Getting Into You….

When reading through the first 3 chapters of Revelation you find the issues going on in the churches that concerned God. Losing their first love, or allowing their love for God to grow cold. The inability to endure suffering with the right attitude. Tolerance of false teaching, and sexual sin. An almost dead faith. Weak faith. And finally, indifference; being neither hot or cold. Has the time that has passed since this was written, over 2000 years, changed the church? Do we still have these same problems in the church? You have to ask yourself why? The answer is simple. It starts with me. If you’re not getting into God’s word on a daily basis, then I can guarantee God’s word is not getting into you.

1 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive–but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God.3 Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to Me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.4 “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.6 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. Revelation 3:1-6

14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the One who is the Amen–the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation: 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth!17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.18 So I advise you to buy gold from Me–gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from Me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. Revelation 3:14-19

Under the Influence….

People use alcohol and drugs to escape their reality. Being under the influence leaves a person out of control. Actually, they are under the control of Satan when they are “high”. How many stories have you ever heard of people helping others while being “high” or drunk? What good comes when a person is under the influence? We have laws for these type of events. An example would be DUI; driving under the influence. Now, think about this: how many stories have you heard about people doing good when they are under the influence of the Holy Spirit? When you are under the influence of God’s Spirit, good things happen; great things happen. News worthy events happen. Lives are changed for the better. Why don’t more and more people see that drugs are a dead end street? Why don’t they abandon drugs for God? Why don’t they want a real solution to their problems? Is it their ignorance that keeps them away? Satan’s deception? It’s our job as Christians to expose Satan’s lies, and deceptive practices. But we are to do it with love and respect, not the kind of love the world promotes, that involves accepting every kind of behavior. The way we start this practice is going to the Lord in prayer, on our knees, and asking Him to control our thoughts and desires. By asking Him to allow us to be under His influence, we can help start to heal a hurting world, one person at a time. We need to be ticketed with an UGI (under Gods influence). Imagine how many more people will be in Heaven because of this decision?

3 Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. 4 Don’t let me drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. Psalms 141:3-4

Imagine If…..

Imagine if every single person on the face of this earth lived according to God’s design? If we followed God’s design for sex and marriage? Would rape exist? Or abortions? Or incest, sex trafficking, sexual assault? How about pornography? Or homosexuality? What if everyone adhered to observing the Sabbath? Do you think anxiety and depression would be so high? Do you think ‘burn out’ would even be a concept? God’s ways are designed for our best, but unfortunately, Satan wants to corrupt every single thing God designed for good. Living on this earth will never be perfect, for where man is there will be corruption. It’s why Heaven is what we look forward to with anticipation, when everything will be made right. In the mean time, when we personally live our lives within God’s intended parameters, it gives the world a small glimpse of what Heaven will be like. Our joy shows others that God knows what He’s doing. God has our back. It’s His design that creates security, joy, peace, confidence, which shows His love for us. When we live within the realm of His design, we get to experience Him, AND get a little taste of what Heaven will be like. Are you living with eternity in mind? Are you being refreshed weekly?

16 The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. 17 It is a permanent sign of My covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He stopped working and was refreshed.’ ” Exodus 31:16-17

Sometimes It’s Too Late…..

Sometimes it’s too late to respond to God’s call. That’s why it’s important to respond when you are called. You’ll never regret answering God’s call. You’ll always regret not answering it. Be proactive instead of reactive, the consequences can be deadly.

This is what the Lord says: “A shepherd who tries to rescue a sheep from a lion’s mouth will recover only two legs or a piece of an ear. So it will be for the Israelites in Samaria lying on luxurious beds, and for the people of Damascus reclining on couches. Amos 3:12

Refusing to Listen…

In most of the wars recorded in history, the moral countries always warned the invaded countries either to surrender or flee before it was destroyed. During WWII, the Americans warned the Japanese weeks in advance, warning them to surrender or flee from the destruction awaiting them from the atomic bomb. The Japanese government refused, not once, but twice, only reluctantly agreeing after the second bomb was dropped. God does the same thing. He always warns before He punishes. He uses people (prophets) to warn nations, before His judgement is carried out. It’s our obligation to listen, and take heed. When we refuse to listen, how much are we like the Japanese leaders whose prideful decision allowed thousands to die because of their rebellious attitude? Hear truth when it is spoken by the people of God, and take heed, it just might save a nation from falling. God is good, listen to Him when He speaks.

7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until He reveals His plans to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

A Personal and Intimate Relationship….

If God doesn’t want a personal, intimate relationship with each of us, then why would He document these types of statements in His Word? This is just one of many throughout scripture. There must be a reason.

2 “From among all the families on the earth, I have been intimate with you alone. That is why I must punish you for all your sins.” Amos 3:2

Slavery….

This may come to as a shock to many, but I have not found a place in scripture that condemns or condones slavery. It was a way of life. Maybe it’s just misapplication of the concept, slavery, or just the misinterpretation of the word that’s the issue. Slavery was an economic practice. It was a political practice. It was a social practice. The thing that God condemns is evil practices. How we treat others is what matters to God. Slavery was both, in some instances, acceptable (allowed) and unacceptable (not allowed). When it involved voluntary mutual agreement, it worked and benefitted both parties (called bond servants). When it was through oppression and evil, it was eventually punished (nations capturing other nations and making them slaves). An example of this would be Egypt and the Israelites. Another would be here in Amos. God says He would punish the people of Gaza. They sold entire villages as slaves to Edom. This would fall under the oppression and evil category of slavery. Again, this just shows you, what the world sees and interprets as evil, may not always be 100% accurate. God has established boundaries and procedures, and sometimes things that are considered “wrong” by the world, fall within these boundaries, and are permitted. On the opposite end of this, is the fact that God doesn’t tolerate evil behavior very long. He punishes it. The way we treat people with the power we’ve been given is the real issue. I wish people could see this in their confusion of trying to interpret the world without God.

6 This is what the Lord says: “The people of Gaza have sinned again and again, and I will not let them go unpunished! They sent whole villages into exile, selling them as slaves to Edom. Amos 1:6