Because it ya’ have t’ ask about bein’ a man, then you already said the answer.”

                    –Clair Huffaker  (The Cowboy and the Cossack)

  

      “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

                    –James 1:23-24 (NKJV)

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I was doing my morning reading and came across some thoughts from one of the early Church fathers (I’ll share it later) and it caused me to stop and ponder a few things.  My mercy, I thought, we have sure tricked ourselves into foolishness.

       James wrote, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” (James 1:16, NKJV)  I recall that the definition of a “hypocrite” is someone who pretends.  It came from the early Greek theater when a person pretended to be someone else.  They were to deceive the audience into thinking that they were that person.  It was all part of an act, entertainment, but now when we are deceived by the “hypocrites” who are the bureaucrats, possibly church leaders, phoniness, it becomes dangerous.

       First, it was the “mask will save us,” now it has become the “vaccine will save us,” but in reality neither will.  Have we deceived ourselves?  Have we allowed those in high positions to deceive us?   Deception–hypocrites. . . hmmm.  Let’s look at another passage from James.

 

              “But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].”

                         –James 1:22(Amplfied)

 

There is that term, “deception” or deceivers.  James speaks of those who are self-hypocrites; people who deceive themselves.  They hear what they want to hear.  Their opinion is more valid than the Scripture, or at least their interpretation of it.  Not only do some allow others to deceive them, they deceive themselves.

       This “pandemic” has led many into self-deception.  Whether or not there was an agenda to close the churches (and in many cases it was tried) many have used it to stay away from church.  An excuse–a self-deception.  A case in point follows”

 

               “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

                         –Hebrews 10:25(NLT)

 

Stay at home, don’t go to church; you can get as much from the service by going on-line.  Hmmm, but can you partake of the Lord’s Supper at home?  Can you allow someone to lay hands on you at home?  Can you give a word of encouragement to someone if you stay at home?  Are you shirking your obligation, responsibility, and duty by staying at home?

       Excommunication is a “tool” for the church to use.  I won’t go into details about that now, but all too often the church misused it and today it has a negative context.  However, what I am seeing is that people are self-excommunicating themselves (self-deceiving) from church.  Here is the quotation from one of the early church Fathers.

 

               “Let no one be under any illusion; a man who excludes himself from the sanctuary is depriving himself of the bread of God…  Anyone who absents himself from the congregation convicts himself and becomes self-excommunicate.”

                         –Ignatius of Antioch

 

He also mentions that if the prayer of one or two people have great effect, then think of the power of the pastor (bishop) together with the church.

       It is time for us to remember who the great deceiver is–Satan, the devil, the enemy of our souls.  He is the wicked one, and he has used deception since the very beginning with Adam and Eve.  What is so shameful is that there are those in the church who are allowing themselves to be deceived.  I do understand that sometimes a person must be at home and miss services.  I understand that a person must do their own Bible study and pray at home (really anywhere), but there is a real place for assembling together.

The thing that shows the man is his willingness to accept responsibility for himself and his actions.  Only a tinhorn blames what he is on his folks or the times or something else besides himself.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Tucker)

 

       “What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it?  Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?”

                    –Isaiah 5:4 (NKJV)

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The first part of Isaiah 5 gives a dire warning.  It is directed to Israel, but it is important to remember that prophecy is of a local nature, but can also be for other nations in the future, and at times even directed at individuals.  Before looking at the first part of Isaiah 5, I want to give some important principles of interpreting prophecy.  There is so much junk floating around out there that we need some guidance, and I hope these three principles will help.

 

            1)  The historical contemporalnuity–prophecy was for the people of the time.  They knew what the prophets were speaking about.

            2)  The covenant background–we must always keep in mind the covenants of God when looking at prophecy.

            3)  Eschatological arguments–many prophecies were meant for the day in which they were given or in years of the writing of the Bible, but many are also for the last days.

 

It is imperative that you read Isaiah 5:1-7.  It is directed toward Israel, but it is also a summary of what God is saying to all men.  Israel is a type through which God can speak to all of mankind.  As you read the verses, keep the United States in mind; keep yourself in mind and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

       Opinions are rampant out there, some of which are complete foolishness and nonsense.  Progressive culture, woke, cancel culture, critical race, revisionism, and so many others we need to go back and look at the Word of God.  Men and women are in trouble because they do not want to believe the truth.  Man’s truth is relative, therefore, there is no satisfaction, but only frustration and the development of a new “truth.”

       Man is responsible to God.  He may not like this idea, but the truth is there.  Perhaps that is why some choose to say “there is no God,” but there can be no denial.  Man was made to live according to a certain standard but have become unreasonable in their beliefs and actions.  The have mocked Him; they have scorned Him; they have turned their backs on him and gone in the opposite direction.  Because of this rebellion man is no longer reasonable–they are fools!  Instead of good grapes they are wild grapes that set the teeth on edge.  Lloyd-Jones states, “The world is producing nothing that is of ultimate value.  It is producing a sham, an appearance of living that is not living; it is existence, and an evil and finally useless existence.”

       What will happen when God withholds His blessings?  What will life on this planet be like?  God says, “There is no peace…to the wicked (Isaiah 57:21) so what is the outcome?  Desolation…despair…despondency…depression.  God planted, God cultivated, He worked, He removed the stones from the field.  What He planted was the choicest.  Now He is going to break down the hedge (no protection); He is going to let it go to waste (the weeds of anarchy will rise); He will allow briers and thorns to grow (false teachings and ideologies).  Then there will be drought…the drought of God’s Word.

       America has been blessed like no other nation.  But what is now happening to us?  Natural calamities, fools in leadership positions, insolence, arrogance, mockery against the standards of God’s Word, the election of those with “antichrist” beliefs and actions, the acceptance of foolish notions–are we ready, for it could be that God has removed His hand of blessings and is letting the thorns and briars grow.

He is…one man…who cannot and will not turn his back on trouble, especially if there are innocents in peril.”

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Blue)

 

       “The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us]  that we [believers] are children of God.”

                    –Romans 8:16(Amplified)

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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

 

Key Verse:  “We known that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”  –1 John 5:19 (NASB)

 

       It has been a while since we have looked at our current situation and how to live as a child of God in the chaotic world.  I would suggest that you reread 1 John 3:1-4 before starting today’s devotion.

       Remember who you are!  That cannot be emphasized enough.  Remember who you are!

 

               “It is because we do not see ourselves as the children of God and going through this life and world in the way that this text [1 John 3:3-4] indicates; that is why our unhappiness tends to get us down.  We do not relate it to the whole; we do not put it in its context; we live too much with the things that are immediately in front of us instead of putting everything into the context of our standing and of our destiny.”

                         –D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

 

Whose name do you carry?  Christ…ian.  There are those in the church who contend that the term Christian is archaic, outdated, and should not be used in this progressive culture.  But it is the name of Christ, and it defines who we are.  We are to be Christ-like, that is the reason we do right, that is the reason we seek to live a holy and righteous life.  One thing to realize, as you read the New Testament, is that it is not interested in the conduct of those who are not Christians.  The Epistles were written to the Church.  There is no comfort of encouragement offered in the Bible to anybody except those who are children of God.  Forget Universalism, forget Globalism.

       I would bring forth the words of the pagan, Socrates–“Know thyself!”  Know thyself in the light of Christ and God’s Word.  Know that we are children of God.  Know, be persuaded, to certain, have an assurance that you are a child of God.  Be aware of your new life and realize the old sinful nature.  Have a heart and desire for God and the things of God, not that of the world.  Know also that we are destined for glory for we shall be like Him.

 

               “I can therefore rest my confidence of glorification upon the promises of God, and the promises of God are based upon the character of God.  God cannot, because He is God, break His promises, and He has also given an oath, so we have a double assurance.  The promises are there with His purposes and His character at the back of them.”

                         –D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

 

       Friends, no matter how much the world may scoff and mock, the Second Coming is a fact!  One day we shall see Him as He is.  Even now, while we are on earth, the Holy Spirit is working on us and ridding us of sin.  We have to be like Him.  To be like Him is to overcome the world.  To be like Him, one day, will cause us to be changed into glory.  

 

               “Changed from glory into glory

                     Till in heaven we take our place

               Till we cast our crowns before Him

                     Lost in wonder, love and praise.”

                             –Charles Wesley

 

As I think of becoming like Christ, I think of the frustrations in trying to live a righteous life and failing.  Yet, God, says that we are to seek righteousness, and as we seek it the Holy Spirit works on us.  However, one day–yes, day we shall be like Him when we see Him face to face.

 

               “Some day, till then I’ll watch and wait,

               My lamp all trimmed and burning bright,

               That when my Savior opes the gate,

               My soul to Him may take its flight.

 

               And I shall see Him face to face

               And tell the story–Saved by grace;

               And I shall see Him face to face,

               And tell the story–Saved by grace.”

                              –Fanny Crosby