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Arise, that we may go up against them

1/28/2016

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And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. (Jdg 18:18-21)
       Several men found out about the idols and the priest in Micah's house and invaded, taking them for themselves. Since there was no law, judge, or magistrate in the land, everyone did what was right in their own eyes, no matter that the Law of GOD said no other gods, no graven images to be worshiped, not to steal. They even got the 'priest' to bless their home invasion and theft, taking the Name of the Lord in vain. When confronted they threatened Micah and his friends with harm, all because they coveted what Micah had. They broke pretty much all the Commandments because their hearts were wicked and desperately evil.

       So many today are just the same, with no regard for the Laws of GOD. Even in the Church too many who claim Christ live as though He didn't exist. Some may even attend a service on Sunday morning, and live the rest of the week as practical atheists, like the folks in this account of Micah and his idols. We who are in Christ are to and tell those who are in bondage and sin of their need for Christ to deliver them from sin and their iniquity through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Only the new birth which Jesus brings can release sinners from their condition of death and judgment.

      That is not to say that we who are saved, receive His Salvation in order to sin all we want, for we are translated from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light and life, to live in Him a brand new life of holiness and righteousness, not in our own strength or power, but by the indwelling Spirit of GOD which is within us. We are saved to serve Him as ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors for the Kingdom. We are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides and guides us. We are commanded to love one another as He loved us and disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him, conformed to the image of His dear Son. We are commissioned into His army, equipped and encouraged with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to into this lost and dying world and take the Good News to all who will hear, that they might repent and believe in Him, and in believing have life in His Name.

       For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Every man did that which was right in his own eyes

1/27/2016

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And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee. Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah. And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. (Jdg 17:3-5)
     The saddest epitaph written in the book of the Judges, in which it records that every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Eyes that can, and do, lie to us. Hearts that lead us astray because they are desperately wicked. Minds and thoughts tainted with sIn and corrupted by our sIn nature that lead to all sorts of wickedness and debauchery. Since Adam sinned, that has been the norm and the problem with mankind that Jesus died and rose again to deliver us from, that we might have life and have it more abundantly, free from sin and its power and wages, not free to sin more, but a new life of liberty and grace in Christ.

      This man had stolen and hidden his own mothers silver and only returned when it was discovered. When she got it back she had it melted and made into an idol of silver and they called it god. They even declared the Lord's blessing upon it, in blasphemy toward GOD. Their worship of this false idol led to hiring a Levite to be his personal priest, instead of working in the tabernacle, and further sin of declaring his own prosperity because of his idol and his 'priest'. GOD didn't bless it, or him, and tragedy followed as others learned of his wealth, his silver idol, and his servant 'priest'.

      If we are secure in Christ through our repentance of sin and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we cannot blatantly sin against our Holy and Righteous GOD and expect to continue in that sin. GOD will chastise and correct His own. We cannot expect His blessing on our sinful lifestyle, for He has already judged and condemned sin, both as an offense against Him and outright acts of rebellion, and declared those who are still in their sins, and not born again, as guilty sinners in need of Salvation. He paid the price of redemption in His own body on that cruel Roman cross that we might live, not in sIn, but in Him and for Him, new creatures in a covenant relationship and fellowship with Him.

      That is the purpose of each of us, and His church as a whole, to live and work in Him to accomplish His will and do His work in this broken and sinful world, that others might come to know Jesus Christ and see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. He has called His people to be His ambassadors while we sojourn in this world, not of the world, and to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. He has commanded us to love one another and to disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit that is within us. He has commissioned us to go to this lost and dying world and as we go tell the Good News of reconciliation and redemption to all who will hear, that those who believe the Gospel, repent of their sin, and receive Jesus Christ by faith in Him might have life in His Name.

       For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet

  
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I will deliver you no more

1/15/2016

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And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our GOD, and also served baalim. And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken Me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. (Jdg 10:10-14)
     Israel once again turned away from GOD and followed after the idols and false gods of their neighbours. They rejected His rule and Laws and worshiped gods of wood, stone, and clay that were of their own making. If it weren't for the mercy and lovingkindness of our Lord which are renewed every morning, and His Covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that will not end, He would have ceased to deliver any of them from their enemies because of their idolatry and rebellion as people and as a nation.

       We cannot keep living in this world as though our GOD does not exist and has no control over our lives. If He is our Saviour, and we have surrendered to Him on His terms and repented of our sins, He is our Lord and King and our lives are not our own any more, and we ought to continue to be in submission to His will. Any thing else is idolatry and rebellion just as it was for the nation and people of Israel. There will come a day when GOD is done and His wrath is full and no more will be saved. There may come a time, if we rebel enough and sin against GOD in our carnal walk, that GOD will remove us. He chastises His own, but if they do not respond to the correction of the Holy Ghost, He can and does take them home. GOD is sovereign, and if we are truly His we ought not to reject His Word and rule in our hearts and lives, but rather live in His holiness, righteousness, and through Him to accomplish His will and do His work in this world until our Commander comes again for us.

      Until He returns for His own, we are to glorify Him in all things. We are to serve as His ambassadors, sharing the Word of reconciliation with those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides and directs His people. We are to love one another as His disciples and equip, edify, and encourage one another as we all grow up in His Word and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We are to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as His witnesses, and as we go, telling all who will hear of repentance and forgiveness the Good News of reconciliation with GOD through faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary that they might believe and have life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The LORD shall rule over you

1/13/2016

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And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god. And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their GOD, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel. (Jdg 8:32-35)
      As soon as Gideon died and was no longer a judge and deliverer, to correct and lead the people in their service to GOD, Israel strayed from His Law and worshiped the idols of their neighbours once again. They even forgot Gideon and his family and all his service to Israel. Their sinful nature continued to lead them astray as a nation and a people who no longer focused on GOD who was their King. Over and over again, the people of Israel would forget GOD and His deliverance and follow their own ways and desires and sin against GOD.

      Even with the Spirit of GOD within, it is all too easy for us to stray from GOD's teachings and to be enticed by our own wants and lusts, leading to sin and rebellion. If we don't consciously focus on Him and seek His face, staying in His Word, we will fall. If we allow ourselves to become too busy, even doing good things and the work of the church, or if we get distracted by the cares of this world, we can be led astray and away from our Lord. Our response must be the same as it was when we were born again, repent and return to GOD our Saviour in faith and surrender on His terms. He alone is Lord, King, and Sovereign over His people.

     GOD wants His people solely focused and relying on Him who is our Lord and King, for without Him we are nothing and can do nothing. He has called us, not to be busy doing busy work for appearances, but in love and true charity, ministering to those around us who are hurting and in need, and He guides us and provides for our needs. He has commanded us to love one another and disciple one another, not just knowledge for knowledge sake, which puffs up, but unfeigned love for the brethren which edifies until we all grow up into the fullness of the measure of Christ. He has commissioned us to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not a social or political gospel which is temporary or of this world, but the Good News of reconciliation with the Father through repentance of our sin and faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, and as we go, sharing Him with all we meet, that they may hear and believe in Him and Him alone and have life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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We will serve the LORD

12/29/2015

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Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, GOD forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; (Jos 24:14-16)
       Joshua's last reminder and call to the people of Israel to serve GOD and Him alone. The people of GOD were to obey GOD and believe His Word, that they might be faithful witnesses to His Glory and testify of Him to the whole world, that He alone is GOD, and that all else is false and not to be worshiped or served as gods. Whatever is put before the Lord is an idol, and should repented of and forsaken. Being sinners, as we all are, Israel would struggle with this both individually and nationally for most of its existence leading right up to its judgment by GOD and into captivity and dispersal at the hands of the pagan nations they were supposed to be a light unto.

      We today, are called to the same obedience. We are to love and serve GOD alone, not to earn our way into Heaven, or even keep the gift of GOD's Salvation, but because of our love for Him who first loved us. Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and the repentance of our sIns which has reconciled us to GOD through Him, we want to do the work and will of GOD in obedience and faith. Because of His Spirit within that comes when we are born again, not of our own will or flesh, but by the Power of GOD which makes us a new creature in Christ, we want to love others, reach people for Christ, and minister as His ambassadors.

      His Church, the body of Christ, the people of GOD in this age of the gentiles, are to be the salt and light He has called us to be. We are to minister with the Word of reconciliation to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they might see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. The children of the Most High GOD, indwelt by His Spirit are to equip all believers, encourage one another in love and grace, and enable people to enjoy Jesus Christ as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour through His Word. The saints of GOD, saved to be servants of Him who gave Himself for us and for sIn, are to take the Gospel to this lost and dying world, that those who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ might repent and believe in order to receive by faith life in His Name.

      For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and GOD, even our Father, comfort your hearts

10/26/2015

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For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause GOD shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2Th 2:7-12)
      The iniquity and false philosophies of those who oppose GOD and His Truth are always at work, to deceive and being deceived. Since Adam sinned there have always been those who twist GOD's Word to their own destruction, living lives of unrighteousness even while claiming truth. Those who are not on the Lord's side, even while claiming His Name, are working for our adversary, the accuser of the brethren, the enemy of our souls. There continue to be those that promote religion, and add their traditions, thoughts, opinions, and vain imaginations to the Truth of GOD and lead others astray from the Salvation that GOD has already paid for.

     From the men of renown in Noah's day that had corrupted the whole world to the point of judgment and destruction, to the false teachers and prophets in Israel that led the people in idol worship, to the Pharisees of Jesus' day who had nullified the Word of GOD and had become disobedient in their legalism, to the cults and organized religions of today who have turned the Gospel of reconciliation by faith through grace to a system of works and bondage, to that final GOD hating world dictator who will call himself god and the messiah, there will always be resistance, ridicule, and rebellion on the part of those who hate GOD and His righteousness which comes by Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.

     We don't look for the lawless one, that man of sin, but we look for the return of our Lord to take us Home to be with Him. While we are here, the Spirit which indwells us, will continue to lead and guide us through His Word, directing us about our Father's business, on mission for Him. We minister to those who are hurting and in need, speaking the Truth in love, and giving as GOD provides, that they may know our Lord Jesus as we know Him. We disciple one another in the Word of GOD, growing in grace, and loving one another as we experience GOD together as His body, His temple, and His family. We witness to those without, that they may know the Truth, and receive Jesus Christ by faith in Him and His Gospel and know forgiveness through repentance and the Good News of reconciliation with the Father and have life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

4/30/2015

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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. (2Co 6:14-18)
    Those who are born again by faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary are to be Holy, separate, peculiar. We have been chosen, cleansed by His blood, a royal priesthood, and a new creature in Christ. Because of our relationship with the Father, through Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are His children, ambassadors of the King and ministers of reconciliation. We are His temple, and the sheep of His pasture and are to live in and through Him surrendered lives, that take up our cross, and reflect our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

    Whether it is in personal relationships, dating and marriage, business, and even our worship and service, we are not to stand in agreement with those who do not believe our GOD, and His Son, Jesus Christ, who is GOD in the flesh, and His Word. Whether it is another faith, or no faith at all, we are not to fellowship with them, or worship as they do, for we are not worshiping in Spirit and in Truth, for they serve other gods.

    We can and must witness of Christ to those who do not know Him, and live our lives to reflect our Lord, while lifting Him up and giving Him the glory He deserves. We are to speak the Truth in love from His Word and through the guidance and promptings of the Holy Spirit to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long suffering and Doctrine.

    We are to minister to those who are hurting, without partaking of their deeds. We are to strengthen and disciple one another to the task, while loving one another as members of His body. We are to share Christ and His Gospel at every opportunity that those who should see a difference in us, may hear and believe the Good News of Jesus Christ and have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet    
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The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

4/2/2015

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But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the Glory of GOD. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of GOD: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. (1Co 10:28-33)
    Whatever we do both in word and in deed, should not only be pleasing to GOD and in accordance with His nature and character, but also as much as possible without offense to those around us. Our Gospel may be rejected, our message unheeded or scoffed at as foolishness to them that perish, but we ourselves should walk circumspectly and live the Gospel we preach. GOD's Word may be ridiculed, critiqued, accussed, and misunderstood, but our lifestyle and witness should be such that they can only falsely accuse us as evildoers and our good conversation in Christ.

    Our liberty in Christ means we are free, not to sIn, but to live His life and He in us, so that others may see our patient enduring, gracious longsuffering, and gentle persuasion and desire the Salvation we witness of and that we have by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We are free, not to do as we please, but to do as He wills as He works in us to conform us to the image of His dear Son until that day when He takes us Home to be with Him.

    Until that day, we are to continue to do the works of grace, not to earn our relationship with Him, but because of it, that He foreordained that we should walk in them. As His ambassadors and representatives of His Kingdom we are to minister to those He directs us to through the grace and provision He gives. We are to disciple one another in the Word of GOD that we all may grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, as we love one another as His disciples. We are to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world that they may hear the Good News as we go and believe, and in believing have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet 
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The Word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in Him

12/30/2014

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And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, GOD: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments. He saith unto Him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, 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. (Mat 19:17-21)

    In this conversation with the rich young ruler, Jesus confronts the man with two problems that he has. One, his pride; in his riches and in himself. Jesus redirected his thinking about who alone is 'good', not from our point of view, but the perfection that GOD requires. Second, his faith in what he possessed and what he could do. Because he had an unhealthy and unscriptural view of Salvation, and himself, he trusted that he could either buy or earn his way into eternal life. Neither is true, for only by grace through faith can we receive the free gift of eternal life from GOD.

    Two other points I want us to consider. One, even if this young man had kept all those commandments, he still wasn't perfect, which is required. Second, when he could not depart from his riches, because he trusted them more than GOD, Jesus didn't chase him down and alter the requirements for the money that could be added to the treasury. It is important that we understand the perfection that GOD requires, that we can only achieve in Christ, and not of any of our own works. It is also important that the Church not look to the riches of unbelievers and alter the Gospel, just so they will join our congregations.

    Jesus, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, GOD in the flesh, understood both the heart and faith of this seeker, who trusted his riches, and what he could accomplish, more than he trusted GOD. His faith, which was not in GOD, but himself, was not saving faith, and therefore kept him out of the Kingdom. If we are trusting any other system, religion, church, or even ourselves to get and keep eternal life, which is the free gift of GOD, we are revealing a serious flaw in our understanding of Scripture, and we may not be the Christian we think we are. Only in Christ can we be made perfect, and fulfilled, through our faith in who He is and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, having received forgiveness of our sins and justified, we now have peace with GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ.

    That peace, and the Liberty that comes from Christ and Him alone, is not a license to sIn, for we still follow His moral and eternal Law, not because we have to, but because He makes it possible and we are complete in Him. We love GOD with all our ourselves, offered as a living sacrifice, and we love our neighbours as ourselves, as GOD loves them and shed His blood for them too.

    We love GOD alone, for He alone is GOD, our Saviour and Lord. We don't worship or bow down to any other gods, idols, or graven images because GOD alone is worthy of our worship in Spirit and in Truth. We don't take His Name in vain, either as a curse, for it is Holy, or in misusing His Authority, for He is our Lord and King. We remember the Sabbath, remembering both His creation and His resurrection and resting in Him, with corporate worship together at least every seventh day.

    We honour and respect our parents, in this world and in the faith, for the responsibility and sacrifice they have made. We, as people, do not take other people's lives, from the very young to the very old, for He is life, and we are made in His image. We honor the marriage vows, one man and one woman, for life, as GOD instituted marriage, and consecrated the union. We do not take what others have, for we trust GOD for our needs. We do not lie or gossip, for GOD is Truth, and hates lairs and talebearers. We do not desire that which others have, but trust GOD for all our wants, needs, and provision, for He is our GOD and will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus, whom we have trusted alone for Salvation.

    If you are not secure in Christ, GOD desires for you to come to Him, not trusting yourself, but putting your faith in Him and Him alone. For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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I the LORD thy GOD am a jealous GOD and I will not share my Glory

10/21/2014

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And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: (Exo 32:1-7)

    How quickly the children of Israel forgot GOD, and His deliverance. How quickly they forgot His Holiness, and His commands that the Lord Himself had preached to them a short time ago. To them, Moses is gone, and GOD is busy, so they needed a god they could see, despite the command against idolatry and graven images. Aaron bowed to the majority, even though they were wrong, and made a god for them to worship. But what a worship and display of depravity. Debauchery, idolatry, and even taking His Name in vain, as they declared a statue to be GOD, and committed both spiritual and physical adultery while offering sacrifices to 'the Lord'.

    But, at times we are no better, though we should be, for we have the Holy Spirit within to convict and correct, even chastise when needed. We who know Christ, and have received Him by faith, know His Holiness, and His Word. We have doctrine to teach, reproof to speak in love, correction to apply, and instructions to heed from GOD's Word. We have Truth to live, and a Gospel to preach and proclaim, that tells us of His love and His Judgments on sIn, worldliness, and our life in Him.

    We are here not to be apart of the world, but as ambassadors of the Kingdom to this lost and dying world. We are here to minister to the hurting and in need that they may see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. We are here to disciple one another in Truth and in Love, that others may know we are His disciples. We are here to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness and mercy because of our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. As we go, we are to live the Gospel we preach, and share His love and mercy with all who will hear and believe, that in believing they may have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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