Christ is Our Only Mediator

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus”
1 Timothy 2:4

One of the most saddest and frustrating things I see in the religious world today, is religion taking advantage of the good and sensitive souls that just want to please God. The Bible is so clear- CHRIST ALONE is our mediator. We can go to HIM ALONE!!! We need not go to ANY MAN- NO MAN!!!! Yet, so many, looking for a closer walk with God, naturally turn to “church” and assume that the people there in a religious setting must understand God better than themselves and slowly their freedom in Christ is stripped from them and replaced by the dogma and fear of men’s ideas of God- which, so many times, is no more than an ugly dictatorship.

Here is a documentary that chronicles such a teaching. Cultish teachings range from mild to extreme but they all have very common signs. If you read about them and study them, you can begin to recognize their tactics. If you are being held inside the grip of one, Christ wants to set you free. The ultimate message they use against people is they will not go to heaven, they will not be “good enough” if they leave, if they don’t do whatever they are being told to do. “FEAR FACTOR”- becomes their source of CONTROL.  They represent themselves to be the “mouth piece of God.”

Did you know that the gospel means, “GOOD NEWS”? The good news is that CHRIST is right beside you this very moment, and is listening  for your prayer. He alone  is the mediator- the one who connects us with God. You need not go into any building or to any man. You simply need to turn to, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Go to HIM ALONE! Watch this video and be amazed…

Lifting the Veil of Polygamy

 

Also see my post:  19 Cult Characteristics

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Remember to Whom You Belong

This morning I attended our neighborhood church service and the minister brought the thought that when ever you attend a court of law, you have both the one who stands for you and those who stand to oppose you. And so it is in the heavenly.  But when we are saved, Christ stands for us. We now have royal blood coursing through us and the Bible tells us in Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [33]  Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;” If the king of all kings, and Lord of all Lords is standing on my behalf, who can stand against me? [34]  who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” 

Again the Bible says in Romans 14:4 “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

The popular saying goes, “You can please all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can not please all of the people all of the time.”

So I would like to encourage you this morning by reminding you who you belong to when you belong to Christ.

“[F]or through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,   having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:18-22

• You are the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16)
• God has your name written in the palms of his hands. (Isaiah 49:16)
• You are God’s child (John 1:12)
• You can go to God in confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
• You do not need to go to any man, but Christ alone. (1Timothy 2:5)
• King Jesus has made you all glorious within. (Psalms 45:13)
• No man can take you out of God’s hands. (John 10:27-29)
• You are free from all condemnation (Romans 8: 1-2)
• All your circumstances are working for your good. (Romans 8:28)
• Nothing can separate you from God’s love. (Romans 8:31-39)

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A Spoonful of Sugar

In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap, the job’s a game
And every task you undertake becomes a piece of cake
A lark, a spree, it’s very clear to see
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

~Marry Poppins

The morning was chilly as I poured a steamy hot cup of coffee before I sat down to read my bible and pray. I breathed in its aroma- mmm . . . and took a small sip. It was slightly bitter. For a moment I thought I would add my vanilla flavored stevia to sweeten it just a bit and then I just decided not to and headed for the lounge chair. But the Lord stopped me for an opportune object lesson that was to extend throughout my weekend.
“Liz, why not add that stevia to your coffee? The coffee is bitter. The stevia will sweeten it up a bit. There are no calories in it- nothing unhealthy about it. Go ahead. Add a little sweetness to your morning cup of coffee.”

So I went back and added a few drops to sweeten my coffee.

Recently, my youngest daughter and I watched “Marry Poppins” and so the song “Just a Spoonful of Sugar” came to my mind and I smiled to myself as God’s loving light began to spread its warmth throughout my soul once again.

In the past couple months, the course of my life has majorly shifted. My spiritual foundations have been broken. This has been a very emotionally difficult process. It as if God took pruning shears and pruned my spiritual life-tree back to the stump and I am in the winter waiting for the new growth. Needless to say, it is a painful time in my life, but full of hope and anticipation.

So throughout this weekend God spoke to me about the “spoonful of sugar” many times over again. I have had to pray much to keep my emotions in check and I have been praying about the restoration of the Joy of the Lord into my heart and many other burdens. That little bit of sugar that began in my morning cup of coffee, started popping up all throughout the day as God opened my eyes to the “spoonfuls of sugar” he gives us everyday.

It could be a sunrise, a cool morning breeze, a flock of geese flying overhead, beautiful billowly clouds shimmering in artistic majesty as we drive along the highway. The golden sunsets. A word of encouragement from one dear friend. Really they are innumerable. There really are bowlfuls of sugar all around us. But we need only to take a few spoonfuls to make a difference in the flavor of life.

“You see Liz, the sweetness is always there. Just like the stevia was there all along for your coffee. But you had a choice. You could drink your coffee bitter, or you could partake of the sweetness and add it to the coffee and when you did, it made the bitter sweet.”

Yes, life has much bitterness, much heartache, much woe and care. But all along the way are spoon-fulls of sugar, that if we keep our eyes open to, we can add them into our cup and it will help the medicine go down, in the most delightful way!

“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord”

Psalms 33:5

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Why Are Ye So Fearful?

“Then he (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm . . . “

Why are ye so fearful,
oh ye of little faith?
Jesus flies upon the winds
and walks upon the seas;
He lifts the broken from the shards,
brings the pompous to their knees.

Why are ye so fearful,
oh ye of little faith?
Jesus passes through the fires,
and tromps on serpents heads;
The meek he strengthens by his power;
The proud he fills with dread.

Why are ye so fearful,
Oh ye of little faith?
Jesus has all power o’er all
and for all of eternity
So do  not fear little flock of God
What man can do to thee.

Written by Elizabeth A Van Cleve

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Who Is the Teacher?

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

We are all teachers. Everyone has something they can teach someone else no matter who you are, what your station is in life or your age. You have something to teach and you have many things to learn. The Lord wanted us to edify one another to come to the fulness of Christ.

God gave us all gifts that we may edify one another.

Christ taught his disciples when they were arguing who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God;

Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:25-28

Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10: 42-45

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Luke 22:25-27

It seems to me that the spirit of the world is to be in a position just above someone else. This spirit can be very subtle, or it can be very blatant. But mark it down when it shows its ugly head, its not from Christ.

Christ made his entrance into this world in a barn with a feeding trough for a bed. His parent were very poor. He was a carpenter by trade and not considered an “educated” man. During his ministry he walked the streets and had not a place to call his own. He died a poor man,  next to common criminals, in the most disgraceful way known to man.

He was the Son of God. He was the Prince of Peace. He lead us by example. He taught the people to love God, to trust God to give all to God.

I am convicted in my soul today, that the reason such confusion abounds in the religious world, is because so many want to be the teacher or the preacher; They  want the show, the pomp, and the reputation. But they do not want to do the one simple thing that God said, search for HIM with ALL their heart.

Everyone is calling, “Listen to me! Listen to me! I have the right answers!”

Or, “Come to my church, hear my pastor, go talk to this man or that man!”

But you know, everyone has something they can teach us, no matter who they are.  But if we want to find God, we must be still and know, God says, “I AM!”

We must get alone with God. We must search for him with all our heart. We must search for HIS mind, HIS heart, HIS spirit. We must put aside our own understanding and allow him to take us to new dimensions.

So many seek for him for awhile and they become “enlightened” and get excited but they begin to follow the source of the enlightenment rather than God himself. They begin to worship the lamp and forget that the lamp is just a vessel that carried a light. What they need is the light that is in that lamp, to illuminate thier own vessel, then the Bible says, “You have no need that any man teach you…” (1John 2:27)

You see, there comes a time that you come to the fullness of Christ yourself. Christ is the light within and there is no need of the moon nor the sun- the old testament nor the new, for Christ himself giveth thee light. (Revelations 21:23)

In God’s true kingdom- the kingdom that is within you, there are no popes, powers and authorities. Christ is our head and we all teach and edify one another. We are all royalty. Believe it. God said it was so!

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Does God Care About His Truth?

When you look around at all the religious organizations that claim to be “Christian” and all the differences of opinions and doctrine, one has to wonder; Does God care about His truth? Does it matter to him which church we go to? Does He care if some of what is being taught is not what he meant?

Before we let the Word of God answer those questions, lets just reason together for a minute. Suppose you wrote a will and left it for your children about what to do with all your assets after you were gone. You were very careful and precise as to who gets what. You thought lovingly and carefully about each child, each friend, each cause that meant a great deal to your heart. You spent much time in planning and writing out your will.

Do you think it would be important to you whether or not your children understood what you desired? Would you care if some of your children decided to rewrite in another will what you really meant? – as do so many “christian” organizations? What if your children began to represent you in a way that was false to your very Character?

If we would care about these things, don’t you think that almighty God, who went so far for his truth as to send His own Son to set us free by his truth, cares about how it is represented- cares that it remains pure?

Now, lets just look at a few scriptures about the truth and let them speak for themselves:

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. Ps. 15:1-2

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Ps. 51:6

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (Psalms 91:4)

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Pslams 145:18)

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: (Proverbs 3:3)

He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. (Proverbs 12:17)

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)

Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23)

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. (Isaiah26:2)

None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. (Isaiah 59:4, 14,15)

Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. (Jeremiah 33:6)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)

And ye shall know the truth, and the TRUTH shall make you free. (John 8:32)

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. (John 8:44)

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the TRUTH heareth my voice. (John 18:37)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the TRUTH in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Romans 2:8

[LOVE] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (1 Corinthians 13:6)

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (Galatians 3:1)

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? (Galatians 5:7)

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14)

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (2 Thessalonians 2:10-13)

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4)

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the TRUTH which is after godliness; (Titus 1:1)

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. (Titus 1:14)

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the TRUTH is not in him. (1John 2:4)

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (1 John 2:21)

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1John 3:18)

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. (2 John 1:4)

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:4)

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians  1:6-9)

The truth is very important- so important! It saves us, sets us free from sin, keeps us free from sin, arms us, protects us, leads us, gives us light, etc…
Departing from the truth, or receiving something that is false puts a curse on our lives. Revelations says about Babylon the great whore- which is symbolic of false religions or religions that are not walking in the pure truth:

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev. 18:2-4

Knowing, accepting, believing, seeking, living, the truth is vitally important. Don’t just accept any old lie out there. Love your soul more than that. Love Christ. Seek him with all your heart- and he will be found and he will show you the truth, and the truth will set your FREE! Praise God!!!

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Extraordinary Sand Sculptures

I have seen a LOT of amazing and extraordinary Sand Castles and Sculptures . . .

Works of art respresenting just about anything the imagination can conjure up, or the world has ever seen . . .

But following a storm . . .

Or after the tide came in . . .

It was ALL gone! Not a trace to be seen . . .

And so it is in this life. Everything that you build here will one day be gone- all your dreams, plans, accomplishments- all you believe and don’t believe- ALL- like grains of sand will be washed away in the tides of time. The only thing that will remain, is your soul, which belongs to God;

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Matthew 6:19-20

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Peter 3:11-14

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: 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. 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: 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. Matthew 7:24-27

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The Beautiful Compassion of God

“A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in the land and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed the swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15: 11-23

What a beautiful portrayal of the mercy and compassion of Almighty God! This young soul had taken everything good that God had given him and had wasted it in low-living.  So low, his brother said he spent it on harlots. He had shamed his father’s name and had nothing good to show for all his father had given to him.

But when he came to himself, when he got so low and could not be satisfied any longer in the hog pit of sin, he remembered his father’s house- a house of plenty; a house of love; a house of laughter. And he made a decision to leave the hog pit and go plead with his father to take him back, if only as a servant.

And how sweet- his father was watching and waiting for him,  for he saw him afar off coming home. His father didn’t say, “Oh no, here he comes back. I hope he learned his lesson. I hope he doesn’t expect me to take care of him now that he wasted everything I gave him.” No! His father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran to him- overjoyed that he was coming home!

And his son began to speak the words he had rehearsed, but he never finished. His father, overjoyed, called out, “Bring the BEST robe! Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet! And let us rejoice and celebrate! Prepare the fatted calf- make a feast! Hallelujah! My son that was dead is ALIVE!!!”

So it is with the sinner, when one has wasted his life in sinful living. If you will just come to yourself, and realize the goodness and mercy of God, and LEAVE the hog pit of sin, and go- find a place, and get alone with God and tell him you are sorry for your sinful life- even as you are rehearsing in your mind what you will say, even as you are seeking an altar for prayer- GOD WILL COME RUNNING! He will FLOOD your soul with LOVE and he will REJOICE over you. He will call out, “Bring forth the BEST robe- a robe of righteousness, white and clean and put it on him!” And as you acknowledge your sin and begin to believe in the blood of Jesus Christ to wash it all away, the angels and all of heaven will be REJOICING! The Father will shout, “Put a ring on his hand- a sign that he is my son or she is my daughter- and put shoes on his feet! And lets CELEBRATE!”

You will leave that altar of prayer with more joy than you ever thought possible. You will be FORGIVEN and CLEAN, and have a NEW START on life. And most important, you will be a CHILD OF GOD– the apple of His eye!

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Shaken But Not Moved!

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that you labour is not in vain in the LORD.” 1Corinthians 15: 58

There are times in life when we will be shaken. But thank God, in Christ, we never have to be moved. We can hold steady, stand our ground, and march forward. We can continue “abounding in the work of the LORD” no matter how hard we are shaken.

Shake: 1. to move irregularly to and fro 2. to vibrate esp. as the result of a blow or shock 3. to tremble as a result of physical or emotional disturbance 4. to experience a state of instability 5. to cause to waver or weaken

No matter how moved you feel because of a shock or blow, no matter how hard you tremble in the face of emotional or physical distress, no matter how unstable you feel or how weak you are, God has a message for you: DON’T BE MOVED!

Job was shaken in every way. He was dealt a heavy blow that his children were all killed. He was made to tremble when thieves destroyed his property and robbed him. He was put under deep physical distress when his body broke out in boils and his emotional distress was deepened by his wife’s lack of support and faith. He experienced sever instability and his own faith wavered and he was so weakended that he cursed the day he was ever born. (Job 3) Yet though Job was terribly shaken, he was not moved:

“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Job 1:22

Job stood his ground and as soon as he was able, he moved forward in the fear of the Lord.

When something seriously shakes us, our first instinct is to run, to change our position, to take cover. But God says, DON”T BE MOVED!

The Apostles of Jesus were severely shaken after they had been beaten for preaching Jesus- but they were not moved:

“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, the ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5: 41-42

The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:5, “For when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears…” Yet though he was shaken he pressed on “abounding in the work of the LORD.”

King David was shaken when he sinned against God with Bathsheba; yet, he still was not moved. He took his rebuke and his reaping and continued to serve God. After the death of his child, which God allowed because of his sin, we read:

“And David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped:..” 2 Samuel 12:20

The three Hebrew boys were shaken when they were threatened to be thrown into a very hot fire for not worshiping the Kings idol. They were shaken with doubts that maybe God would not deliver them. But they stood their ground. They were not moved:

“”If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King. But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy God’s, not worship the golden image which thou has set up.” Daniel 3: 17-18

Even Jesus Christ our Lord, whom we follow by faith, even he was shaken. He was shaken by what he knew he must pass through. But he was not moved:

“And when he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22: 41-44

He was shaken to the core, yet he went on and suffered more than any other human being to pay the penalty of sin and to redeem us and reconcile us unto God! Shaken but not moved!

To be moved it to change your coarse or position. Our course in Christ is Heaven bound; it is the straight and narrow way. Our position is saved, a Christian, Christ-like.

If we are not on our way to Heaven, we are on our way to everlasting destruction; If we are not of Christ, we are of the Devil.

You may be being shaken at this very moment, but God has a message just for you: DON’T BE MOVED!

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Psalms 18: 1-3

I will love thee, O LORD my strength.

The LORD is my rock– someone I can lean on, hold on to, he will never be moved

The LORD is my fortress– a safe place to run and hide from the enemy

The LORD is my deliverer– he rescued me from the hand of the enemy, and will bring me to safety

The LORD is my God– I worship and adore him

The LORD is my strength– my security and safety

In whom I will trust!!!!

The LORD is my buckler– a leader who protects me; he’s “got my back”

The LORD is the horn of my salvation– the one I praise and give all glory and honor to

The LORD is my high tower– My place of vision, my ability to see and to rise above circumstance

I will call upon the LORD who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies!

 

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