WHO’S SEDUCING YOU?
(PART II)
We already know that once we give our lives to Christ, our bodies and our lives are not our own! “As it is written, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Our lives and bodies now belong to the Savior! As I said in my last blog post, the letters to the Corinthian church is Paul’s 101 Christianity course for all of Christ’s followers. Paul really stresses the point that once we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior… Our life has to be lived for the Lord and for the good of others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let me show you how Paul teaches them on this same subject by using Israel’s history and the reasons why God gives us such warnings!
The Bible says:
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did--and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel. (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!) These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come." (1 Corinthians 10:8-11)
Note: God gives the warnings to turn from our sins and as “New Creations” in Christ we MUST daily strive to be like Christ! Paul tells the Corinthian church and to all of us… “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Some people live a very “lackadaisy” Christian life… And they say to themselves, “Well the Lord knows I’m not perfect” or The Lord knows I mean to do good.” This is a very dangerous way of thinking and living, my friends. We must be doers of God’s word if we want to inherit the kingdom of God! Do not deceive yourselves the Bible says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)
Note: For the lackadaisy Christian who live their life however they feel, and not according to the Word of GOD! Don’t be surprised if the Lord tells you on judgment day… “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:23) I imagine that some people might tell the Lord, “Lord I want to be in Heaven with you and HE might say to us… You didn’t live or act like you wanted to be here with ME! I said "IF YOU LOVED ME, YOU WOULD HAVE OBEYED MY COMMANDS.” (John 14:15) This is just a thought that came across my mind one day and I thought to share it with all of you… And its pretty freighting nonetheless. So let’s keep watching and praying like the Lord told us to do and obey HIM in ALL things. And we won’t be told by the Lord, “'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The Bible says, “We know that we have come to know him “IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS.” The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what he (Jesus Christ) commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (Watch These Couple Of Verses Very Carefully) But if anyone “Obeys His Word”, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: WHOEVER claims to live in him “MUST WALK AS JESUS DID.” (1 John 2:3-6)
Make no mistake about it, “The Lord” has made it perfectly clear through the “Holy Scriptures” that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of GOD. “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Note: Friends, I want to admonish you to stay on point everyday in your daily walk with the Lord. Live your life committed/devoted to Jesus. Jesus is coming soon and we must be ready if we want to go with HIM to Heaven. Seek GOD daily in Bible reading and in daily prayers… If we are pressed for time, we can say a quick prayer in the car on our way to work! In our lunch time… We can sit in our cars or on a bench and read our Bibles for that hour or half hour! Commitment and discipline that’s where it’s at, my friends! Paul was very committed and disciplined when it came to living for Christ and this was the message/ the point that he brought to all the churches! Paul gave us his workout routine for holy and righteous living… “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 9:27, 1 Corinthians 11:1)
We will never have success in just knowing what the Bible says; we must be doers of the Word of God. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) I can’t just watch the “Biggest Loser” show and think I’m going to lose weight by just watching the show! Who am I kidding?!?! I have to diet and exercise and then I will see the results I want! My friends, this is the same principle with God… His word won’t produce any good fruits in our lives UNLESS we apply it FIRST! Let’s follow Paul’s workout routine for holy/righteous living and THEN we will have success in our Christian life.
We must also be careful whose company we are keeping and are walking daily with… Paul tells the Corinth Church and to us, “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33)
My mother used to tell me as a child… “Tell me who you’re walking with and I’ll tell you WHO YOU ARE! So, if you as a Christian are hanging around gossipers…Guess what that makes you? If you as a Christian are hanging around with two-face people…Guess what that makes you? We get the point, right? So the question is: Who are YOU walking with? Because that’s who YOU are! Jesus said it best…“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:20) Make the changes that you have to make now and start living and striving daily for a life of excellence and holiness in Christ Jesus! John already told us… So we have NO excuses before GOD… “WHOEVER claims to live in him “MUST WALK AS JESUS DID.” (1 John 2:3-6)
We can learn a lot from the Corinthian church because once Paul told them to correct the wrong in the church… They did it right away! Remember what Paul told them, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?” (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)
And on Paul’s second letter it tells us that they took immediate action against this… “The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, “To Reaffirm Your Love For Him.” (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!)The reason I wrote you was to see “If You Would Stand The Test And Be Obedient In Everything.” “If You Forgive Anyone, I Also Forgive Him.” And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake…” (2 Corinthians 2:6-10)
Note: GOD is our Heavenly Father and because God loves us, He also corrects us when we do wrong and How pleased is HE when we accept HIS rebukes and corrections and “Learn to do right! ...” (Isaiah 1:17)
Watch this… I’m going to show you what the book of Hebrews says about God’s discipline… Because it is for our own Good!!
“And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: (Watch This… Don’t Miss It!!) "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; (Watch This Verse… Don’t Miss It!) but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5:11)
Note: Who’s seducing you? The choice is always ours to make, to live for Christ or the World… It's your choice, my friends! If God has spoken to you through this blog/teaching and you realize you’re not living or walking in the truth of the word of God. Then it’s never too late to turn around from your sins and “Learn to do right! ...” (Isaiah 1:17) And we just read in the book of Hebrews that if GOD is taking the time to correct us, to speak to us, THEN we must be His CHILDREN and that my friends… IS GREAT NEWS!! "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." (Hebrews 12:5-6)
This word speaks volume to me… Because GOD loves me, HE corrects me! And I’m totally OK with that! Lord, change all those things in me that are not of YOU! In Jesus name I pray and ask, Amen!!!
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
