“DEPART FROM ME!”

Matthew 7:21-23                                       (ESV)

“21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'LORD, LORD,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the WILL OF MY FATHER WHO is in Heaven.

22 On that day many will say to ME, 'LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in YOUR name, and cast out demons in YOUR name, and do many mighty works in YOUR name?'

23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; “DEPART FROM ME”, you workers of lawlessness.'”

Just because some people claim to be a “Christian” doesn’t mean that they are a follower of the teachings of JESUS.   Just because some people go to a Roman Catholic Church doesn’t mean that they adhere to every edict and premise that the current Pope espouses.  And for absolutely certain, not all Baptist’s will enter the gates of Heaven.  As a matter of fact, a lot of Baptist’s that rely on “Once saved, always saved” to get them into Heaven will be shocked to find out that they have yet to be “once saved”!!!

We can call ourselves any name we want to be labeled with, but TRUSTING in the MIGHTY NAME of JESUS is what will determine where we spend eternity.  True persecution is yet to be realized in America.  Sure, we may be ridiculed and jeered because we live differently from “this world”, but I’m afraid that very soon it will be considered radical to have FAITH IN GOD, a SPIRIT that cannot be seen or felt by those who don’t have a relationship with HIM (1 Corinthians 2:14).  GOD’s WORD is becoming less and less respected, not only by people not attending church, but by those who go to church, yet are never changed by applying Scripture to their lives. Not being concerned about that should literally scare folks to death, but they are trusting in their works, or their “living a good life”, or some other false religious schemes!  

It has been rightfully said, the three most horrible words that will ever be heard by mankind is “DEPART FROM ME”.  But, you say, JESUS loves us all, so how can HE send us to hell since HE loves us so much?  HE is being patient beyond belief, but people that are unwilling to FOLLOW after HIM, and be ridiculed, tortured, mocked, and laughed at, are in essence CHOOSING to spend eternity, not only apart from HIM, but also having the WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD continuously poured out on them for eternity!  

There is no great joy or elation from sharing this post.  But there can be.  Trusting in the Sacrificial Life, death, and resurrection of JESUS is the ONLY WAY to not be told “DEPART FROM ME” one day.  Relying on Buddha, Mohammed, Hare Krishna, or any other name will prove to be fatal.  Relying on your own good works will likewise be disastrous!  “DEPART FROM ME” will be the most devastating words ever spoken, especially when you remember these words written as a warning on May 21, 2019!  

“PRAYING AT ALL TIMES!”

Ephesians 6:16-20                                                  (ESV)

“16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which YOU CAN EXTINGUISH ALL THE FLAMING DARTS of the evil one;

17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD,

18 “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” in the SPIRIT, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Preparing for battle is something that I have physically experienced.  Never had I had to prepare myself, not only to be physically ready for individual combat, but certainly I have never experienced mentally preparing to actually take another human’s life!  

SPIRITUALLY preparing to do battle should be considered with equal seriousness.   However, I am afraid that we don’t recognize the enemy (“the evil one”) as our true opposer, the one we “wrestle” (Ephesians 6:12) against.  We can be used by our Heavenly FATHER, or we can be used by our enemy.  Being used by the enemy will generally make our lives comfortable and non-confrontational.  Being used by our Heavenly FATHER will more than likely cause us trials and tribulations.  This world and the enemy are fighting for the same thing, to prevent ALMIGHTY GOD from receiving Glory!  

When we are “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” we are not intended to come before GOD unless we realize who we are, and mostly WHO HE is!  Isaiah 2:11-17 says that the “haughtiness” of man WILL BE brought low, and the “LORD ALONE” will be “exalted” in that day!  When we prepare for Spiritual battle, we have to realize that our war has already been won by JESUS.  We must know who we are IN HIM, and that HE is already victorious!  

Why, then, was Paul writing this letter to the church at Ephesus from prison if the war had already been won?  It is GOD’s Plan to have a great many who CHOOSE to praise HIS NAME for eternity.  Until the last CHOSEN person enters the family of GOD, we will continue seeing the enemy act as though he still has a chance.   “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” protects us, strengthens us, unites us, elevates us, and draws us closer to HIS likeness of, a place where we should desire to be!  When we are “PRAYING AT ALL TIMES” IN THE SPIRIT, we too can celebrate from prison as we serve HIM!!!

“AND THEN!”

Matthew 7:1-5                                            (ESV)

“1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.

2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

3 Why do you see the speck that is IN YOUR BROTHER’S EYE, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite, FIRST TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, “AND THEN” you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

How many times have we heard Matthew 7:1 used to refrain from lovingly explaining to our brothers and sisters that a bridge on the road they are traveling is washed out and certain destruction lies ahead if the continue on the current path?  It is difficult, when someone is as sinful as I am, to alert others about what they are doing wrong.  But, out of love, we have to TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, “AND THEN” help those we SEE headed down the wrong path.  

Far too many times we tend to focus one one verse of Scripture and forget about the surrounding verses?  JESUS is speaking in Matthew 5 through Matthew 7 with only a few verses at the beginning and end that are NOT spoken by HIM.  Ignoring anything that our CREATOR says is a dangerous thing to do, especially when we take HIS WORD out of context to suit our own agendas.  When we leave just a few words, we run the risk of missing the entire scope of the message.

In Matthew 7:1, JESUS says “Judge not, that you be not judged”.  But that doesn’t delete Matthew 7:5 from Scripture, which says “You hypocrite, FIRST TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, “AND THEN” you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”  “AND THEN” Instructs us to stop driving down the path of destruction, “AND THEN” start alerting others of the danger awaiting them.  Is it LOVE to let them proceed without being warned of the danger ahead???

However, all we can do is alert them.  ALMIGHTY GOD is the ONLY ONE WHO is able to change a heart and John 6:44 says “.....No one can come to ME unless the FATHER WHO sent ME draws him.....”.  Alerting others isn’t an option, we MUST tell them that destruction awaits, but HE has provided a way (John 14:6) around the trouble, “AND THEN” if they choose to continue on, the consequences rest solely in their court!  

“WHATEVER IT MAY BE!”

Deuteronomy 15:7-11                                            (ESV)

“7 "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your GOD is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,

8 but you shall OPEN YOUR HAND to him and lend him SUFFICIENT FOR HIS NEED, “WHATEVER IT MAY BE”.

9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin.

10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, TO THE NEEDY and TO THE POOR, “

It is extremely difficult to let go of something that the LORD has blessed you with.  If we get $100 in our checking account, some of us act as though it ALL OURS!  And some of us act as though 90% is ours and 10% belongs to the LORD.  BUT, IN REALITY, do you know that when I was near death in 2007, I wasn’t asked if I could afford it, or how did I expect to pay for my hospital bill!  The doctors and people treating me didn’t inquire about my financial situation, they only were concerned with my physical situation, mainly my brain hemorrhage!!!

Now, for those who WON’T work, who choose not to provide for themselves or their families, let him NOT EAT!  2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (ESV) says “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, LET HIM NOT EAT.  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such persons we command and encourage in the LORD JESUS CHRIST to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”  We aren’t supposed to facilitate laziness and being slothful.  However, we are to lovingly support those who we SEE who are going through difficult times.  

Of course, I had NO CHOICE about the situation I found myself in during my illness.  Allowing others to assist was a humbling experience, but the whole thing was a learning process that GOD has used to grow me into a vessel that HE can be Glorified with.  GOD has a unique way of opening our EYES to SEE needs that HE wants to fulfill.  HE can provide, “WHATEVER IT MAY BE”, for HIS Glory!  

“EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES!”

Acts 17:10-15                                       (ESV)

“10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; THEY RECEIVED THE WORD with all eagerness, “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES” daily to see if THESE THINGS WERE SO.

12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of GOD was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.

15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.”

This was on my Twitter Feed as I started my day recently:

Accuracy matters.

Airline pilots, surgeons, architects, engineers, pharmacists — lives depend on their accuracy.

Why have we come to expect anything less from those who proclaim God’s Word?

So often people who claim to be Believers are fed things from the pulpit in their church and they accept it as “Gospel”.  Sadly, there are modern-day pastors that have never been called by GOD ALMIGHTY, they are “in the ministry” maybe because it seemed like a good way to make a living, or they are able to tickle ears???

Scripture instructs us over and over again to continue being in the WORD OF GOD, allowing “.....the WORD of the LORD may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:” (2 Thessalonians 3:1).  Hearing from the man of GOD is something that we must do, but there is NO SUBSTITUTE for “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES” ourselves!  From experience, the WORD OF GOD will change your life, all you have to do is get IT in you!  It usually has no effect on a person unless it is read and applied. 

It would not be wise to have a fatal disease, be given the cure for the disease, and to avoid exposure to the cure?!?  Most people cannot SEE their illness, that they are dying from sin, and without JESUS have NO HOPE for the CURE!  We may need to look at our lives through the prism of “EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES” daily to get a TRUE vision of who we are?  

“CREATE IN ME!”

Psalms 51:10-12                                    (ESV)

“10 “CREATE IN ME” a clean heart, O GOD, and renew a right spirit within ME. 

11 Cast ME not away from YOUR presence, and take not your HOLY SPIRIT from ME. 

12 Restore to ME the joy of your salvation, and uphold ME with a willing spirit.”

Many times have I written about my parents being divorced when I was four years old.  My father chose to not be apart of our lives, so we children were left to only hear things from my maternal side of the family.  However, my mother and her parents never saw fit to disparage my father, even though he refused to even check on his own offspring.  They let his actions speak for themselves.  

King David wasn’t in the same predicament as my mother.  He had committed adultery with Bathsheba while her husband was fighting for Israel in battle.  When he was writing this confessional psalm, he could only write about himself needing forgiveness, not about anyone else!  He didn’t write about the sins of Israel, or the dreadful behavior of others, his sins were what needed to be dealt with, nothing more!

There are times when I want to discuss the shortcomings of others instead of looking at my own sins!  King David wrote “CREATE IN ME”, not create in your children.  If I were to only look at my sins, I would kept busy constantly confessing those!  Instead l the enemy wants me to look at others and ignore that I am so wretched that it took JESUS HIMSELF as a sacrifice for my redemption.  JESUS “Created” ALL THINGS, so only HE can RE-CREATE us to what we should be!

Don’t become as this wretch!  Make your prayer to “CREATE IN ME” a clean heart, and let everyone else be concerned about their own hearts!  After all, you don’t want to be accountable for their sins on Judgement Day, do you?  Maybe if we learn from King David and only be concerned about our own lives, GOD might change more hearts in those surrounding us?  ONLY HE can “CREATE IN ME” anything that is good!!!

“I AM! THE LORD!”

Exodus 7:5-7                                                     (ESV)

“5 The Egyptians shall know that “I AM THE LORD”, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them."

6 Moses and Aaron did so; THEY DID JUST AS THE LORD COMMANDED THEM.

7 Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

There are many times that I THINK I know what GOD has told me that HE is going to do.  Many times that I act out of Spiritual ignorance attempting to perform that which ONLY GOD can perform, USUALLY finding out that I have gotten ahead of GOD’S timing and I experienced failure!  

Recently my Spirit was searching for a WORD from GOD and the passage of Exodus 7:7 came into my mind, “Now Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old, when they spoke to Pharaoh.”  Now I didn’t SEE what GOD was saying to me at the time, but I highlighted the passage KNOWING that GOD was going to speak direction to me through these verses soon.  This morning HE had done so!

“Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old” tells me that they were not spring-chickens any longer, that they were “experienced” in the things of the LORD.  It also tells me that whatever they accomplished, it would be less likely to be credited to their own strength and skills.  They were maturing into vessels that would draw Honor and Glory to GOD, not themselves!  When “this world” witnessed “MY HAND” against Egypt, they would have no doubt that ALMIGHTY GOD had performed the miraculous!  

There are miracles that occur everyday, we just become so accustomed to seeing them that we accept them as “nature”!  How else can one explain how oxygen is breathed into our bodies and carbon dioxide is exhaled seconds later?  There are some people who have numerous children, and some people can never conceive?  Some children grow to be 100+ years old, and some never make it out of the womb?  

When “I AM THE LORD” decrees that something WILL BE, man has no power to prevent it from happening!  When will we realize and understand that we ARE NOT in control, but ALMIGHTY GOD is in Control!  THAT IS WHY why we NEED TO DO JUST AS THE LORD COMMANDS us to do!  “I AM THE LORD” is leading us, not some novice who doesn’t have a clue where we need to go!  When “I AM THE LORD” says HE is going to do something, consider IT DONE!!!