GENERATIONS

GENERATIONS

06/11/2014

 

Psalm 100:5 (KJV)

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.


John 18:38
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.



What is Truth to you, today?  Is there fault in truth?  There was no fault in Jesus, because He was the Truth, the Way and the Life. The Bible says that, if we accept Jesus and abide in Him, He will show us The Truth, The Way and The Life, but do we understand? Do we "get it?"

Or, are we as Believers still buying into lies? Such as:

• I am in full control of my life.
• I can live like I want to live.
• I am free to choose an alternative lifestyle.
• I shouldn’t have to work and provide for others. 
• I am not accountable to anyone.
• Life is what you make it.
• I’m happy just the way I am.
• I would be happy if I had more money. 
• I don’t need anyone’s help.
• I’m not smart enough to do anything. 
• I’m not pretty enough for someone to love me. 
• If people hate you, you should hate them back. 
• I am just a victim. 
• The government is responsible for the mess the country is in. 
• No one cares what happens to me
• The government is supposed to take care of me.

If you aren't a Believer, are you buying into THE LIE? There IS no God? Is your truth resulting in fault and sin?

Examine your beliefs and expectations.

• Are your beliefs Biblical?
• Do you have unrealistic or negative expectations?
• Are your beliefs and expectations rooted in fear, shame, guilt, mistrust, hate, pride?
• Are you living a lie?

---

The history of the Israelites shows us that they just didn’t "get it".  They didn’t understand how to live by The Truth.  They didn’t understand that, it’s not what YOU want; it’s what GOD wants.  

What were some of the faults of past generations? 

• They didn’t know who they were
• They didn’t accept who they were
• They didn’t trust God
• They didn’t obey God
• They didn’t live out their purpose

How did God say He would deal with generations?

Exodus 34:6-8 King James Version (KJV)
6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

Numbers 32:12-13 King James Version (KJV)
12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord.

13 And the Lord'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed.

Deuteronomy 32:20
And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

Jesus did only what the Father told Him to do—His purpose.  Even when it meant dying on the cross.

Many of us still don’t get it; there is no fault in Truth—God’s Truth.  Jesus came to bring Truth that we may conquer the world—not conform.

The Body of Christ must begin living out its purpose, with Christ as the Head.  He who was found faultless.  He in which God is well pleased.  He who did only what His Father told Him to do.  We too must only do what Our Father tells us to do.  We must live each day, remembering that it is not about us; it’s about God and what He has purposed us to do.

Psalm 14 King James Version (KJV)

 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.

5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge.

7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

What MUST we teach the next generation:

Psalm 78:1-8 King James Version (KJV)

78 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Be Blessed My Brothers and Sisters and stand in God's Truth! 


Your servant, 
Mishael 

---

FELLOWSHIP

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

 we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin

What Is Fellowship? 

Many define fellowship as:

• Going to church
• Visiting and praying for others
• Being a church leader
• Greeting and shaking hands
• Attending a church event
• Gathering with other believers
• Being involved with a ministry

     Certainly these things are included in fellowship, but can any one be defined as fellowship?  Yes. No.  Maybe? Then what is fellowship?  Who is to participate in fellowship? Who can benefit?  Why is it important not to forsake (abandon) fellowship?  Why must we walk in the Light to have fellowship with one another?
 

Seeing the Body as a Whole 

 

     To understand fellowship, we must look at the Body of Christ as a whole.  Ephesians 4:15,16 tells us that the parts of the body work together to increase and edify the Body of Christ.  In order for the body to work together, there must be a unifying force able to help it connect and communicate.  This is where fellowship comes in.  Fellowship is part of the growth and maturing of the body through the unification of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:11-16

¹¹ And He gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

¹² for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ,

¹³ until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

¹⁴ that we henceforth be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and their cunning and craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, even Christ,

¹⁶ from whom the whole body, fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

 close

• Footnotes
• Cross References
• Verse Numbers
• Headings
• Red Letter

 

Unification of the Body

     How does God expect the whole Body of Christ to fit and function together, when people are so different and divided?  Certainly, we can't be expected to unite every church and denomination.  Time and experience has taught us that there are insurmountable obstacles on the pathway to unity.   One might think this to be an unachievable task and unrealistic.  Or is it?  Perhaps, because of our limited vision, we have given ourselves tasks and burdens that God has not put upon us.  We have put our trust in man's ideas and vanity, instead of God's truth.  Jesus provided a different path and means to unite the Body of Christ when He imparted His Holy Spirit to guide us into the Light.

     God told us, that as we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.  So, to be a part of the body, we need only to be in Him, to move and function together.  If we profess Christ, we know that the Father is in the Son, and the Son is in the Father.  Even more, if Christ be in me, then, I have knowledge and confidence that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13  If we see with God's eyes, it becomes very clear how the parts of the body fit together, each part having their own function to increase and strengthen the body, but with like-mind, with Jesus Christ as the Head.

      We must be careful to distinguish the Body of Christ from the institutional church.  Today, the tares grow with the wheat.  However, when Christ returns for His church, the Body of Christ, He will sift the tares from the wheat.   Until then, we must examine ourselves.  Are churches today working together in fellowship?  Some would say, "Yes, they all spread God's Word."  Are they speaking the truth in love?  Again, some might say, "Yes."  Others might say that many churches today operate in an illusion, a façade, or they have created their own truth.  As disciples, we must spread the true Gospel of Jesus, so that true fellowship abounds, bringing others into the Light, increasing and fortifying the Body of Christ.

Truth and Love are Essential to Fellowship

     To find truth and love, we have to deny ourselves; who we think we are; that which we were; and what we think we should be.   We humble ourselves in repentance, die to ourselves and allow Christ to live in us, removing all iniquity (sin)  by the power of  His Holy Spirit. Then, love will cry out for truth and truth answers with love. 

     As the Body of Christ, we are compelled to walk and speak in truth.  If we fail to do so, we injure and weaken ourselves.  As it is explained in Ephesians 4:25, " Therefore, putting away lying, let every man speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."  If we harm the members (parts) of the body, we too, being part of the body are afflicted.  We can not have true fellowship if we hide or deny the truth, neither are we in fellowship, if there is malice or deceit in our hearts.  Our fellowship effects the whole Body of Christ; not just ourselves; not just our church, community, city, state or nation; for we are called to unity and truth in Ephesians 4:4-6:

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all

Fellowship requires commitment to the truth and to one another. 

     We grieve the Holy Spirit when our hearts do not pursue truth.  When we allow ourselves to be swayed or influenced by false doctrine or beliefs pertaining to certain rituals, status or appearance necessary to worship and fellowship with God, a struggle begins within us, that can eventually tear us away from the truth and God.  When we abandon fellowship, we not only fail to grow and strengthen ourselves, we fail others, also.  A weakened mind and body, falls prey to sin and deceit. 

Fellowship is the coming together of God's people, endowed by the power of the Holy Spirit,  exemplifying (showing) the glory of God, to increase and fortify the Body of Christ.  In other words, our fellowship should depict who God is; His will and His way.  

     If we worship in spirit and truth, our commune (fellowship) with God, produces a true fellowship with others in the body.  Fellowship looses God's power within the body to: help others become edified; built-up; strengthened; increased in faith and love; able do the work and will of God; worship Him; and live abundant and everlasting lives.

Fellowship is part of worshipping God. 

 

     God requires that we worship Him in spirit and in truth.  He has given us a spiritual connection, through which we come to purification, to live in holiness, righteousness and repentance.  We can not have true fellowship (commune) with God if we despise, harm or have a hardened heart against a member of the body. 

John 4:23,24 (KJV): 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
 

Philippians 3: 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

Accountability

     Worldly fellowship can be like running the gauntlet.  It is clouded by darkness and pain.  Pain may be inflicted, just by entering the door and walking down the aisle.  One may feel the pangs of mental and emotional distress, due to discriminating stares and gossip coming from both sides, by those who call themselves Christians and children of God.  It is no wonder that some see no difference from the treatment they receive in the world.  The darkness in the world is harsh enough. When people are looking for refuge and deliverance and only find more darkness in the church, we have stood in the way of leading them to God. Often, after the Word of God draws men, hurt and pain from worldly fellowship, within the church, drives them away.  As children of God, we stand accountable in all things.  With fellowship, comes accountability to God and others.  Therefore it is imperative that we walk in the light.

  

    Fellowship tests our spiritual growth and maturity by the fruit we bear.  Learning to fellowship can make us very uncomfortable and expose weakness and sin.  Reward comes as we surrender to His will and allow Him to abide in us.  Through His Holy Spirit, we learn to walk in the Light and begin to bear the fruits of the spirit.  Galatians 5 (KJ21)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³ meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
 

Father, we magnify and glorify your name. We come to you in spirit and in truth. We humble ourselves in repentance of our sins, that we may be cleansed. Search us and remove any darkness within, that we may fellowship with you and walk in the Light.

Father, forgive us for standing in the way, preventing others from coming to know you. Help us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves; seeking and speaking truth in love. Let our eyes be filled with light that others may see you. When we look upon the hurt and pain of others, let our fellowship comfort and heal, through your Holy Spirit within us.

As we pray, we pray as members of the Body of Christ. We pray that others will come to walk in your Light that we may commune with one another.  May we strengthen one another through fellowship and prepare the way of our Lord. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

In the name of your Son, the Truth, the Light and the Way. It will be. Amen

By the Grace and Mercy of God

Your Servant

Mishael