ARE YOU SURE??

 

ARE YOU COMMITTED???

This blog is not to cast judgment, I will share my testimony, that shouts "Who are you to judge anyone!" But in reality it is to get us to thinking, about our lives, our commitment, our faithfulness, are we prepared for Jesus' call "Come up here"? Are we prepared to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ? Will we hear one day "Depart from Me I never knew you", or "Well done good and faithful servant"? 

I can witness the condition of this world around me, I can see that everything is lining up to bring the Antichrist onto the world scene. Knowing that what will come during the time the church has been caught away, reading of the Hell on Earth that will come! There is within me an urgency that our time here is short and have I really been about my Father's business, or just living life, surviving and not thriving? Now to me thriving is not fame or fortune. But it is: did I do what God has equipped me to do, what did I do with Jesus while living my everyday life. And for who did I do it for? Myself to make me feel better about me or did I do it out of obedience to God, in order to lift up Jesus and glorify the Father? That is something we all must ask ourselves. Another question we must ask ourselves is: Have I changed since I walked down the aisle to receive the gift of salvation? Was it real, or just an emotional moment? Emotional moments will never change us, the real deal will bring into our lives a newness, no longer who we were, but we walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have past away, behold all things have become new.

And Romans 6:11-14 ( please if you are seeking the truth read these verses)

Can the real deal Christian run from God straight into the arms of the world? YES! I DID FOR 12 YEARS! But when I came to my senses I ran full force back to Jesus, never to leave again. Do I sin? Unfortunately I do, I fall into temptation, I get in the flesh. But LISTEN CLOSELY, the Holy Spirit will ALWAYS bring us under conviction, He will chastise us, and we will know our sinful condition and our need to repent. But if it is not the real deal there is no Holy Spirit to bring conviction, and we just go on accepting sinfulness as okay, because after all we are under God's grace. Sounds good but not biblical, you see in Christ we have been set free from the bondage of sin, enabled by the Holy Spirit to say no to sin, that's grace, not being set free to sin and do whatever we want and still say we are following Jesus. Sorry but walking with Jesus doesn't work that way.

In Philippians 2:12 we find these words "work out your own salvation", this is not saying we can earn our salvation by living a good life, No it is saying we must answer to our Father for how we have lived our lives. That's why we examine our hearts. Many, many times I have heard over the years "You don't know my heart"! Actually I am not God and cannot see your heart INTENT, but the reality is, we expose the truth of what is in our hearts by what we say and how we behave. What did Jesus say about our hearts:

Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts , murders, adulteries, fornications (sex outside of marriage, sexual perversions) thefts, false witness (liars), blasphemies.

So yes, by observing ones words, and actions a person reveals the truth in their heart.

But what about those who by all appearances are Christians? The ones at church, give their tithes, serve the Lord, do all the things and know the talk. Can they be lost? Reports say about 20% in a congregation are not the real deal. You see salvation is not based on our parents experience, or our presence, it is based on do we have a personal encounter with Jesus.

A Christian should desire to spend time with the Father, in prayer, in His word, should desire to spend time with fellow Christians, desire to be committed, to be active; not just to run into church, never speak to anyone, then run out hoping no one will speak to them (how is this any different from sitting at home). The corporate body meets to corporately worship our Lord and Savior in one accord, to minister in love and prayer with one another, to laugh together, cry together, to grow together, to strengthen one another. There is a dynamic power from the Holy Spirit that comes within the church family who meet together.  No excuses, if Jesus didn't expect the church to actually meet corporately then why did He establish the church, why is He called the Chief Cornerstone? Why is it written in Hebrews 10 not to forsake the assembling together? Now we are the body of Christ, as individuals, and He is our Chief Cornerstone for our lives, but I am specifically talking about the corporate church.

The rapture is drawing nearer and nearer, but are we ready? Have we truly examined our hearts, have we fallen in true repentance, desiring only Jesus, seeking God, listening to the Holy Spirit. Are we truly living a surrendered life or we just going through the motions. Are we praying for our families, our church, our nation. Are we sharing the good news wherever God opens a door? Examine our hearts, is it void, discouraged, dead, burned out?  If it is there is hope, if God is speaking to you right now, then say "Here I am Lord speak". And surrender your life to Jesus Christ right now.

Romans 13:11-14 Put on Christ

Colossians 3:1-11 Put off the old man

Colossians 3:12-17 Check your character

Many of the real deal have allowed this life to wear them out. They have given into what is easy, rather than press forward in Christ. Many have allowed the fire within them to dim to barely a spark because they have neglected to fan the flame. With technology as it is, it has become easy to sit home on Sundays, in pajamas and a cup of coffee, watching church service on line or television. You can get an anionted word this way, but the power of meeting, strengthening, ministering with one another, praying together, fellowshipping with one another, can not be found by staying home and watching an on line or television service.

FOOTNOTE: I think online services and television services are good for reaching out to far away places, to bring the gospel into their homes, for the elderly and disabled who can't get out. And personally I have enjoyed the times I could go back and listen again to a service I attended. My point was Do not become lazy and let staying at home be a crutch to keep you from being actively involved with your church.

It is time to decide: Am I truly a born again Christian? Am I a disciple of Jesus Christ, by picking up my cross daily and following Him, this is daily surrender? Am I committed to Christ and to His church? Have I allowed my fire to dim, because I have neglected the care of the fire of God in me? Jesus Christ the Son of God will come again, all the signs of His coming say SOON, will He find you faithful?

Decision time is here!