Sin and the simplicity of the Gospel

Remember, it will not be the "act" of sin God will punish come final judgement. Rather, every soul that rejects His only begotten Son's perfect sacrifice & atonement will be cast away! 

Do we really realize the price Christ, the Messiah paid when He endured His Father's wrath? So many want to chalk it up to His physical sufferings. Its so much DEEPER THAN THIS! This was the 1st ever separation He had from His Father... Sin separates us from God. 

JESUS BORE OUR SIN! EVERY BIT OF IT! Everything you and I would ever do to break God's heart and His law. 

Even as much as I believe, my tiny human mind cannot fully comprehend that magnitude! People say, "religion is complicated. It's dull and boring." Christ didn't come to give you a bunch of hoops to jump through. He came to give you LIFE! HE CAME TO SET US FREE! He came to give us HOPE so that we CAN know the Father and His impeccable LOVE for us, His creation. 

Truth is, we sin. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." How dare we claim to be "good", when there is NONE GOOD BUT JEHOVAH! 

I know that's pretty abstruse but that's the simplicity of the Gospel Truth! We need not complicate the only thing that saves a soul from eternal damnation!

A snapshot of my testimony

A snapshot of my testimony  

by Michelle M. James

For many years I lived lukewarm. I had enough of Jesus to make me feel good but not enough to make a difference. I loved Him as Saviour but rejected Him as Lord. I indulged when it was convenient but neglected Him full time. I always knew to cry out in times of need but as soon as things were "right my way" I quickly parted from His feet.

I never really understood my surrender was required or how serious God sees sin as vile wretched and evil. I had head knowledge of Christ but my heart was hard as stone. There was nothing personal about my relationship with Him. Actually to say a relationship existed is blasphemous in itself!

Then one day He showed me I was no different from anyone else. I talked just like them, dressed just like them, acted no different, indulged in the same music, movies and entertainment that contradicts Him. So on and so on things were made clear.

Truth struck at my heart as lighting to a dead tree. I was Christian in name only as I really didn't know this King. I knew of Him, that much was true but in reality I created a god of convenience who looked no different than me and you.

His love hurts, then heals as He makes all things known. His character is real and without compromising Himself, He is true to His Word. His attributes are divine and His ways are so much different than mine.

If you say you know Him, are you sure it's the One who gave His life for you? Is there evidence of Him in your thoughts, life, behavior and in your love for Him and others? Is there a change that continues to be seen, felt and heard?

#SelfExamination #HeartCheck #SurrenderRequired

 #honestyispowerful #bringingtruthtodeceivedpeople

You CAN know Christ personally!

Knowing Jesus Christ personally is NOT the same as have a "touch of religion"! Surrendering ourselves to Him and His call makes all the difference. 

Enjoy a short clip to share with those who need Jesus! I hope you are blessed today and every day! Love y'all!

https://youtube.com/shorts/2haSjAZU-sI?feature=share

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Remember, you can strengthen your walk with Christ by daily spending time in the Word of God. (Romans 12:2).

For additional support, prayerfully consider purchasing my devotional book... 'A Walk with the King' by Michelle M James 

You can find it online at 

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Awalkwiththeking.com 

Or email me directly for a signed copy!

Mrslovinmyjesus@gmail.com 

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May God bless you more and more as you GROW IN HIM! 

Rewards of Rebellion



Let's take a deep dive into rebellion according to the Word of God. What is it and how does God view it. Bottom line, is it worth rebelling against our creator?

"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..."

1 Samuel 15:23

Let's look at a few simple words here. 

Rebellion 

bitter, most rebellion,

From marah; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious -- bitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).

see HEBREW marah

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Opposition to one in authority or dominance

Merriam Webster

We can see rebellion stems from bitterness and in this context, refuses God as the ultimate authority. Bitterness can result in a hard heart. It is also one of the hardest things to get rid of once its taken root in the heart. God compares it to witchcraft. 

Witchcraft 

pharmakeia: the use of medicine, drugs or spells

magic, sorcery, enchantment.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Does not witchcraft source its power from Satan himself, who is the utmost opposition to God? Following this, He compares stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry. Let's look at these words and their definitions as well.

Stubbornness 

Away, backsliding, rebellious, revolting, slide back, stubborn, withdrew

A primitive root; to turn away, i.e. (morally) be refractory -- X away, backsliding, rebellious, revolter(-ing), slide back, stubborn, withdrew.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance 

Idolatry 

Aven: trouble, sorrow, wickedness

affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourner, naught,

From an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant (hence, to exert oneself, usually in vain; to come to naught); strictly nothingness; also trouble. Vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol -- affliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain,vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare 'ayin.

see HEBREW 'ayin

Wow, what a combination there. Rebellion is quite a slap in the face to God! Who are we, as His creations, to usurp Him or His authority? It is quite an offense to Him, its deep! Is there any wonder why He detests such things?

If we claim to be his people, saved, redeemed and set free from sin by His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, how can we honestly refuse to honor, listen and obey? In all seriousness, this isn't a matter He takes lightly. As a matter of fact, the rest of the verse we're looking at reveals the deep consequences. 

"...Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice." 1 Samuel 15:23-24

Saul placed his desire to please the people rather than obeying the Word of the Lord. It not only cost him his position in leadership and authority but also his relationship with God! Wow! His rewards for this rebellion resulted in ruin! 

Truth is there are many more accounts in Scripture of rebellion and its rewards. After all, it's a byproduct of our sin nature. May we carefully and prayerfully consider this incredibly important account in scripture as well as the thought provoking words of Tozer. Can you see the dangers in the rewards of rebellion both physically and spiritually?

Strength of man or Christ covering?

"Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion." Isaiah 30:1-3

Is not the strength of man (humanness) limited? What protection can a shadow give? Does it not move with the sun and fade as the sun passes? Oh, but to "add sin to sin"! The endless opportunities, yet unbenounced leads to confusion, chaos, shame, regret and not to mention, a wide open target because outside the Lord's Will is to be outside of His protection! 

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." Jeremiah 17:5

Yet in His mercy and grace---> "...For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." Isaiah 10:4 He still bids us "come"!

Honestly give yourself a prayerful examination. Where is your hope, peace and trust placed?

A Moment in the Mind

 

Memories... much can be said about what the mind retains.

Many know in my early 20's, that I've experienced a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI). As one who has gone through short term memory loss I've learned the value of writing... whether on a sticky note, a daily planner or in a journal book.

Think of the simple things we retain. For example, fire is hot so don't touch it. Or, ice is freezing! Don't hold it too long. On a more sophisticated note, we remember those we've loved, liked and those we had no problem letting go. We remember emotions associated with certain people in our lives too.

Truly the mind is an amazing thing! It captures moments in time. Sometimes we can put or experience in words and other times, there are no words to be found.

With all that said, let's consider the vast depths of the Word of God. There are 66 books written in great detail. Some people retain majority of what they read, whether in the Bible or anything else. Others, its held for a short time, maybe minutes or hours, possibly even a few days.

Is it really any wonder why we aren't to rely solely on our human minds to retain what is needed? For the believer, filled with the Holy Spirit we have a gift greater than any other. A memory beyond our comprehension! How? The Holy Spirit not only teaches us as we need, but also brings back what we might have forgotten.

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

There's a massive difference between head knowledge and that which the heart holds. When we take the time to prayerfully ponder and study the Word of God, it not only saturates the mind for a time, it steeps deep within the heart!

Psalm 119:11 says, — Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The mind is an amazing thing and so is the heart. Its fascinating how they work together! Maybe you can relate to this kind of reliance? Whether pushing a pen to retain what's needed for a time or pushing in prayer, asking for the help of the One greater than our temporary minds can contain.

If you are one who finds writing boring, mindless and without point are you willing to consider that even the Almighty, the Living God has books written... consider the Scriptures and even detailed within He says, "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name." Malachi 3:16

Pretty amazing isnt it!? That is only one account of many. Have you ever considered a moment in the mind or the heaps of help in regaining those precious and powerful restored memories?

Christ, the sin cure

WHAT IF people could see sin like Ebola, AIDS, Polio, or COVID? Difference here? Physical illnesses that lead to death verses spiritual death which is eternal... People fear sickness and disease yet not the God who grants life to the soul.

Jesus said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28

Think of the many preventative measures taken for one who is transported with any of these ailments in effort to control or contain the spread... Yet sin is more catastrophic to the soul than any of these are to the human body.

What preventative measures are being taken against this destructive spiritual disease we are all born with, SIN?

Yes, we are all born with it.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23

Knowing we are a fallen humanity, God Himself provided the sin cure. Christ is the antidote!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:16-19

While there are many who seek to cure or treat human viruses and disease, people try to fix themselves apart from God. This is no different than sweeping a dusty floor in an enclosed room. Sure, there will be evidence of efforts, but when the dust settles once again there's proof not all was cleaned up!

While these diseases are terrible and can be deadly, our sin nature does carry eternal consequences... separation from God for eternity. Our efforts only carry so far. Which do you fear, that which kills the body or the One who grants life to the soul?

Are you struggling in your own efforts to do what only Christ can?