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Monday, January
26, 2009
The Masked Man
Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also. (KJV)
You know, once you have come to
understand what a true treasure is, that being our heavenly inheritance
that is available to each and every believer in Christ, there is a thief
prowling the neighborhood seeking to steal your new found joy and peace in
this new realm and the only place it exists. Many do experience the peace
of God for a season, but then fall away, and allow it to be stolen right
out from underneath their nose; many times because rather than watch and be
alert they actually invited the thief back in. Once you have come to a
working knowledge of Christ and have set your affection on His realm it is
vital, life or death, that you keep it there and not fall from grace.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of
Christ. (14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel
of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according
to their works. (KJV)
A thief will wear a mask, something to
mask and cover up his true identity. Ever see these people in movies when
they go to make a heist they wear masks of former presidents, something to
cover up who they truly are? Well the enemy has many masks, masking his
true intentions claiming to be an apostle of Christ, and like Paul writes
it’s no big marvel, well at least to those that have their Spiritual senses
exercised to discern between what is good and evil. People have locks on
their doors, while others invest in expensive alarm systems to keep their
earthly treasures secure. Yet spiritually it is amazing how many people
leave their doors wide open to another thief, one that would like to rob
you blind.
John 10:7-10 Then said Jesus unto them
again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (8) All
that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not
hear them. (9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved,
and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (10) The thief cometh not, but
for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have
life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV)
Anything or anyone we hold in higher
esteem than our relationship with the Lord is robbery; and those that are
truly followers of Christ will not give ear to it, let alone allow it into
their temples. Once one has entered into the Lord’s realm it is vital that
they stay seated with Him in the heavenly realm and set their affection (singular)
on the things which are above and not below His standards, otherwise they
have allowed the thief to rob them blind again.
Mark 4:18-19 And these are they which are
sown among thorns; such as hear the word, (19) And the cares of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in,
choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (KJV)
Here comes the thief again; oh, and look
how many masks he is wearing today. One of them is coming in the form of
the cares of this world, you know, all those cares that you should have
cast upon the Lord and left there? Ooops! How about those riches of this
world; you know, the root of all evil, which is the love of money? Oh, and
if that one doesn’t work then let’s find some other lust of the flesh that one
is willing to give in on, something that chokes the abundant life out of
the believer that they should be partaking of. If you notice, verse 19
points out the fact that, these things or this thief is entering in;
someone that was once on the outside has now been invited back in and is
having a field day.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of
the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (KJV)
The world and its ways are soon passing
away, and so are those that still hold to it, thinking they will find peace
and contentment in this realm. You know, this is not something that just
happens to unbelievers, but rather it is something that happens too many of
God’s people who begin in the realm of the Spirit but then think they can
perfect it by the flesh. We are not just talking about a few, but rather
the Lord warned us that many false prophets would spring up, and many would
be deceived by their false teachings, many of which focus more on this
realm than the heavenly one.
Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and
hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and
sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple. (KJV)
Is there anyone or anything in this life
that you hold in higher regard than our Lord? Because if so, then the thief
has already visited your house and robbed you blind. Whether you like it or
not, the thief can come to us in any form, even those that we were close to
in our past who still hold to the things of this world and would like to
see you return back to their way of thinking also. In many cases you will
find that your own cross that you need to bear, those you need to die to,
may just be someone that was near and dear to you in the past but is now
more of a hindrance than a help. Remember, we are either with our Lord or
we are against Him; so the more you hold to those of your former life, the
more it will rob you of the new life that is available in Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:14-17 But their minds
were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in
the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. (15) But
even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (16) Nevertheless
when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (17) Now the
Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
(KJV)
Who was that masked man? Far too many
Christians have allowed the enemy to pull the wool over their eyes, because
rather than find out all of the true riches that are available in Christ
they have turned back to this fallen realm again. There is a spiritual veil
that masks the truth, and this veil is only taken away in Christ to those
that set and keep their affection on Him, having the eyes of their
understanding enlightened to know the truth that sets them free and keeps
them free. The Lord is knocking on your door, and so is the thief; do you
know the difference, can you tell who is really the masked man?
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