Close to GOD - May 9, 2014

Scripture: Psalm 15-172 

1 Adonai, who can rest in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 Those who live a blameless life, who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
3 and keep their tongues from slander; who never do harm to others

or seek to discredit neighbors;
4 who look with scorn on the vile, but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
5 who refuse usury when they lend money and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things never will be moved.

Message:

The Secret to being close to GOD.

Observation/Promise:
Humans are not perfect. In fact we fail more than we succeed, we are evil more than we are good. But who can rest in the mountain of GOD or who can enter His most Holy presence? Who is worthy? Is anyone ever worthy? There is no one, no one is worthy but those who trust in His Son Yeshua who is worthy can enter the rest of GOD. For when we trust in His Son Yeshua, we begin to be transformed by His grace. We do not act as we used to, His grace and amazing power changes us into the likeness of Him.

Command/Application:

We are not perfect, but with everyday we live, we have to strive to be holy not by being perfect because we can never achieve holiness or perfection on our own. But by being dependent on GOD's grace and humble to accept and receive His mercy and forgiveness when we diligently ask for it each day. For every breath we breathe and the thoughts that my come in and out of our minds may not be pleasing to the LORD. How easy is it for us to judge others when the weakness that they have is our strength but when we remember to be merciful to others because GOD has shown us the same mercy, we ask forgiveness because we understand just how frail and sinful we are. It is not by being righteous that brings us close to GOD, it is by humility and trust in His Son Yeshua. The One who saves.

Soap Ezekiel 36:22-27 - The Holiness of GOD

SOAP - Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

S: 22 “Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. 23 I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am theLord. 24 For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.

25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. - Ezekiel 36

O: God does great things for His people not because we deserve His goodness or are we worthy of His blessings but because He is a good GOD. His Holiness is greater than His anger. Even though HE is a righteous GOD that judges His people, HE does not treat us according to what we deserve. HE is so good that He is willing to do for His people what HE always wanted of them - hearts that love and worship Him alone. The Holiness of GOD is what makes HIM Righteous and Merciful at the same time.

A: I need GOD's grace and power to help me cleanse me and keep me pure and obedient to His will because without His Spirit at work in my life, it is impossible to please GOD. So with faith, we please GOD by believing that HE is who He said HE is. HE will, what HE said HE will do. I have to depend on HIS power and not my efforts to make me righteous.

P: Your Grace O Lord is what I need to live a life that is right before your eyes. I humble myself before You great GOD, make me clean, holy, pure and true. Fill me my entire being with Your Holy Spirit, for no one else can make me obedient to Your ways and give me the desire to do Your will than Your Spirit that is within me. So I need more of You and less of me, each day O Lord I depend on you, in Jesus Name, Amen!

End to Time

22 Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
23 But you, O God, will send the wicked
down to the pit of destruction.
Murderers and liars will die young,
but I am trusting you to save me.

- Psalm 55

The LORD does not listen only to you during the time that you talk to Him. The LORD is always there watching over you when you sleep, waiting for you to wake up, guiding you throughout the day, waiting until you hear Him call His name again. Do you have to wait for troubles to come your way until you call out to HIM? But even in difficult times, you will be amazed to know that HE is nearer than ever. His word says give your burdens to the LORD and HE will take care of you. More than taking care of you, He has loved you with an everlasting love. His grace are available to you anytime just ask and it is there.

But GOD's eyes are not only on the righteous, and those that need Him. His eyes are constantly watching over the wicked waiting for the time their wickedness is full grown and then bringing them down to destruction, never having any chance to turn back. His grace and mercy are also following the wicked. Waiting for them to turn away from their wickedness and so when they turn back to GOD, His grace and mercy meets them. But there is an end to everything. GOD has given us the chance to repent while we are still here on earth, enjoying what HE has given us. Do not waste your life away, there's always an end to time.

The Wonder of His Mercy

24 Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day.

- Joshua 6:24-25

The GOD of Israel is the only true GOD of the entire world. He chose to reveal Himself first to the nation of Israel and that is why HE is known as the GOD of Israel. But HE doesn't only belong to Israel alone, HE belongs to whoever is seeking the one true GOD. GOD told Moses in Exodus 33:19 I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. GOD is a good GOD and HE wants to present HIS goodness to you. If you want His goodness, you will have it, but you have to be like Moses, desiring GOD and all His goodness before you could even have it.

GOD was true to His word when HE said HE will have mercy on anyone HE choses. Rahab was a prostitute, but it didn't matter what her occupation was, she feared GOD, and her faith led her to the salvation of her life and all of her family. She believed that Israel's GOD was the only GOD, so she acted out in faith and hid the spies of Israel instead of being afraid of what her own people will do to her if they found her out. She risked her life because she believed. She longed for the mercy of GOD, did she have it? Yes! Even more than that, GOD rewarded her by letting her be a part of HIS chosen Nation to this very day. Her descendants still exists in Israel and the most amazing part is that GOD chose her to be one of Yeshua's ancestors. GOD will have mercy on anyone He choses, but you have to want GOD's mercy if you want GOD to have mercy on you too. 

God's Mercy

Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”
3 Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. 4 So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”

- Zecharaiah 3:1-4

There are many things we face in life, and many times we do not know we have wronged GOD thinking we are still doing right. GOD is very sensitive but so is Satan keeping a record of every wrong we make on earth. Do you sometimes feel condemned, that you are at fault with many things? That you are weak, useless, lazy and all the negative things that describes you? We may be condemned for our short comings, lack and our weaknesses. But GOD in HIS great mercy sees the good in each one of us. HE doesn't see things in a negative perspective. GOD sees in us our potential, how it excites HIM to turn our weakness into strength. Even our failures are great opportunities for GOD to bring us to the destiny HE has created us to be. But we have to yield to GOD. We are stubborn for a time, thinking we don't need GOD because everything is okay. Are you gonna wait for something tragic to happen and then you surrender to GOD? No matter how hard headed we are. GOD never gives up on us that easily, HE is waiting for us to return and surrender to HIM what we owe HIM, our lives. Other people, Satan and you yourself may see the weaknesses that are in you, but do not listen to any voice or heed anything else but GOD's, only listen to GOD's voice... 

When we stand before GOD, no matter how filthy we are, nothing is too dirty for GOD to wipe out. Do not let pride get in the way before you and GOD. Humble yourself before GOD and acknowledge your need for HIM. You may be in a place right now that is dark and hopeless, but GOD is in control and HE is waiting for you to call on to HIM. HE is wanting to give you new clothes, bringing you new hope and purpose for what HE has created you for. He has many things to offer you, He wants to cover you with His love. He never left you, you may have thought you are living your own way but GOD has been keeping track of where you are and HE has been waiting for you to come to where HE is so that you will find HIM. As long as you have breath, HIS mercies are fresh every morning.