In modern times, just as it was long, long ago, there has been a 'softening' of THE WORD to the people! Few WANT to hear THE TRUTH or the facts in whole; they pick and choose what they are willing to believe, or to adhere to, and so, because of the friction, and contention, many a one of 'the cloth' HAS skirted the weightier issues, and instructions TO appease the congregants, and to KEEP them in attendance...
In days long gone, anyone who spoke the whole TRUTH, and the WORDS OF *GOD*, was, as was CHRIST JESUS, shunned, slandered, imprisoned, beaten, and more, all the way to being put to death, FOR DELIVERING THE WORD OF THE LORD *GOD*! The people want SALVATION, but they don't want any of the responsibility therein, nor do they accept that they NEED to align fully, body, heart, mind, and spirit, TO HIM, and HIS WILL...
This IS DEFIANCE, which is one with PRIDE, which IS enmity with *GOD*! Even the least knowledgeable KNOWS this! THE WORD OF *GOD* IS intended to scare the hell out of us, in the sense of making us aware of the dangers of the world, and it's ways, along with our ease of enjoining to that which leads us far, far from HIM! THE WORD ALSO, intends to enlighten us, endow us, enrich us, encourage us, and empower us FOR THE JOURNEY through this valley to our rightful, and everlasting HOME! We WON'T be able to fulfill our roles, or DUTIES IN HIS WILL, IF we don't know the whole of THE TRUTH; HIS BLESSINGS and HIS CURSES, and so on, THEREFORE, the ENTIRE BIBLE WORKS FOR us, even if parts of it rub us the wrong way, or cause us to view our ways differently!!!
The Preacher/Pastor's work IS to ensure our safety, and to open our eyes, and ears TO THE LORD *GOD*, and to help us PREPARE FOR HIS RETURN! It is very sad that few WILL accept, or receive their dutiful gifts! SURE, there ARE a LOT of FALSE guides, but again, WITH knowledge, we ARE able to discern, and to make the right choices!!!
EZEKIEL 33: 7-20...
7+++“Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me.
8+++“When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand.
9+++“But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.
10+++“Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus you have spoken, saying, “Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we are rotting away in them; how then can we survive?”’
11+++“Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’
12+++“And you, son of man, say to your fellow citizens, ‘The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he will not stumble because of it in the day when he turns from his wickedness; whereas a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.’
13+++“When I say to the righteous he will surely live, and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered; but in that same iniquity of his which he has committed he will die.
14+++“But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and he turns from his sin and practices justice and righteousness,
15+++if a wicked man restores a pledge, pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the statutes which ensure life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
16+++“None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall surely live.
17+++“Yet your fellow citizens say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their own way that is not right.
18+++“When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, then he shall die in it.
19+++“But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live by them.
20+++“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”
The prophet is a watchman to the house of Israel. His business is to warn sinners of their misery and danger. He must warn the wicked to turn from their way, that they may live. If souls perish through his neglect of duty, he brings guilt upon himself. See what those have to answer for, who make excuses for sin, flatter sinners, and encourage them to believe they shall have peace, though they go on. How much wiser are men in their temporal than in their spiritual concerns! They set watchmen to guard their houses, and sentinels to warn of the enemies' approach, but where the everlasting happiness or misery of the soul is at stake, they are offended if ministers obey their Master's command, and give a faithful warning; they would rather perish, listening to smooth things.
Those who despaired of finding mercy with God, are answered with a solemn declaration of God's readiness to show mercy. The ruin of the city and state was determined, but that did not relate to the final state of persons. God says to the righteous, that he shall surely live. But many who have made profession, have been ruined by proud confidence in themselves. Man trusts to his own righteousness, and presuming on his own sufficiency, he is brought to commit iniquity. If those who have lived a wicked life repent and forsake their wicked ways, they shall be saved. Many such amazing and blessed changes have been wrought by the power of Divine grace. When there is a settled separation between a man and sin, there shall no longer be a separation between him and God.
MATTHEW 10:27...
What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.
JOHN 6:63...
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
ACTS 5: 20...
“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honoured with the services of our life. It is not for the preachers of Christ's gospel to retire into corners, as long as they can have any opportunity of preaching in the great congregation. They must preach to the lowest, whose souls are as precious to Christ as the souls of the greatest. Speak to all, for all are concerned. Speak as those who resolve to stand to it, to live and die by it. Speak all the words of this heavenly, divine life, in comparison with which the present earthly life does not deserve the name. These words of life, which the Holy Ghost puts into your mouth. The words of the gospel are the words of life; words whereby we may be saved. How wretched are those who are vexed at the success of the gospel! They cannot but see that the word and power of the Lord are against them; and they tremble for the consequences, yet they will go on.
There IS much animosity towards those CHOSEN to lead *GOD'S* people; some it warranted, indeed, but some of it stems from stubbornness, or refusal to acknowledge the NEED FOR *GOD*, and *GODLY* ways!!!
NOT even the most Devout is complete in knowledge, and lessons come to us via the Ministry, and THE HOLY SPIRIT, IF we are open to receiving, and growing, and bearing fruits worthy of HIM, and HIS GIFT OF LIFE! Thus, there exists these guides, and just so you know, the ones who ARE TRUE TO THEIR CALLING, sacrifice a LOT to make sure each and every person might be awakened, and brought HOME to SHARE IN THE GLORY OF *GOD* FOREVER!!!
NO human can make this trek alone, for the enemy IS EVER busy, and well versed, and knows exactly how to steal souls; THEREFORE, THE LORD *GOD* HAS PROVIDED THE WAY FOR our sake, and HAS placed particular people to ensure we REMAIN IN HIM, THAT HE WILL REMAIN in us! Sift through the bad and find the good, and CLING TO *GOD*, for there is NO other way to be safe, healthy, or optimized! ALLOW knowledge to thrive within, and take every bit of it to heart!!!
Time on Earth is NOT about us; we are here to SERVE THE LORD, and others! Unfortunately, the whisperings of the elemental rulers; the evil, HAS convinced us that 'ME' IS inclusive! Lies, falsehoods, illusion, delusion, enticements, and all other ploys work against us, our souls, and THE LORD, and so, we MUST know what we are up against, as we grow, and develop into our REALITY which IS Children of *GOD*, and citizens of HEAVEN! We are NOT of the world, though we are in it for a short, short time, which IS the proving ground for THE TRUE!!!
Those assigned to leading HIS people whom DON'T feel the need to teach the WHOLE TRUTH, or allow people to continue on in their favoured ways WITHOUT making them aware, SHALL be shown, known, and shall meet their MAKER! It IS a massive responsibility, and a very concerning one, but IF done according TO THE LORD, IS crucial, and WILL see THE KINGDOM TEEMING with the SAVED, FOR HIS GLORY!!!
LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment