The link to my book - Destroy and Deliver (Autobiography)

Saturday 28 May 2016

The truth told continued for the believer...

Before we move into the coaching to the churches in the book of Revelation I believe there are some principles that need to be highlighted for us to be armed in dealing with its instruction with grander intent.

There is a key that unlocks the forgiveness of God, which by now should be very obvious to all; He is the Lord Jesus Christ. However there is correct manner in which we will enter true son-ship with our names penned in the book of life. REPENTANCE for our sinful actions is the pivot in Christ; it is what will separate the goats from the sheep, the figs from thistles and the grapes from the thornbushes. "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. "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 7:13-20) - A Christian’s conduct will prove their substance.  

The trials and the failures through our lives have a purpose which is to teach us our dependency upon God and the finished work of the cross. The law is a schoolmaster which exposes our frailties in the flesh and clarifies that we are incapable of attaining to God’s standards. This we have already established through varying posts and by the Word of God. We need the injection of the Holy Spirit into our lives to be amongst the number who bring about fruit worthy of son-ship. As children of God we can loose our way along our journey, it’s imperative that we be shown the errors of our way and we find repentant when God’s shines His light into those areas of our lives. This is what proves true son-ship; “… How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:2) – Christ has broken the bondage of sin for every true believer when we walk in the spirit and not the flesh.

If the shoe fits then we must consciously slip into it, if we are clear on all matters we will have peace with God and then it is our responsibility to press on as good stewards. Our intention must be to live a life of holiness. Here is a great encouragement and yet it has a warning attached to it; “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.(2Peter 3:9-11)

Observe I. “That what men count slackness is truly long-suffering, and that to us-ward; it is giving more time to his own people, whom he has chosen before the foundation of the world, many of whom are not as yet converted; and those who are in a state of grace and favour with God are to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God, and improve in a meetness for heaven; for God is not willing that any of these should perish, but that all of them should come to repentance. Here observe, 1. Repentance is absolutely necessary in order to salvation. Except we repent, we shall perish.
The apostle, having instructed them in the doctrine of Christ's second coming,
Takes occasion thence to exhort them to purity and godliness in their whole conversation: all the truths which are revealed in scripture should be improved for our advancement in practical godliness: this is the effect that knowledge must produce, or we are never the better for it. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. Seeing all these things must be dissolved, how holy should we be, that are assured of it, departing from and dying to sin, that has so corrupted and defiled all the visible creation that there is an absolute need of its dissolution! All that was made for man's use is subject to vanity by man's sin: and if the sin of man has brought the visible heavens, and the elements and earth, under a curse, from which they cannot be freed without being dissolved, what an abominable evil is sin, and how much to be hated by us!(Matthew Henry)

There was a time in my Christian life that these truths eluded me and all because I was looking to accommodate sin in my life with the excuse that I was but a man. God has mercifully begun to repair those tares to my life and I am forever thankful that He was willing to show me the wood from the trees. Did you know that one of the fruits of repentance is “revenge”? We are call to find grace and take revenge on those sinful traits that once dominated our lives prior to salvation. This is the call for the Christian.

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. (2Corinthians 7:10-11) – We need to ask ourselves are we amongst the numbers who are clear in these matters? If not then there is work to be done and repentance is on the cards. Work through them one by one and ask God to pour out His mercy with a resolve of seeking out His grace to appropriate the above and it will be well with our souls. We have all been called to a life of holiness.

Signing off


Tyrone

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