The Power of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

My oh my, how time flies.

The busier we get the faster it flies.

Jesus compared the last days to labor pains. As the time for delivery draws near, the time between labor pains becomes more frequent and intense.

We’ve been busy lately.

April 19-25 America Read the Bible

 May 7 America's National Day of Prayer

 May 17 America Rededication to the Lord

 May 24 Pentecost Sunday

 May 25 Memorial Day

 July 4th America's 250th Anniversary

That’s just looking through a small and narrow Church window.

National events converging like this are no coincidence, but Providence.

Timing is powerful.

Yesterday we remembered, Pentecost, the birth of the Church and those who gave their lives to give us the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today we celebrate, Memorial Day, and honor those who gave their lives so we can freely worship Jesus Christ.  

Let us live worthy of the lives they gave.

Divine Timing changes the trajectory of nations.

We are living in very consequential times.

There are two kinds of time. Kairos and Chronos.

Chronos is time that can be measured by calendar or clock. We operate by chronos (chronological) time.

God operates in Kairos. The fullness of time. When the time is right, God moves.  

Galatians 4:4-6
 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

God lives outside time but uses time to tell HIStory.

For example, He sent the angel Gabriel to Daniel in 539 BC to lay out the seventy-week timeline to the end of time. (Daniel 9:25-27).

He spelled out 483 years (173,880) in advance the very day Jesus would ride into Jerusalem on what we now call Palm Sunday.

They called it Lamb Selection Day. It was the day each family chose the spotless lamb they’d use for the Passover.

The priests would examine the lambs and accept or reject them as worthy.

Jesus, the True Passover Lamb, rode into Jerusalem, on that very day, to be accepted or rejected.

At first the people gladly accepted Him, cheering, “Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Matthew 21:9.

But by Friday, deceived by corrupt religious leaders, they shouted for Jesus to be crucified.

Which led to the Divinely timed crucifixion of Jesus. Not just the day, but the hour, 3:00. The very time the Passover lambs were slain, Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world said, “Father into Thy hands I commit My Spirit” and with those words, His bowed His head and His body died.

And just like that, the first of the four spring feasts were fulfilled.

Thus, fulfilling once and for all the True meaning of Passover.

For over 1,400 years, multiplied millions of lambs had been slain year after year commemorating the first Passover when the blood of the Passover lamb over the doorpost caused the death angel to pass over that household. That night Israel was released from Egyptian bondage.

The Passover when Jesus died, opened the door, making a Way for all mankind to be released from the bondage of sin.

The next day, was the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6). Reflecting Jesus sinless body, since leaven represents sin. He was the Perfect, sinless sacrifice, like a grain of wheat planted waiting to burst forth as the First Fruit of an abundant harvest.

John 12:24
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone: but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Then, He rose on the Feast of First Fruits. Jesus is the First Fruit of the Resurrection, representing many more resurrections to all who follow Him.

Which brings us to the feast we commemorate today.

Pentecost

Lev. 23:16-17, Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. ¹⁷ You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to the Lord.

Pentecost. Greek: fiftieth. Also called: Feast of Weeks or, Shavuot, which means, weeks.

Pentecost celebrated the first fruits of the wheat harvest.

During Pentecost they baked two loaves of leavened bread which was different from the other feasts because leaven represented sin.

During Passover, all leaven had to be removed from homes.

Every other grain offering in Leviticus had to be made without leaven.

However, in this case, the leaven stayed, because we all have sinned, but through Christ we can be forgiven and accepted as children of God.

Come as you are. He will cleanse you. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.

 Two loaves were baked and waved as an offering to the Lord, and then, given to the priests to eat.

The two loaves represent both Jew and gentile, being made into one family, yet maintaining distinct identities.

Furthermore, this represents the firstfruits of the harvest of souls. By the time this beautiful day of Pentecost had fully come to an end, 3,000 souls were saved, born again. Acts 2:41.

And that was just the first wave that has been rolling in wave upon wave from that day to this.    

Later, not recorded in Scripture, but the Rabbis added commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, because it also took place during Shavuot.

At Sinai God wrote the law in stone.

But God had something much better planned.

At Pentecost God wrote the law of love in hearts.

Did you notice, we just addressed the first four of the seven feasts of Israel? (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost).

They occur during the spring and have already been fulfilled by Christ in the New Testament.

The final three feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles) occur during the fall, all within a fifteen-day period.

Many (including me) believe that just as the spring feasts were fulfilled during the Lord’s first coming, the three fall feasts will be fulfilled according to the appointed times of His second coming.

Did you know the Hebrew word for “feasts” (moadim) literally means, appointed times?

Spring Feasts yet to be fulfilled:

Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24). The first of the fall feasts. Many believe this day points to the Rapture of the Church when Jesus will appear in the heavens as He comes for His bride, the Church. The Rapture is always associated in Scripture with the blowing of a loud trumpet (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27). Prophetically pointing to the day of the Second Coming when Jesus returns to earth and the Jews that remain will "look upon Him whom they have pierced," repent of their sins, and receive Him as their Messiah (Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:1-6, 25-36.

Feast of Sukkot, or Tabernacles or Booths (Leviticus 23:34). Foreshadowing the beautiful time when the Lord will dwell (tabernacles) on earth with man.

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come...

Okay, back to The Feast of Pentecost.

This was another Kairos moment. A Divine appointed time.

In the fullness of time. When Pentecost had fully come. This wasn’t any regular Pentecost.

It was a Divinely timed fulfillment of all Pentecosts.

After Jesus resurrection He walked and talked with folks for 40 days offering undeniable proofs of His resurrection.

Before He ascended into heaven, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem where you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit and  you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:4-8.

... they were all with one accord in one place. 

They were together in the same place, the same location, but more they were united in one accord, together in soul and spirit.

Oh, how Jesus longs for His Church to be in one accord like that, of the same heart and mind as Him.

In John 17 on His last night alive in the flesh, before being crucified, He prayed earnestly, repeatedly, that we’d be one.

On this glorious day of Pentecost, they were all of one accord...

² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

The sound was real and it was loud and heard outside and caused the whole town to come running to see what they were hearing.

³ Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 

They could see what appeared to be tongues of fire on each one of them individually, all 120 of them.

They were together, heart and soul, but the Lord gave them individually, personally, their own manifestation of the divided tongues as of fire.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:11.

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and willingly spoke with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them. Not forced them.

They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with other tongues.

Speaking in Tongues is listed as a gift of the Holy Spirit, never as the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes in 1 Cor. 14:5, “I wish you all spoke with tongues.” And then, in verse 18 he says, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all…”

According to Scripture; Tongues are a gift, a gift to seek, but not the gift of the Holy Spirit. Not the evidence of the Holy Spirit.

 

The greatest gift, the most excellent evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is, His Love flowing through us.

See more: Spurling Silver: With Other Tongues, Acts 2:4-13

They were in one accord with one tongue, filled and led by the Holy Spirit. Now that is world changing, soul saving, dunamis, dynamite, Power.   

Which is what Jesus was talking about. Power. His Presence. His Spirit. Dwelling in us. Empowering us to be His witnesses spreading His love and light.

Like a reverse of the curse of babel.

At babel they were in one accord with one tongue, dishonoring God. So, God gave them different languages, that confused and separated them.

Now at Pentecost they speak different languages, that bring unity and clarity and glory to God. 

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit equips and empowers to complete the original command in the beginning, be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it… go into all the world and be His witnesses. Tell His Good News

After this they were transformed. No more hunkering and hiding behind closed doors, but bold as lions, courageous witnesses all the way through the jaws of death. So much so that their word for witness (martus) is where we get our word, martyr.

To be a witness for Christ, means giving your life for Christ.  

After this they faced ridicule, slander, lack, temptation, false imprisonment, torment, torture, death. Not one of them turned back.

On this Powerful Pentecost the Lord poured out His Spirit on the world. The 120 spoke in tongues; however, the multitude heard, each in their own native tongue. Acts 2:5-11.

On the glorious birthday of the Church, the Lord poured out gifts of tongues and interpretation simultaneously to every nation under heaven represented there that day in Jerusalem. Resulting in thousands being saved.

The firstfruit that blossomed that day has spread all the way to us today. Jew and gentile together in one accord as one big, noisy, messy, happy, loving, family of God.

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Are you baptized with the Holy Spirit?

That doesn’t mean: “Do you speak in tongues?” It doesn’t mean: “Are you saved?”

It means: Are you filled with the Holy Spirit’s Power to be His witness to the world?

Are the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit evidenced in your lifestyle?

The Fruit of the Spirit is:

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.

Gifts of the Spirit are:

Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healings, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Tongues, Interpretation. 1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11, 28.

Do you want to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

If so, ask.

Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we invite you to baptize us with Your Holy Spirit, so through us You may freely flow, transforming us into soul winners and disciple makers, leaving a trail that leads straight to You.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

 

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

To Judge or Not to Judge, James 4:11-12

 

OUTLINE:

THE COMMAND

THE CRIME

THE CONSEQUENCE

THE QUESTION

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. ¹² There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

The Command:

Do not speak evil of one another...

Clear enough. Speak no evil.

Ephesians puts it like this:

Ephesians 4:29-32
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

My dad put it like this:

“If you don’t have something good to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Three times we read, “speak evil”. It is one word in the original text: katalaleó. Meaning to speak against, to slander, to speak evil of.

Jesus puts it like this:  

Luke 6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Anyone speaking evil against someone reveals more about the evil in their own heart than in the person they’re speaking about.

What’s in our heart?

How many American seniors take medication daily? 89%.

How many American seniors read their Bible daily? 27%.

Who do we trust more, the doc, or the Great Physician?

The statistic confirms Jesus’ parable of the Sower. Only 25% fell on good soil and produced good fruit. Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15.

Only 1 out of 4 fill their heart with good treasure to bring forth good fruit.

It’s not that the Treasure isn’t available, they just don’t dig for it.

That’s why the Lord, through James, must give the command, “Do not speak evil...”

That’s why He warned us previously about taming the tongue:

James 3:5-10
Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

 Sometimes evil speaking comes disguised, as gossip in “Prayer Request” clothing, or slander cloaked in humor.

How do I know if I’m speaking evil?

Have a heart check.

Remember Jesus said it’s a heart issue. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Test what I’m saying, (especially, how and why, I’m saying it) by Jesus “Golden Rule.”

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31.

Do I want folks talking about me, like I'm talking about them?

Do I want people repeating what I’m speaking?

The Command: speak no evil.  

Now, let’s look at the Crime.

He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

The words, “doer of the law” builds upon what’s already been established in James 1:22-26.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ 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; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

²⁶ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

We are called to be doers of the law, not just talkers. Enforcers, not makers (judges take heed!).

What, law, are we talking about?

Jesus puts it like this...

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

If we speak evil of another, we break the law of love.

The crime: lucifer’s pride. Instead of loving God and loving others, we’re lovers of self, setting ourselves as judge where God is supposed to be.

Isaiah 14:13-18
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
¹⁵ yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
to the lowest depths of the pit.

Revelation 12:9-11
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. ¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the Authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down— he who accuses them day and night before our God. ¹¹ They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.

Accusing, slander, gossip, insult, judging is not a victimless crime, it’s not a simple slip of the tongue, but an unruly evil, a tool of satan that comes only to kill, steal and destroy. Do not let him have your tongue!

That's the crime.

Now for the Consequence.

There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.

Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Romans 14:10
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

The Consequence: Judgement

Now for the Question

Who are you to judge another?

Matthew 7:1-5
“Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Notice, the speck in the brother’s eye wasn’t ignored.

Judge not, does not mean never addressing any issues with our neighbors.  

After removing the log so we can see clearly, then we can and should help others with the specks in their eyes. Judgement must begin in the house of God—but it doesn’t end there. 1 Peter 4:17.

Jesus details the steps to address the specks.

Matthew 18:15-18
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ ¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

NOTE: Tax collectors are lumped into the sinner/heathen group because they were known for being greedy traitors and cheats. To treat someone like a heathen and a tax collector, does not mean to speak evil against them, to cast them aside, to never have anything to do with them.

How did Jesus treat tax collectors and sinners?

He called Matthew the tax collector to be one of His disciples, then ate at Matthew’s with many tax collectors and sinners. The religious folks spoke evil against Jesus for that, but Jesus said, “I’ve not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:9-13.

Jesus was called, “a friend to tax collectors and sinners.” Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:34.

He invited Himself to eat with Zacchaeus, a tax collector, who had gotten rich cheating others. Luke 19:1-10.

He told the woman allegedly caught in the act of adultery, “Neither do I condemn you—” But don’t forget, He also added “–go and sin no more.” John 8:11.

Judging the thoughts and intents of a person’s heart, and pronouncing judgement on eternal souls, is God’s job.

But as children of God, there is a proper time and place to judge.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? ³ Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

The Corinthians were suing one another in ungodly court systems over stupid temporal matters of this life. Sound familiar?

The apostle Paul dropped a bombshell saying something like: “Grow up you big babies, don’t you know you’re going to help govern the world and angels? Surely you should be able to handle minor matters of this life!”

He wasn’t judging, he was correcting bad behavior.

Proverbs 27:5
Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.

If your brother's fly is down, tell him.

If your friend has broccoli in their teeth tell them.

If your friend is drinking too much, lovingly share your concern, and offer to help them be accountable.

That’s not judging. That’s loving.

Now we close with an eye-popping passage you've probably never heard, but may want to rush out and perform.

Leviticus 19:17-18
 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

 You shall surely rebuke your neighbor... Wow! Never heard that before. Can't wait to run out and obey the Bible! My neighbor needs a good rebukin'.  

Maybe that’s what we should’ve titled this message.

Maybe we better stop and pray. 

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, You are so awesome, wonderfully loving us by telling us the Truth, even the ugly, painful parts. Thank You for showing us our wretchedness, and the Way to Your amazing grace. Please put a guard on our lips, or help us bite our tongue when we climb upon Your throne and think we’re the judge of our neighbor. Help us instead, to judge ourselves, remove the plank, hear from You, and speak the Truth, in love, leading all those You’ve given us, straight to You.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

Draw Near to God in Seven Steps, James 4:7-10

James is called the New Testament Proverbs.

James like a New Testament Solomon, gives a big message in just a few verses.  

1.    Submit

2.    Resist

3.    Draw

4.    Cleanse

5.    Purify

6.    Lament

7.    Humble

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Submit

In James 5:6, we’re told God resists the proud, then in 5:7 we’re told to resist the devil.

In many ways, the same thing.

It was pride that lifted lucifer into sin and cast him down to the ground (Isaiah 14:12-15). And does the same to  all who fall under its arrogant spell.

Therefore, resist the devil, and resist pride.

We do that by first submitting to God.

To submit to God is to resist the devil.

Submit: (Greek: hupotassó) to subject, to subordinate, to be under obedience.

Luke 2:51-52
Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject (hupotassó) to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Submitting to God results in increase in wisdom and favor with God and man.

1 Peter 5:5
Likewise you younger people, submit (hupotassó) yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Submit to God, is the first step in drawing near to God.

It’s mandatory. It can’t be skipped.

We must first submit.

Okay God, I give up. I’ve tried to be king of my life long enough. Will you please take the reins, and reign?

He will.

When He does, you’ll feel a million pounds lighter. Like walking on air.

But it won’t be long until the honeymoon’s over. You’ll be tested to see if you’re really submitted or just full of hot air.

You see, just like faith without works is dead, also, submission without obedience is dead.

You’re not submitted until you submit, when you don’t want to.

What do you do when God says get up early, pray, read your Bible and go to Church. But you’d rather sleep in, play on the phone, read Facebook and go to Chik-filet.

Where do you stand when the Word of God steps on your toes? Will you stay? Will you still slow dance real close? Or do you step back and look for a new dance partner?

What about when the honeymoon wears off? Are you still committed? Or, since you’ve lost that lovin’ feelin’ do you start searching for a new fling?

First step: Submit to God.

It looks like this:  

Someone in the dark of night, praying hard, sweating blood, saying, “Not My will but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42.

If we look in the mirror it looks like this:

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Second step:
Resist the devil

If we submit to God properly, resisting the devil comes naturally, well, Supernaturally.

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be battles. In this world you will have tribulation (John 16:33). The devil seeks to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10); he roams about like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

And what is the “way of escape” from temptation?

Matthew 26:41,
Pray, so that you enter not into temptation, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Step two: Resist the devil and he will flee from you

It looks like this: Matthew 4:1-11.

Someone in the wilderness, weary, very hungry, hadn’t eaten for 40 days.

Suddenly there’s a serpent’s hiss. You’re so hungry. If You are the Son of God, command these stones be turned to bread.

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

 

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

“It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

 

If we look in the mirror resisting the devil looks like this:

Eph. 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;

 

Step three:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Have you ever heard of a better deal?

God promises a reciprocal relationship.

You take an intentional step toward Him and... His steps are bigger than yours. You take one step and BAM you’re in His Presence.

Jer. 29:13
You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Matt. 18:20
Where two or more are gathered in My name, there I AM in the midst of them

2 Chronicles 15:2
“Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

It looks like this:

Matthew 8:1-3. The leper came near and worshipped Him. “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus said. “I AM willing, be clean.” Immediately, the leprosy was cleansed.

Luke 7:48-50. The woman drew near Him, dropped to her knees weeping, washing His feet with her tears.

He drew near enough she could hear Him whisper. “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

 

Now, the next step changes tone from a nice invitation to urgent preparation.

You must be cleansed from sin!

No time to waste.

Step four: Cleanse your hands, you sinners

The Jews in that day would know that referred to ceremonial cleansing, symbolizing cleansing from sin.

Not so long ago the entire world echoed those words, “Wash your hands!”

Physically for cleansing from covid.

Spiritually, screaming, REPENT. (As 2020 exposed the ugliest sins).

Notice those James previously called beloved brethren, now, he calls sinners.  

When drawing near to God, it’s imperative to be clean.

Sin cannot survive in His Holiness.

Darkness dies in His Light.

The closer we draw to His glorious Presence, the more our sin spotted souls are exposed.

The best disinfectant for sin is His Light.

Billy Graham spoke of a hillside with a flock of beautiful white sheep grazing on the green grass. Then, a sudden snowfall covered the land and a boy said of the same flock, “How is it that the sheep have gotten so dirty?”

In His Presence our whitest righteousness is as filthy rags.

We cannot walk in sin and His Presence.

Wash your hand you sinners, James’ words echo from that day to this.  

But washing hands only addresses outward cleansing from evil deeds.

That just touches the surface, the outside of the cup and dish, but inside is where the real filth lies.  

Psalm 24:3-4a
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart...

Which brings us to our next step.

Step five: purify your hearts, you double-minded

If we preach James’ words: “Cleanse your hands you sinners, purify your hearts you double-minded” How many pews would empty? How many hearts would fill?  

This is where the Word of God discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

James 1:8
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways, let not that man think he will receive anything from the Lord.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters.

1 Kings 18:21
How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.

 

Hebrews 3:15
Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts 

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Ezekiel 36:26
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Step six: Lament and mourn and weep

After drawing close, getting cleansed of the stench of sin, experiencing the love, joy, peace and Power of His Presence and how He grieves against sin, we can’t help but sorrow over our sin, the sin of our family and friends, our loved ones and nation.  

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Psalm 34:18
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit

Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— these, O God, You will not despise.

 

Now we come full circle from submission to humility with step number seven:

¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 18:12
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

Matthew 23:12, Luke 14:11
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Philippians 2:5-11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Let’s pray

Lord Jesus, as You submitted the will of Your flesh to the will of the Father; as You resisted the devil with Your Word, please help us do likewise by drawing near You, sorrowing for sin, as  the woman who washed Your feet with her tears.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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