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When you came into the faith as a Christian, something extraordinary happened. The veil that once separated you from God was torn and you gained access to the throne of grace. I’m not sure I’ve yet learned to appreciate the sheer magnitude of that privilege, but I press into it daily; how about you? Yet, this question remains…why? Why do we have open access to heaven? To quote a friend who recently relayed the vision of his local church: “We exist to take you from corporate encounters to daily personal encounters.”

And that struck at the core of my being. I mused instantly, “Isn’t that the exact opposite of the call of the church?” Aren’t, rather, your deep personal encounters meant to uplift and unify the entire body of Christ? Isn’t that the bigger reason we have open access to God’s throne? This hyper-emphasis on our personal lives in the faith, rather than what Yahweh is doing in the Body of Christ, has bred a narcissistic brand of Christianity. We have moved our focus from ‘Others’ Lives Matter” to ‘My Life Matters.’ “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:21) The course correction is this; “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4)

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You are royalty, so start acting like it. Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s horribly presumptuous to think you can keep doing your own thing and God will just bless you anyway. Besides, if you really grasped how awesome the promises are to His royal family, you’d not be so quick to follow the dictates of your own heart. I promise, if you tune into the depth of what is being offered you in God’s word, it is not likely you would so easily exchange those promises for some cheap substitutes.

“But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (I Corinthians 2:9-10) Do a little spiritual detective work; trust me, the payoff is worth a thousand times your investment.

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Do you think Yahweh is joking? Do you take His grace for granted?

Maybe there is no better way to put how serious this is into words than to simply state it the way the Scriptures do in Hebrews 10:26-29. “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Maybe, however, there is one thing even worse than willful sin.

Faking it! Y’shua described these counterfeits as whitewashed tombs, all bright and Christian-like on the outside, but on the inside filled with rotting and decaying bones. Pretty harsh words for gentle Jesus! What I am sure about is this; by obeying God you surround yourself with His blessings, and living in disobedience is worse than a horror story!

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Have you ever pondered why there’s seemingly no progress in your walk with Christ? Of course you have! You hear of all the promises the Bible makes to those who place their faith in Y’shua. But, you’ve yet to experience the drastic, visible and enjoyable transformation you’ve been promised. Have you considered what the problem is? It is your unwillingness to Release in order to Reach what is delaying the growth available to every fully redeemed believer.

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There is a constant tension inside all of us who identify ourselves as “Christians.” Maybe you call yourself a “Believer” or “a follower of The Way.” Let’s just say I am addressing anyone who has had a true born-again encounter with Y’shua (Jesus).

Here is the tension: “NOW WHAT?” So much pressure exists from countless directions, really all depending on “whose church” you got born-again into. I know that sounds really bad, but it happens. Your denomination will strongly influence, even dictate, your “what’s next!” Many just ask you to tow the party line. Sign up for our theology and get to work doing the work of “our church.” You’ve joined a club and clubs have membership dues and those dues come in the form of money and service. All these religious requirements that insert themselves into your new born-again life, as “doctrine”, pose a serious threat to your development as a disciple.

There is, however, something I am certain Yahweh wants of you. “My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Let’s set religion aside and circumcise our hearts unto Yahweh!

Sermon Notes

“When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’”
Deuteronomy 12:29-30 NKJV

“But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.”
Deuteronomy 13:5 NKJV