We live in the times where lies and all manner of deception abound. At the root of this darkness is widespread pride. Pride which declares its own truth despite the word of GOD and the light of the Spirit. The only way man can be reconciled to GOD is to come to Him in total surrender, but this pride keeps man from bowing. You can confess a sinner’s prayer, be baptized, get circumcised, shave your head, or perform any other sacrament, but if you are not ready to surrender control of your life to GOD then you are just going through religious motions. Taking up your cross in surrender is the beginning of the Christian walk and if you haven’t taken that step you haven’t begun to follow Christ. If your spiritual leader, pastor, bishop, or elder didn’t explain it to you this way, then you were not fully informed. Here is what Christ says,
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:24-25 KJV)
It is written that GOD resist the proud but a contrite heart He will not despise. A contrite heart is a heart that has bowed to GOD. A heart bowed to GOD is ready for the work of regeneration. A contrite heart is a heart ready to have its values redefined. A contrite heart is a heart ready to be filled with light because it is ready to have a single focus on GOD. It is this condition that qualifies a person as ready to be born again by the spirit of GOD. This is what John 1:12-13 (KJV) is referring to:
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This is different than deciding to be a better person and trying to do the right thing. That is just the will of man. When a person’s heart is bowed before GOD, they give GOD authority in their life to define what “better” is and what “right” looks like, and there is the acknowledgement that they are insufficient of themselves to be what they need to be and they are ready to allow “The Potter” to shape them.
The first stronghold in a man’s life which must be broken before the true work of the Lord can begin is the spirit of pride. Holy Scriptures calls this spirit the stronghold of Leviathan. Leviathan is described as a serpent like creature with impenetrable scales. It is written that Leviathan is king over all those ruled by pride. Pride is the self-reliance and ego which drives and serves to protect all those not surrendered to GOD. This spirit of pride in the self-reliant heart decides independently of GOD what qualifies as truth and what is false. I have shared scriptures with people before which didn’t require interpretation because it was already in their language and was straight forward, yet they still denied its meaning as written. Their heart wasn’t ready to bow to the word. Here is an example. Look at Galatians 5:19-24 (NKJV):
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
The scripture cited above doesn’t require interpretation. It is clearly stated. If you have not crucified your flesh through denying it these manifestations, you have not given yourself to Christ. If this feels like condemnation it is because life in the flesh has been condemned and you still identify with it. Those who are Christ identify with living after the spirit. Repent now or you will not be found worthy to enter the Kingdom of GOD. None of the works of the flesh mentioned above are necessary or vital for your life. All these things in one way or another contributes to the decay of society. The contrite heart doesn’t require lengthy explanations because it has already surrendered. Don’t be deceived by others and don’t deceive yourself. GOD gives us the ability through His spirit to walk upright and pleasing before Him. We must learn to take our heart aches and pains to Him and stop self-medicating. Look what GOD says about enjoyment and good things:
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11 KJV)
17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 KJV)
GOD is not calling us to live a boring or dull life, He is calling us to order and decency, and to enjoying things in constructive ways instead of in destructive ways.
The Lord has fitted us perfectly with garments of righteousness, but we have to put them on. We must strip ourselves of the old garments of sin and wash in His forgiveness and put on our wedding garments. Our Savior has provided white raiment, fitted us exactly, and put the garments within our reach. If we deceive ourselves or listen to the vain deceit of others and fail to dress ourselves properly, we are in for a rude awakening. This parable, spoken by YESHUA, sums up all I have been writing about. The reason parables are given is to aid with understanding, it is put in terms easy to understand. Heed the warning given in this parable. Just because YESHUA washes our feet doesn’t mean He will allow us to walk all over him.
Matthew 22: 1-14 (KJV)
22 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
GOD is not a respecter of persons, though He called the guest a Friend, He still had him castaway because he failed to humble himself and make proper preparations. The serpent is telling the same lie he told Adam and Eve in the garden, and people are still believing it. People still believe they can willingly disobey GOD and not face dire consequences. There is a shaking going on in the earth right now to get our attention. Humble yourself and repent of the things you know are not right and surrender your life to the savior to allow Him to establish you in spirit and truth, which is real life. Put on your raiment of righteousness given to you in Christ so that you can be received into the wedding feast that has been prepared for those who humbled themselves to the truth of GOD. Study Hebrews chapter 10 .
