Yet, we say to ourselves things like, "Yes, I will spend more time with you spouse, parents, children, etc. but I need to take care of this now." We may say something like, "I need to establish my career or I may need to finish my education."
Or we may tell God, "Yes, Lord, I will spend more time with you soon or after I take care of "this or that."" We may also tell God, "Yes, Lord, I will go to church and do more of your things after I catch up on the bills or get more stable."
But sadly, in our minds, we may say or think with the intention to spend time or draw closer to God and our families but then we ask ourselves where has the time all gone. Next thing you know, ten years have gone by. Maybe twenty years have gone by. Then you realize, what you you have thought, planned or intended is no longer possible. Why?
We must become sensitive to our physical surroundings and what is occurring for as the physical is occurring so is the spiritual counterpart.
Even though physical time may have us thinking forward, we may be spiritually moving backwards.
When you are given a chance to react or make a choice, the bible does not say to act in the future but "Today." It says, "Today do not harden your hearts."
Hebrews 3:15 (AMP) Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion [in the desert, when the people provoked and irritated and embittered God against them].
We are to move spiritually forward. When someone receives the Lord Jesus and they begin to pray, maybe they start with a little prayer. Then as we draw closer to HIM, we should be praying more and longer. We should be doing more of HIS things and less of the world. Our time for HIM should be increasing and less for the world. We should be spiritually moving forward eternally to HIM.
When a Christian begins to pray less, when he/she begins to go to church less, when he/she begins to read and worship less, they are going backwards and may eventually fall away. They may think in their minds they still have God but in reality their own actions are forsaking God. They may be spending more time with the things of the world then God and it will be reflected in their time. If they say I will go back to HIM or back to church next year or in some future date, they may think they still have time to move forward in physical time but in spiritual eternity, they are moving farther away from God. They are moving backwards. And when that next year comes, it would be more difficult to do what they had in their mind as their hearts would have hardened more. And this is why it is hard for many to get back into the rythem. They continue to move backwards. They are falling away. Your increasing time in FB is not moving forward!
If you know you are struggling to get back into God's presence and you know you what you have to do but don't, then you are choosing to move farther away from God. Do not say I will do it tomorrow. Do not say I will do it next month or next year when you are more financially stable or when you feel like it. Then you are telling God, it is your time and not HIS and thus it is you who is forsaking God and not HIM. You will be walking contrary to HIM.
After God's people had molded the golden calf, God told Moses HE would not go with them. But Moses pleaded that if HIS presence would not go with HIM, he would not go. Moses yearned for HIS presence over everything. Today, many Christians continue to move forward in physical time choosing not to have God's presence in their lives thus making a choice to fall away forsaking HIM. They may think they have God in their hearts but their actions have stated otherwise. It is evident in our churches and HIS people as the plagues of Egypt are on them. They are participating in their sins. Many are sick with no peace nor joy. They are dying in their sins. Their lives and families are in chaos. But they continue to be in denial thinking they are with God but in realty, their circumstances are showing they are moving away from HIM.
Leviticus 26:21 If you walk contrary to Me and will not heed Me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you, according to your sins.
Deuteronomy 28:58-60 If you will not be watchful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may [reverently] fear this glorious and fearful name [and presence]—the lord your god—
59 Then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary strokes and blows, great plagues of long continuance, and grievous sicknesses of long duration.60 Moreover, He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.
IN the Old Testament, they ripped their garments and wore sackscloth putting ash or dirt on their heads. In the Old Testament, their garments were prized possessions as many only had one. It is not like today in which we may have many different clothing. We are so blessed today. But they ripped what may have been most valued and they put dirt on their heads.
Today, it means to rend your hearts or spirits and put the spiritual dirt on your heads knowing you are nothing. Dirt represents nothing. We are to humble ourselves and rend our hearts repenting before HIM. They ripped their garments to show God they meant it by destroying or giving up something most valued. What have you given up that is so prized in your life? What have you offered HIM that has cost you? Where is your humility before the Great King. He says "I am a Great KING and MY Name is Terrible among the heathen nations!"
Where is your honor and fear due to HIM? Do not come empty handed before HIM. Make a choice to remove the things that are above HIM that are in your hearts and HE will receive you and treat you with kindness.
2 Corinthians 6:16-17 (AMP) What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,
Fire of God Church,
A International Holy Fire Ministry
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Amen! Thank you Lord for using this site. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteGlory to Jesus. Following you here Steve. Praying for u guys.
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