“For I, the LORD, do not change; . . .” – Malachi 3:6a.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8.
“Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” – Psalm 119:89.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” – Matthew 24:35.
If you are a Christian, a TRUE follower of the example of Christ Jesus, then you know that God and His Word does NOT change! There should be no doubt nor debate about this fact. Yet today we find people who want to discount the Old Testament Covenant as no longer relevant nor applicable. I want you to know that first, if you choose to throw away that part of your Bible, you are throwing away any knowledge you might gain into the Character, Nature and Attributes of God Almighty, your/our Heavenly Father! I would have to ask you, “How then would you ever expect to have an intimate relationship with Him, whom you would have no knowledge of just who He is?
Jesus came to SHOW us the Father, through Himself. But He Himself stated this; “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” – Matthew 5:17-18.
If the Old Testament Covenant is not relevant then, albeit in the life and example of Jesus Christ, then I have no idea what could or would be relevant. We KNOW God intimately through the Life-lens of Christ Jesus. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; . . .” – John 14:9b. We are able to have a relationship, a relationship based on “Spirit and Truth,” (John 4:24) thanks to the Gift that Christ Jesus bestowed upon those who are willing to accept it.
KNOWING that God’s Word, God’s Character and everything about God does not change we have to take quite seriously not just all those things we find in Scripture that deal with God’s blessings, as nice as it would seem to accept only them, but God is a Just and Holy God as well and too many living under the “state” of Grace would just as soon forget that the Bible also states, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” – 1 Peter 1:14-16.
Remember now, this was written by one of the Apostles who showed us that the New Testament Covenant of Grace was upon us and yet, here he is, reminding us that the Old Testament is STILL relevant and applicable in our lives today!
Okay, with that foundation in mind, I’m going to share some Scriptures from Ezekiel that will assuredly apply to our Nation and country today. I have heard many preachers and teachers, quote 2 Chronicles 7:14 without explaining that prayer for a Nation through the lens of Christ Jesus’ gift of grace. That prayer is still important and relevant today, but now it is relevant in the lives of individuals and not the Nations for this reason; in Israel, when the leaders sinned, the people sinned and the nation as a whole was judged according to those sins. Yet even then as I will show you in a moment, God STILL looked upon individuals as righteous and they would be spared the ultimate judgement and yet have to take part in the national judgement. You see this throughout the whole Old Testament. Because it was God’s Covenant with Israel’s people, God’s chosen children AS a nation!
Yet today, God’s children (other than Israel, who are still following the Old Covenant), from every nation and walk of life is judged individually as members of the Body of Christ, IF they are truly born-again and spiritually renewed! God STILL judges nations, but, He protects and still cares for His children even while the nations go through judgement. We may witness judgement all around us, be we ourselves escape it because of the righteousness we have gained (without merit) through the Blood and the Sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us individually! It is for this reason that I am truly afraid for our Nation, the United States of America!
Right now, we have a reprieve because God has appointed President Trump to restore the religious liberties to those of us who ARE True followers of Christ and whether he is aware of it or not, it is to give us time to get our “spiritual houses” ready for what is surely about to come. We are actually witnessing this in other allied countries as well with some of their conservative appointed leaders. If Almighty God has in His Justness judged a nation that He claims as His children because of their rebellious and sinful natures, what makes any other nation think that He won’t do the same and ESPECIALLY if that nation CLAIMS “In God We Trust?” I know it seems lately I am constantly bringing this up, but we as the TRUE Church of God in Christ Jesus NEED to be aware of what is right at our doorstep and not believe all these “preachers” who are nothing more than “motivational speakers” who are refusing to PREPARE God’s children for what is at our doorstep.
Don’t get me wrong; I believe in encouraging my Brothers and Sisters and doing what I can to inspire and instruct them as well, but PART of that instruction is teaching that God is ALWAYS true to HIS Word, ALL of His Word and not just the parts that make us feel good. Lately in my Bible reading and study, I can’t seem to get through it without breaking out in tears because I KNOW God’s Word in the past is as relevant today! I like to think that when we accepted the Lord’s invitation to come to Him, we were agreeing to be part of Heaven’s army. We weren’t drafted, Jesus didn’t force us, we volunteered with the knowledge that He then owned us just like in the natural military today. How is an army prepared to survive and combat and to take over strongholds if they are not warned about the enemy?
There’s a reason the Church is likened to God’s Warriors! Now, thinking along those lines I want to share with you what I read today in the Book of Ezekiel. In this, we see God saying exactly what I have been trying to say lately, “God’s children will be spared because of their righteousness found in Christ Jesus, but the nation will still be judged.” America’s citizens need to realize this although human nature does NOT change and many in our Nation will thumb their noses at God and state they do not NEED Him nor want Him. The past has a way of repeating itself, but the Lord ALWAYS lets His children KNOW what can and will happen!
Ezekiel 14:
12 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 13 “Son of man, suppose the people of a country were to sin against me, and I lifted my fist to crush them, cutting off their food supply and sending a famine to destroy both people and animals. 14 Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, their righteousness would save no one but themselves, says the Sovereign Lord.
15 “Or suppose I were to send wild animals to invade the country, kill the people, and make the land too desolate and dangerous to pass through. 16 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, even if those three men were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be made desolate.
17 “Or suppose I were to bring war against the land, and I sent enemy armies to destroy both people and animals. 18 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, even if those three men were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.
19 “Or suppose I were to pour out my fury by sending an epidemic into the land, and the disease killed people and animals alike. 20 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they wouldn’t be able to save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved by their righteousness. (NLT)
Isn’t it amazing that today, across the world there is outright panic because of what health officials are calling already a pandemic. When will people realize these things don’t just come out of the blue and strike at nations. Oh yes, I realize that man can be involved but I am here to tell you that NOTHING, absolutely nothing takes the Lord by surprise!
So, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in the midst of all that sin, their righteousness would only save themselves but the nation would not be saved. This is why it is so important we pray for our Nation, true, but we pray for individuals, our neighbors, our families and those we work with. A nation such as ours cannot continue killing unborn children in the name of “reproductive rights!” If you don’t want children then do what is necessary to keep from getting pregnant. Our nation cannot continue to condone that which the God in which they say they trust says homosexuality and sexual promiscuity is just a “normal” alternate way of life. It IS an alternate way of life, a SINFUL life and I’m sorry if this offends some of your sensibilities, but you cannot change the truth no matter how hard you may try or may want too. Now understand something; these sins are not new at all. Even during the times of the Apostles and the disciples, nations in the world at that time PRACTICED in those sins and God even then found them abhorrent.
Before you condemn me, remember that I DID say the actions were sinful. God STILL even in the midst of sinning, loves His creation! Don’t take my word for it; “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” – Romans 5:8-9.
Sin is sin whether it is lying, stealing, adultery, sex out of wedlock, etc. No sin in God’s eyes is greater OR lesser for that matter; for putting a degree to sin like some religious organizations do is man’s philosophy, NOT God’s truth OR Word! Yet the Apostle Paul wrote this to actually encourage us, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; . . .” – 1 Corinthians 10:13a.
But I will add this in closing; if we continue as a Nation to say that Godly principles are irrelevant and that morals are a “relative” thing depending on the person and we continue to pass laws that actually elevate sin, then do not be surprised if judgement is a lot closer than many think! God does NOT change though He if very long-suffering and patient and His Word and Words do NOT change! What He has said to one, whether in the past or recent, is the same to ALL who hear those words!
One final question; are we striving to love like God, unconditionally with our eyes upon eternity? If we are, we will be praying for one another, praying for the people of our respective nations and praying for all of leaders for their salvation that will lead them to a joyous eternity! If not, love dictates that we do.
Columbus kept two reckonings on his initial voyage of discovery. One showed the ship’s true progress, and this he kept secret. Another false record he left open to the crew. In the second, he showed the ship making greater headway than was actually true. Why? In order to make the crossing before supplies were depleted, they needed to cover about seven hundred leagues each day. By claiming they had sailed each day beyond the seven hundred leagues, Columbus hoped to spread enthusiasm and defeat discouragement.
Blaise Pascal (June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic theologian. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen. From the age of 16 he made historic contributions to mathematics and the physical sciences. Despite a sickly constitution and a capacity for intense abstraction, he nonetheless oversaw the material construction of his experiments and inventions with great zest.
Eventually though in my senior year, right before graduation and a couple of months before my 17th birthday, Ron gave me a Scripture that opened my eyes and changed my life; 
Anyway, as I stated earlier, I came from a very different background altogether and though I loved Sue, I made newly married life a “pain” for her. (I’m being polite for my sensitive readers!). I was learning this time about the Bible and I was very keen on learning everything I could, but my background also did not prepare me for the onslaught the enemy would throw at anybody who is young and new in the Lord. For some reason, that was NOT a part of my early Christian teaching.
Again, her true love for me came into play, for though it was hard (at times) to relinquish that responsibility I had burdened her with for so long, she did allow me to walk in that responsibility and she supported me all the way. I learned through all those times that we truly ARE One in the Lord and when He brings two people together, it is for their good and the good of the Body of Christ. People who have looked at our relationship in the past have not seen the support she has given me in making important decisions but they also have not seen the trust I have had in her leading of the Holy Spirit either. It has brought up some interesting discussions with our peers over the years!
I told Sue earlier, the Lord must have seen something in me at a young age, as He does with all of His children, but knew that I needed someone who would stick by me, encourage me to follow the Lord, and then to allow me to do just that so that I could be the person that the Holy Spirit wants me to be! Love does that; Love HAS done that! She gave her life for me and I can’t love her enough in return! So it is with us and the Lord Jesus Christ!
This leads us directly into the next verse; 
If someone is a brother (or sister for that matter) then don’t they also have the same Spirit of Christ abiding in them? The same ability to love as empowered by the Holy Spirit as you who says you are a Christian? Just something to think about. If we truly DO love God, then wouldn’t we love God in one another? You know, it’s easy to SAY we love someone when that love doesn’t cost anything! Something to ponder.
I can see that representing the Body of Christ. Each spoke is the individual members of that Body (the whole wheel) and some spokes even overlap. But as we get closer to God, the center of all that we are and is to be, the closer we also get to one another, thus forming a strong support to the whole Body of Christ. If any of the spokes were missing or weren’t performing according to where they were placed it would weaken the whole wheel and if many didn’t perform, you really wouldn’t have what could be considered a wheel. It couldn’t support any weight! If anyone has ever tinkered with a bike’s wheels and have had to replace spokes or just took a wheel apart, you will remember that individually the spokes are easy to bend and misshapen and when that happens you cannot reuse them.
Oswald Chambers (July 24, 1874 – November 15, 1917) was an early-twentieth-century Scottish Baptist and Holiness Movement evangelist and teacher, best known for the devotional “My Utmost for His Highest.” Even as a teenager, Chambers was noted for his deep spirituality, and he participated in the evangelization of poor occupants of local lodging houses. At the same time, Chambers also demonstrated gifts in both music and art. While at Edinburgh, he felt called to ministry, and he left for Dunoon College, a small theological training school near Glasgow, founded by the Rev. Duncan MacGregor. Chambers was soon teaching classes at the school and took over much of the administration when MacGregor was injured in 1898.
Without the Holy Spirit’s continued work, denominations wouldn’t be able to fight over the inspiration of the King James Bible because it came so much later AFTER the Church was founded. Preacher, Teachers and the Evangelists would have to rely upon their own knowledge and study to expound the Word of God which is still unchanging and STILL Living today! Now I could go on and on, including commenting on the state of many denominational churches today who have taught that the Holy Spirit and His gifts have ceased. But since the Bible WAS written during that time of Holy Spirit inspiration I will just say this; unless we all learned Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek we would all be in dire straits when it comes to “studying to show ourselves approved before God!”
One final thought thanks to a post I saw on Facebook by a Brother in Christ, a TRUE Evangelist, 
Physicians and nutritionists tell us that we should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day under normal conditions just to stay healthy. But what about your spiritual health? We all know the familiar story of what Jesus told the woman at the well, 
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16
Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is our example on HOW to love God and HOW to love our fellow man! That perfected love hasn’t just given us confidence and assurance against the day of judgement, it has changed us into the example of Christ Jesus being manifest to the world! It should show the world HOW God is to be loved and HOW our fellow man is to be loved; again, not in “feeling” but in action!
The “fear of the Lord,” that you hear Christians speak of a lot, is not dread, it is not being afraid, as it were, of God. For instance, the Apostle Peter wrote this, 
God’s love has been perfected in us, His children. That is beyond blessing for it provides each of us with an ETERNAL assurance of a continued loving relationship with our Heavenly Father, God Almighty. Right now, in this natural life, Paul wrote, abide faith, hope and love, but the greatest and the one that is most Eternal, is LOVE!
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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