As I was looking through some old notes today, I came across a message by Jim Reilly from the Healing Prayer Call. His teaching was about those who play church or who are not fully committed to following Jesus.
He taught that we have stepped into a new place in God. He went on to share how God had shown him that it is now more important than ever to stay in the word of God and be a doer of the word of God, not a hearer only.
James 1:19-25 says; So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
This topic was already fresh in my mind as I had recently read an article by Kenneth E. Hagin concerning the importance of consecration unto God.
I was meditating on this verse, the article and the truth of Jim’s message when God spoke to me and said, “The Great Divide.”
I knew exactly what God was talking about, He has been showing me this for several years.
We have stepped into a new season in God, a season where there is a dividing taking place. The Bible calls it a falling away and a remnant.
It makes me think of a movie my daughter used to watch when she was little called, “The Land Before Time.”
In this movie, the earth shook violently and then the world was divided. Some of the dinosaurs were on one side of the divide, while others, even family members, were on the opposite side.
This Great Divide that God is speaking of is a dividing of those who are hearers ONLY of the word of God and those who are hearers and doers of the word of God. There is a difference.
You can hear the word of God for years and never become a doer of the word of God.
You can go to church, raise your hands in worship and never fully obey God or His word.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus, Himself tells us “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
I don’t know about you, but this passage of scriptures always causes me to have a reverential fear of God and His word.
I do not want to be one of those to whom Jesus says, “depart, I don’t know you.” I can think of nothing worse than that.
That being said, Jesus also shown us how to make sure that does not happen.
In Luke 8:21 He shares how we can belong in the family of God, and be one of His very own.
But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
This is not the time to be a lukewarm Christian. Revelations 3:16 says those will be spewed out of His mouth.
This is the time to read/ hear the word and do it. We must be a doer of the word of God if we are to be found on the God side of the dividing line.
It’s a time to examine your heart. To ask yourself a few questions…
Do I love my neighbors well? Do I obey Gods word? Do I give to God what He says belongs to Him? Am I one of His? Does He know me? Is my heart free from unforgiveness, strife, hate and bitterness? Do I seek His face daily?
We have stepped into a new season, a season of dividing.
Those who are playing church will soon become obvious.
However, those who are true followers of God will begin to experience His blessings, His peace, His prosperity, His healing and everything else that comes with Him like never before. It is an exciting time in the Body of Christ and I am so glad I know where I stand in God…how about you?
Meditate on this:
The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8
