COME OUT

As news breaks stating that the Old Line Churches are ordaining those with perverted sense of righteousness into the clergy,  I am reminded of the scriptures;

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.


Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We have heard these words preached before and it has been applied to different avenues of life, marriage, work, fellowship and other pursuits. There is certainly reason for consideration of each of these things for within them lies a danger even within the CHURCH,

As many old line churches are unable to maintain mandatory standards demanded by GOD due to a lack of personal spirituality, the spirit of the anti-Christ is prevailing in those congregations.

As these denominations ordain those with a perverted sense of righteousness to become their leaders one is reminded of the scripture of

Matthew 15:13-14 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

The scriptures plainly speak of two types of those in the church, the one with right standing before GOD and those who are unrighteous.

The time is here when the righteous must separate themselves from those whom GOD calls unrighteous. Jesus said; Matthew 10:34-36 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household."

These harsh words are not without cause but emphasize the need for separation from those who accept unrighteousness as righteousness.

There are no mitigating circumstances that modify the serpent’s deceptions.  What will the end of this be?

While there will a time of separation of those who are designated as sheep and goats, there are those who will be totally surprise by the judgment that falls upon them.

On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

The lawlessness spoken of here is the deliberate violation of the plain word of GOD. The arguments of today that have success will fade away in the light of GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.

ECCL.11:3 Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

I WANT TO SEE

Our dog Lukey wants to know and see everything. He has his nose into everything I do. I don’t blame him because this is the way the world works.

If an accident happens people’s curiosity gets the better of them and they want to see and know what happened. I recall traveling with my parents across the country and all along the road would be outrageous signs claiming ridiculous things like “See the two headed calf or see the half man and half snake.”

Rarely would my dad stop because he knew better. The exception would be if we needed gas or to eat for these hucksters would locate near a restaurant or gas station. I would just die for I wanted to see the attraction as advertised. I did get to see the two headed calf, it was a stuffed calf skin with an extra head sewn on it. What a let down but I was sure that the next one would be real.

While somewhat wiser I still have to deal with the remnant of my old curiosity and the Internet is a danger zone.

Back in the fifties when Billy Graham was getting started he came to the Bay area and most of the churches would cooperate hoping to get some of the new converts from the crusade into their church. I had a friend that wanted me to join the choir with him. There were several hundred that sang in the meetings but I simply said no because I couldn’t sing well enough and couldn’t read the music. My friend kept after me and I refused until he said if we sing in the choir we can see everything because we'll be right behind the pulpit. My strong desire to SEE overpowered my lack of confidence in my musical ability and we signed up for the choir.

Cliff Barrows was the director and he quickly positioned us as to alto, bass and so forth. Everyone had their music and I had mine. I could read the words but I couldn’t read the tenor part and began to feel out of place. Of course my friend felt very confident for he had played in the Marine Corp band and could read all the musical parts. He assured me he could in the next few minutes teach me the part we were to sing. Suffice it to say I struggled through the singing part but I added to the body count even if I didn’t help much with the singing.

Just like my friend had said we could see very well and that was great. We were informed that no one could leave after the choir was in place and to go to the bathroom before taking our seats. It was about a four hour stint and that was interesting for some.

My curiosity has taken me to many places of interest and many places I would rather not have been.

I suspect that curiosity is one of the last things to go as we grow older because we want to know and if unrestrained it becomes one of our weaknesses.

SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE:

This sauce seems like a contradiction in flavor but when used properly it produces culinary masterpiece.

The recipe for making it is very simple and can be made with what most good cooks have on hand. The blend of ingredients produces a tartness that adds a spice to life that is most pleasurable.

In life we will experience both the sour and the sweet, and in the wrong proportions it will produce a bitterness that is hard to get rid of. If we can control the mixture the effect will not be as bitter as it could be.

Quinine, made from the cinchona bark is very bitter and if you only evaluated it based on taste, you would do anything to avoid it. But if you had malaria and took it in proper doses it would help you get over this sickness.

In the same way most bitter things have an antidote, and as the song says “a little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

We do not live in a utopian existence and have to face the bitter by its self at times. How we react to this bitterness controls the level of disparagement and the length of the experience.

We the people possess the ability to rebound, to recover, to restore our selves our norm. Be positive in negative situations.

Oh LORD be good to me today!!

PAY DAY

About every one I have ever known has looked forward to payday. If it is a child getting an allowance, or hard earned wages from a paper route, pay day is exciting.

There was a time when I had an after school job cleaning school rooms. Pay day was every thirty days and they held back the first month’s wages. That meant that I had to work sixty days before I got my first pay. For a kid it seemed like forever. Even getting paid once a month after that was a long time, but it was nice when I finally received my check.

People on some kind of government subsistence get excited around the first of the month.

In an area where my roofing shop was located there were dope dealers who would show up at the first of the month, and escort some of their welfare customers to a check cashing place. Their customers had a credit account with the dope dealers, and this was the method the dealers used in order to get paid.

After I married, there was a time when I got paid on Friday, and we shopped for food on Saturday for the week. At one time I had a job with a company whose checks would often bounce. This created much trouble for me, so much that I finally had to quit and work elsewhere - - where pay day was more secure.

Most Christians believe they are going to heaven, and they expect to get a reward when they get there. After all heaven wouldn't be heaven without lots of goodies. But, and it seems there is always a “but” attached to every good deal.

Let us keep in mind: Revelations.22: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.”

This should cause us to be more diligent in our service for the Lord.  Remember A WORD TO THE WISE SHOULD BE SUFFICENT. . .   Pay Day is Coming!!

WHAT’S IN YOUR GARDEN?

It’s the time of the year to prepare your garden spot, of course there are always some energetic people who are always the first to get their garden in. Already there are weeds that have sprung up and it will be a battle of the wills until the reaping season is over, for some seed take time to emerge.

While I was preparing my spot for planting I looked at the soil and there were no weeds evident but I know there are seeds hidden away just waiting for the right stimulus to cause them to spring forth. A little water, some sunshine and nutrients will equal some weeds causing me grief throughout the summer.

Psalms139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The song writer wrote a song based upon these verses; Search me oh GOD and know my heart today, try me oh Savior, know my thoughts I pray. See if there be some wicked way in me, cleanse me from every sin and set me free.

Like the hidden seeds in my garden there were hidden seeds within Adam and Eve that were activated by doubt and brought forth the fruit of sin. Cain had a hidden seed of murder that came to life when stimulated by jealousy.

What on earth did GOD have in mind when he created man with the capacity to sin if HE didn’t want them to sin? The answer to that question will have to wait until we are face to face with our savior but HE wanted to make a creature like unto HIMSELF who had the power of free choice. In any case there are these seeds within us which when they receive the right stimulus will spring up and produce fruit.

The one thing GOD did for us was to give us control over which seeds were activated. One helpful thing came out of the sin of Adam was the knowledge of good and evil or saying it another way the difference between right and wrong. It is inherently within us, all good and all evil are seeds waiting to be watered and fertilized and as Satan put ideas into Eve’s head so also each one is receiving similar ideas today.

We wonder why some of our spiritual leaders fall? Perhaps it was because when these seeds started to sprout they added fertilizer instead of weed killer to them.

There is such a thing as pre emergent herbicide that controls weeds. This is a statement from a supplier of on such product; "Contrary to popular belief, pre-emergent weed killers don't destroy weeds and their seeds. They simply stop them from growing.  Some seeds are known to last fifty years, so if the herbicide isn't applied each year, the weed will grow."

So the sum of the whole matter is; everyone must deal with the problem of weed control in their life. You can use pre-emergent (read your bible, attend church, pray) and weed on a daily basis. If this isn't done you can expect that fruit will be just around the corner and sooner or later you will turn that corner and partake of the bitter fruit even as Eve did.

WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?

Matthew 22:42 What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?" They said to Him, "The son of David."

This question still echoes in the quietness of our minds, when what we see before us in this world doesn’t make any sense at all.

The Bible has its explanation of who Christ is, but is often rejected by those who are deaf to the voice of GOD and their eyes being blind to what may be termed “real realty.”

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

His life, death, resurrection all were both a testimony and a visual example of GOD being in human form walking among us.

John 1:11-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Paul the Apostle explains further; Ephesians 3: 9-11; was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It is easy to overlook this very most important fact that GOD has a purpose in everything HE does, and that purpose is on going today. We are in the middle of a great happening as GOD’S purpose is being acted out.

The fact that we are confused by the how and why of what is going on shouldn't surprise us for we are finite within in the midst of an infinite plan.

What do I think of Christ?  He is the GOD and Savior of the world but more importantly HE is my Savior.

All men must walk their lonesome valley and make their decision as to what they think of Christ. Some will falter while others will persevere and press on.

John 6:66-68 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
 The question, “Will you go away?” requires an answer from everyone.

TIME FOR A LITTLE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

A little instruction is essential for proper conduct in all endeavors. When it comes to living the Christian life it is no exception. The question is can you follow the rules or will you ignore what is plain and understood.

GOD laid it out for Solomon;

1 Chronicles 28:9 And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

I think it safe to say what GOD told Solomon can apply to us all.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Have you ever thought; maybe I won't acknowledge HIM in this way and then proceeded to sin?

Good old fashioned sinning comes in two packages, one is something you do once either on purpose or inadvertently; the other is where it becomes your life style or living in sin.

It isn't limited to shack-ups but includes all of the things you might do on a continuing basis. This type of sinning creates its own comfort zone and seems so natural but yet, it is unacceptable to GOD.

Crying out yes; but I’m only human will only bring the reminder; yes you are human, but not only human, you are also spiritual and don’t you forget that.

The way you live is your ways, and the world judges the Christian faith by our ways.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

These straight paths will still the adversary’s voice of condemnation.

Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps we haven’t discovered every good thing in us in Christ and that is the reason we have trouble acknowledging Him in all our ways.

Paul said; being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. What ever the case may be, let the words of the song “Higher ground,” be our theme.

"I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYCkqCG933M&feature=related