"The King"

"Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."  Matthew 2:2

 

When Jesus was born, He was called a king.  When He died on the cross, an inscription was placed above His head declaring Him a king.  His followers thought He would set up His kingdom here on earth and save His people from Roman oppression.  At His crucifixion He told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world.  When Jesus came, He didn't come to set up a physical kingdom, He came to set up His kingdom in the hearts of men and women.  The throne He desired on earth was the one in our hearts.  He proclaimed that the kingdom was within us. 

 

Jesus did not set up a literal kingdom on earth.  His kingdom has been placed in the hearts of those who have humbled themselves to His Lordship over their lives through repentance.  But one day He will return to earth and when He does, this time He won't be a tiny, helpless baby born in a stable.  He will return as He truly is-- King of kings and Lord of lords.  Then He will set up His kingdom on earth.  At that time, the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.  (Revelation 11:15)  That time could be soon.  It could be today or it could still be a few years off in the future.  Regardless, the fact remains that He will return and set up His kingdom on earth.  Are you ready for His return?  Have you made your heart His throne?  Is He the King of your life?  He is King, whether you make Him yours or not.  He is returning whether you are ready or not.  Get ready.  Get prepared.  Accept Him today.  Make Him King.  Allow Him to occupy the throne of your heart.  What a wonderful time to do that-- at Christmas.  What a great way to recognize His birth.  What a great Christmas present to give yourself.

Have a great day.  Jesus is the King-- the soon coming One-- that desires to set up His kingdom in your heart.   
  

"Sacrifices Of Idols"

"But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."  Genesis 4:5

 

Many years ago I was in prayer and intercession for a particular church that was going through a time of spiritual attack.  As I was praying the Lord spoke plainly to me and said these words which I have never forgotten. "Ichabod, the glory of the Lord has departed. My people have shut me out of my house and offer unto Me the sacrifices of idols."  As I said, that was many years ago, but it could easily be said of many churches today. 

 

What does it mean?  The first part is pretty self explanatory.  So, how do we offer unto the Lord the sacrifices of idols?  And is it something that we are guilty of-- as a church or as an individual?

 

What are idols?  They are anything that we worship other than the living God.  It can be a person that is greatly admired, loved or revered.  Mostly idols are the things that we have made with our own hands.  They are things that we have set up of our own.  So, what are the sacrifices that we bring them?  Since they are of our own making, then the sacrifices that are brought to them are things of our own making as well.  In other words, they are things of the flesh. 

 

Will the Lord accept what is of the flesh?  Whatever we bring the Lord God that is of the flesh is the same as a sacrifice that is offered to idols and it is an unacceptable sacrifice to the Lord.  Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord that was unacceptable.  He brought the works of his own hands that was taken from the cursed ground.

 

In Amos 5 the Lord condemned and would not accept the sacrifices that Israel was bringing to Him because it was flesh that they were presenting.  He said He even hated their feast days and the smell of their burnt offerings.  Not only were they offering sacrifices of flesh, but they were also sacrificing to the false gods along with the true God.  (Go back and read Amos 5)  You can't make sacrifice to both.  He will not share His glory with another.  This was the reason for the first part of what He spoke to me.  "Ichabod, My glory has departed". 

 

It is a serious and dangerous place for a church or individual to be when the glory of the Lord departs.  You are left then to your own devices.  You have to make something happen on your own.  Because when you do that, you have shut Him out.

 

So, what are the sacrifices that are acceptable to the Lord?  (I know I am being lengthy this morning, but please bear with me.  I have to share this.)  The sacrifices that are acceptable to the Lord are not made with hands.  They are not made through man's strength, ability, education or wisdom.  They are: 

1)  A broken spirit and contrite heart.  "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalm 51:17)  

2)  Spiritual sacrifices.  "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:5)

3)  Yourself.  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)

 

The Lord doesn't want your "stuff", your material things, your "handmade" sacrifices, your works of the flesh.  He wants you.  He wants your heart-- your whole heart.  He wants your will.  He wants your love, respect, reverence, submission, obedience and surrender.  He doesn't want mere "lip service", He wants truth, sincerity, honesty, and your profession and confession to line up with what you do, your actions and your attitudes. 

 

What are you sacrificing to Him?  What do you bring Him daily?  Do you bring Him service, work, your plans, your programs, your own understanding, only that which you want Him to have?  If so, you are offering Him the sacrifices of idols.  And He will not accept it.  He wants a "living" sacrifice.  Not something that is dead.  Repent and begin to bring Him a sacrifice that is acceptable and that He desires.  Bring Him yourself.

 

Have a great day.  Are you bringing the Lord acceptable or unacceptable sacrifices? 

  

"Falling Away"

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."  2 Thessalonians 2:3

 

We believe that before the return of the Lord there will be a great end-time revival that will bring the long awaited harvest in.  The Bible refers to this as the "latter rain".  But the Bible also teaches that there will be a "falling away" at the end-time as well.  I can't help but wonder if we may not be in a "falling away" time.  

 

I see many falling away from sound doctrine-- even denominations are falling away from the Biblical truths they have held to since their beginnings.  I see folks who were once on "fire" for the Lord becoming lukewarm.  I see them having a disinterest in the things of God.  What was once a priority in their lives is being thrown by the wayside.  Some of these same people were actively involved in church, even holding positions of authority, but no longer even attend.  They seldom pray-- only in times of trouble or need.  They never read their Bibles-- much less live by it.  Their burning desire for the Lord has been replaced with a half-hearted desire for Him .  Their lifestyle is not a reflection of the Christ they claimed as Savior and Lord.  There is not much, to anything, in their lives that gives any indication that they are who they profess-- or professed-- to be.  

 

Could this be the "falling away" that is spoken of in the scriptures?  According to the signs of the time given to us in scriptures, we are living close to the return of the Lord.  This is not the time to cast away our confidence in the Lord.  This is not the time to quit in our relationship with Him.  This is not the time to turn from Him and return to the things that He delivered us out of.  This is not the time to get slack, grow weary or turn away.  His return is soon.  He is coming back for those who have remained faithful to the end.  He is coming back for a bride who has made herself ready-- one who is prepared.  He is coming back for a spotless bride.  He is coming back for those who are watching and waiting for His appearing.  He is coming back for those who love Him with all their hearts, soul, strength and mind.  He isn't coming for anything less.  He isn't coming for those who have forsaken Him and are living a life apart from Him. 

 

Are you in that group?  Is there a "falling away" taking place in your own life?  Have you felt yourself getting lukewarm?  Does your life reflect the Savior?  Do you resemble the world in action, speech, attitude and deeds?  If this is you, there is still hope.  Fall on your knees and repent!  Call out to the Lord.  He will hear you.  He will not turn a deaf ear to you.  He will not turn you away.  Do it while there is still time.  Do it before it is too late.  Stop falling away from Him and start running to Him instead.

 

Have a great day.  Is there a falling away taking place in your life?       

"The Will Will Take You"

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."  Luke 1:38

 

We all know the Christmas story of how that the virgin Mary conceived the baby Jesus, the Son of God, by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit.  We know that she and Joseph made a trip to Bethlehem and while they were there, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable.  I can't help but wonder if while she was in labor if she wondered why she was giving birth then and there.  If it had been me I would have questioned, "I said yes to Your will, Lord, why am I giving birth in this stable instead of in a hospital, or my own home, or with my family around me?  Why am I giving birth to the Son of God in a stable?  Surely, I was intended to give birth in much better surroundings?  This was the last place that it should have happened."  

 

When we say, yes, to the will of God, we have preconceived ideas of how it is going to play out in our lives.  We think it will come to pass on some grandeur setting.  We think it will happen in the best of situations.  We think yielding to the will of the Lord will bring us into a perfect place and ideal conditions.  Surely, not to the back side of the desert like Moses, or hiding in caves like David, or being thrown into a lion's den like Daniel, or into a furnace like the three Hebrews, or into a pit like Jeremiah, or into a prison like Paul, or Egypt like Joseph.  

 

The thing we must realize is that when we say yes to the will of God it will not always take us to flowery beds of comfort, wealth and riches, acceptance by peers or family or friends.  It will often take us into hardships, places of solitude, uncomfortable situations, places of misunderstanding, affliction, rejection, a battlefield, etc.  But the thing we should always remember is though it takes us to a "pit" in the end it will bring us into the "palace".  Though it takes us to a "stable", we will bring forth the glory of God there.  "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

 

Have a great day.  Don't have the preconceived idea that just because you surrendered to the will of God, it won't take you to a stable or some other unlikely, undesired place. 

"The Throne Is Not Empty"

"He is not here..."  Matthew 28:6a

 

When Jesus was born, He was placed in a manger.  When He gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins, He was placed on a cross.  When He died, He was placed in a tomb.  I have good news this morning. He is not in the manger-- it is empty.  He is not on the cross-- it is empty.  He is not in the tomb-- it is empty.  So, where is He?  He is sitting on a throne at the right hand of the Heavenly Father. 

 

On earth, He was a babe, a servant, a sacrificial lamb, a crucified Savior, but now in heaven, He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  The Holy and Infinite God.  Lord of the universe and all creation.  He will never return to the manger.  He will never again return to the cross. He will never be in the tomb again.  But He will always occupy the throne.  He is the Eternal God who sits upon the Highest Throne of heaven. 

 

One day He will return to earth but not to the manger, cross or tomb, but to set up His Kingdom, and of that Kingdom there will be no end.  He also sets up His Kingdom in the hearts of men.  This is possible because He did once come to a manger, to a cross and to a tomb.  Because He gave His life for our sins and salvation, it is now possible for Him to set up His throne in our lives.  Has He?  Has He set up His throne in your life?  Have you invited Him too?  He is coming again to set up His throne and when He does every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.  Are you already bowing your knee, confessing Him as Lord and making your heart His throne? 

 

Have a great day.  The manger is empty, the cross is empty and the tomb is empty, but the throne is not empty.