“And they glorified God in me.” Gal. 1:24
In this current generation, this world will never glorify God. How do I know that? The bible says the way is narrow that leads to life and few will find it. It also speaks of a coming day when God will pour out His wrath on a rebellious world. Though this world will not glorify God, He can be glorified in this world. That is where you come in.
“Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.” Lev. 24:14
I could see that if we were living under the law we wouldn’t want to hear someone curse God because we would have to be in agreement with their stoning. I wouldn’t want to lay my hands on their head or be one that would have to throw the stones. I’m sure none of you would want to be in that place either. Thank God we are not under the law, however we have a responsibility and obligation toward one another in the church that if any of us sins, others that know of it will not shrug it off or have no care for their soul. I am not suggesting we become spiritual law enforcers and go around the church watching for anyone to sin. I am not suggesting that we deal harshly with any of our brethren that may sin. I am insisting that we lift them up before the Lord, and if need be confront them about their sin, but do it with the same grace that Jesus approached you when He saved you.
“Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:” Lk. 13:7-8
For three years the keeper of the vineyard was watching for that fig tree to bear fruit. He was asking the lord of the vineyard to give him another year to work it to see if it would bear fruit. The hard-nosed religious keeper would have never given the tree three years. The carnal keeper would have cared less if there was any fruit. The doubtful keeper would not have expected any fruit and the greedy keeper would only want fruit to fill his own needs and desires. The keeper that is full of grace and truth is patient, he is willing to give more time, yet he does expect to soon receive a harvest of fruit. Are you full of grace and truth when you deal with your brethren?
“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Lk. 9:49-50
Many in the church today seem to have more of a problem with those who are doing the will of God, but belong to another church than they have with those in their church who don’t do the will of God.
“And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” Lk. 9:48
There is one thing I see children being really good at, and that is being a child. Why would we adults expect them to act like an adult, especially after the Lord says we receive Him when we receive a child in His name?
“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Lk. 6:48-49
Notice that the scriptures did not say “if the flood,†but instead “WHEN the flood.†Saints, you can be certain that the flood will rise and the stream will beat against you. Is your Christian foundation built on a favorite minister, favorite Christian author, favorite denomination or church, or is your foundation built on Christ? As certain as you can be that the flood and the stream will come, you can be certain you will stand if your foundation is built on Christ.
“Now if the plague comes back and breaks out in the house, after he has taken away the stones, after he has scraped the house, and after it is plastered, 44then the priest shall come and look; and indeed if the plague has spread in the house, it is an active leprosy in the house. It is unclean. 45And he shall break down the house, its stones, its timber, and all the plaster of the house, and he shall carry them outside the city to an unclean place. 46Moreover he who goes into the house at all while it is shut up shall be unclean until evening.” Lev. 14:43-46
If the Spirit of God does His work to purge any particular church of her carnal ways, but that church persists in her ways, it is no different than being infected with leprosy. Just as a house that has walls infected with leprosy has to be destroyed, so must the church that has spiritual leprosy. I am not talking about destroying the church building, I am talking about bringing an end to the gathering of those saints. When rebellious carnal people meet it infects those who enter and does more to make them unclean than clean.
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” Lk. 2:15
Notice the shepherds didn’t say, hey guys, let’s plan a trip to Bethlehem later this week, or we’ll have to check it out after we get the sheep well fed and watered. No, they said “let us NOW GO.” And then it says, “they came with HASTE.” They immediately responded and headed out to Bethlehem. There are too many people to count who have said, “I will give my life to the Lord tomorrow. There are too many saints that missed out on the work and the blessings of the Lord because they said to Him, “I’ll get to that later.” Let us go now, let us obey now.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Lk. 2:10
The angel brought a message of good news that is to bring great joy, not just for the shepherds, but “to ALL people.” Yet most people are miserable. There are only two reasons for that, they either did not hear the good news or they rejected it. With God’s help, don’t let it be your fault if others around you are miserable.
“And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. 9And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 10And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. Ex. 33:8-10
It is a good thing that you can worship the Lord right in your own home, but don’t watch the saints gather at the tabernacle of the Lord from your recliner.
