"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:13, 14).
Brothers and Sisters, if there was ever a time to start getting it right...it is now. Many of us have been saved for many years but have not grown past the childhood stage in the Lord. But we will not survive in these last days living on stale milk.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).
It is time to grow up and forsake the ways of the world. Many believe that just putting away the "fleshly sins" found in Galatians 5:19-21 and not "running with the crowd" that live such lifestyles is all there is to "coming out of the world". But this alone is NOT forsaking the ways of the world.
Growing up involves so much more than that, it cuts to the very core of our own understanding. Growing up is truly becoming as a child, depending on our father for everything. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us to God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:12-14).
Let us put aside our own reasoning and forsake our own ways.
"For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD" (Isaiah 55:8).
Man's reasoning's are the way of the world...We must stop trying to figure everything out with our own wisdom and understanding...if not, we will drown out the voice of the Lord...we must be quiet in our own reasoning so we are able to clearly hear the "still small voice" of the Lord and to be led by him.
When we look at scriptures with our carnal mind and reasoning we will be like Paul said: "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). It is the Holy Spirit that was sent to lead us into all truth.
"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).
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures" (Luke 24:45).
Whether we are reading scripture or listening to someone teach we must depend on the Holy Spirit to open up the word of truth to us. So many times things sound good to our natural understanding, but learning the difference between our own understanding and a revelation from the Holy Spirit is the only way we will not fall into deception.
If we do not have a genuine love of the truth, and a desire toward the Lord where ever he leads us, we are dead in the water before we even get started. The scriptures tell us that only a small remnant of people will truly seek the Lord in this way. Most will be as Paul describes: "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 Timoty 4:3, 4).
This is a dangerous place to be! If we continue to lean unto our own understanding and follow what "seems" right to us, we have opened up a door for Satan to enter in and deceive us. This is what the following scripture is talking about...it is the antichrist spirit who will be able to deceive and is deceiving many now who call themselves Christians.
"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9). They had picked out for themselves teachers that told them only good things and how to live in pleasure. You will notice, the scripture isn't talking about people in the world, but those in the "church". And make no mistake...it is happening NOW!
"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" (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).
We have awesome promises from the Lord if we walk in His light and not our own. Being weak, so He can be strong, even blind so we can see through His eyes.
"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16).
In our carnal mind this seems impossible, the job too big, how can we know when it is the right voice or not...especially when it seems to go against everything we know. There are so many voices to listen to. There are our thoughts, than all the advice from other people, and then there are all the religious teachings that is so ingrained in us.
But through the entire maze we find comfort in the scriptures. In John the 10th Chapter Jesus tells us that his sheep will know his voice and will follow him. He said that his sheep will not follow another. That means we will not follow any other man, for we cannot climb into the sheepfold on another person's back no matter how holy they are. We are required to have our own relationship with the Lord and hear from him for ourselves.
Though we can hear the Spirit of the Lord through others, it is the Lord that we follow. They are only sign posts pointing to him. It is God's choice on how he speaks to us and he has been known to use even a donkey (See 1 Kings 22).
"The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).
If we seek the Lord with our whole heart, we know "he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). We have faith to know he will do as he said, he will cause us to hear and follow his voice, it will rest on his shoulders, not ours. For we can do nothing of ourselves.
This is the faith we have, as scriptures say: "The just shall live by faith!" If Jesus said we would hear his voice and follow him...then we just believe that we will do exactly that. Not because we are so smart, but because the Lord will have mercy on us and perform this work in us because we ARE weak. Praise His Holy Name!
As the world is falling in to turmoil and great confusion all around us, we know these things must come to pass. We are to fear not, he will lead us through.
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments" (Habbakuk 3:17-19).
Let us take our rest in him. Amen!
