Do Not Refuse The Admonition Of The Lord!

Hebrews 12:25, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.”

This reference in Hebrews 12 is looking back to a prophecy given by the prophet Haggai in 2:6-9. Haggai 2:6, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”

God's promise was for the shaking of all things that can be shaken, all things earthly so that things eternal shall remain. Both point to a yet future time when all things created will be separated from those things eternal.

Haggai was the first prophetic voice to be heard following the exile of God's people in Babylon. His mission was to call the people to finish the Temple. Work on the Temple had faltered and the people turned inward to their own perceived needs. Haggai chided the people for living in their “ceiled houses” while the Temple was left unfinished. His call was “consider your ways.” God's warning was that He would bring their prosperity to naught because His house laid waste. The Lord stirred them up and they finished the Temple. This restored Temple was nothing compared to the Temple that Solomon built and the elders were reminded of that when they looked upon the new structure.

However, God reiterated His covenant with Israel in Haggai 2:5, “According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.” Now He is looking into the future in v6-9 when He will fully restore the nation in their promised land given to their father Abraham. The Hebrews writer gives greater clarity to this passage in Heb. 12:27, “And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.” Once again “...I will shake the heavens, and the earth..,” Haggai 2:6. This prophecy points to the future fulfillment and restoration of Israel at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Haggai 2:7, “...I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come:..” Jesus Christ is the desire of all nations that should come. At the Second Advent, Jesus Christ will establish the Kingdom of God on the earth and rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem. and “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former..,” Haggai 2:9. Then, the prophecy of Haggai will be fulfilled. Former things will pass away and ALL things will become new in Him.

The shaking referred to by Haggai and the writer of Hebrews refers to a time of separation. A time when the earthly will be separated from the eternal, the good from the bad, the wheat and tares, the harvest and the chaff. The end result being the establishment of the literal, eternal Kingdom of God to be ever present with the redeemed of God. 

Make sure that you have built upon the rock. When this shaking comes, only the redeemed of Christ will survive! Matthew 7:24, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Do Not Refuse The Admonition Of God!

Come Drink Living Water! by Myra Boozer

Lord, I sense your Life-Giving Water is flowing so freely for all today...I see it sparkling in your light with beauty as it flows from your Throne...I can hear the sounds of freedom splash against the banks...It is calling one and all to come and drink and be filled with this rich and powerful Life-Giving Source.

The call is going out to the stranger who has never seen or tasted of your True and Living Waters...Those whose god is Religion not Salvation thru the Grace of Jesus Christ...Those who wander thru this life and exist on mere fables and theories.

The call is to the prodigal who once tasted and thrived but then decided his own path...Who has forfeited the treasures of joy and peace that only your waters can bring because of a seemingly better way.

The call is to the stubborn who think they have no need of you...Those who think you don't exist and insist on denying you...They accept the counterfeit water offered by a worldly system.

The call is to the churchgoer who stands in the congregation weekly, offering up praise from a heart that doesn't know you personally...

The call is to the man or woman who stands behind the pulpit who has no real connection to Your Holy Spirit...Who just reads the words from their notes and tries to make it pertinent to those who are dying from rhetoric.

The call is to the husband or wife who has lost their love for their family because of lust and desire to be with someone that belongs to another...

The call is to the youth today, those who are searching for love and acceptance...Those who are desiring family and a home where love and Truth prevails.

The call is to the addicted, those who have sold their very soul to this trap and they can't get out...Freedom is available thru the precious blood of Jesus...

This call is to the congregation of people who attend services of programs and rituals that have replaced the Word of God being preached in the Spirit of Truth and Power of Your Resurrection.

This call is to those who have lost their passion for you Lord...Those who no longer desire to be in Your Presence and feast at your table...

This call is to the deceiver and the one who is striving so hard to convince someone else that Good is Evil and Evil is Good... 

Lord I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear and not only hear the call but heed the call. Many souls are thirsty in a dry, desert land...But there is a River that flows from your Throne to fill all who will come and drink of Your Water...Only Jesus can give this gift that every soul desires...Come Drink Living Water!

How Can I Be Sure Of My Salvation?

There are not too many things in this world that a person can be sure of and because of that an attitude of skepticism and pessimism is prevalent. Governments are crumbling, economic systems are falling apart, and political systems are failing.

This skepticism and pessimism must not prevail in the life of a Christian. A skeptic is a doubter and a pessimist always expects the worst. These behavioral traits will drive a person’s life and are the opposite of faith and trust. God is still in control. He has not relinquished any of His power or authority to any other entity. His plan is still on schedule and will not be delayed by the disobedience of mankind. If anything, the sin and degradation of man will hasten the judgment of God. He is presently working all things for His Divine Purpose. We can rejoice in His calm assurance if we have put our faith and trust in Him.

How can we live a calm and assured life when our world and everything in it is falling apart? Paul gives us some insight in his first letter to Timothy. 1 Timothy 2:1, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time...8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy and to us is to pray and intercede before God for all men, “that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” Live right before God and pray in faith believing that God is still in control. If we know Jesus Christ, we can be sure of our salvation through Him. God says so in His Word and He cannot lie!

Our salvation by faith in the blood of Jesus is not based upon shaky or unreliable evidence. 1John 9:5, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” There is the witness of man and there is the witness of God. God says that He has provided us eternal life through His son Jesus. The witness of God is greater! 

The new birth opens within us a new awareness of the Spirit. There is peace and love that fills our hearts that only comes from God. We have new desires, new ambitions, and a new outlook on life. Thank God for that inward witness! Receive His promise, live in His provision and Be Sure Of Your Salvation!

Grace And Mercy Are Waiting For You! by Myra Boozer

People are leaving this world every day and going to their final destination. So much death, from little babies to the elderly. Ready or Not we will leave this world either by death or the Rapture. The big question is, “Are you ready to meet God?” Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Have you asked God to forgive you of your sins?

God has a great plan for your life here but if you seem to have missed it somehow, Grace and Mercy are still waiting for you to accept them. Forgiveness is still available for the asking. I know that sounds way too simple but God made it simple. Truth and Love have been waiting for you to open the door for them to come and invade your life like you cannot imagine. The power of the Holy Spirit wants to lift you above all the mundane living. He wants to set you on a path of Holy living where the river of Life flows freely for all who want to drink fresh, living waters. You will never thirst again!

If you are weighted down by a load of sin and regrets, it can be lifted by the prayer of repentance. You can be lifted by the wings of mercy to live in the realm of peace and joy. Yes, even in this life! There is Abundant Living for all who will surrender, give it up, let it go and find what God has designed especially for you.

NO, it will not always be a bed of roses. It will be hard, almost unbearable at times. But the road (this life) is so much easier to travel when Jesus is your personal guide and the responsibility to fix everything is not upon your shoulders alone. You will find that He is a constant help in time of need, always listening to your hearts cry and willing to carry you when you can't go on. 

Jesus is never far from you and longs to be your dearest friend. He can give hope where there is none because of who He is. Seek Him while He may still be found! Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Grace And Mercy Are Waiting For You!

Jesus' Love Pulls Back The Veil That Separates Us From God!

I began this day as I do every day in the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. I see that His love abounds everywhere even in the areas of our world that appear to be dominated by sin. But, Jesus’ love is there! A love which transcends all obstacles, penetrates into the most remote and isolated crevices of life. Every area of human existence is held in the shelter of His hand.

Your need and my need is laid bare before Him. He knows where we are, what we feel and what we dream. He sees each despairing thought and feels the anguish that we feel. He identifies with every human experience and emotion that has and will touch our lives. He left His throne in glory, took upon Himself the form of human flesh so He can tell you today, “I have been where you are and I feel what you feel.” He experienced the human condition in the fullest sense yet without sin. Heb. 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” 

He is saying to the whole human race, “I understand. I have made a way out. Believe on me as the scripture has said and be free.” You may feel trapped in a place you don't want to be. Give it all to Jesus! He has made a way of escape for you. Trust Him! He knows the way. He is the WAY! Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Look to Him and live!

We Shall Be Like Him! by Myra Boozer

James 3:13-18 talks about wisdom...earthly wisdom and also wisdom from above(from God). He stated that it is pure...peaceable...gentle...easily entreated...reasonable...full of mercy and good fruits...merciful...without partiality...steadfast...without hypocrisy...sincere.

Wisdom's consequences are "the fruit of righteousness." Purity is the first characteristic and James underscores its priority. Originally it meant freedom from ceremonial defilement, then came to include much more than that. It is used of the purity of God Himself! “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure,” I John 2-3.

In the context of the discussion it implies freedom from anything that would contaminate or soil one's integrity. I found a great illustration for this meaning. There lives, in the forests of northern Europe and Asia, a little animal called the “ermine.” It is known for its snow-white fur, the most beautiful fur in the world. In some countries, the state robes of judges are lined with it as emblematic of purity and honor. Ladies of means prize coats for their beauty and warmth. The “ermine,” it seems, takes peculiar pride in its white coat and goes to great lengths to avoid soiling it. It is said that some fur hunters have taken advantage of this fact to capture the “ermine.” Instead of setting a trap they find its home, a cleft in the rock or a hollow tree and daub the entrance with FILTH. Then the dogs start the chase. Sounds like our day!!!

Frightened, the “ermine” flees to its home, its place of refuge. Finding it daubed with uncleanness, rather than soil its pure white coat it faces the yelping dogs and is captured by the hunters preserving the purity of its fur at the price of its life. 

The “ermine” is right: purity is more precious than life (this life). "...The wisdom that is from above is first pure..,” James 3:17. With all the evil and corruption in our world, I pray that we will be like the little “ermine” and remember that staying pure is more precious and valuable than our own life. Jesus is coming for a Bride that has no spots or blemishes in her wedding gown...pure and white...unspotted by this world's filthy sin…"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure." We Shall Be Like Him!

How Can We Escape?

Hebrews 2:1, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

How can we expect to escape the disapproval and judgment of God if we fail to embrace and obey the command of God? We who have made a public confession of our decision to follow Christ are called to be faithful in our covenant to serve Him in obedience. We are saved to serve the purpose of Christ. His purpose is to publish the Gospel into all the world and that is our destiny as the Church of Jesus Christ.

It is extremely important that we, as the Body of Christ, understand that the destiny of the Church is to reap the harvest. There is a shaking coming and even has already begun. It will shake the very foundation of the universe and everything in it. Sin and rebellion have forced a time of judgment and reaping. The writer of Hebrews expresses the gravity of our mission and the necessity of absolute commitment to God’s purpose through us.

Heb. 12:25, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.”

It is a dangerous thing to refuse the admonition of God, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.” God has spoken to this world through His Word and His messengers. In more recent years, the population of the earth has grown more and more indifferent to anything related to Christ. God has spoken in the churches and called us to righteous living but so-called Christians bristle at the thought that they are lacking in any sense.

The Word was given to us to rebuke, reprove, exhort and instruct. The Holy Spirit of Christ was given to convict of sin and lead into all Truth. And that is what He is doing, convicting and teaching. His light will dispel the darkness. If we walk in His light, we will experience His constant, loving correction. Our correction means that we must make adjustments or change our course of direction. The Holy Spirit is our faithful, loving companion and will help us to go in the right direction.

How can we escape the righteous indignation of the Lord God Almighty if we rebel against the leading of the Holy Ghost? We, who have made a public confession of our decision to follow Christ, must be obedient and faithful in our covenant to serve Him. Do not refuse the admonition of God. Embrace His direction in your life with submission and obedience to the Honor and Glory of God. Allow God to be glorified by your life and service to Him. At His appearing, you will be rewarded beyond any and everything that you have imagined. 

2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” Otherwise, How Can We Escape?