Where is the Promise of His Coming

Jesus saith unto him,
If I will that he tarry till I come,
what is that to thee?
follow thou me.
Joh 21:22

Jesus Christ has revealed Himself through many godly men, and in the book of Exodus Moses is a type of Christ. Moses, who was chosen to lead the children of Israel out of the captivity of Egypt, saw God face to face (Exo. 33:11) and was highly favored by the Lord. (Num. 12:7)

While Moses was delayed in the Holy Mount, the children of Israel sought another god to worship. They appeared before Aaron who gave them exactly what they desired. A golden calf was fashioned out of the spoil of the Egyptians and Aaron declared: “…These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” (v.4) The children of Israel fell into great idolatry, sacrificing to this image, dancing naked before it, and forsaking the great salvation of the Lord.

In today’s apostate system, we have many who have created a false Jesus. One that has gone blind, that will not judge or pour out His wrath on sinners. This golden calf speaks of peace and safety, luring Christians into a false state of security. Satan has employed his ministers to lead as they systematically destroy the foundation which Christ has purchased with His own blood. Deluded Christians tithe the gold they earn in Egypt to support this massive movement of idolatry which denies the purity of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Within this system we see a great spiritual drunkenness, such as Moses saw when he came down off the mount:

Exo 32:19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

God does NOT accept strange fire. We MUST worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. This worship “…in Spirit,” is misinterpreted by individuals who submit to a spirit of drunkenness “in Jesus name,” where they fall out or writhe in chaotic body movements, as Christian musicians mesmerize them with music that SHOULD be designed to glorify God. False ministers then appear at the pulpit with a message that continues to destroy any wall of truth that they may have. God will never accept our worship if we take away from His Word, and if we continue to resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit that wishes to draw us out of false worship, we can expect judgment and fiery indignation from the Lord.

1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

These idols are false doctrines, whereby those who were once enlightened have fallen into various sins and remain in them. They are assured that their golden calf gospel will save them, as they add sin to sin. They cannot see they are idolaters, and do not understand that the Lord has poured upon them a spirit of sleep, because they did not receive a love for the truth.

Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

This echelon of apostasy reaches to the highest levels within the system:

Eze 8:12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

Ezekiel’s prophecy reveals that idolatry was committed by the elders (ancients) of the House of Israel, and today elders have made the church of Christ a habitation of devils and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Jesus Christ warned the Pharisees, who were also elders, that they would have the “greater damnation,” because they “devoured widows houses,” and He told his disciples to be aware of their leaven.

There is nothing new under the sun. Similarly, as the children of Israel fell into sin while Moses delayed his return, and the elders of the House of Israel believed the Lord didn’t see their sins, deceived Christians today believe a Jesus who allows us to remain in sin. Their golden calf teaches them they are eternally secure no matter what iniquity stains their souls.

As we await the second coming of our Lord, let us remember to “…cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor 7:1) We must not be as the children of Israel who lost faith as Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, when they “…sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” (Ex. 32:6)

The Lord loves us and is willing that none should perish. He has promised us the Comforter to lead us into all truth. Forgiveness of sins is available through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and then then the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us. However, we must not believe that a false image of the gospel is one that the Father will accept. This image of the beast will be destroyed and there is no salvation in it. There is only ONE name under heaven whereby men can be saved, through repentance and faith in the Jesus Christ of scripture.

Exo 32:20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.

Morning Manna
June 22, 2010

Remember Lot’s Wife

 

And Jesus said unto him,
No man, having put his hand to the plough,
and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62

Judgment was determined. The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah were so great and so grievious, that the Lord purposed to destroy them. Despite Abraham’s plea to deliver Sodom and Gomorrah, there were not even 10 righteous to be found in both cities. The Lord satisfied His wrath by sending fire and brimstone from heaven. (Gen 9:24) Everyl soul perished – except for Lot and his family. God displayed his love and mercy on Lot by sending his angelic messengers to deliver them.

Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Although Lot lingered, the angels took them by the hand, leading them out of Sodom. They were given one commandment – DO NOT LOOK BACK. Lot’s wife disobeyed the Lord and so great was her punishment that she turned into a pillar of salt — she was not fit for the Kingdom of God.

One does not have to read the book of Genesis long to remember that even in the days of Noah, God destroyed the world, but for Noah and his house. Furthermore, it only took one act of disobedience on the part of Adam and Eve to cause the penalty of death. We would do well to remember:

Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

God is not mocked. Whatever we sow, we WILL reap. If God has commanded us to go and sin no more, shall we continue to do despite to the Spirit of Grace and count the blood of the covenant, wherein we WERE sanctified, an unholy thing? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound. God forbid!

We cannot believe that we are fit for the Kingdom of God, that is, to be accepted of Him and remain in rebellion to His precious Word. Those in Christ have in essence, experienced as Lot or Noah, having been spared the wrath of God, through our repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

We are warned not to remain “at ease in Zion,” but to put on the whole armour of God, to resist the devil, to fear God, to perfect holiness, to cast down imaginations, to keep ourselves pure and from idols, and – to separate ourselves from the world. Lot’s wife did not, even though she was given every grace. It was within her power to obey, but she rebelled and refused the God from heaven.

Ecclesia

Now the LORD had said unto Abram,
Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred,
and from thy father’s house,
unto a land that I will shew thee..

Jesus has called His church the light of the world, and we are admonished to:

Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Our witness to the world must be holiness and agreement with the scriptures the Lord has provided for us. We are not to waver with the world, yielding to their theologies and systems of thought, but contrariwise, our stand must be for the righteousness and truth that Jesus Christ confirmed in His own blood. To deviate from His Word, is to become a double minded man who will not receive the blessings of God.

Perhaps Lot’s wife thought she could be saved from destruction with a heart still yearning for her old life. We must not be so. In order to worship God in Spirit and Truth, we must walk by faith, and not by sight, to the place that Jesus has prepared for us, nothing wavering. The Word will teach us, the Holy Spirit will guide and God has given us power in Christ to overcome the world. Lot’s wife was led out of the land of sin and death by the hand of the angel, she was privy to the destruction that was coming on Sodom and yet she still had an evil heart of unbelief. So strong is the testimony of Lot’s wife that Jesus spoke of her, warning us that:

Luk 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Let there never be found in us an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God. That unbelief can be manifested in many ways, such as:

Believing we can serve God and mammon;
Live in unrepentant sin and believe we are saved;
Loving this present world and forsaking God;
Resisting the Holy Spirit that is bringing correction and truth to us;

Are we going to Egypt for our deliverance? Are we looking to government and military to protect and care for us? Have we ceased from preaching the gospel because we are weary of the rejection and the hatred we receive? Do we call evil good and we compromise the world and it’s antichristian agenda? Have we become lukewarm, living with one foot in church and one foot in the world? Are we really loving God with all of our heart, by a faith that works, or are we offering Him lip service.

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Have we become Lot’s wife?