“THE LURE” OF WORSHIPFUL RELUCTANCE..

"THE LURE" OF WORSHIPFUL RELUCTANCE..

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 13:12-17

A SERVANT's HEART IS THE KEY

Servanthood is NOT an exciting, popular or trendy subject to teach or to discuss at all. And the reason it's NOT the lottery pick amongst biblical topics, is because SELFISHNESS and SUBTERFUGE tends to rule the day, in a blindingly oblivious, sadly superficial, and intentional way amongst God’s People.

Many of us begrudgingly spend our Christian lives submitting and surrendering to HIS Lordship; except we often despise the moments when — waiting through hard times, or waiting on the Lord to break us through; is no easy task or peaceful journey to traverse with a scripture or two to stand on, along with an attitude of faith to boot.

At times, it feels like our confessions and professions of faith are being IGNORED, MOCKED, and DESPISED by the enemy of our soul; without us actually remembering or genuinely grasping how vested Almighty God is in our well-being, protection and prosperity. Even when it seems like our breakthrough is a million miles away, or some after thought and unimportant destination on ABBA’s Busy Agenda.  Not only does this drive us AWAY from a servant’s heart and attitude, but we begin to SELFISHLY PRAY for "our will" to be done and "our needs" to be met — with a me-centered approach and pursuit in everything that we do in His Name?!?

MOST of the time, we also feel like we’re facing a barrage of pressure and panic surrounding the mission-critical areas in our lives that seemingly threatens the very livelihood and life of HIS Promise concerning us; and that causes us to form INNER-VOWS and internal struggles that automatically surfaces the more difficult the challenges and battlefronts become.

GUARDING THE HEART

When or if we ever substitute a SERVANT’s HEART for a SINGULAR OPPORTUNITY, we forsake the authentic heart that ONLY desires to please and to honor HIM!  The reason it’s so easy to resign ourselves to the latter, is because “it” naturally feeds our strongest LUST of the FLESH.

If we easily allow these substitutions without restraint, we welcome the law of sin and death to rule in our members without issue!  We have to decide, whether PURPOSEFUL USE is more important than TEMPORAL SATISFACTION; and, if it is, resign ourselves and determine:

— I will NOT resist the CORRECTION, DISCIPLINE or UNCOMFORTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES that YOU allow, as a result or consequence of my walk of faith; NOT my willful sin!

— If I am EVER tempted to willfully sin, I will IMMEDIATELY REPENT and turn to fasting and prayer as a remedy to SILENCE the voice of flesh at once!

— APART FROM CHRIST, I can do NOTHING; so I will NEVER allow my heart to be captivated or fascinated by RESULTS that are tied to ANY FORM of a LEANNESS OF SOUL!

— I will remain SATISFIED with God-Ordained Use and Assignments, and will NOT get the big head about any glamorous moments or momentous occasions to the flesh instead of the Spirit. If people appear more drawn to YOU than ME, reacquaint yourself with being abase again, so I don't have to MAKE YOU that way on purpose.

DESPISING THE GIFT

"For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, who tasted God's good word and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt. For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned." (Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭8, CSB‬‬)

In ALL of the things that I have faced or seen through the years, as I meditated upon this particular passage, the ONLY THING that has ever made me want to give up and throw in the towel (despise the “heavenly gift”) was the LOSS of my wife and father!  In GOD’s Mercy, HE prepared me two years before the losses occurred.  And, HE also gave me understanding about the reasons and backdrop behind each loss.

Of course, even though preparation lessened the blow, my heart was struck by the most severe pain, because instead of allowing HIS Words to soften and settle my heart — I sought explanation on multiple occasions to satisfy the gaping holes and hurt; but, it NEVER COULD!

As a wallowed in GRIEF and SELF-PITY, the enemy of my soul sought to yoke my heart with the toxic poison of BITTERNESS, and I could SEE how the enemy’s lies were meant to destroy me IF I SWALLOWED THE BAIT!

SATAN’s LIES DISTURB ESTABLISHED HEARTS.. 

— THE INVASIVE TENTACLES OF THE SATANIC LIE THAT FALSELY SATISFIES THE UNSURRENDERED and UNSUBMITTED PLACES OF THE BELIEVER'S HEART..

#1 — Forfeit Divine Purpose for Perverse, Delusional and Licentious Opportunities (Selfishness)

#2 — Abort Supernatural Chosen-ness for Satanic Usefulness (Shortsightedness)

#3 — Disown and Disavow Their God-Ordained Inheritance for the Vomit and Putrid-Defilement of Temporal Fascinations, Delusional Imaginations, and Vain Deceit (Seductiveness)

A DISSATISFIED HEART

When the heart is dissatisfied with both the remembrance and recollection of the preciousness of "prior use", but reflects on "holy encounters" and "privileged moments" in a contemptibly familiar way, that self-focused and salacious misguidedness leaves the smallest gap for invasive and subtle demonic manipulations of the heart that builds false confidence in the flesh (Sarx) and opens the door for deadly introductions and frequent violations and intrusions of the human will that slowly but securely — DECEIVES, DELUDES, and then DESTROYS; until redeemable opportunities and God's Mercy are no longer possible for the unpardonable infractions of unbelieving-believer’s that can no longer be forgiven or forgotten..

AN ARROGANT ATTITUDE

When the heart arrogantly frowns upon or treats with utter contempt and callous indifference —- the holiness of "purposeful use" and the mercy of "divine consideration" being shown — like its some lowly chore or familiar past-time, the hearts rabid pursuit unknowingly locks them into a compromised trap and unavoidable snare that overtly pledges "sacred allegiance" to the most foul, twisted, and perverted use, through their fascination and lascivious alliance with corruptible influences, fleshly indulgences, and dark spirits; to satisfy the most vile and self-serving desires for the moment; but with the unrelenting consequences that last for all of eternity.

THE UNPARDONABLE SIN

According to Jesus, the unpardonable or unforgivable sin is unique. It is the one iniquity that will never be forgiven ("never" is the meaning of "either in this age or in the age to come" in Matthew 12:32).

The unforgivable sin is blasphemy ("defiant irreverence") of the Holy Spirit in the context of the Spirit's work in the world through Christ.

In other words, the particular case of blasphemy seen in Matthew 12 and Mark 3 is unique. The guilty party, a group of Pharisees, had witnessed irrefutable evidence that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet they claimed that He was possessed by the prince of demons, Beelzebul (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:30).

The Jewish leaders of Jesus' day committed the unpardonable sin by accusing Jesus Christ of being demon-possessed. They had no excuse for such an action. They were not speaking out of ignorance or misunderstanding.

The Pharisees knew that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God to save Israel. They knew the prophecies were being fulfilled. They saw Jesus' wonderful works, and they heard His clear presentation of truth. Yet they deliberately chose to deny the truth and slander the Holy Spirit. Standing before the Light of the World, bathed in His glory, they defiantly closed their eyes and became willfully blind. Jesus pronounced that sin to be unforgivable.

The only unpardonable sin today is that of continued unbelief

There is no pardon for a person who dies in his rejection of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is at work in the world, convicting the unsaved of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). If a person resists that conviction and remains unrepentant, then he is choosing hell over heaven. "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6), and the object of faith is Jesus (Acts 16:31). There is no forgiveness for someone who dies without faith in Christ.

God has provided for our salvation in His Son (John 3:16). Forgiveness is found exclusively in Jesus (John 14:6). To reject the only Savior is to be left with no means of salvation; to reject the only pardon is, obviously, unpardonable.

Many people fear they have committed some sin that God cannot or will not forgive, and they feel there is no hope for them, no matter what they do.

Satan would like nothing more than to keep people laboring under that misconception. God gives encouragement to the sinner who is convicted of his sin: "Come near to God and he will come near to you" (James 4:8). "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Romans 5:20). And the testimony of Paul is proof positive that God can and will save anyone who comes to Him in faith (1 Timothy 1:12–17).

If you are suffering under a load of guilt today, rest assured that you have not committed the unpardonable sin. God is waiting with open arms. Jesus' promise is that "he is able to save completely those who come to God through him" (Hebrews 7:25). Our Lord will never fail. "Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation" (Isaiah 12:2). WS-3

Walter L. Smith III (WS-3)

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WS-3 Enterprises & Associates, LLC.

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Walter L. Smith III

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**Leadership Greater Rochester, Class of 2018!

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