Reflections, October 4, 2009

Sunday, October 4th, 2009

Reflections: “Do You Really Believe?

“Then shall he say also unto him on the left hand. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, an ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not…”      Matthew 25:41-43

Scripture Reading For This Week: Matthew 15, 16, 19, 22, 25; John 5; 7; Hebrews 11; 1 John 3; Revelation 20...

We say we love the Lord. We say we believe in God. We say we are followers of Jesus Christ. We say that we really believe. Then how come we really don’t act like it? How come we do not act as though we truly believe in what Christ has spoken? Our actions most certainly speak louder than words.

It is my sincerest prayer that this week’s Reflection will stir up conviction and holiness. I pray that it will be a source of encouragement for your walk in Christ, and your daily life. I pray that the Spirit of our living God will rest upon you, and light a fire in you as never before. So that you may be ready when Jesus returns.

Let’s face it: we are in the last days. There are signs all around us. Yet many of us are getting the wrong notion about what we should be doing to be ready for the Christ’s return. I am so tired of seeing people fill the church pews each and every Sunday, and leaving with their hearts still a mess. I’m tired of seeing people come into the church houses; hungry, homeless, dirty, and being turned away, or made to feel ashamed, or worse (in my opinion) told, “we’ll be praying for God to meet your needs”, when they have the means and wherewithal to help those individuals right then and there. Second on my worse list: “Do you know Jesus? You have to be saved before His return…” But not once, does anyone stop to meet the physical needs that are staring them right in the face.

Do you really think a person who is hungry, cold, and dirty wants to hear about their spiritual condition, when they are suffering so in their physical? Feed them! Clothe them! SHOW them the love of Christ, before you try and save their soul.

Too many times we miss the mark; miss opportunities to bring people to the saving knowledge of Christ, because we are too wrapped up in ourselves to have really understood what Christ was teaching. Oh, we think we know. We think we understand how this whole Christian walk works. But how many of us will be surprised on judgment day, to hear the Father tell us to depart from him, and call us workers of iniquity?

Do we really believe in the Word of God? Do we really believe and understand what Christ says to the church? To the body of believers? I’ll willingly admit that sometimes, I am ashamed to be lumped in the category of “Christian”. I have seen such a rise in judgmental, hypocritical, self-righteous, indignant, bias, and divisive behaviors amongst those that say they are believers and followers of Christ, that it turns my stomach! And I know for certain that God is not pleased.

Matthew 15: 10,11,13,14,19,20 “….Hear and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, defileth this man…Every plant which my heavenly father planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch…For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”

Our actions can either cause a beautiful fragrance to rise to the nostrils of God, or a stench. It depends upon what condition our heart is really in. And make no mistake: God knows our heart…And so do others by what comes from our mouths and our actions.

We point fingers and blame people for the condition our lives are in. Everyone wants to blame someone. Yes, perhaps you may have suffered at the hands of someone else. Yes, maybe someone else’s actions have caused you to lose much, or maybe everything. But don’t spend the remainder of your life holding unforgiveness, bitterness, and self pity in your heart. First, vengeance belongs to God. Don’t you know that God really does have you in the hollow of His hand? And that if you shall believe, it will happen? Second, God has given us the power and authority to change the circumstances of our lives.

Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

God has given us a precious gift: Christ. And when we accept Christ into hearts, we also receive the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit comes power. In us, is the working power of Christ. In us, God has given us the authority to change not only our lives, but those around us. We have the power and authority to stomp out the problems (serpents) and trials (scorpions) that may come our way. He has given us the power to stomp out the very act of the enemy against our lives, and the lives of those that God brings into our lives. The power of the enemy referred to in this passage of Scripture, refers to the “ability” of Satan. For he has no power, but does have the ability to cause trouble. And we can either stomp out what he throws at us, or continue to fall victim to his tricks. Please know this: The only power Satan has, is the power WE give him when we don’t believe, and don’t live the life God has called us to.

What do you really believe? Do you really believe that God is, Almighty ? Do you really understand that in your mouth is the power of life and death? Do you know that what you speak into the atmosphere is what your life will entail? God is calling us to a heart check: To check what’s in our hearts and what we truly believe. How can we continue to say that we believe, and never put into practice the very virtues of Christ?

We enter into our houses of worship with a heavy load, and we leave with a heavy load. That’s not God! We enter into His courts with unrepentant hearts; unconfessed sins, and act as though we are holy and righteous to those who are looking in on the outside. But whoa!—if they were to ever see the true intents of our hearts; the true thoughts that we are thinking. God does. He sees it all.

We cannot continue to say that we love the Lord, and trust the Lord, and believe in the word of God, if we are not: living, speaking, doing, and believing it. We are the “church”. Not the buildings that we enter into for worship. We are the church. We are the walking epistles of God’s word. If you were a book, what would your title be? If someone was to read you, what would your message be?

We are in the last days, and we are spending too much time being judgmental, hypocritical, and false. We say we believe, but we act worse than unbelievers. I have witnessed unbelievers act with more courtesy, kindness, love and dignity than those of believers. This should not be.

Christ said that if we cloth the naked, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and visit those who have been sick and in prison, then it is doing it unto Him. Why is that? Why would Christ say such a thing? Because, when we serve, and show the love of God, it will draw people into the heart of God. When we begin to BE the love of God in action, and not just SAY it with our mouths; things happen. Things change for the better.

Jesus showed love. He showed compassion. He prayed for others. He did not point and judge. For He said that He came not into this world to condemn it, but that they might be saved (John 3:17).

When will we get it? When will we truly understand, that when you really believe in the word of God; when you really understand and have a relationship with the Father, you know and understand that you have authority and power to not only change YOUR life; but the lives of those around you. No longer will you look at someone with a critical and judgmental eye; but with an eye of compassion. No longer will you jump to conclusions, or be judging; but will go to prayer for that person, and ask God to step in.

When you truly believe, and what you believe is the truth of the word of God, your life will never, ever be the same. You will become a new person in Christ, and will not be easily deterred or moved or shaken by the things that are happening in this world. But you will recognize the signs of the time, and prepare your heart for Christ’s return. You will work diligently in the field, and SHOW the love of God; BE the love of God, and not just talk about it, but WALK it. You will learn how to really walk in the power and authority of God; your faith being increased daily, as you grow closer to the heart of God. When you really believe what God has spoken; your life will never be the same…

Matthew 21:21-22 “Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatso-ever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

For true and sincere belief in the Father and His word; you will have entered into an intimate relationship with the Father. You will have developed within your heart and soul, the nature and characteristics of Christ. Certain things of this world will not deter you, or move you, or hinder you from doing what God has called you to do. Instead, they will incite you to act. They will stir up your faith and reverence for the living God. You will seek to see many make it into the Kingdom of God. You will know for certain, that no matter what happens in life, that God has always, and will always hold you in the hollow of His hand. That, without a doubt, no matter what occurs in your life here on this earth, you know and understand that God has always, and will always have the last say, and your trust is completely in Him. For those who really believe, your light will shine bright, and the things you do will bring glory to the name of God, and you will know, with all our heart, that there is nothing that man can do to you, when God is for you. You understand now, that you have the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and the authority to bind up sickness, death, poverty, unbelief, strife, hopelessness on this earth, and it will be bound in heaven. You know now, that you have the power to loose peace, prosperity, joy, life, love and health upon the earth, for it has already been loosed in heaven. When you believe, all things really are possible. For there is nothing impossible for God. (Luke 1:37)

May the spirit of peace and prosperity find rest in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, social, and financial lives. I pray that today is the day you decide to really believe on the Lord God Almighty with all your heart. That you will know, without a doubt, that God has always held you close to His heart, and waits for you…to truly believe wholeheartedly. Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.