Tag

religion

Dig Your Own Well

By | Eyesalve

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.  20And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.  21And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.  22And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” Genesis 26:18-22

 

Isaac started out digging up the old wells that his father Abraham had dug, but it wasn’t until Isaac dug his own well that he said “we shall be fruitful in the land.” You can’t live off of someone else’s religion; you won’t get into heaven on daddy’s coat tails. Each one of us has to dig our own well. If you aren’t digging for water then you are just digging a hole. If you are digging for water don’t stop until that spring of living water flows in your life.

Eyesalve: Don’t Cause Distress

By | Eyesalve

And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.” I Sam. 14:24

 

In the previous chapter we learned that Saul’s kingdom would not continue because he did a foolish thing. Many times it happens when ministers lose their anointing from God, they gravitate toward extreme religious rules. At the least appropriate time, Saul did that and called for a fast. Fasting is important, no doubt, when it is led of the Lord. It is apparent that he was not led of the Lord to do this. He attempted to compensate for losing God’s favor by impressing others with a false spiritual fervor. He did what the religious do, he “placed the people under oath.” All that this did was put the people in distress. Let it be that your commitment to God will promote in others a liberty with a greater desire for God, not a commitment to your rules that cause distress in others.

Eyesalve: Deeper Knowledge of God

By | Eyesalve

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Eph. 4:11-13

 

Ministers are called to perfect, edify and bring saints to a deeper knowledge of God, they are not called to keep the peoples religion going.

Eyesalve: Not Religion, But Jesus

By | Eyesalve

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jn. 3:1-3

 

Jesus in a sense was saying to Nicodemus, “you don’t really know what you think you know; you are limited in what you see and hear.” I believe this is the reason Nicodemus sought out the Lord, because he wanted to see, hear and know the truth. Religion cannot offer that, only the Lord Jesus Christ can. Do you really see, hear and know Him?

Eyesalve: He Makes Me Willing

By | Eyesalve

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Ph’p 2:13

One difference between religion and a relationship with God is that religion makes it a chore to do God’s good pleasure while a relationship with God results in God working in you the will or willingness to do His good pleasure. Religion says I have to, relationship says I want to. Relationship says I am willing to do His good pleasure.

Eyesalve: Religious Cologne And Clothes

By | Eyesalve

“And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.” II Chron. 16:14

No matter how much sweet odors and spices was put in Asa’s tomb, it was not going to stop the inevitable. His body stunk as it decayed. Same with religion that is worn like cologne or clothes. You can slap on religious cologne, but if the heart is not right with God there will be a stench. You can wear religious clothes, but again, if the heart is not right with God you will be standing naked before God.

Eyesalve: Outward Display, Inward Denial

By | Eyesalve

“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 29Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: Jn. 18:28-31

Those religious leaders sure liked keeping the law. They would dare not break the law while they are delivering Jesus over to be killed. What a contrast, killing Jesus, while keeping the law. This is exactly what false religion is, it is making an outward display while inwardly denying Christ.

Eyesalve: Speak Openly

By | Eyesalve

“The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.” Jn. 18:19-20

Cults are notorious for telling you one thing when they are sharing their religion with you, but then when you join up with them they tell you something different. It must not be so for Christians. We must always speak openly the truth of this gospel. The secret to the mega / seeker sensitive church is they don’t speak the truth openly. They don’t tell it like it should be told. I guess it all depends if you are looking to gather people or if you are looking to save people and strengthen saints.

Eyesalve: From Glory to Glory

By | Eyesalve

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Cor. 3:18

Religion expects a quick outward change of an individual. Liberalism expects no change. But the changing of the inner man which is conformity to the image of Christ, is the real change. This change happens from glory to glory.