Oh! It may be a very "small thing," but nonetheless, it is an issue between you and the Lord.
You may not think that it is any Big Deal! But that is where you are wrong! God would not be chasing you down with message after message, teaching after teaching, and Scripture after Scripture if it was not a Big Deal!
The truth of the matter is - if you don't allow the Holy Spirit to rid you of that "small problem," it will escalate into a "Big Problem" and eventually ruin you.
After today, what will you do with that "Issue of Betrayal"?
Thirty-four (34) years ago, when we were at Bible School, we were faced with certain regulations. We were expected to "punch in" (use a time clock) for classes or the various services. Several students murmured and complained about this practice - saying that it was too restrictive and confining. There was also a curfew set for 11:00 PM - except for those who had jobs which required them to be off campus past that time.
There was one "brother in Christ," in particular, who had a "real" problem with these demands. After all, his feelings were that he was a grown man (in his thirties) and felt that rules were for children and not grownups. He wanted to come and go as he pleased and not have anyone tell him what to do and when to do it
Time after time, he broke these school requirements - without the authorities ever knowing about it. But God knew about it. And so did the Devil!
Shortly, after he left Bible School, his rebellious attitude caught up with him. He left his wife (for another woman much younger than himself) and started a new life away from her, his children, and God. To this day, as far as we know, he no longer walks with Jesus, and is headed for a Devil's Hell!
You may be thinking - what does punching a time clock and adhering to a campus curfew have to do with all of this? The answer is - Everything!
Because this particular "brother" would not submit in the "little things," it affected his overall attitude in serving the Lord.
He had rebellion in his heart which God wanted removed. The Lord Jesus used the simple rules of the Bible School to bring to the surface a "sin problem" that needed to be addressed and gotten rid of. Instead of facing it, he hardened his heart, and eventually turned his back totally on any restrictions - even the overall restrictions found in the marriage covenant between him and his wife.
This incident reminds us of a passage of Scripture where others were having a "real problem" with some of Jesus' teachings and demands. It can be found in John 6:60-61, 66-69 which says - "Many therefore of His disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, He said unto them, Doth this offend you?...From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living God."
Notice the Scriptures say - "Many..." - "Many therefore of His disciples...said, This is an hard saying...From that time many of His disciples went back..."
This reminds us of another Scripture where "many" is mentioned - "...for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." (Matthew 7:13)
We see here that -
...considering some of Jesus' teachings as "hard sayings" or too restrictive
...going back from the Lord
...and taking the "wide gate" and the "broad way" is something that "many" will do and are doing at this present moment.
Hence, some questions that you must seriously consider are -
- Do you want to be a part of that group - the group that refuses any kind of Cross-life or demands placed on their lives?
- Are you a "law" unto yourself in that you will not have anyone at any time telling you what to do or how to do it?
- Do you have the attitude that nobody is going to run your life or change your ways?
...of God's commandments is a "hard saying" to you at this time?
...of His teachings is highly offensive, disagreeable, intolerable, and unbearable?
...of His demands is hard, difficult, and strange?
...of His simple requirements causes you to go into a rampage - filled with explosive complaints and protests?
Whatever it is, that is what we call your "Issue of Betrayal." If you do not allow the Holy Spirit to deal with that "sin problem" in your life, it will eventually cause you to betray the Lord and no longer be counted as one of His own.
- John 6:66 says - "From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him." - Does this Scripture describe you? Are you, as one of Jesus' followers, on the verge of turning away from Him?
- The Holy Spirit is asking you today the heart-searching and piercing question - "...Will ye also go away?" (John 6:67)
Oh, Saint of God! In what spiritual state are you today? Have you hardened your heart to the wooings of the Spirit of God - calling you to change your ways?
Life doesn't have to be this way. Many of your trying experiences can be avoided - if you will only submit to God and stop running from Him.
God is after that "Issue of Betrayal" in your life. Don't fight Him. Don't reject the messengers that He sends to correct you. Don't resist the laws and restrictions that He places over your life. He is after rebellion in your heart. Let Him have it before it destroys you, your soul, and every "good and perfect gift" in your life!
Remember - the Scriptures tell us that God's commandments are not "grievous." (1 John 5:3) When the Lord places a restriction on you, it is for a divine purpose. Trust Him! He knows what's in you and in your heart. And He knows the best way to remove that which will eventually kill you.
Wherever you are, at this very moment, come to the Altar of God. Place that - "Issue of Betrayal" - on the Altar of Sacrifice and allow God to kill it so that it will not eventually destroy you.
It's not worth it! Nothing is worth holding on to that will separate you from Jesus and send your soul to Hell for all of eternity!
Nothing!
May God Bless His Word,
Connie No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved