*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*STRANGE BUT FAMILIAR.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Phillipians 3:17-19
*Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.*
*(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:*
*Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.*
*lnsight and Highlight.*
It is strange but familiar that men call God, but God does not call them.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
When the two sons of Aaron offered an offering that was strange, a fire came down from the Lord to destroy them, Lev 10:1. This tells us that there are things that God does not expect from us. These things we give Him or do to Him are different. They are a violation, an aberration, and a sacrilege.
Strange things are now familiar occurrences in the Church today.
Paul warns us that people can serve God for their belly.
Paul further says in Rom 16:18, *For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.*
God initiates call for service, ref Matt 4:13. To call God or invoke His presence into what He has not initiated may be a calamity.
To call God when He has not called is to manipulate righteousness. It is to transform oneself into *'....an angel of light.',* 2 Cor 11:14-15
Today, in some places, there is no more sacred religion but sacrilege. There is widespread manipulation of miracles. The physical has replaced the supernatural.
Men of physical possessions have replaced great men of the Spirit.
Principalities and powers rule in their coven high places and also rule in high positions at the Church
Money and influence rule and are seated in high positions in the Church while men of God's stature remain low with little or no reference.
The power of money and fame have become the driving motivation.
They will prioritize on attendance, building, and cash!
Church now survives on infrastructure. It is survival now with little concern about the survival of the Holy Spirit's rule over the Church.
Without a doubt, the Church needs meaningful people of affluence, but not this way, it is abused today. Affluence and fame, etc, must not prevail over the Spirit's influence.
Affluence will come and go, but the Spirit is forever in the Church. The Church is His place.
Jesus's letter to the Church in Smyna tells us that a Church can be rich yet poor and may be at the brink of losing God if she does not repent, Rev 2: 8-9.
Men and women of affluence must be taught that they can remain rich yet remain righteous in the Lord.
They must be taught the fear of God and that *'the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.*, 2 Tim 2:19.
They must be told and taught that they are anointed over their brethren not because of their affluence but because
they *"....loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.*, Heb 1:9.
The Church must base her choices on this standard set by the Spirit.
Anyone who falls below this standard is simply not qualified irrespective of his/her social status.
There are rich people who are known for righteousness, and God is still calling as many of them.
We will be endangering people and the Church when strange people bring themselves or are brought to sacred positions in the hope that they will change. We should bring them in after they are changed. Sanctification can not be before regeneration.
They must learn of God's set standards. Paul admonished Timothy that *Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.*, Philp 4:19.
Men of no Spirit's knowledge but placed in high positions in the Church are the source of unrest in the Church.
Paul said in Titus 1:5-9
*For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.*
He says in v 9-10
*Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.*
*For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision.*
Long service, attendance, commitment , and affluence are not good enough grounds for choice of God's service, but the Spirit's voice is all important.
Let every man set himself ready for God's service. It should not just be that everyone is known by anyone but most importantly must be known by God. If you fail to study to show yourself approved before God but deceive to be so thereby making the Church make a wrongful decision about you, Paul says you will have yourself to blame. The set man who ordained you is not to be blamed. You have not mocked him or the Church but God.
Paul says in Galatians 6:7 *Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.*
Peter further says those who lie have not deceived men of God but the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:4 *....thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.*
God wants His presence to be common in His Churches, but most strange things happening today have made Him uncommon.
*Remorse corner.*
Churches run after Satan, and his agents have become common places where strange things happen.
*Call to Word action.*
Be careful. Strange things with men may appear familiar with God but not so.
2 Tim 3: 13-14
*But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.*
*But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
The apparent manifestation of an anointing can be the working of Satan
1 Cor 11: 13 *For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.*
*Prayer.*
Help me not to offer strange fire on Your altar, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.
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