June 7, 2006 – OUT OF ORDER?
Is your life chugging and rattling along? Are you conscious that there are many things out of order and there is a coming breaking point? We are often given to “patching and gluing” the broken pieces and ignoring the problem. We know it must be remedied permanently, but we do not have the inclination to face the larger problem. Usually when something is “out of order,” it doesn’t affect just one area of our lives; it is a “growing” thing that takes over our lives. A “life out of order” is a warning sign that, when heeded, can bring order and blessings back into our lives. Proverbs 1:23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. 24 But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, 25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you.
The faith or the religion we practice is not worthy of God if it reflects the deification of self. The entire world system is a product of “self deification”. That is the reason the cultures and politics of this world are corrupted and run totally contrary to God’s ways. Man is corrupted! Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.
No wonder the world is “out of order”! The deists do not believe that God himself should be in charge of anything, nor that He can be. They believe in the deification of man and nature as the only presence of God. They reject all supernatural revelations of God. Their minds are closed to divine revelation and they are removing the revelation of God whenever and wherever they have control. The world is being stripped of the only one that has all love, wisdom, and understanding. God is the only creator of miracles.
Without God there is no wisdom or understanding for man’s highest thinking and understanding is distorted by sin and self interest. Are we allowing our pride, sin, and self interest to block Christ in our lives? To the extent that we have let “self” rule, we are “out of order” and our life will reflect the lack of God’s wisdom and understanding. The worst part of all is that “self as god” blocks the blessings of God. “Thou shall not have other Gods before me!” Proverbs 1:25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you – 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.”
God’s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding go hand in hand with the presence of God in our lives. When God is pleased with us He sends forth His joy and blessings. You can tell whether or not God is “pleased” with your words and actions (your life in general) by His presence in your life and the blessings you receive. Psalms 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
God expects His children to live by the “higher standard of righteousness.” If we do not live according to the dictates of God’s commandments, His daily word in our lives, and through His spirit, we are going to produce confusion, chaos, and every evil work. John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Jesus Christ is the living word and His spirit leads us into all truth. There is no excuse for ignorance. God tells us to: Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. God leaves us not to mere “chance”, but gives us a “sure choice” that will produce spiritual life within us. We can choose to have faith and trust in God alone, and if we acknowledge Him in all of our ways, He will direct our path. He has given us his “living word” to indwell us and we are without excuse if we allow any other God to rule over us. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Faith in God and His word will produce for us everything we have need of for life and Godliness. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
We live out our inner propensities (inner beliefs and inclinations) within our relationships and before the world and a life “out of order” looks normal to the vast majority. However, a life “out of order” shows clearly that “God is not in charge.” This is the reason that Paul tells us that our faith without works is dead. James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder. 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. How can the world or your loved ones see your faith apart from seeing Christ in your words and actions? Love is greater than faith and hope. Love is the very nature of God. What we say and do is our testimony to our family and the world! No wonder the Bible says: Matthew 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
“Out of order” is the sign you read when you see a life that has not been given over to God to control and lead. Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. The Word declares in Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
God has pronounced and ordained great blessings to those that make God “first” in their lives and walk in love, obedience, faith and trust. ~The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted – Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Of all the things that God despises, pride is at the top of His list. Pride is the sin that usually stands in the way of our asking God to come into our heart and rule over us. Proverbs 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. 14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. 15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; 16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. When we repent of our old ways of life and receive newness of life, God’s spirit will indwell us and make our life a new creation. We were created in the image of God to walk with Him in eternal fellowship. We are “chosen” to let the image of God shine through us so that the world will see Him and come to know Him. Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Our prayer is for the Lord to bless and keep you! May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and bring you into His abiding presence.
In Christ’s love,
Anita
