Gates of the City

Sometimes it seems life takes you in circles, different people but the same ole’ situations whereby you witness other believers hearts being harden against the truth because of their pride. That is why I am reposting this article again. Brothers and sisters, we must always remember our battles must always be fought in a spirit of humility if they are to truly be won, for that is the path of righteousness the Captain of our salvation showed us as he openly defeated His enemies by willingly enduring the cross. Therefore, let us too pick up our crosses and follow Him into victory.

Ephesians 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.

James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Re-posted article –

It has been several months that I felt the Lord has been speaking to me about faith, faithfulness and forgiveness. Throughout it all I have found myself wanting to write about what He has been showing me regarding having “faith as a grain of a mustard seed” where Jesus tells His disciples, “you might say unto this sycamine tree, ‘Be you plucked up by the root, and planted in the sea,’ and it should obey you.” I have sought various opportunities of late to so write concerning faith and a few other topic concerning spiritual things that I might leave my own children a record of what I feel the Lord has revealed to me pertaining to the promises and conditions of the Kingdom of God of which Jesus testified “every man presses into it.” However, I have felt restrained by His Spirit prior till now that it wasn’t time to write. Why, I am not really sure, the Lord knows though. Perhaps so will I when I am finished.

During this time God has taken me through various situations and trials resulting in tremendous heartaches. Even though I sought the Lord that I might walk uprightly through these trails, undoubtedly I have still made mistakes because of my own frailty of the flesh and the yet uncompleted work of Christ who works daily as my Refiner to purify my heart so it will be motivated only by an unfeigned love of others. Through all the onslaught of accusations from those offended by my stance on some issues, I have prayed that I have not deceived myself while still trying desperately to maintain a transparency and accountability in hopes that I might be examined openly and receive correction and admonition from others who fear God and walk uprightly loving His truth. So again I pray, “Lord, please continue to forgive my secret and presumptuous sins.”

Having wept over these things while endeavoring to stand the gap for others and continuing to ask God to reveal any errors of my heart which may have kept me from being more effective for His glory, I now believe the Lord is allowing me to write a series of articles leading to the end of such “faith as a grain of mustard seed.” That is not to say that these trials are over, not hardly, but through them I continue to press forward asking God to create in me a clean heart, a pure heart that I may not be ashamed and may see God.

Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

(For a powerful delivery and message on the greatest sermon ever preached I highly recommend this one)

Sadly it seems, not many are truly pressing into the Kingdom of God, nor does it appear that they even understand the concept thereof. Maybe because they have been taught they are “king’s kids” and therefore it’s their entitlement. Perhaps because they think that just because it is the Father’s good pleasure to give them the Kingdom, that all they have to do is just continue doing whatever religious activities they’ve been doing and simply wait for it to come to them. Oh how wrong such an attitude and posture is, regardless how much “faith” they claim to have regarding their right to God’s kingdom. Have they forgotten Jesus words that we should pray we are found worthy to escape the wrath to come or His questioning His followers whether He will truly find faith at His appearance?

Lu 18:8 . . . Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Lu 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Have we forgotten how God also called out Israel and covenant with them to “give” them a promised land? Did they all inherit it or did they (save Joshua, Caleb and the children) all fall short due to disobedience and provoke God to wrath, whereby He swore they would not enter into it? Yes, it was given unto them, but they still had to “press” into it and fight to take it. They like us had the promise God would indeed “give” it unto them if they would obey the Gospel and fight the good fight of faith, but their faithlessness caused them to know God’s breach of promise given unto them. Victory belongs to the faithful, overcoming is the reward of obedience, the Kingdom of God is the prize of those who would take it by force overcoming all obstacles by the word of their testimony (Jesus Christ the Son of God crucified) and the blood of the Lamb whereby they are justified and now live and fight for His name’s sake.

No, we do not fight in the flesh as do the blind in Islam with earthly weapons against all others of different beliefs; rather we are obliged to fight against demonic powers in the spiritual realm that tirelessly labor to deceive not only the hearts of reprobates, but of Christians as well. Like it or not, we are in a battle constantly and we must put on the whole armor of God daily which He has afforded us if we are to stand against the wiles of the devil. We must diligently strive to become master swordsmen with the sword of the spirit, God’s word, if we are to effectually keep the adversary at bay and set captivates free. Not only by preaching the truth of the Gospel, but walking according to it as well. It is those who have ears to hear and are therefore doers of the words that are overcomers and the inheritors of the promises of God.

Jesus said the time now is that the true worshippers must worship God in spirit and truth, and in the realm of spirit and truth there is only the clear distinction between light and darkness, righteousness and unrighteousness, holy and profane, black and white. We cannot afford to allow ourselves to become comfortable and complacent while running our own races and fighting the fight of faith, for if we do we’ll only end up deceiving our own selves; thinking ourselves to be something we are not in Christ. We need to continually examine ourselves for there are no grey areas in Christ. Grey areas in people’s faith appear when they foolishly corrupt the white of righteousness with the blackness of sin, or try to whiten (justify) what is deadly black. Remember, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. We are either with Christ or against Him; our lives either leading others to Him through spiritual fruits of humility and godly example or our scattering them away from Christ through our hypocrisy.

Sisters and brother, we are in a constant spiritual battle that is waged against the whole world; a constant assault coming not only from without, but also through our own flesh trying to stir up appetites, fears, pride, and weariness in well-doing and taking untimely ease, or unmerited self-righteous confidence in how/where one stands before Christ. The prize of the battle is the souls of men, even our own. Howbeit we have a Captain of our salvation who is willing and able to lead all those who will follow Him into the promised Kingdom . . . but they too must take it by force, allowing Him to give them the victory over their adversaries by listening to His Spirit and obediently following Him.

John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. . . 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

We who have been forgiven of our sins by the blood of Jesus were also washed clean from its stain that these earthen vessels may be fit for the habitation of Christ’s Spirit within us, our hope of glory. That having been reconciled and brought out of our old houses of bondage in the world/Egypt, we may now be saved by His life within us, ever-present to quicken and empower us for every good work.

Ro 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Reconciliation is the first step towards eternal life, not the end thereof. Now we who are alive in Him are told to “lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking.” It is very difficult to avoid stirring up these sinful fruits, especially when we are being corrected or when we are laboring in love to correct others of their sins, for the natural man tends to hate correction and to justify self. Such is why we need to be good stewards of God’s word and keep to the simplicity that Christ delivered it unto us. Good stewardship requires our keeping God’s word with what it defines as unmistakable righteousness, being watchful not to allow sin to creep into our hearts by disguising itself as something acceptable. Therefore my series of articles leading up to “faith as a grain of mustard seed” will begin with my next article about “a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.”

In the meantime, think on Paul’s words to Timothy and see if you are allowing yourself to be governed by the same spirit of admonition.

 2Ti 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.