As I read Matthew yesterday the Lord showed me 3 things..2 I'll keep to myself for it was meant for me regarding personal house cleaning { -;
One I beleive could exhort us all. Let's look at what it must have been to be a disciple..They slept by Him, ate with Him, prayed with Him, seen first hands the rising of the dead, Peter walked on water, fed thousands with very little, and seen many delivered and even recieved an annointing to cast out demons and raise the dead themselves...Certainly if anyone had alotof faith it was them ..especially the inner 3 Peter , James and John..YET I read that ALL THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM..right after that they promiced to never forsake Him.
ALSO.. Jesus told the 12 that he must be crucified..Peter blurts out with a no way word..showing His true love for Jesus
21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Jesus seems to be saying Satan has a bigger influence in our lives than what we may think..Certainly in the norm..we would have all agreed with Peter and commended him for his 'devotion to Christ'..it makes me wonder if we should have any opinion of ourselves whatsoever..check out this verse.
john 2:24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
And what is in man that Jesus knows about?? Brings to light what Jesus said in John 15."Apart from me ye can't do nothing."
and Paul's statement..."I have no confidence in the flesh."
Dear Friends,
I'm presently having one of the greatest revivals of my life...let me explain
All along I have been trusting in my past vision experience and voice in my head..but nay my friends..If I compare myself to Peter he had a billion more reasons to trust in his intentions...but Christ tells us SATAN works in the flesh and "The Flesh Is Weak."
We are not to trust in our good works , past experiences , fastings etc. Do we do these .YES!!! but we don't trust in them !!!! the heart is dedeptive above all things...Our faith is in God and in His Word..ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While hunting I realized I had really lost something.As a new Christian I used to be able to read 3 chapters and have my heart warmed..When I was on chapter 26 and did not feel anything I realized I had honestly lost something. And honestly I now beleive the 4 years that I struck out I was being chastized by God..One does not see 10 deer in range and get busted 10 times..this aint normal..no sir..4 years aint nothing to God..God will not take 2nd fiddle..and he has taught me..fasting , singing about God is no substitute for GOd's Word and SECRET worship...not a worship that draws attention to yourself but He blesses secret worship...Matthew 6
By the way ..my other 2 things I was convicted of were..going to church..I'll be going Sunday..where? It's a secret..{ -; between God and I only..There are many references about going to church but the one that got me.."Observe the teachings of the Scribers and Pharisees ..just don't do what they do."
and the other thing
"He that fellowships with drunkards shall have thier portion with the hypocrites and burn in H E L L .....I heard that warning loud and clear..I no longer sip and fellowship with such WHILE they are drinking...
Yes, revival has entered my heart..and God confirmed His Word by a White Tailed Deer...I'm back to my first love..carrying my New Testament in my shirt pocket and looking for opportunities to read it all I can...Thanks be to God for His kindness that leadeth us to repentance..So good to be truly free...
Chuck, Thank you for the encouraging word this morning. I agree with you, our faith cannot be in acts or rituals. It must be in God and His Living Word. Many times we think of our Catholic brethren as being into their rituals but truth be told, we all have our own "special set of rituals" that we cling to. It is not the rituals themselves that are wrong, it is when we begin to put our faith in them. Thinking that if we do this, maybe God will do that. Truth is, God does that, whatever it is, because He loves us and because of His infinite mercy and grace. I am rejoicing with you as God continues to refine all of us for His purpose.
Blessings.....Pastorjim
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Mere religion is just hanging around the cross.......True Christianity is getting on the cross.
Our righteousness is as filthy rags. In this flesh dwelleth no good thing. The heart is desperatly wicked and who can know it? ect., ect. But thanks be to God who giveth us the victory, HIS GRACE IS SUFFICENT!!
Without him I could do nothing, BUT, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. We are MORE than conquerors through him.
Die to self and his certain failure and let christ live within!! He has already overcome death, hell, and the grave! He hath already redeemed us unto himself! Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God! Now he hath washed us and made us white in the sinless blood of The Lamb, which taketh away the sins of the world!
Have no confidence in the flesh, but trust in God.
IMO it is time we stop looking at the waves, and step out of the boat!! IMO it is time to stop trying to figure out what we can do to make ourselves exceptable unto God, and start walking by faith in what he has done. We do not walk by sight BUT by Faith! Faith doesn't concider the flesh. The fleshly man is crucified with Christ, already, done deal!
Never the less, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Can I trust myself?
