Wicked, Weak and Weary

Wicked

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. - Jeremiah 17:9-10  

The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. - Psalm 33:13-15

Every human being is born with a heart that is wicked. The physical heart is turned to the left indicating that all of us have turned away from GOD.

GOD specialises in fashioning and restoring hearts!

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. - Isaiah 1:18-20

GOD is wooing us back to Himself with great love.

We need to be willing and allow Him to work on us.

Refusing His invitation and rebelling against Him is wickedness. So also is stubbornness.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king." - 1 Samuel 15:23

But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it. - Proverbs 2:22  

Unfaithfulness is wickedness.

They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." - Matthew 21:41

As servants of GOD, not rendering to the LORD in their seasons the fruits of our work in His vineyard is wickedness.

We need to be diligent to treat those whom we serve as GOD’S property.

We should also give GOD all the glory and not take pride in the success of the work He enables us to do.

Our joy and rejoicing should be the LORD Himself more than the fruit of our work.

The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous. - Proverbs 15:29  

Only the prayer made in the name of JESUS is heard by the LORD because our righteousness in only in Him.

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. - James 1:21  

Let us lay all our filthiness of sin and wickedness at the foot of the cross of JESUS where it can be disposed of effectively.

We can also dispose of the wickedness of others thrown at us by leaving them at the cross in intercession.

It is the word of GOD that is able to cleanse our souls of all wickedness.

As the word convicts us, let us put away all wickedness and receive the truth of GOD’S word.

Let us forsake our wicked ways, repent and return to Him.

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. - Isaiah 55:7

Let us allow the LORD to change our wickedness into Godliness.

As I decrease and JESUS increases in me wickedness will decrease and righteousness will increase in me.

Therefore let us not refuse the LORD and rebel against Him

but repent of our wicked ways and return to Him.

Let us not reject His word but receive it with meekness.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. - Psalm 139:23-24

Weak

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." - Matthew 26:41

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:15

He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:29-31

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9  

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. - Romans 8:26

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. - John 15:5

We are strengthened in our weakness by the LORD as we watch and pray as led by the Spirit and wait on the LORD and abide in Him. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

We should also strengthen others in their weakness

Weary

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30  

For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," And, "This is the refreshing"; Yet they would not hear. - Isaiah 28:11-12

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. - Romans 8:26

"Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, "how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. "Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget. - Deuteronomy 25:17-19

We are spiritually strengthened when we pray in the Spirit in tongues.

We need to come to the LORD JESUS and find rest in Him.

When we enter into His rest we only do what He requires of us.

As we find our rest in Him we should also rest physically.

We should not become busybodies so that we are too weary to do what GOD requires of us. We should save our time and energy to joyously do His will.

We also give the devil the opportunity to attack us when we are unduly weary.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:38-42

Attacking one who is weak and weary to make him fall is a work of the devil. That is what he did to JESUS and now does to us. We should never do that to others. We should help others in their times of weariness.

Enduring Evangelist

Enduring Evangelist

Evangelist - Messenger of Good News.

Why Evangelize?

• Because we have found the only way of salvation.

""Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."" - Acts 4:12

• It is our LORD’S command.

""Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen." - Matthew 28:19-20  

"'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" - Matthew 25:30

What is the message?

• Repent, Receive, Refreshing, Restoration.

""The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, "and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, "and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, "whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." - Acts 3:13-21

Why Endure?

• Because it will determine where in the ‘End U Re’! - Serving the LORD in submission or not.
• JESUS endured the cross - offered forgiveness to the soldiers

                                                   salvation to the criminal

                                                   comfort to His mother and to John

• Paul endured suffering in prison - wrote epistles and saw the jailor and his family saved.

How Do We Endure?

• By the Word and the Spirit.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." - Ephesians 6:10-20

What To Endure?

• Shame

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2

""For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."" - Mark 8:38  

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." - Romans 1:16

• Fear of Persecution

""But he who endures to the end shall be saved." - Matthew 24:13

• Anti-conversion Rules

"But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."" - Acts 4:19-20

• Hardship

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." - 2 Timothy 2:3

• Deception

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

• Deviation into Worldliness

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ... for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia." - 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 10  

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:15-17

""But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." - Matthew 6:33

If we are not full of Faith to influence the world, we will be influenced by the world.

GRACE

GRACE

Definition:

The free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings (Oxford American Dict.)

Romans 3:23-24

• “...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God...” but we are “...justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
• Sums up the Gospel message

Ephesians 2:8-10

• We are saved by grace, not of works that no one should boast.
• BUT we are created for good works
• I.e. if we are saved by grace we must show the faith through which we receive His grace, by good works.
• “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:17

Romans 5:2

• We access God’s grace by faith.
• What is faith? Heb 11:1
• Knowing that we are unworthy/undeserving, yet taking God at His Word and trusting that the riches of His grace are available to us by the sacrifice of His Son.

Philippians 3:9

• We are not saved by works or by fulfilling the law.
• The righteousness that comes by the law is your own but the righteousness that comes through grace by faith “...is from God.”

Romans 11:6

• Salvation by grace and salvation by works are mutually exclusive.
• Salvation by works is only wrought by fulfilling the law, which results in that person’s righteousness alone.

2 Corinthians 8:9

• “...that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
• Principle of substitution is fundamental to the way grace works.
• I.e. Christ gave up what was His (namely His riches in glory) and became poor so that we may have access to His riches.
• GRACE: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

2 Corinthians 5:21

• The “Beautiful Exchange”
• Christ, Who knew no sin, took our sin upon Himself so that we may be freed from it.
• We, who knew no righteousness, are now offered the righteousness of God through Jesus’ sacrifice. (2 Cor 8:9).

Romans 2:4

• “...the goodness of God leads you to repentance.”
• I.e. if God’s grace makes one think they can continue willfully sinning, that person has a flawed understanding of it.
• The first reaction to experiencing God’s goodness and grace should be repentance.

Romans 6:1-2

• “...We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
• We cannot keep sinning when under grace (v15).
• The sin nature in us must die, being replaced with the life of God.
• Rom 5:17, Gal 2:20, Gal 4:19

Hebrews 10:26-32

• It is dangerous to continue sinning willfully after we have been saved.
• It is as if we have “...insulted the Spirit of grace.”
• I.e. abusing grace/ taking it lightly, not being appreciative of the cost at which it came.
• “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Roman 8:1

• “...no condemnation to those who are in Christ who walk... according to the Spirit.”
• We are not under condemnation when under grace - Christ’s blood covers our shortcomings - but only if we walk according to the Spirit.
• Walking according to the Spirit is a deliberate and determined choice we have to make everyday.
• Heb 12:1, 1 Peter 2:1- 11

Galatians 5:16-26

• “Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.”
• To live under grace, we must walk in the Spirit. This means to put aside all “works of the flesh” (v19-21).
• And instead, practise the fruits of the Spirit (v22-23).
• “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (v18).

1 John 3:9

• “Whoever has been born of God does not sin.”
• The nature of a child of God must not contain any sinful motives/desires.
• This nature must be deliberately worked in us on a continual basis so that we continue to “walk in the Spirit” and not in the flesh (Rom 8:1-2).

1 Peter 1:13-19

• A major part of walking in the Spirit means striving for holiness & right-living before God.
• Right-living begins with right-thinking.
• “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct...”
• Controlling the mind: 2 Cor 10:4-6, Rom 12:1

1 Peter 5:5

• “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
• God bestows more grace upon us when we walk humbly before Him (Micah 6:8).

2 Corinthians 12:9

• “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
• His grace compensates for our shortcomings.
• Therefore we can “boast in [our] infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.”

Acts 4:33

• God’s great grace was upon the apostles/early church, equipping and empowering them to carry out their ministry.
• Because the early church was living in unity, unashamed of the Gospel, fervent in prayer, generous in giving (v31-35).

2 Corinthians 5:17

• Are we “new creations”? Have “old things passed away” and “all things been made new”?
• The above is a prerequisite to being “in Christ.” We must always check ourselves to ensure we are constantly walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
• Only then are we rightly living under the amazing grace of God

Grace in no way means we have allowance to live less godly lives - instead it is simply the medium through which God’s gift of love and eternal life are made available to us for free through the redemption that came through Jesus Christ. A deeper understanding of what grace really is will cause us to yearn for a closer relationship with God, made manifest in our lives by increasing holiness, godly character and behaviour, and the eradication of sin nature which is a by product of walking according to the flesh.

Flesh and Blood - Food and Drink

Flesh and Blood - Food and Drink

Physical food is for the body.

The word of GOD is food for the soul.

The LORD JESUS is food for the spirit.

"But He answered and said, "It is written,

 'Man shall not live by bread alone,

 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' ""

Matthew 4:4 

Since people are made of spirit, soul and body, we need all 3 kinds of food to live a wholesome life.

"Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you,

 unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood,

 you have no life in you.

 "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life,

 and I will raise him up at the last day.

 "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him."

John 6:53-56 

What JESUS said upset the Jews a lot! They were commanded not to eat animal blood.
Blood depicts life.
Therefore eating blood would mean receiving life.
Eating the blood of animals would mean receiving animal life into us.

JESUS is the Son of GOD Who had an earthly or human mother.
He was sent to this world for the purpose of offering eternal life to people.
This He did by shedding His blood and dying on the cross for our sake.
Being sinless, He suffered for the sin of mankind.
He offers forgiveness to those who repent of their sin.
He gives eternal life to those who receive Him.

Eating His flesh and drinking His blood means receiving the life of JESUS into us.
JESUS is GOD'S word made flesh. He lived out the word of GOD.
Accepting JESUS is accepting GOD into our lives.
This means having eternal life - A spiritual, wholesome life on earth and then living in heaven forever!

The Bible is the word of GOD which is a description of the LORD JESUS.
The Holy Spirit is the spirit of JESUS, the very breath of JESUS.

When you receive the Holy Spirit into your heart and also diligently study and obey the word, you are abiding in JESUS and He is abiding in you. You have GOD'S life in you and this life will continue forever. You will be able to live your life on earth victoriously with spiritual perspectives. Yours will be a life of faith in the LORD JESUS.

"Jesus said to them,

 "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me,

 and to finish His work."

 John 4:34 

We tend to focus so much on physical food while neglecting spiritual food.
You need to realize that the deep hunger that remains after your belly if full, is spiritual hunger.
Those who do not recognize this will continue to load their tummies which results in over-eating and obesity.
JESUS did not over-eat and He was not obese. He ate the food that He needed for His body.
He found spiritual fulfilment in doing the will of GOD and finishing His work.

After satisfying your physical hunger, go for soul and spiritual food.
Your soul and spirit will be satisfied with the word and the Spirit.
Then do the work that GOD has assigned for you.
You will have great fulfilment and joy in your life!

Whom Are You Trusting?

Whom Do You Trust?

And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. Then they took away their livestock--fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys--also one hundred thousand of their men; for many fell dead, because the war was God's. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity. - 1 Chronicles 5:20-22 

When we cry out to GOD in times of trouble He hears our prayer if we put our trust in Him. If we place out trust in Him we will leave the burden with Him. Then GOD will take over the situation. He takes over the battle. Then the battle belongs to the LORD. GOD always wins! Therefore we will be on the winning side!!

Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. - Jeremiah 17:5-8 

The next time you have a problem, call on the LORD JESUS. Pour out your heart to Him and put your entire trust in Him. Keep doing this until your burden is lifted. Now the battle is the LORD'S. Now you can stand still and see the victory! 

PALM READING

Palm Reading

If you are one who is interested in knowing about your future through Palm Readers and Horoscopes, this is for you!

The GOD of creation Who also created you says that you are inscribed in the Palm of His hand! 

Your life is not written in your palm.

"Can a woman forget her nursing child, 

And not have compassion on the son of her womb?

 Surely they may forget, 

Yet I will not forget you.

 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;

 Your walls are continually before Me.

 Isaiah 49:15-16 

JESUS the Good Shepherd also said that none can pluck His sheep from His hand.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;

 neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;

 and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

 "I and My Father are one." 

John 10:27-30 

It is therefore prudent for you to place your life in the hand of your Creator.

He is also your Heavenly Father. His love for you is pure and unconditional.

He has given you a free will to decide for yourself.

Make the right decision to entrust your life into His hands.

You will experience His peace.

Imitation

IMITATION

Imitation gold looks like gold but is not the real thing.

Imitating or mimicking the speech or actions of others is not an honourable thing to do.

that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. - Hebrews 6:12  

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. - 1 Corinthians 11:1  

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. - Ephesians 5:1-2 

These Scriptures do not mean that we should imitate the speech and actions of people of faith like Abraham and Paul or even the LORD Himself. We are encouraged to imitate the faith of the faithful - to follow their very  lives of faith to the end. 

that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, - 1 Peter 1:7 

Anything that is not real gold will be exposed when put through the fire and tested.

Similarly the heart of an individual is revealed when he or she goes through difficult times.
It is our faith that will be tested. Faith is the connection of each individual's heart to the LORD JESUS.

It is dangerous to pretend to be someone else or mimic their outward actions.

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. - Acts 19:13-17 

Tares (weeds) n a wheat field resemble the wheat plants. They are allowed to grow together until harvest time when they are separated. JESUS spoke the following parable.