I can hear the words of anger in people’s hearts saying, “No one is going to tell me what to do. I’ll do as I want. I’ll work things out my own way. No man or God is going to reign over me.”
When a person is born, the way they act, the way they think, the things they do, the plans they make, are all centered in the ways of the world. The center of each person’s life is usually one’s own self. They are what the Bible calls worldly or carnal.
Many become involved in some religion. Some follow Christianity, some Islam, some Hinduism, while others become involved in one of the approximate 25,000 other religions. Some are atheists or agnostics. Most follow the religion of their parents. Ultimately, most people believe that their religion is the right one, and if they believe in life after death and heaven, they believe their religion will get them there.
Most people grow into adulthood and some live to be very old. During these years, in some way, each person should be confronted with making a decision. That decision is between what they spiritually believe versus what the Bible teaches. They will be confronted with what they believe versus the claims of a man called Jesus. Life is a test. To not choose Christ, is to choose deception and eternity in the lake of fire.
The Bible tells us that He is the Son of God, that He is God, that He is the 2nd Person of the Trinity, and that He is Christ come in the flesh-ref 1 Jn 4:2.
The Bible relates that He (God) came to this earth and received an earthly body, as a result of being born of the virgin Mary. He lived a perfect life and, in the end, was tortured and died a horrible death on the cross for the sins of mankind. The Bible teaches that no man can enter heaven, except they believe on Jesus Christ as the Scriptures have said. No man can come to the Father, except through Jesus Christ.
The Bible relates that a person must repent of their sins, surrender their life to Christ, and put their trust in Him as their only hope of salvation. For those that do trust in Jesus Christ, they are commanded to be baptized by full immersion in the name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the HOLY GHOST-ref Mt 28:19. A person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit through faith-Gal 3:14.
When confronted with this decision, most in these latter days reject Christ.
They not only reject that they must believe on Jesus Christ
and must learn to trust in Him,
but also that they must obey Him
and the words He spoke.
In other words, their God is not a religion, a denomination, or a church. It is the Person of Jesus Christ.
For those that do begin the journey of following Christ, many stumbling blocks lie ahead to test their faith. They can expect to have people lie about them, accuse them, ridicule them, persecute them, just to mention a few. Their faith will be tested through the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, the lusts of the flesh and other lusts, and the pleasures of this life. Parents may disown them. Sex and drugs may be used to tempt them to sin. Over and over, Satan will put every deceitful thought imaginable in their mind.
As Adam and Eve were tested, as the children in the wilderness were tested, as Jesus was tested, so shall you be tested.
Once a person surrenders their life to Jesus, they must unlearn much of what they think they know. They must put off the old man and their worldly way of thinking. They must learn through much correction, trials, hardships, sufferings, and patience to be transformed to be like Christ. They must learn to be obedient to God’s Word in all ways.
The very foundation of all this is study, study, and more study. For it is written: Ro 10:17-SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. A person must begin to devour God’s Word, as a baby devours milk. For it is written: 1 Pe 2:2,3-AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY: IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS. A person cannot grow in faith and in understanding God apart from His Word. A newborn Christian will crave God’s Word like a baby craves milk. Jesus said in Mt 11:29-LEARN OF ME.
To illustrate the enormity of the change that needs to take place in a person’s life, consider that they must learn to act like Christ, to think like Christ, and to do as Christ did-ref 1 Jn 4:17. They need to have a whole new nature indwelled inside them.-Col 3:9-10. The potter needs to soften the hard clay and then remake the vessel from scratch. That vessel is you. The process can be very painful at times. To reshape a spiritually dead, worldly person that lives in sin and pleasure into a person that is conformed to the image of Christ—is a miracle work of God. It is written: THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US. GOD…WORKETH IN YOU. THE WORD OF GOD…WORKETH…IN YOU THAT BELIEVE-Eph 3:20; Phili 2:13; 1 Thes 2:13. God’s Word reveals the following that God must do to reshape the vessel, to prepare the vessel to be used for His purpose. The vessel must:
REPENT-Acts 3:19
BE CONVERTED-Mt 18:3
Be BORN OF GOD-Jn 1:13
Be BORN AGAIN-Jn 3:3
BORN AGAIN OF INCORRUPTIBLE (seed) BY THE WORD OF GOD-1 Pe 1:23
Must stop lying-Col 3:9
Must stop doing things according to the way the world does things-Eph 2:2
Must stop conforming to this world-Ro 12:2
Must stop fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind-Eph 2:3
OLD MAN must be CRUCIFIED WITH Christ-Ro 6:6
Must put the old nature to death with its PASSIONS AND DESIRES-Gal 5:24 JNT
No longer are to serve SIN-Ro 6:7
Must PUT OFF the FORMER CONVERSATION-the worldly, deceitful, lustful way of talking, which is the OLD MAN-Eph 4:22
Must put off the old man with his deeds—the old ways of doing things-Col 3:9
Must die to self—must be DEAD WITH CHRIST-Ro 6:8
A person needs to put off the fruits of this world, and
must put on the fruits of the Spirit of God, which IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE-Gal 5:22,23
Must become as a new cloth-Mt 9:16
Must become as a new bottle-Mt 9:17
Must become a NEW CREATURE-2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15
ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW-2 Cor 5:17
Must begin to live UNTO GOD-Ro 6:9
Must have your mind and thinking renewed in SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND-Eph 4:23
Must put ON THE NEW MAN, the new way of thinking, the new way of doing things which is God’s way-Eph 4:23; Col 3:10
Must be renewed in the knowledge of God’s Word-Eph 3:10
Must be renewed and be transformed to the image of Christ-Col 3:10; Ro 8:29
Must have your mind and thinking transformed and renewed-Ro 12:2
This process of change begins the moment you give your life to Christ and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Some begin this journey, but then fall away and return to the old ways.
Some begin this journey and are faithful. They grow until Jesus calls them home.
Those that resist change, grow more slowly.
Those that will not repent, regarding being entangled with the affairs of this life-ref 2 Tim 2:4, are in much danger. For it is written: 2 Tim 2:4-NO MAN THAT WARRETH ENTANGLETH HIMSELF WITH THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE; THAT HE MAY PLEASE HIM WHO HATH CHOSEN HIM TO BE A SOLDIER.
Those that resist obeying God, usually grow at a much slower pace, or they fall back, because they remain worldly.
Their mind is on the world, and their mind is on Jesus. They are double-minded-ref Ja 1:8.
A person’s love for God is demonstrated by the degree to which they obey His Word to the letter.
Faith relates to obedience.
Understanding God’s Word relates to obedience.
Fearing God relates to obedience.
Loving God and the brethren relates to obedience.
If you will not obey God, you will not reign and rule with Him.
If you will not obey God, you will not be raptured.
If you will not obey God, you will not go to heaven. You will not inherit eternal life.
This is a cold, hard fact.
Disobedience to God’s Word or His correction,
or reluctance, or hesitation to obey God’s Word or correction,
or reluctance, or hesitation to obey those that God has put over us—
is an indication of being carnal, or worldly, or even unsaved.
The Spirit of God will never lead us to disobey God’s Word. Thus, not to be led of the Spirit of God is not to be led of God. Not to be led by the Spirit of God is a strong indicator of carnality, worldliness, or not having the Spirit of God indwelling inside of us. It is also an indication that a person does not fear God as they ought. It is also an indication that a person does not love God, no matter how many tears they may shed or how intense of an emotional display they put on. For God’s Word shows us clearly that if a person does not obey God, neither does he love God-ref Jn 14:21. If a person does not obey God and those God puts over them, then they should not deceive themselves that they will inherit eternal life.
Now, it is acknowledged that in this latter day, lukewarm generation, that correction from ministers to those God has put under him—is rare. But for those very few people that are under a minister that will correct his flock with God’s Word, God says of them: Job 5:17-HAPPY IS THE MAN WHOM GOD CORRECTETH: THEREFORE DESPISE NOT THOU THE CHASTENING (or correction) OF THE ALMIGHTY.
Pv 28:14-HAPPY IS THE MAN THAT FEARETH ALWAY: BUT HE THAT HARDENETH HIS HEART SHALL FALL INTO MISCHIEF.
If you are one of those rare people in this generation that has a minister that will watch for your soul and correct you—don’t be a fool, don’t be stupid, and resist God’s correction that comes to you through the minister God has placed over you. But, rather, you should KNOW THEM WHICH LABOUR AMONG YOU, AND ARE OVER YOU IN THE LORD, AND ADMONISH YOU (or correct you); AND TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE FOR THEIR WORK’S SAKE. AND BE AT PEACE AMONG YOURSELVES-1Thes 5:12, 13.
And to those that continue to harden themselves against God’s correction as given to a person through their minister, you should know this: Disobedience to correction reveals that a person has a hardened heart toward God, and they lack understanding of God and His Word. Indeed, if a person does not repent, God shows through His Word that this will be unprofitable for them. For it is written:
Heb 13:17, 18-OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU,
AND SUBMIT YOURSELVES:
FOR THEY WATCH FOR YOUR SOULS,
AS THEY THAT MUST GIVE ACCOUNT,
THAT THEY MAY DO IT WITH JOY,
AND NOT WITH GRIEF:
FOR THAT IS UNPROFITABLE FOR YOU.
Indeed, you cannot disobey those over you in the Lord and have a good conscience before the Lord, unless you are so deceived that you have become reprobate.
Heb 13:7-REMEMBER THEM (your leaders)
WHICH HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU,
WHO HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU THE WORD OF GOD (or God’s message):
WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW (or imitate their trust),
CONSIDERING (the results of their way of life)-JNT.
Heb 13:17,18 says that YOU are to obey them that have the rule over you. This would be your preacher or an elder. God put that person over you for His purpose, to help you.
To resist that person is to resist God.
Note, the Bible commanded you to obey the one that has the rule over you.
It is not an option.
It is not a suggestion.
It is not something to think about.
It is a direct command from God to you. Obey your minister. Obey the one that God has put over you.
You may not like his correction.
You may not want to do what he is telling you to do.
It may cause you some hardships.
You may not understand the reason he is telling you to do something.
You may have made some commitments to go in a direction that is different than what you are now being told to do.
You may have been seeking God for direction.
Now you’ve got direction from God through your minister. But it is not what you want to hear.
It is not in line with your emotions, which are saying, “No, this is wrong.”
It makes no difference.
You are under a direct command from God to obey your minister, who is correcting you according to the Scriptures.
There is no way around it.
There is no excuse that will be accepted by God to justify your disobedience.
There is no excuse to justify even delaying in obeying God.
Failure to obey those that have the rule over you is a failure to obey God.
Thus, it is clearly written; and thus, it is. It is His Word that will either condemn you at the Judgment or excuse you.
It is written: 1 Sam 15:22, 23-HATH THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN
OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD?
BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE,
AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS.
FOR REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT,
AND STUBBORNNESS IS AS INIQUITY AND IDOLATRY…
The voice of the Lord says as clear as pure water-OBEY THEM THAT HAVE THE RULE OVER YOU,
AND SUBMIT YOURSELVES:
FOR THEY WATCH FOR YOUR SOULS
AS THEY THAT MUST GIVE ACCOUNT,
THAT THEY MAY DO IT WITH JOY,
AND NOT WITH GRIEF: FOR THAT IS UNPROFITABLE FOR YOU.
When you are corrected by someone that God has put over you, you may have thoughts to disobey the correction. If this happens, then God commands you to do the following. 2 Cor 10:5-CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST. If you still will not obey God’s correction, then you are in even more sin, because you fail to obey this Scripture, also.
The disobedient (so-called) Christian that fails to obey the correction will be judged by God’s Word as being involved in witchcraft and iniquity and idolatry-ref 1 Sam 15:22, 23. Woe to them! This is because they have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, and they are in rebellion against God, and they are stubborn. You had better start fearing God. For it is written, Heb 10:31-IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD.
Ps 89:7-GOD IS GREATLY TO BE FEARED IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS…
You might say, “What if I am given bad advice?” Chances are the advice you are being given is only bad, because your hard heart or your situation is distorting God’s Word to you. Thus, you cannot understand God’s ways, even though you are probably positive you can.
In like manner, billions of people are in hell that were sure they would be in heaven. Are you going to add to their number?
But, even if the advice given to you is bad, the person God has put over you to watch for your soul, has authority from God. Thus, you are under command to OBEY that person. Thus, in obeying his correction or advice, you are doing what is right in the eyes of God even though to you, it seems as wrong.
God will correct that minister that gives bad counsel. You do not have authority over your minister. God has given him authority over you.
You must be very, very careful if you entertain evil, accusing thoughts toward the person God has watching for your soul. For it is written:
2 Pe 2:9-12-THE LORD KNOWETH HOW…TO RESERVE THE UNJUST…TO BE PUNISHED: CHIEFLY THEM THAT…ARE…SELFWILLED, THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES (or those in authority JNT), (or those God has put over them). THESE…DESPISE DOMINION, AND SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES (or those in authority) (or those God has put over them)-Jude 1:8-11.
Clearly, God’s Word tells you that you are to OBEY your pastor. He has been given RULE OVER YOU by God. Next, the verse says that you are to SUBMIT YOURSELVES. 1-You are to obey them, and 2-you are to submit to them. This is God speaking to you. The one God has put over you watches for your soul. Whether you want to admit it or not, the person over you in the Lord has been given an understanding of the Scriptures (pertaining to your situation) that is superior to yours; as one’s emotions often distorts one’s discernment. He has a direct line to receive from God the correction that is to be given to you. If you disobey the correction, you are disobeying God Himself. There is no way you can be right when you disobey.
That minister that God has put over you must give an account of you at the Judgment. Will he say of you, that you would not obey the words of correction and advice that he spoke? Will you cause your minister grief, because of your hard heart, your stubbornness, your rebellion? If you are grieving your minister, you are definitely in trouble with the God. If you are seeking God in some way, but are grieving your minister, you should not expect any answer from the Lord. What you can expect is deception, because you have given a giant door to Satan to deceive you.
Oh, how absolutely spiritually ignorant some people can be, when it comes to understanding the Word of God. Neither can they be corrected—which is sin. Neither are they childlike to correction—which is also sin. Yet they are confident until they get to the Judgment, just as those of Matthew 7: 22, 23. As it is written:
MANY (note the word—many) WILL SAY TO ME IN THAT DAY (the day of judgment), LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN THY NAME? AND IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS? AND IN THY NAME DONE
MANY
WONDERFUL
WORKS?
But Jesus says: I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY. Iniquity can be any disobedience to God’s Word, including refusing to obey correction from those God has put over you and grieving them by refusing to serve God the way God has directed.
No person can exchange the person God has put over them for another. If he could, would not this make him equal with God? If God has put you under a certain minister, in a certain church, that minister will have to give an account of you, even if you move to the end of the earth to get away. And what shall your minister say? Maybe you were ordained by God to put stamps on envelopes in some church. But you never showed up. Woe to you. You will have a bad report from your minister, but even more, all those souls that might have been saved, their blood will be upon you.
Maybe you were to do some computer work at a ministry. But you forsook your calling. The blood of all that will be affected by your disobedience, their blood will be upon you.
It is suggested that you get off your horse called pride and self-will, and “I” want or “I” will and humble yourself before Almighty God. It is suggested that you obey God’s Word and obey those God has put over you for they watch for your soul. They, indeed, will give an account of you at the Judgment. Fear God, for that is profitable for you.
Remember, the person God has put over you to watch for your soul has authority from God in heaven to correct you with the Word of God, when you go astray. If you have even the slightest thought of not obeying that correction, because you think he does not understand your situation, don’t be deceived and give place to the devil—humble yourself lest you die or something bad happens to you, or you fall and perish.
Which best fits you? You hear God’s Word:
Group 1 immediately accepts God’s Word as truth and follows Paul.
Group 2 says to themselves that we will think about what is being said. These may ultimately perish or become as a wave in their walk with the Lord.
Group 3 thinks to themselves what they are hearing is a pack of lies.
If you delay in repenting when God’s correction comes, you are in danger.
Your minister knows he is not to be a lord over God’s flock, but he has a God-given authority to correct you. You better not despise what he tells you, lest you be found despising God Himself.
And if your minister makes a mistake, consider this. Did Moses ever make a mistake? Yes. Was he perfect? No. But did this ever lessen the authority God gave him? No, it did not. Those that despised Moses’ correction, perished. Despite Moses sinning, did he not write the first 5 books of the Bible, and are these not called the perfect WORD OF GOD?
Did Peter ever make a mistake? Yes. Was he perfect? No. But did this ever lesson the authority God gave him? No. Those that despised correction from Peter perished, and some died-Acts 5:1-5. Peter did sin and do wrong; yet, he wrote some books of the Bible by the inspiration of God: and these were called the perfect Word of God.
Will your born again minister ever make mistakes? Yes. Is he perfect? No. But you better be careful what you think of him, because he has an anointing of God on him from before the foundation of the world. He is to be highly esteemed in love by you. Be careful if he corrects you, and you have a deceived heart that chooses to obey Satan’s voice of deception, rather than the words of truth that your minister gives you.
If you choose to follow Jesus, correction becomes a way of life. If you are difficult to be corrected, then you are not following Jesus; for God’s Word is the Word of correction-ref 2 Tim 3:16.
It is amazing that many people can depart from following Jesus and His calling. They forsake serving Him, His way. They are worldly. They are hard to correct. They make excuses. They grieve their ministers. They do their own thing, and say to themselves, “I have done no wrong, because of my circumstances.” Yet they actually believe they will go to heaven. They are so out of tune with God’s Word, they continually believe the lies that Satan puts in their head. They even sometimes believe Satan’s words in their thoughts are God’s Word. They are like those people in John’s Gospel. Jesus told them they were of their father the devil. He Proved He was God by the things He did, which no other man had ever done. He raised the dead and healed the sick. He fulfilled the Scriptures; yet, people would not believe His Word. Chances are that some of you hearing or reading this are exactly as they were.
Jesus was perfect. He is the living Word. When He tells you to follow Him, that is exactly what He means. It means you do not lean to your own understanding. Jesus is the example of obedience to His Father, as you should be to Him.
Mt 4:19-Jesus said: FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN.
Mt 8:22-JESUS SAID…, FOLLOW ME; AND LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD. In other words, make no excuses.
Mt 9:9-Jesus said to Matthew: FOLLOW ME. AND HE AROSE, AND FOLLOWED HIM. That is what you are to do.
Mt 16:24-THEN SAID JESUS…IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.
Mt 19:21-JESUS SAID…IF THOU WILT BE PERFECT, GO AND SELL THAT THOU HAST, AND GIVE TO THE POOR, AND THOU SHALT HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN: AND COME AND FOLLOW ME. To follow Jesus is to forsake all, not to keep laying up stuff and things.
Mk 2:14-AND AS HE PASSED BY, HE SAW LEVI THE SON OF ALPHAEUS SITTING AT THE RECEIPT OF CUSTOM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, FOLLOW ME. AND HE AROSE AND FOLLOWED HIM.
Mk 8:34-Jesus said: WHOSOEVER WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.
Lk 5:27-Jesus told LEVI…FOLLOW ME.
Lk 9:23, 24-Jesus said: IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, AND FOLLOW ME.
Lk 9:59-62-JESUS SAID: FOLLOW ME. BUT HE SAID, LORD, SUFFER ME FIRST TO GO AND BURY MY FATHER. Jesus basically told him—NO. JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD: BUT GO THOU AND PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AND ANOTHER ALSO SAID, LORD, I WILL FOLLOW THEE; BUT LET ME FIRST GO BID THEM FAREWELL, WHICH ARE AT HOME AT MY HOUSE. AND JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, NO MAN, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOUGH, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. When you begin to follow Jesus, do not look back; but keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and on His Word, less you turn back and perish from the way.
Jesus told Philip to follow Him-ref Jn 1:43. He said that His sheep follow Him for they know His voice-Jn 10:4. Do you know the voice of the Shepherd? If you are disobedient to correction or slow in reacting to correction from your minister, how can you possibly even think your are following Jesus? God forbid, some people can be so blind, yet think they see. Jesus said THE SHEEP FOLLOW HIM: FOR THEY KNOW HIS VOICE-Jn 10:4. A person that does not obey correction does not know the voice of the Shepherd. They are easy prey for the deceiver, who can take their minds captive at his will.
Jn 10:27-Jesus said: MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME. If you are hard to correct, how can Jesus know you?
Jn 12:26-IF ANY MAN SERVE ME, LET HIM FOLLOW ME; AND WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE. Are you where Jesus is—serving Him? IF ANY MAN SERVE ME, HIM WILL MY FATHER HONOUR.
Are you a disobedient servant,
who is an expert at making perfect excuses,
that you are positive will be accepted by God,
to justify your lack of serving God?
Jn 21:19-22-Jesus spoke of His upcoming death, and then told Peter—FOLLOW ME. But Peter appears to have hesitated, while John did not hesitate. THEN PETER,…SEETH THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED FOLLOWING;…AND SAID, LORD, WHICH IS HE THAT BETRAYETH THEE?…AND WHAT SHALL THIS MAN DO? Jesus saith unto him, IF I WILL THAT HE TARRY TILL I COME, WHAT IS THAT TO THEE? FOLLOW THOU ME. (In other words, stop delaying and making excuses-FOLLOW THOU ME).
1 Pe 2:21-This is a reason you were called. You were CALLED: BECAUSE CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS:
To follow Jesus—is to receive correction, repent daily, and to learn obedience-ref Heb 5:8.
2 Pe 2:2, 3-AND MANY SHALL FOLLOW THEIR PERNICIOUS WAYS; BY REASON OF WHOM THE WAY OF TRUTH SHALL BE EVIL SPOKEN OF. AND THROUGH COVETOUSNESS SHALL THEY WITH FEIGNED WORDS MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU: WHOSE JUDGMENT NOW OF A LONG TIME LINGERETH NOT, AND THEIR DAMNATION SLUMBERETH NOT. Is this talking of those that preach a Gospel of prosperity and seed-faith, and giving to their ministry, but repentance, brokenness, humbleness, baptism by immersion, and the lake of fire is seldom or never heard in their messages?
Heb 5:9-AND BEING MADE perfect, HE (which is Jesus) BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM.
If you will not obey God’s Word, correction from His Word, and correction through those that He has put over you, then eternal salvation is not for you.
Mt 8:27-The wind and the sea obey Jesus
Mk 1:27-The unclean spirits obey Jesus
Acts 5:29-Peter said WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN.
Do you obey Jesus?
Have you not read: Ro 2:8, 9-BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE CONTENTIOUS, AND DO NOT OBEY THE TRUTH,…TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH, UPON EVERY SOUL OF MAN…
Ro 6:12-You are commanded not to obey sin.
Ro 6:16-18-If you obey sin, you are a servant of sin. If you do not obey God’s correction you are in sin. And if your deceived heart thinks God’s correction is not really God’s correction-you are in deep spiritual trouble.
Are you as the foolish Galatians?
Gal 3:1-O FOOLISH GALATIANS, WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU, THAT YE SHOULD NOT OBEY THE TRUTH,
Gal 5:6-8…FAITH…WORKETH BY LOVE. WHO DID HINDER YOU THAT YE SHOULD NOT OBEY THE TRUTH? THIS PERSUASION COMETH NOT OF HIM THAT CALLETH YOU. In other words, when you are corrected, but you do not obey it, it is not God telling you to disobey the correction. It is the devil. But the devil makes you think it is God. The deceiver masquerades as an angel of light. He makes people think the voices in their head is of God or is of themselves, when it is not.
Eph 6:1-CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS IN THE LORD: FOR THIS IS RIGHT.
Col 3:22-SERVANTS, OBEY IN ALL THINGS YOUR MASTERS ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
If you follow Jesus, you are to live a life of obedience to God’s Word.
But to those that follow Satan’s voice, thinking it is God’s voice, the following may await you.
2 Thes 1:7,8-THE LORD JESUS SHALL BE REVEALED FROM HEAVEN WITH HIS MIGHTY ANGELS, IN FLAMING FIRE TAKING VENGEANCE ON THEM THAT KNOW NOT GOD, AND THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST:
Titus 3:1-PUT THEM IN MIND TO BE SUBJECT TO PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, TO OBEY MAGISTRATES, TO BE READY TO EVERY GOOD WORK,
1 Pe 3:1-shows us clearly that if a person does not obey God’s Word, they are not saved.
1 Pe 4:17-FOR THE TIME IS COME THAT JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD: AND IF IT FIRST BEGIN AT US, WHAT SHALL THE END BE OF THEM THAT OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF GOD?
Ro 16:26-tells us: THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH. A person’s obedience is in proportion to their faith. Little obedience, little faith. Great obedience, great faith.
This is the kind of a Christian God wants, but it is a far, far cry from those that will not receive correction from their minister, and from God’s Word. It is written:
Phile 1:21-HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THY OBEDIENCE I WROTE UNTO THEE, KNOWING THAT THOU WILT ALSO DO MORE THAN I SAY.
Heb 5:8-THOUGH HE WERE A SON, YET LEARNED HE OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED. Are you learning obedience through suffering? Are you learning patience?
Some people just will not learn obedience. They just will not. It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Yet with God all is possible.
This should be our attitude.
Jere 10:24-O LORD, CORRECT ME…
Is this your attitude? Do you say you want correction, but when it comes you reject it like a wave of the sea that goes in and out? Are you so deceived that you can no longer recognize God speaking to God, but you can certainly hear and follow the voice of the stranger.
This also should be our attitude regarding correction from God’s Word.
Jn 3:29-We should REJOICETH GREATLY BECAUSE OF THE BRIDEGROOM'S VOICE: (which is God’s Word) THIS MY JOY THEREFORE IS FULFILLED.
Jn 12:48-HE THAT REJECTETH ME, AND RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, HATH ONE THAT JUDGETH HIM: THE WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN, THE SAME SHALL JUDGE HIM IN THE LAST DAY. Those that will not be corrected as a little child, will be judged by the very words of God. They will be judged by the correction that they rejected.
Those that will not receive God’s correction as a little child shall not inherit eternal life-ref Mt 18:3.
Jn 13:20-VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT RECEIVETH WHOMSOEVER I SEND RECEIVETH ME; AND HE THAT RECEIVETH ME RECEIVETH HIM THAT SENT ME. If you will not receive and be corrected by one that God ordains to be over you, neither would you allow Jesus himself to correct you. For if you can’t recognize God speaking through a person such as Peter, or John, or perhaps even your preacher, how can you recognize Jesus?
1 Cor 2:14-BUT THE NATURAL (or worldly) MAN RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS (or nonsense) UNTO HIM: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, (He is unable to grasp them) BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED (or we may say they are spiritually blind). They are spiritually deceived. God’s Word may be spoken to them clearly and plainly, showing them that they are wrong, yet they recognize the deceitful voice of the devil in their thoughts, more than they recognize the voice of God through His Word. They just can’t see things correctly, even because they cannot-ref Jn 12:37.
The friends of Jesus are not those that believe they are saved.
Jesus says: Jn 15:14-YE ARE MY FRIENDS, IF YE DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU. You are commanded to obey them that are over you in the Lord and to receive their correction, whether you like it or not.
Do you have a slow heart to believe and understand?
Jn 12:37-40-BUT THOUGH HE HAD DONE SO MANY MIRACLES BEFORE THEM, YET THEY BELIEVED NOT ON HIM: THAT THE SAYING OF ESAIAS THE PROPHET MIGHT BE FULFILLED, WHICH HE SPAKE, LORD, WHO HATH BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HATH THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED? THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE (or understand or be corrected), BECAUSE THAT ESAIAS SAID AGAIN, HE HATH BLINDED THEIR EYES, AND HARDENED THEIR HEART; THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, NOR UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM.
If someone hears the Word of correction, but does not obey it, it means he does not understand it, and if he does not understand it and obey it, he can expect chastisement, or worse. Obey God’s Word even though you do not understand it-and thus you can purify your heart which is hindering your understanding.
Is there too much trash and garbage and self in your worldly heart that you will not repent of?
Do you want to please yourself and other people more than you want to please God?
The wise man hears God’s Word of correction and obeys for he builds upon the rock-ref Mt 7:24
The foolish man hears the same Word of correction but just won’t obey. He builds upon the sand. He perishes-ref Mt 7:26. He may endure for a while, but as the end draws closer, he joins many others and falls away as the voice of deception grows stronger and stronger, and chokes out God’s Word, which gets dimmer and dimmer in his mind and heart-ref Mt 13.22.
It didn’t have to be this way as Ro 14:15 and 1 Cor 8:11 reveals.
Correction is very necessary for all, for if a person reject’s God’s correction from His Word and through His minister, how then can God communicate with him? He cut his lifeline and the order of things that God has set up.
Lk 6:49-BUT HE THAT HEARETH, AND DOETH NOT, IS LIKE A MAN THAT WITHOUT A FOUNDATION BUILT AN HOUSE UPON THE EARTH; AGAINST WHICH THE STREAM DID BEAT VEHEMENTLY, AND IMMEDIATELY IT FELL; AND THE RUIN OF THAT HOUSE WAS GREAT. Is your ruin going to be great?
Regarding being corrected, God’s Word tells us very plainly that if we reject the Words of one over us, one whom God sends, we do indeed reject Him. It is written:
Lk 10:16-HE THAT HEARETH YOU HEARETH ME, AND HE THAT DESPISETH YOU DESPISETH ME. You do indeed despise one that corrects you if you will not obey that correction.
Jn 8:47-HE THAT IS OF GOD HEARETH GOD’S WORDS: YE THEREFORE HEAR THEM NOT, BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF GOD.
Jn 18:37-Jesus said: EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE. Do you have a truthful heart? If so why can’t you recognize the truthfulness of correction when you are corrected?
1 Jn 4:6-WE ARE OF GOD: HE THAT KNOWETH GOD HEARETH US; HE THAT IS NOT OF GOD HEARETH NOT US. HEREBY KNOW WE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.
Lets spell it out so clearly, that even a blind child could understand.
God’s Word commands you to obey them that are over you in the Lord. You are to obey them and receive the correction of those that have the rule over you as they watch for your soul. And if you are corrected and told what to do by such a person, but you will not obey his advice, his words, his correction, then you are in direct violation to God, to His Word, and you are following the spirit of error. There is no room for doubt or misunderstanding in this. God’s Word is as clear as can be. If you will not obey those that have the rule over you, you will not obey their correction, their counseling, their advice, then you absolutely, beyond any doubt are not obeying God. And if you disobey the counsel of the one God has put over you, but yet think you are obeying God, then you possess a huge lying and deceitful heart. The light that is in such a person is really darkness.
You can cry all you want. You can fast all you want. You can afflict yourself from now to the day you die, but you are still in a state of rebellion to God, and to His Word, unless you repent. That sir is the way it is. You had better awake out of sleep before it is too late, for indeed the coming of the Lord draws near.
Listen again to 1 Jn 4:6-WE ARE OF GOD: HE THAT KNOWETH GOD HEARETH US; HE THAT IS NOT OF GOD HEARETH NOT US. HEREBY KNOW WE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.
We confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.
Some may hear this message and say, “It is a wonderful sermon.” But it has no effect on them at all as they have a heart that is dull of hearing.
This can be hard teaching to some that are disobedient, but not to those that are childlike to correction.
Sadly, most people do not want to be corrected if it interferes in any way with their personal beliefs, desires, or plans. So they close their ears, and eyes, and heart to the truth. They make false hood, lies, and deceit their truth. They choose to believe that all will turn out ok, even though the perfect word of God tells them they are wrong.
When correction comes forth, it is received in different ways by different people according to their heart.
Some receive correction or direction in meekness and humbleness and love such as the woman in Mt 15:25.
Some receive correction or direction in meekness and humbleness and love such as Mary when Joseph gave direction on where they should go and when. A meek and humble person will often repent when corrected.
Others receive correction or direction with disagreement or strife, or contention.
Some counter the correction they receive, perhaps from their pastor, with making all sorts of counter accusations against their pastor or elder. The love coming forth from the one being corrected is no love at all. It is sometimes hostility and anger. They get upset.
The person being corrected sometimes does not see the person correcting him as one that Jesus is speaking through even though he is being corrected with God’s Word. Unrepented sin blinds and deceives a person.
The one being corrected often sees themself as being equal or above the one correcting them. They may see themself as a victim, being falsely corrected. Which are you?
It is written:
Zeph 3:5…THE UNJUST KNOWETH NO SHAME.
2 Pe 2:9-THE LORD KNOWETH HOW…TO RESERVE THE UNJUST UNTO THE DAY OF JUDGMENT TO BE PUNISHED.
2 Pe 2:10…THEM THAT WALK AFTER THE FLESH…AND DESPISE GOVERNMENT…SELFWILLED, THEY ARE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK EVIL OF DIGNITIES (or those in authority)(or those God has put over them).
2 Pe 2:12-BUT THESE…SPEAK EVIL OF THE THINGS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND NOT; AND SHALL UTTERLY PERISH.
2 Pe 2:13-SPORTING THEMSELVES WITH THEIR OWN DECEIVINGS WHILE THEY FEAST WITH YOU.
Are these verses talking about you?
Some people are more interested in pleasing worldly friends than they are in pleasing God
Some are more interested in pleasing themselves than pleasing God.
Dogs return to their own vomit. Pigs return to their laying in the mud after they are washed-ref 2 Pe 2:22. In the same way, many people after they are washed, return to their sinful, disobedient lifestyles. They take off their clean white garments and return to their old clothing.
Jesus learned obedience to His Father by the things which He suffered. Are you learning obedience to Jesus?
Consider the following. Jesus corrected His apostles numerous times. They obeyed His correction. If you are not being corrected, then something is very wrong in your walk with Jesus. How can you grow?
Correction is a way of life. Jesus corrects those he loves.
Beware, lest you resist His correction, and find yourself no longer being corrected and you perish.
Beware, lest you begin to think those lying thoughts Satan puts into your mind are God telling you what to do. If you resist Godly correction from one God has put over you, then you are resisting God, and you are already deceived and headed in a wrong direction.
For such people, there is no need to hope for the rapture, for the rapture is not coming to take the disobedient that resist God’s correction.
Those that have heard or read this message, but continue to be disobedient to God’s Word, or to their minister correcting them—they have no excuse from hence forth. Their blood is upon their own head.
They can never say, “God, I didn’t know I was to obey the correction given to me. I didn’t know it was you speaking to me through my minister. I didn’t know I was going to perish.”
And His Words to you may be: Depart from me, you disobedient servant. DEPART FROM ME YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.
This is the age of the lukewarm Christian. God’s message to this church age is ANOINT THINE EYES WITH EYE SALVE THAT THOU MAYEST SEE. REPENT-ref Rev 3:14-21
The end
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