Be Not Destroyed

Be Not Destroyed

June, 2004

Hosea 4:6 " My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:"

Notice God's Word says "My people"! Today we call God's people Christians, so we could say Christians are destroyed for lack of knowledge. There seems to be a lot of searching and asking these days why bad things happen to 'good' people Mat. 5: 45 is often quoted... "He... sendeth rain on the just and the unjust." our modern interpretation of that is, He sends evil on the just and the unjust; because we are so pleasure oriented that anything that postpones our ball game, or race , or ruins our picnic is BAD. This scripture means quite the opposite. Sun and rain are essential to life and are GOOD. If you don't believe rain is good just ask a farmer who has mortgaged his land to buy seed and fuel to plant and has his crop planted and NEEDS rain. So Mat. 5:45 shows God sends good to both the just and unjust. James 1:17 says this "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is neither variableness, neither shadow of turning." I have come to say it this way. Good God, Bad devil!!

Jesus said: John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." So it is the thief ( devil ) that comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Did you notice Jesus said He came that they MIGHT have life more abundantly! If you might then you might not! What determines whether I will or won't you ask? I'm glad you asked. John 8:31b-32 "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye my disciples indeed: and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Then I often ask. What makes you free? invariably 99% of folks say "TRUTH" If truth made you free than we would ALL be children of God as it is the truth that Christ died for all. Truth that His sacrifice was sufficient to save all that ever did, do, or will live. amen? yet all are not and will not be saved. The difference? KNOWLEDGE! Jesus said you will KNOW the truth and the truth you KNOW will make you free. When I received knowledge that Christ died for ME and I believed and received that knowledge I acted on that knowledge and was made free from spiritual death. Now those who refuse to accept that truth and refuse to act on that truth will be LOST despite the truth. As they refuse to acknowledge the truth. As a matter of fact it is TRUTH that Jesus bore ALL our infirmities, all sicknesses, all disease, all fear, all failure, as well as all sin. It is TRUTH that he redeemed us from ALL the curse off the law. Read Duet 28 the curse of the law is poverty, sickness, calamity, and spiritual death. Well if we "are" redeemed from it why do so many of us have it? First Peter 5:8-9 says " Be sober, be vigilant ,for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." James 4:8 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." But resistance must be in FAITH!! I like to say it this way. What God has provided by GRACE must be appropriated by FAITH. Eph. 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith.." Remember how often Jesus said "go in peace thy faith hath..." We will save teaching how to use your faith to appropriate the good promises of God for later. Remember beloved. GOD is GOOD ALL the time. GOOD GOD! BAD devil!

To be continued...