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Friday, February
29, 2008
Many
Called Few Called Back
1 John 4:1-5 Beloved, believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many
false prophets are gone out into the world. (2) Hereby know ye the Spirit
of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh
is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in
the world. (4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (5) They
are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth
them. (KJV)
Here we see the many again
and how they responded to the calling of God. God is calling to our hearts,
a spiritual calling which requires a spiritual response. So how do you know
the difference? Those that have come to a working knowledge of the mystery
of God are those that teach in the name of Jesus Christ and are more
concerned with the spiritual needs of the people. They are the ones that
know the doctrine of Christ and are willing to lay down their lives for the
brethren so that they can teach them who they are in Christ and the
completed work He has done on our behalf. Those that have not answered the
call of God the way He intended are described in verse 5 as more concerned
with the things of this world, putting the physical ahead of the spiritual.
While they love to promise the people a better life in this world they
overlook the spiritual realm and end up settling for their reward here,
loving the praise of men more than God. Nothing plays to the emotions of
the people and tickles the ears more than promising prosperity, which these
false prophets have determined to be measured by amounts of money rather
than the spiritual prosperity which is only found in Christ, the unequalled
treasures of His wisdom and knowledge we have access to through His name.
Luke 6:43-45 For a good tree
bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit. (44) For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns
men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. (45) A
good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is
good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth
that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (KJV)
The heart will truly reveal
its intentions and motives because the abundance of what is in it will be
spoken by the mouth. A good tree has not been corrupted, has not allowed
the thief to break through and steal the word of God from the heart,
therefore their only motive and true intention is teach and preach sound
doctrine. A false prophet and teacher will reveal their true motive also;
so if they are not teaching and preaching the mystery of the gospel through
a working knowledge of Jesus Christ then somewhere along the line there has
been a breach of spirit which has gotten in and corrupted the heart. No
matter how they try to twist and turn the truth, manipulate and fabricate
the word of God, they have been corrupted and the heart is proclaiming an
evil treasure instead of an eternal one. A tree is truly known by its fruit;
just as apparent as it is in the outward realm of revealing what the tree
truly is, it is just as obvious to those that have taken the time to
rightly divide the word of truth that are able to see through these false
doctrines and phony intentions of the heart.
Micah 3:11-12 The heads
thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the
prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and
say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. (12) Therefore
shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become
heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.
(KJV)
The Bible says there is
nothing new under the sun and that is why we need to heed the warnings, make
sure we are prepared and not giving credence to things that are not of God.
The Lord has been dealing with cheap hucksters throughout the Bible, so
basically it is the same sin today just different disguises. Like with a thief
when they go to pull off a heist they put on a mask so they won’t be
identified. Those that know the truth and have a working knowledge of the
doctrine of Christ will be able to see through these masks and easily
identify the thief and not allow him to rob them blind.
Jeremiah 6:13 For from the
least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to
covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth
falsely. (KJV)
Thayer’s definition for
covetousness:
4124 pleonexia- greedy desire to have more,
covetousness, avarice
As we see again, many that
have been called have decided they were more interested in building and
establishing a kingdom in this world rather than establishing a firm
foundation for the eternal realm. God has warned us and continues to remind
us to be on the lookout for this false doctrine which has gotten in and sad
to say corrupted many of His own.
Colossians 3:5-7 Mortify
therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is
idolatry: (6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the
children of disobedience: (7) In the which ye also walked some time, when
ye lived in them. (KJV)
If you ever go through the Old
Testament you will see that idolatry was practiced by many of God’s people
and caused them to err and led to their destruction. Today we see idolatry
spring forth in the form of covetousness, an evil root that cannot produce
good fruit no matter how it is spun or who is preaching and teaching these
doctrines. This is something we used to pursue in our old way of thinking
as verse 7 refers to and it is something that should not be incorporated into
our new life. So how are you answering the call of God today? Are you
responding in the Spirit or are you still looking for some cheap shortcut
that mankind claims will bring peace and security?
1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 For our
exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: (4) But as
we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we
speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. (5) For
neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of
covetousness; God is witness: (6) Nor of men sought we glory, neither of
you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles
of Christ. (KJV)
Paul was used of God and
answered the call of God in sincerity and in truth. He did not disguise his
intentions under a cloke of covetousness, but rather was able to be used of
God as he was allowed of God because God could entrust him with His gospel.
How trustworthy are you today? Can God use you and open His truth to you
also because you have chosen to answer His calling in sincerity and in truth
or are you still hanging onto things of this life that are breaking through
and clouding your spiritual vision? Anything or anyone we hold in higher
regard than our heavenly Father is similar to idolatry and will not pass
the heavenly test or be someone that God can use to deliver His message.
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