So then brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:12-17 NASB (emphasis mine)
Have you ever stopped to think about happiness, love, and forgiveness? These are all great attributes, characteristics…qualities to have. And they are all commands in the Word of Yahweh. And……they are all choices, just like every command that Yahweh gives us.
That’s what I want to talk about in this post: the choice to forgive, the choice to love, and the choice to be happy. In a world where we have so little control, isn’t it comforting to know that we have choices for these wonderful things? What do I mean we have so little control? Well, when I finally woke up to the fact that there is only one aspect of my life that I have control over, it changed my whole outlook. You see, none of us has any control whatsoever about the circumstances around us, what someone else says to us, what someone else does to us…the only control we have is the choice of how we will respond to those events, words, and actions. Yes, we control our response.
Happiness is a command…and choice. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Rejoice always!” When the storms of life arise and our circumstances are not what we think they should be, we can choose to be swallowed by despair and self-pity or we can choose to rejoice in the Lord because as believers, we know He has our best interest at heart. Romans 5:3-5 says, “And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” The choice is ours.
Love is a command…and a choice. Matthew 22:37-39 reiterates the commands of old, “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” We are commanded to love God, and love our neighbor. We have a choice to love God by following His commandments (John 14:15, John 14:21, 2 John 2:6), or we can make the choice to say we love Him by following the traditions and commandments of men, or we can choose not to love Him at all. The choice is ours to make. We also make the choice to walk in love with our fellow man and walk in the fruit of the spirit or we can choose to walk in fruit of the flesh towards each other. In each of these areas, we have choices: one is biblical and honors the Most High God and leads to life; the other choice is contrary to scripture and dishonors the Most High God and leads to death. The choice is ours.
Forgiveness is a command…and a choice. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.” We have choices to make. We can make a conscious choice to forgive one another and move on, or we can choose to hang onto an offense and risk having a root of bitterness spring up harming ourselves. The choice is ours.
“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks you, and from one who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.—Luke 6:27-38
Let’s make the choice today and every day to love one another, forgive one another, and rejoice always in all circumstances.
The Rock—His work is perfect; all His ways are entirely just. A faithful God, without prejudice, He is righteous and true.—Deuteronomy 32:4
As I was meditating on what an awesome and glorious and holy God I serve, my heart became sad. Not because of Yahweh, but because of how much He is taken for granted, or worse yet, not even thought of at all. As I am willingly yielding areas of my life to the Most High God, I have become more and more aware of how much I have taken Him for granted…how much I have taken lightly the blood of the covenant. When I become aware of these areas, I confess and repent (1 John 1:9) and He forgives me. Praise Yahweh for the blood of Yeshua!!!
On this particular day, what had me saddened was (in the words of Voddie Baucham) the “sissified Jesus” that is being portrayed in much of “Christendom” today, at least in the American culture. I mean look at the “pictures” we have of Yeshua. Long flowing hair (usually blondish), short beard if any beard at all, blue eyes…you’ve all seen them. Now I wasn’t there, but I’m fairly certain that isn’t how He would have looked at all. And…are we supposed to make images of God?
Now, think of how He is being portrayed in churches across America. We’ve got Jesus in our back pockets…we can pull Him out when we need Him. He’s the “sugar daddy” in the sky…keeping us from all trouble and granting our every wish. He’s our BFF and the “big man” up there. He’s portrayed as the “if it feels right to you do it” Jesus. He’s seen as the, “I believe in you, but let me live how I want” Jesus…I can just do what I want and ask for forgiveness later Jesus. He’s the “you can come to me without repentance because how you live doesn’t really matter” Jesus.
But is that the God and Savior of the bible? Titus 2:11-14 says, “For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.”
Revelation 19:11-16 is an awesome picture of the Jesus I serve. “Then I saw heaven opened and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” That’s the Jesus I serve, not some namby-pamby Jesus in skinny jeans. I serve the One who is holy and righteous, full of power and glory and can change lives and heal broken hearts…the One who was and is and is coming again to judge the world by the standard of His Word.
“We’ve got a False Jesus being portrayed. As seen on TV, acting cool….you see he’s changed.
A different Jesus from the Bible so…allow me to bring the real Christ on stage.
Not that whack Jesus, the one not based on fact Jesus, too often displayed.
The Christ in Glory, not the one on your chain.
Because he’s the real Jesus Peace that only dwells in the saved.
So allow me to paint the picture of Christ in the Scripture preaching faith and repentance that your too cool Jesus….never seems to mention.
It seems like he’s down with all the things that you do.
But come on, there’s only one Jesus who is true.
So which one will you let reign over you? Who?
The Millionaire Jesus who just wants to make you rich?
Give you some ice, fame, money, to prove that you are blessed?
The Black Panther Jesus who throws up his black fist.
The ‘Kan…Ye…West’ Jesus who walks with no Holiness.
Which one will you choose? I said….Which one will you choose?
So I think it is long overdue to have a re-introduction of Christ.
So there won’t be any confusion as to which one is right,
because one leads to death, and the other IS life!
So allow me to, re-introduce the Christ.
Allow me to, re-introduce the Christ.
I said allow me to re-introduce the Christ!
He’s been distorted by the people and IT JUST AIN’T RIGHT!
Allow me to re-introduce the Christ.
Not someone you can pimp around to propel your cause.
Or a name you can proclaim just to cover your flaws.
Look if this is true then you’re serving a different Boss.
Your Christ is an idol and you’re probably lost.
Because Christ in the scripture? He gave a call to forsake all.
Not to wear a cross but to take up your cross and follow Him.
Because we’re holding a death sentence because of our sin.
And it’s His Mercy that His wrath hasn’t burned times ten.
Just like Sodom and Gomorrah but a curse within.
You see He gives us a chance to learn of Him!
So that He can be glorified in His rightful place.
So if we’re serving this imitation Jesus, dude, it’s like a blatant slap in the face, distorting His grace and disregarding His sacrifice.
For a worldly Christ, like the ‘Purpose Driven Life’ Jesus, who prophesied you’ll be used by him before you’re living like Jesus.
Or that S.A.T. Jesus who helps you with all your quizzes, gets you into college, allows you to pass math and physics.
The homosexual Jesus who doesn’t see you sinning.
The ‘Destiny’s Child’ Jesus who sees your Beyoncé and starts grinning.
Which one will you choose? I said…which one will you choose?
So I think it is long overdue to have a re-introduction of Christ.
So there won’t be any confusion as to which one is right,
because one leads to death, and the other IS life!
So allow me to.. re-introduce the Christ.
Allow me to … re-introduce the Christ.
He’s been distorted by the people and IT JUST AIN’T RIGHT!
So allow me to re-introduce the Christ.
Not someone that we can cover His mouth,
so we can continue our nose in the dirt,
so He doesn’t require us to repent of all sins, to be born again, to never blend in with this world,
and Broadway is the street that walks the Material Girl, she’s got you seduced, she feeds you a phony Jesus that doesn’t want to save you from your sins but wants to…”Kick it with you.”
Like…”Jesus is my Homeboy”..or “Jesus got me employed” or “Jesus is my Decoy”,
But will the real Jesus please stand up?
The ONE who is TRUE!
Because He’s been, knocked down, pushed down, and these idols come in, he wrecked it up, he wrecked it up to the point that if the real Jesus came back right now…
Dude, the Church would probably hang Him upside down!
Pin Him to one of these beams and crucify Him again.
Because he’s not down with your sin!
And it hurts me to see how the Church will defend their lifestyle.
Like, Wow! Don’t we want to know Christ?
The one who willingly gave His life to set us free from our sin you see.
And I must do this by ANY means necessary.
See, I must NEVER hide the LIGHT!
So tonight, I’m going to introduce Jesus Christ.
I said I’m going to introduce Jesus Christ because He’s been distorted by the people and IT JUST AIN’T RIGHT!
So I’m going to introduce Jesus Christ because one day…Dude….
He is coming back and it’s important that you recognize Him because the scripture talks about that.
Many people saying….”I’m Jesus….No, I’m Jesus…No, I’m Jesus”
But which one is fact?
And you got to get into the Bible to see about that,
that He’s coming in the clouds with Power and Glory, and every knee will bow, testify to His authority.
So this Jesus of the scripture better take priority,
not the one that’s accepted everywhere by the majority,
when He Himself said the world would hate Him!
So why all of a sudden does the world want to date Him?
Think about it.
Hopefully you haven’t given in to this ‘Come as you are, stay as you are’ Jesus.
He has this wonderful plan for my Life’ Jesus, ‘You don’t need repentance’ Jesus…or ‘All roads lead to Jesus.’
I hope you haven’t given in to this, but you serve the One who is Holy.
Because it will be something if on Judgment day the Jesus you’ve been serving was simply an angel of light,
which covered a legion of demons masquerading as Christ.
All this time serving a Jesus who’s not been pierced at his feet and the wrists,
who has no sword coming out of his mouth, No rod of Righteousness!
To go on day by day by day, and willingly MISS because we’re serving a created image that leads you to the Abyss.
So let’s get into scripture, so we’re not fooled by this Jesus
who when were sinning he’s still with us,
Won’t get into this Jesus that the world loves,
and he’s cool with your worldly music, worldly TV, you going to the club, your sex, your lies, your vanity, your phony love,
the very thing that caused Christ in the scripture to shed blood.
So let’s make sure we’re serving the right Christ,
not a wolf in sheep’s clothing that’s got you enticed.
The TRUE ONE, want to make you new ONE, The ONLY begotten SON!
So I think it’s long overdue for you to be introduced tonight. Everybody help me welcome…Jesus Christ!”
When the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “Love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”—Matthew 22:34-40
I wonder why when the Pharisees were trying to test Yeshua, (because they were trying to prove He taught against Torah) and they asked Him which command in the law is the greatest He quoted from Torah…Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. And then I wonder why Yeshua would say that, if He came to abolish the Law…hmmm…using the Law to abolish the Law…is that even possible? And then, “All the Law and Prophets depend on these two commands.” So if we obey the Law…we fulfill these commandments and vice versa…if we obey these two commands…we fulfill the Law. Interesting…
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9
I’ve heard this verse many times. I can quote most of it, and I try to live this verse. It is amazing to me how much information our brains take in every day whether we are aware of it or not. The things we hear, the things we see…all get inside our brains consciously or subconsciously. We need to be very careful what we allow into our temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). What are we watching? What are we reading? What are we listening to?
I had an interesting exchange with someone recently. When the whole hubbub with Miley Cyrus twerking was going on, this person just had to see what the excitement was all about and watch the replays. “It’s only a couple of minutes,” she said. What I said to her was this, “Yes, but it’s two minutes of your life you can never get back. Is that how you want to spend your time?” Now, I’ve thought before about how I spend my time…but after I said that, I have really been thinking about it. Time is a gift…time is precious…how do I spend the time that I have been allotted? Granted, it’s not watching someone twerk…but there are definite areas in my life where I can be spending my time more wisely.
Paul exhorts us to focus on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable; in other words, things that reflect Yahweh and things that please Yahweh. How do we know if the things we are seeing, reading, and listening to are meeting these criteria? What standard should we be using to measure our activities? Obviously we need to start with the Word of Yahweh. We need to anchor ourselves in Him and His Word…know Him and His Word…meditate on His Word…Let His Word guide us in every area of our life.
Why is this so important? It’s just a little TV show here…a little music there? Well…as the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” What we take into our minds will eventually come out as words and actions. So, how do we represent our Savior? Do the things we see, read, and listen to line up with the Word of Yahweh? Does how we spend our time honor Him? Are we using the gift of time that we have been allotted to live intentionally, bring honor and glory to Yahweh, and not regret that we can’t get that moment in time back?
Remember: Whatever…is true…is honorable…is just…is pure…is holy…is commendable…dwell on these things.
Ever heard “Jesus fulfilled the law, so it doesn’t apply to us anymore?” I used to believe this…. because I was happy to go along with what I was taught instead of actually studying the Word for myself. Yeah, not so much anymore! Yes, Yeshua did come to fulfill – to bring the full meaning to the commandments, not to make it no longer valid. Not to mention the issue with Him fulfilling the whole law as He was neither a woman, leper, land owner, or married… there are some very specific laws pertaining to only those groups of people, so do they still pertain to those people today? Hmm…
Psalm 19:14 