Published by admin on 10 Oct 2014 at 02:11 pm
MY GOD, MY RULES!
It seems everyone has their “own way” to worship God, if they worship Him at all. People get really touchy when you talk to them about doing things God’s way. It goes to prove my “Burger King” theory about how people relate to God. As you know, you can go to Burger King and order a hamburger made how you want it. They don’t care if you want the hamburger on the outside and the bun in the middle, or what you want on your burger, they just want you to have it “Your Way”. And of course, they want your money, and the best way to get it is to let you have your way. So therefore many churches are adopting that mentality as well.
It’s a proven fact that if you don’t approve of the way things are done at a particular church, you will not likely go back, and if that church happens to be doing things according to the way God wants it done, and you don’t like it, you won’t go back. So what that boils down to is “I’ll have God on MY terms, thank you!” What does God think about that? Do you really want to know? What if what you believe is in conflict with the Bible? Are you willing to change to come in line with what God wants? Or would you rather have it “My God, my rules” that so many are doing today?
Do you know what this week is? It is the Feast of Tabernacles week. People dismiss God’s Holy Days as “Jewish laws” and say they don’t apply to Christians. The problem with that mentality is the God we supposedly worship gave these laws to Israel to be perpetually observed. So we say, ok, let Israel observe them, but we’re not Jews. First off, Jesus, Son of God kept these laws and Holy Days himself, as did His disciples. Of course then our reasoning is that Jesus “did away” with all the law. Have you noticed that the Apostle Paul kept the Holy Days? And that was in the “New Testament”. Of course, the majority of Christianity does not observe God’s Holy Days, saying they “don’t apply to us today”. Tell me, exactly then what DOES apply to us today? Whatever we want to do, obviously, Who cares what God wants, anyway? We just want Him to save us and leave us alone to do things our way, to be honest.
Did you know in God’s Kingdom, if we make it there, we will be keeping all His Holy Days? If we will be keeping them there, why won’t we keep them HERE? Yet we pray the LORD’S prayer which Jesus taught His disciples,
Luk 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Luk 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luk 11:3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
Luk 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Why bother to pray Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth if we don’t want to do things the way God wants them done? HMMM?
God’s Holy Days are an annual reminder of how the Kingdom of God operates, and by observing each of them in their particular season, we are taught and retaught what His Kingdom is like, and how we will live in it and relate to each other IF, and I say IF we make it to His Kingdom. By adopting the world’s mentality of each person worshipping God as he or she sees fit is to guarantee we won’t be there. Yes, I know that flies in the face of what many believe, that if you simply say you are saved, you will be saved. But is that what Jesus taught? Uh, what do you mean, Pastor Jerry? They said at church if I believe, I will be saved. Salvation is a GIFT and I don’t have to earn it, right? Well, yes, salvation is a gift, but if you aren’t willing to live according to God’s rules here and now, what makes you think He will let you into His Kingdom? Think about that one for a while……
Better yet, consider the words of Jesus in Luke chapter 11:
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Mat 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Paying close attention to verses 21 thru 23, THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO CONSIDERED THEMSELVES TO BE THE LORD’S PEOPLE, and yet, they were not accepted into the Kingdom of God! Have you asked yourself WHY??? If not, you need to, for you will find out they were the ones who did it “their way” instead of God’s way, plain and simple. Jesus said,
Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Joh 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Joh 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Everyone pays attention to verses thirteen and fourteen, but those don’t apply to you unless you are obeying verse FIFTEEN! Those who don’t keep His commandments are those who will not enter His Kingdom, whom He will tell I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
. Grace is NOT license to disobey God, contrary to what anyone tries to tell you.
I’m not judging or condemning anyone, but God has appointed me to be a WATCHMAN, to warn the people from Him. I didn’t ask for this job, it was thrust upon me by the LORD, so I’m warning you. Obviously some will choose to unsubscribe me, and that’s their choice, but I don’t get paid to do this anyway, so I’m not worried about tickling people’s ears so they stay with me.
You see, many churches are worried about their finances, so they preach what draws the people. I know there are ministers who fills stadiums each week with their “feel good” messages that people just love to hear, but personally, I’d rather HEAR “Well Done”, than BE “well done”, do you know what I mean? Remember too, it’s not ME you have to please, but GOD. And He doesn’t think much of “My God, my rules”. Yes, it really IS God’s way or the highway, although that may not be the message you want to hear. But for those who are willing to conform to God’s will, there are blessings untold, both in this life and the hereafter.
James L on 15 Oct 2014 at 8:05 pm #
Thanks Pastor Jerry,
I am so glad you are a brother who speaks the truth as God has taught you through all the adversity you have endured. I rather hear the truth than you tickle my ears with smooth words that feel good yet sends me to hell for believing a lie. We are living in perilous times and the enemy of our souls is launching an assault on us with our eyes wide open and most don’t realize it’s even happening. Thank you for loving me enough to speak truth!
Erin on 20 Apr 2015 at 3:13 pm #
Your comment on the Holy Days intrigued me. Aside from celebrating Easter and Christmas (which I know are man-made celebrations), I have no clue as to anything about the Holy Days. I’d love to find out more on these if you can point me in the right direction. I always assumed these were Jewish celebrations.