God, Please Back Up My Plans
"If you don't do the work of Christ, you don't believe in the work."
God said,
Isa.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."
Isaiah reveals that God will no longer tolerate the iniquity associated with the corrupted offerings, insincere prayer and the celebration of holy days from those who have
come together in His name, yet carry deceit in their hearts. This type of corruption is man at his best.
In great numbers the enemies of Christ fight against the power of God and His church. They operate from inside the walls of churches, bringing in many forms of external = (foreign to Christianity) worship. A worship that will not receive by God.
They appear eager for Christian identity, but their hypocrisy and deception can be seen in their words and deeds. This is an attempt to deceive. Their words, practices, and exhibitions are morally flawed, showing only a faint representation and form of true worship.
Like Cain and the Jews who followed, hypocrites bring to God their sacrifices, peace-offerings and burnt-offerings. They pray and pray often, believing they should be heard by God. Their attitude, "God, I will speak, you listen." Because their hearts are empty of true worship and devotion, God will not hear.
There are those who attend church on Sunday. Their purpose? to be seen before others. Their hands are full of malice and covetousness, their hearts are full of pride, and merchandising has become their God.
Gen.4:3, Cain brought the fruit of the ground as an offering to the LORD. Gen.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. In this, the fruit that grew from the ground was also cursed. Cain became angry because he felt unjustly rejected.
Gen.8:21, After the flood, God lifts the curse from the ground, "I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake." From this point on, animal and agricultural offerings were now accepted 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 ver.7 implies that previous instructions had been given as to the mode of worship. After Cain's offering had been rejected, Cain felt that he had been unjustly treated.
Christians' today walk in Cain's footsteps. They pray,
"Hear me Oh Lord, your servant speaks."
This is for the most part Christian religion today. The religion of man dressed in all its glorious pride of purple and scarlet color. Man's desire is that the Creator accept whatever he bring to His temple.
The Scriptures have left specific instructions on how God is to be worshiped.
We have all prayed and at times it appears that our prayers are not going to be answered. In this our faith is weakened. We become depressed and down-hearted.
God said to Cain, "Why are you wroth? = (angry) and why is your countenance = (your will) fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if not, sin is at the door."
Matt.6:33, Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God said, Isa.1:12-13, "When you = (the people) come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread = (trample) my courts = (place where worshippers gather.) Bring NO MORE vain oblations; incense in an abomination unto me; the new moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with (endure:) It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting."
Wow, what a statement from the One who is to judge us.
It has been made clear to all what God requires of us.
Ex.23:15-17. God said, "As I commanded thee." Note: This is not a request.
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?"
So the question, "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) , and to love mercy = (loving kindness) and to walk humbly with thy God?"
The people had heard and knew long ago 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 Bible. He will not repeat, rewrite, or recall them for any man.
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?"
How does God feel about this?
Prov.11:1, "A false balance is abomination to the LORD."
Christ was a fulfillment of that which is good. The Law was but a shadow. What is required? Its to have faith in all that is written. We must do right. We must give all that which is owed.
We must do good to all men, their goods, and their name. We must show mercy and pity, blended with a sincere heart felt compassion for the poor, sick, and elderly.
The law was a shadow, a guide, and teacher for us. The Jewish 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.
Heb.9:23, and 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, etc. all had to be purified by the temple priests by the blood of calves and goats.
Ver.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 for He is our High Priest. This for the forgiveness of our sins, to those who believe. His sacrifice was that perfect sacrifice, finished forever.
Heb.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 of any thing, between the place on which the body stands to the ground on which the shadow is projected. Because the light does not penetrate the object on which it shines it is not clearly seen, but as shadow only.
This was the truth of the shadowy sacrificial system of the Jews. Compare this with the true object, which is Christ Jesus. Then came a time when the object was clearly seen by many witnesses. Therefore by faith Christians' are to believe.
Are you one of those who believe they are doing God some great good or kindness by attending Sunday services, tithing, attending prayer meetings, etc. 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 yourselves together will not save you, but will strengthen you.
Heb.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 accept them.
Has the Christian community become so vain in their imagination that they believe God can be bought off? Are your offerings and work being done in a spirit of insincerity and pride? Are the gifts you offer God the cursed things of this world as was Cains? 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?"
Many are taught and believe that what they do for God will be of some great advantage to Him. We act as if God does not have an opinion concerning the facts or arguments necessary to come to a just and impartial decision on matters dealing with our lives.
We impose our own solutions on certain problems, then pray the solution up to God. This may shock you, but God is not dependent on us. We as the children of God are not blessed or punished for our faith, or lack of, nor for our sin, but blessings and punishments are handed out for the good of that person.
God's demands upon us are very reasonable, for 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 as the first born of Adam and Eve had priority of birth right. What was the nature of the birth right Cain traded off?
The birth-right of the first-born is as follows.
Gen.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 received from God. This gift (the Holy Spirit) originated from the Father, given to the Son, and sent to us. Don't be a fool and trade it off as did Cain and Esau. 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;"
2. Ver.17, "for He (Holy Spirit) dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
3. Ver.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 expressions 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 out Lord Jesus. We have 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 and other disobedient Bible characters. We cannot come to the Father on our own 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.
We are to continue the good works of Christ Jesus, in the spreading of the Good News. Our hearts, bodies, and minds are to be filled with charity, justice, and good works. We are to be humble before God, lest we fall.
Thank you,
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com