August 2002

Christ:
The Landscape of Life

Part thirteen

              As stated in our previous sharing, the Spirit recently spoke to my heart that I was to pose the following four questions to His people. He said we should think long and hard on each one before answering. God’s Manchild are, at present, undergoing His Holy Harvest as the Wheat of Truth is being stored up; and the chaff of lies and self-deception is being consumed by His Fiery Presence! As the hour nears for the public unveiling of these overcomers, the Spirit is searching the innermost areas of our hearts for any false knowledge that puffs up with “hypocrisy and self-righteousness”; for these debase and preclude Christ’s true “Humility and Righteousness” from coming forth! The Lord also impressed on my heart that He is not seeking an answer to these questions from our lips; rather, He is searching our hearts for its unfeigned (sincere, unpretentious) response! Let us regard each query carefully and prayerfully.

What GOOD THINGS are you willing to ACCEPT from the LORD?

What SACRIFICE are you willing for the LORD to make for YOU?

[Pause and seriously consider this!]

What GOOD THINGS are YOU willing to GIVE the LORD?

What SACRIFICE are YOU willing to make for the LORD?

[Pause and seriously consider this!]

              True sons of God bear many scars of suffering from being pressed beyond measure; purified by Living Waters of Truth; then purged by the Consuming Fire of Love! These are not produced by “religious self-works”; but are sacred chastisements Jesus Christ endured and which we fall heir to by virtue of being His Body! Soon all Christ-possessed ones will face great obstacles of *hedonistic contradiction [*Dict. “Humanistic doctrine that claims fleshly pleasure and happiness are the only true good in this life.”] in the form of the SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST in its economic, political, and especially, religious forms (like Mormons, Buddhists, and Muslims)!!
               Already the word, *“scandal”, has now tarnished America’s reputation in business corporations, government offices, and long-standing religious organizations- as Jesus Christ tears down this old world order to establish His New World Order!! [*NOTE: Dict. root for “scandal” means: “STUMBLING BLOCK, OFFENSE and TRAP”! Observe its timely relevance to these verses.

“You who believe in Jesus Christ, regard Him as a Precious Stone- a Priceless Gem, and Pearl of Great Price; but to those still imprisoned in disobedient unbelief, He is just a worthless stone the builders disallowed; although He became the Cornerstone of His Father’s great house! To them who are appointed to unbelieving disobedience which makes them scorn the Word of God- Jesus Christ is a STUMBLING BLOCK and ROCK OF OFFENSE (scandal)!” (1 Pet 2:7-8)

“And since these unbelievers DID NOT DEPEND ON FAITH; BUT ON WHAT THEY COULD DO- BY RELYING ON THE MERIT OF THEIR OWN HUMAN WORKS; THEY HAVE STUMBLED OVER THE STUMBLING BLOCK (Jesus Christ, God’s Living Word). For it is written, Behold, says the Lord, I am laying in Zion a STONE THAT WILL MAKE MEN STUMBLE; A ROCK THAT WILL MAKE MEN FALL; but he who believes (trusts in and relies) in Jesus Christ (the Word of Truth), he shall not be ashamed!” (Ro 9:32-33)

“But believers beware lest the liberty (that comes when Grace removes our bondage to the Law) becomes a STUMBLING BLOCK to those who are still weak!” (1 Cor 8:9)

[TO BE CONTINUED]