God has been dealing with me all night about the state of the church. I've been unable to sleep, tossing and turning as God has been speaking to me about the grief and disappointment He has with those who claim part of the Body of Christ. Of course, He dealt with ME first. Then, the Lord had me read a very familiar passage of Scripture, Mark 15:1-24. As I read the passage, I could literally feel my heart beating from the pain and disappointment I felt.
The Lord showed me how we continue to reenact this very event every day. We choose the liar, the thief, the robber, the murderer...satan, and we crucify Christ afresh EVERY DAY. "Where are my followers?" asks God. "Where are my ambassadors, those who have been called to represent me in the world?"
Saints of God, how many times will we continue to let the enemy loose in our homes, our churches, our schools, our countries, our world...and crucify Christ? We know the enemy's agenda, yet we allow him to "slip" in everyday. Where is the HOLINESS? Where is the PURE WORSHIP? Where are the saints WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE?
John 10:10
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
We know the enemy is rampant, but he is making progress ONLY because we allow him to do so. It's time for God's people to stand up and fight. Yes, this is a spiritual battle, and we must be VIOLANT in the spirit.
Ephesians 6
11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
Saints, we simply cannot stand without the armor of God. We all know this scripture, but so many fail to carry their armor at ALL TIMES and in ALL SITUATIONS. This is such a serious manner. Every day, we are sacrificing holiness and allowing the enemy to slip in, subtlety. Very slowly, but surely, the enemy is gaining a foothold. I've often heard my grandmother say, "The devil may win the battle, but we know who wins the war!" Well, that sounds good and cute, but I'm tired of the enemy winning the battles! I want him disabled, crippled!
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Ahhh! When will stop taking this thing personally? Correction and rebuke are a gift from God. We must do what we are called to do, especially those who are part of the Five-Fold ministry. That is to (1) perfect the saints; (2) do the work of the ministry; (3) perfect the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4). God cannot do these things through us without calling and instructing those He has divinely called to exercise correction, in decency and in order. The thing to remember is that this thing is not personal. We are not even that important. This thing is much bigger than us! There is an enemy that must be defeated! When the devil is attacked in us, we mustn't reject the correction because WE feel personally attacked.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Praise God, saints. This is a time when WE MUST stand for PURE HOLINESS. It will not be hard, but it is completely necessary. God has no more time for believers with spins of spaghetti. We MUST stop allowing the world to dictate what we can and cannot say, how we discipline our children, what we can and cannot watch on television, etc. STAND on the Word of God, both the rhema and the logos, Amen.
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
My God. What is TRUTH? The Bible tells us that we shall know it, and it will make us free. It is only by the Holy Spirit that we can know what truth is. We must seek God - stay in His face. So much looks GOOD, but is not of Him. We know we are not walking in TRUE HOLINESS because we lack integrity and moral character as a Body. I'm going to talk about me for a moment. Showing up on time to work, but being late to the house of God DOES NOT SHOW MORAL INTEGRITY. My God. Yes, we all make mistakes, but we must NEVER LOWER OUR STANDARDS! We must always strive for God's best - HOLINESS! I don't believe it's impossible to do. So many say, I can't be perfect. No one told that to Enoch and Elijah, two men whose faith literally brought them to the point that flesh could no longer contain them. Reach!
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
BOLDNESS! We need holy boldness, that when the enemy shows his face, someone will stand for the sake of the Gospel! Acts 1:8 tells us we are endued with power when the Holy Ghost comes upon us. Where is it? Who is speaking the Word in boldness against opposition? Who is performing miracles? Who is walking in unwaivering faith? Who always has an answer for the faith that lies within?
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
We must BELIEVE GOD at his Word. This is a faith walk, but the sad truth is that many of us LACK FAITH. We don't believe what God says ourselves. My God, I feel the heart of God here. There is such a burden for His people to turn back to Him and stop trying to fix things our way! Oh, there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is DEATH. We must stop doing what we think or feel is right, and just obey the voice of God.
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
The Word of God! Our salvation through Christ, mixed with the Word of God can change so many situations in our lives. By salvation, we have a right to declare the Word for ourselves. We don't need the world anywhere in this occasion. Saints, let's just be crazy enough, for one moment, to believe the Word of God. AMEN.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
God is truly bringing me to a place of constant prayer and communication with Him. I hear people say often that you can't constantly communicate with God and that He is not always speaking. I'm am learning to differ with such. I'm finding that if I listen, and even sometimes when I don't want to listen, He is speaking. Most of the time, in fact, it is a word of correction FOR ME. My God chastens whom He loves, so I rejoice and praise Him for it. Let's all learn to stay in His face. WE MUST. A time is coming when this relationship with God will be all we have. The time is approaching when there will be no more (legal) churches, bibles, Christian Yahoo groups, etc. Who will be able to stand? Will we then allow the enemy reign in our lives, and again crucify Christ?
Mark 15
1AND IMMEDIATELY when it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole council, held a consultation; and when they had bound Jesus, they took Him away [violently] and handed Him over to Pilate.
2And Pilate inquired of Him, Are You the King of the Jews? And He replied, It is as you say.
3And the chief priests kept accusing Him of many things.
4And Pilate again asked Him, Have You no answer to make? See how many charges they are bringing against You!
5But Jesus made no further answer at all, so that Pilate wondered and marveled.
6Now at the Feast he [was accustomed to] set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
7And among the rioters in the prison who had committed murder in the insurrection there was a man named Barabbas.
8And the throng came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them.
9And he replied to them, Do you wish me to set free for you the King of the Jews?
10For he was aware that it was [because they were prompted] by envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release for them Barabbas instead.
12And again Pilate said to them, Then what shall I do with the Man Whom you call the King of the Jews?
13And they shouted back again, Crucify Him!
14But Pilate said to them, Why? What has He done that is evil? But they shouted with all their might all the more, Crucify Him [at once]!
15So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus whipped, he handed [Him] over to be crucified.
16Then the soldiers led Him away to the courtyard inside the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and they called the entire detachment of soldiers together.
17And they dressed Him in purple [robe], and, weaving together a crown of thorns, they placed it on Him.
18And they began to salute Him, Hail (greetings, good health to You, long life to You), King of the Jews!
19And they struck His head with a staff made of a [bamboo-like] reed and spat on Him and kept bowing their knees in homage to Him.
20And when they had [finished] making sport of Him, they took the purple [robe] off of Him and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the city] to crucify Him.
21And they forced a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the field (country), to carry His cross.
22And they led Him to Golgotha [in Latin: Calvary], meaning The Place of a Skull.
23And they [attempted to] give Him wine mingled with myrrh, but He would not take it.
24And they crucified Him; and they divided His garments and distributed them among themselves, throwing lots for them to decide who should take what.
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