Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
http://bible.com/116/eph.6.18.NLT
I come in contact with people who are in need almost every day. Many times the people that I come into contact know that they are in trouble or struggling, but they are only aware of the surface level symptoms of what they are dealing with – they don’t understand the root cause or the purpose and lesson that can be gained by their coming through their situation. Much of the time, they are blinded by the visible circumstances, but they are blind to the spiritual ramifications.
So many of us are only concerned with the surface level, because treating the symptoms is easy and quick and doesn’t take a lot of work or preparation – it doesn’t require examining ourselves and examining the situation to see how the Word of God might instruct us and guide us to handle it in His way. It doesn’t require prayer and time seeking the Lord’s guidance.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 12:15 ESV
http://bible.com/59/pro.12.15.ESV
I know many that are homeless and needy, and the thing that they will tell you over and over once you get close to them and get to know them personally is that you should never give cash. That the best thing that we can do is to offer a job, an opportunity. They will say that it is best to give them an opportunity to work for what they receive, not to just hand them money and not to just turn them away empty handed.
But most of us are just interested in what is quick and easy and is the least interruption to our daily lives. We would rather give the starving man on the corner 10 dollars out of our pocket to hide or guilt and shame and conviction over the fact that we really don’t care about this man or his problems, we just want Him out of our lives so we can return to business as usual.
And isn’t that how many treat God as well? Aren’t we satisfied with a message once a week and maybe some money in the offering plate to get God off of our backs so we can get back to life as usual in this carnal world.
Wake up, dying world!
Do you even know Him?
Are you even in communication with the only one who can save you from destruction?
Do you think that just because you know His name that you will be saved from the fire of His wrath?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.7.21-23.ESV
Are you a worker of lawlessness?
Are you participating in those things that the Word of God says shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.19-21.ESV
Or are you walking in the Spirit, washed by the blood of, Jesus, Christ, touched by the very annointing of His Holy Spirit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.22-25.ESV
There are only two types of trees, those producing good fruit and those to be cut down and cast into the fire.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:15-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.7.15-20.ESV
If we are not bearing fruit, we will be cut down and cast into the fire. Do not rest in a promise of forgiveness with no faith or belief in the one who offers it, because that is not grace. Grace is not a license to sin. The freedom offered demonstrates to us who it is that we really serve – humbling and chastising us if we step off this narrow path, not giving us confidence to make sin a comfortable part of our existence.
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Luke 13:6-9 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.13.6-9.ESV
Carnal person, chasing the desires and pleasures and temptations of this world, lying and cheating and stealing and oppressing your fellow man – examine yourself for the daily fruit of your life. Is it rotten and putrid and dead in those things that we are told shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Or are you alive and bearing fruit.
Decide today who it is you will serve. And if you will serve Him, walk with Him and enjoy His presence and His guidance throughout your day. Stay in prayer and fellowship with Him and seek His way. It is a narrow gate of only Jesus Christ that leads to salvation, and it is a narrow way of faith that proves us out as either children of wickedness or Children of God.
Harold J. Ballinger 