, grief, and other endangerment which lies before us ALWAYS! The enemy IS REAL, and IS hell bent on stealing souls which BELONG TO *GOD*, which IS made EASY THROUGH our ignorance, defiance, scoffing, and other behaviours which ARE common to the ways we are reared! We are SO egocentric we THINK we know it all, and at least enough to make our way through this valley, but which WON'T happen without *GOD*!!!
8+++“ ‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9+++They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’ ”
Additions to God's laws reflect upon his wisdom, as if he had left out something which was needed, and which man could supply; in one way or other they always lead men to disobey God. How thankful ought we to be for the written word of God! Never let us think that the religion of the Bible can be improved by any human addition, either in doctrine or practice. Our blessed Lord spoke of their traditions as inventions of their own, and pointed out one instance in which this was very clear, that of their transgressing the fifth commandment. When a parent's wants called for assistance, they pleaded, that they had devoted to the temple all they could spare, even though they did not part with it, and therefore their parents must expect nothing from them. This was making the command of God of no effect. The doom of hypocrites is put in a little compass; In vain do they worship me. It will neither please God, nor profit themselves; they trust in vanity, and vanity will be their recompence.
Come TO *GOD* in SPIRIT and TRUTH, and ASK for HIM to aid you as you humble yourself, and gain HIS WISDOM through deliberate attention to HIS WORD, and WILL! BELIEVE IN HIM ENOUGH TO RELY ON HIM, and to TRUST HIM! BE FREE IN HIM but do NOT use this freedom for the flesh, for the spirit IS our TRUTH, and our likeness unto HIM! The world is as useful for the spirit as it is for the flesh IF one IS IN HIM, REMAINS IN HIM, and thus exists accordingly! EXPECT but do NOT imagine that HE shall give if you remain afar from HIM, and continue to exist in the world, and it's ways! The whole of the matter IS that we exist FOR THE LORD *GOD*, FOR HIS PRAISE, FOR WORSHIP OF HIM, FOR SERVICE TO HIM, and to others, and FOR HIS GLORY, WHICH when all is said and done, WILL see us sharing in HIS GLORY forevermore, entirely BLESSED in every way! BLESS THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and others, and you shall be BLESSED, AMEN!!!
LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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