“If you don’t do the work of Christ, you don’t believe in the work.”
Isaiah 1:13, “Bring no more vain oblations; = (sacrifices) incense = ( prayers) is = (they are) an abomination unto me; the new moons = (festivals) and Sabbaths,= (our Sundays) the calling of assemblies,= (readings) I cannot away = (endure) with; it is iniquity,= (unrighteous) even the solemn meeting.”
Carrying deceit in their hearts, Isaiah reveals that God will no longer tolerate the iniquity associated with the corrupt offerings, insincere prayer, and the celebration of holy days. The enemies of Christ come from within, and without to fight against God and His chosen.
Many there are who are eager for a form of Christian identity, but only hypocrisy and deception are seen in their deeds, and heard in words. Words, practices, and exhibitions being morally flawed, and possessing certain shades of Godly worship.
Hypocrites bring to God their sacrifices, peace-offerings and burnt-offerings. They pray, believing they are heard. The echo’s of, “God, let us speak, you listen,” these words coming from an empty hearts.
Attending church on Sunday, only to be seen, hands full of malice, and covetousness, pride, and merchandising having become their gods.
Genesis 4:3, Cain brought the fruit of the ground as an offering to the LORD. Genesis 4: 5. But God had no respect = (regard or delight) for Cain’s offering. Why?
Because Cain’s offering was from the very ground God had cursed, the fruit that grew from that unholy ground was also cursed. Cain became angry feeling he had been unjustly rejected.
Genesis 8:21, soon after the flood, God lifted the curse from the ground, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake.” From this point forward, animal, and agricultural offerings were now received by the LORD.
Abel also brought an offering of the firstlings of his flock of sheep to the LORD, and “The LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”
In their offerings, both Cain and Abel acknowledged God. This offering showed reverence, and honor to their Maker. It is obvious that both Cain and Abel knew what was required of them. The language of verse 7 implies that previous instructions had been given as to the worship God desired.
Do we walk in the footsteps of Cain today? Our prayer, “Hear me Oh Lord, your servant speaks.”
Is this your part in Christian religion? The religion of man dressed in all its glorious purple, and scarlet. Men desire that God accept whatever he brings to His table.
Scriptures reveal specific instructions left by God, and how He desires to be worshiped.
We have all prayed; at times it appears our prayers are not being heard, because no answer was forthcoming. In this, the faith of many is weakened, becoming depressed, and initiating a fallen spirit.
God said to Cain, Genesis 4:6, “Why are you wroth? = (angry) and why is your countenance = (will) fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if not, sin is at the door.”
Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Exodus 23:15-17. God said, “As I commanded thee.” God calls the religion of men, “Empty.”
Micah 6:7, “With-what, shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God?—–Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? = (material things and money) shall I give my firstborn = (even your first-born child) for my transgression = (sins,) the fruit of my body = (work of my hands) for the sin of my soul?”
The question begs to be asked, “What must we do to please God?”
The answer lies in, Micah 6:8, “He = (God) hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; (the future Messiah) and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly (obey the law,) to love mercy = (loving kindness,) and to walk humbly with thy God?”
The people had heard and knew long before the mind and will of God. He had left His word written on tablets of stone. Today He left His written word on the pages of the Scriptures. They shall not be rewritten, or recalled.
Micah 6:10, “Are there yet the treasures of wickedness = (acquiring treasures of wickedness) in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?”
What are God feel about this? Proverbs 11:1, “A false balance is abomination to the LORD.”
Christ was a fulfillment of that which is good, the Law being only a shadow. What is required, faith, love, to do right, and giving all to the LORD that is owed.
Do good to all men, and their name, show mercy, have pity, and with a sincere heart feel compassion for the poor, the sick, and the elderly.
The law was a guide, and teacher for the Jews. Their temple sacrifices were but the suggestive foreshadowing of Christ superior sacrifice on the cross. His title, “Christ” speaks of His Eternal Kingship, He being our High Priest, and Prophet.
Hebrews 9:23,10:1, “It was necessary that the PATTERNS of things in the heavens should be purified = (cleansed)”
Hebrews speaks of the patterns of earthly things, such as the tabernacle, the utensils, the services, all having to be purified by the temple priests, by the blood of calves, and goats.
Verse 23, “But the heavenly things = (things of God), themselves, with better sacrifices than these = (blood of bulls and goats.)”
As the High Priest had to enter into the Holy of Holies in the earthy tabernacle once each year, so also Christ our High Priest enters into the throne of His Father every moment of every day, with the blood of His sacrifice, all for the forgiveness of sin, to those who believe; a perfect sacrifice, a finished work.
Hebrews 10:1, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things = (heavenly things), can never with those sacrifices = (blood of animals) which they offered year by year continually make the comers = (those who approach God’s throne) thereunto perfect.”
A shadow is the shade cast from a body to the ground. Because the light can-not penetrate the body on which it shines, the body can only be seen by others as a shadow.
This was the truth of the shadowy sacrificial system of the Jews. Compare with the true body, which is Christ Jesus. Then came a time when the object was clearly seen by many.
Will you be counted among those who believe they are doing God some great service for attending Sunday gatherings, for giving, and prayer. By faith are you saved, and not by works, yet by your works will your faith be known.
Yes we are required to gather together, but the assembling of ourselves together will not save us, but will strengthen us.
Hebrews 10:25, “Forsaking not the assembling of ourselves = (Christians) together,” Assemble yourselves together, but not in a spirit of hypocrisy, and pride.
Do your prayers, and proposals betray your ignorance of what the Lord desires from you? You may show great zeal in your giving, and prayer life, but like Cain, God will not receive them unto Himself.
Have we become so vain in our imagination that we believe God can be bought off? Are our offerings, and works done in a spirit of insincerity, and pride? Are the gifts we offer God the cursed things of this world? Has this become your satisfaction for sin?
Job 35:7, “If thou = (you) be righteous, what givest thou him, = (God) or what receiveth he = (God) of your hand?”
Do you believe that your works are of some great advantage to Him? Do we act as if God has no opinion concerning the facts, or arguments necessary to come to a just and impartial decision on matters dealing with our lives?
Do you impose our own solutions on certain problems, than pray the solution up to God? Do you not understand that God is not dependent on us? The children of God are not blessed, or punished for their faith, or the lack of it, nor for their sins. His blessings and punishments are handed out for our good.
God’s demands upon us are very reasonable; He said, “Hear the word of the Lord,” and, “Give ear to the law of our God:” “Attend to that which God has to say to you,” and “Let his word be a law unto you:” “For my yoke is easy, and my burden s light.”
Cain the first born of Adam, had priority of birth right. What was the nature of the birth right Cain traded away?
The birth-right of the first-born is as follows.
Genesis 27:29, “Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord = (master) over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he the blesseth thee.”
Our new birth also is a gift given. This gift? Its the Holy Spirit originating from the Father, given to the Son, and sent to us. Jesus said,
1. John 14:16, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, = (helper) that He may abide with you for ever;”
Verse 17, “For He = (Holy Spirit) dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Verse 26, “He = (the Holy Spirit) shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Christians must burn into their minds and hearts every personal expression applied to the Holy Spirit, for He is,
1. Our Comforter:
2. Our teacher.
3. He will remind us of the finished work of Christ.
4. He will testify to us.
5. He will come to us.
6. He will convince us.
7. He will guide us.
8. He will speak of God’s will for us.
9. He will only speak of that which He hears from heaven.
10. He will prophesy.
He is our gift from God, we having been sealed in heaven. Jesus said,
John 5:20, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater = (more) works than these shall he do;”
John 14:13, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my = (Jesus) name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Lets not be as Cain, disobedient. The Father will not receive us on our terms.
1. God said, hear my words. For I have written my laws in our hearts.
2. I have sent my Son to testify of me.
3. I have appointed the apostles, having built the early church on this foundation, Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone.
Continue in the good works of Christ Jesus: spread the Good News of the Gospel. Our heart, body, and soul are to be filled with charity, justice, and good works. Humble yourself before God, lest you fall.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com