Hundreds of millions, if not billions, have not heard the word of Christ.  And many who have heard have not understood by virtue of a disingenuous delivery.  Still hundreds and thousands of Christians keep her mouth closed and their lives ruffled up by sin.

We are told today is a work day.  What is our work?  To do the will of our Father in heaven.  There are many who would question what that work is.  Since there is no such thing as a stupid question, I’m more than willing to answer with sincerity.

The will of God is that all men should believe on the name of His one and only Holy Son.  The name is far more than a few simple letters pronounced Jesus.  He is the direct power of God to draw all men unto a life of holiness.

The other part of our work is the one that many will shirk without question.  We are to testify freely and boldly, before all men, the very gospel of Christ Jesus.

Without any portion of holiness there is no reason to testify; what then would we have more than men?  But isn’t this the reason why so many do not enter the work?

Perhaps they may say, “The work is arduous, dangerous and isolating.  Let us leave such things to those who are gifted to endure.”   But by saying such things they betray the Lord they say they love.  Has he not promised us His Holy Spirit?  And by this promise he has not given us a spirit of timidity.  Rather the Spirit of God is boldness, a fearless strength and holiness.

Many teach a doctrine that is favorable to family and friends.  They teach a Christianity which is acceptable before all men.  By this they remove the stumbling block.  By this they remove the natural enmity  between God and sin.

Accept such teachings if it pleases your heart to do so.  Simply be honest enough to understand, that as you accept what is pleasurable to you, millions die without knowledge.

By saying these harsh things I am not judging anyone.  The truth in this matter stands glaringly in the face of all who would teach otherwise.  As by now the army of Christ on this earth ought to be a formidable force.  It has become, for the most part, pathetic window dressing.

By His Grace

By His Grace

In the production of building materials, regardless of their use or chemical characteristics, a refinement process is required.  If the producer is slack in his application of refinement the product will fail.  The negligence of the producer will be painfully obvious, and quite often at the most inopportune moment. 

We are the producers of our own character.  The blame and shame of our own failure belongs to us.  What is hidden will be made known, despite our ingenuity to sell a defective product.

The diligence to pursue holiness is a mutual work between God’s willingness to give and our willingness to receive.  “Do not be deceived.  A man reaps what he sows.”

By His Grace

Mistakes are made by even the best intentioned, yes.  Sin abounds in this corrupt place of testing, yes.  But even these serve the Lord’s purpose.  Relax.  Rest and know that the Lord is God.   For in the “Shaking”, hearts are tested.  “Who will love Me?  Who will not?”

By His Grace

I did not put in a special request before I was born.  Life appears before us and we endure what we are born into.  The Lord has established the nature of things in this place of testing.  We are the ones who do not understand.  He has set things in motion long before our life began.  Wisdom from God reveals these things.  The flesh will think it is the beginning of all life.  But the Spirit of God teaches otherwise.

One tree is cut down in its prime.  It was destined for lumber.  A mansion was to be built by the owner of the land.  The tree has no more rights to question than do we.  Another tree is allowed to grow until it is nearly dead from age or blight.  It is cut down to provide heat within that mansion.  Who are we to question our life?

Both trees belong to the One who has owned the land, planted the trees and harvested them for His purpose.  Let us be wise and consider these things with sobriety.  One kind of tree for fruit.  One for shade.  One for lumber.  One for heat.  How shall the trees change the mind of the One who planted them?  He has done so for His own purposes.

The trees grow according to their kind.  They do not consider their life.  They endure without fret or concern.  They are provided for a purpose.  What will come of any one tree?  It does not think.  It is man who considers these things.  What animal considers the purpose of its life?  It is man alone who ponders these things.  Either he will let wisdom speak to his heart and mind, or he will provide his own answers.   What then is man?

4  “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

 ⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,  And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

By His Grace.

Men and women say, “I have understood.  There is no truth but what I have understood.  And if I have not understood the entirety of truth, how can I be blamed?”

Have you approached God?  Have you asked for understanding?  Or did you simply accept your own wisdom as the sum of possibilities?   You live in a land of lies.  Yet God has provided truth among men.  There will be absolutely no excuse given to anyone.

“I understand love as I have understood it and this is sufficient.  I have dressed myself in what is acceptable among men.  I will find mercy for the coming day of God.  I will be acceptable, for I have gained what can be gained among men.”

God is Holy.  He has not created us to be unholy.  He is complete and righteousness never ending.  We are called to join Him in this eternal Righteousness.  But you do not even ask.  How will you be acceptable before His Holy fire of purity?

“Love is but an emotion and desire of the body.  My soul, as you might call it, craves to be fulfilled.  That craving is sufficient.  I will feed it until it is healthy and vibrant.  My craving is the measure of what is good for me.”

You crave what is of the body.  But God is eternal Spirit.  You crave what is filthy.  But God is pure and Holy.  You do not fight against the bodily lusts.  You feed them.  You do not even question your understanding.  How will willful ignorance be acceptable before God, who is so willing to share what is true and unshakable?

There is a place of calling.  All men are called, compelled, to appear before God.  It will surely come that you will enter into His Holy presence.  If you will not do it here, you will surely do it on that day of judgment.  There will be no lying lips to hide behind.  There will be no clothing, arranging of hair, makeup, expensive trinkets, money, fame, position, or blindness to hide behind.  His Holy fire of purity will bathe all in truth.  What is shakable will be shaken.  Nothing impure will endure His blazing test. 

Regardless whether you believe these words or not, you will surely appear before Him.

Jesus has been sent among us to provide the help we need to leave these foolish lusts and become acceptable before His Father.  But you have not even inquired into this ready help.  How will you be acceptable?  You accept the validity of the lies of man before you will consider these words valid.  How shall you be acceptable?

By His Grace.

Awake!  He has sent a word for you.  Listen as you sit on the edge of your bed.  Pause and get your bearings.  It is He who will guide your mind and heart.  Even your feet and hands will find direction as they swing from fore to aft.

He has loosed the mooring ropes.  He has set you adrift in the harbor of humanity.  He will teach you to lift sail.  He Himself has vowed to be your compass.

Windless days, violent storms, favorable winds or contrary, they shall not cause you fear.  He will show you what it means to have faith.  He will take you through the impossible.  He will allow violence and calm to come against you as pleases Him.

Wisdom attends His Holy love for you.   You will dance before Him as does a blanket on a clothes line.  The Breeze of God will drive you forward.

Fear will leave you.  You will come to know that He is God!

By His Grace.