WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

PROCLAMATION

“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, ‘Who is on The Lord’s side?  Let him come to me.’  And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves unto him.”  Exodus 32:26 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  When The Lord God finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him two tablets of stone upon which He had inscribed the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 31:18)  Then The Lord told Moses to go down the mountain for the people had corrupted themselves. (Exodus 32:7-8)  Moses had been up on the mountain for forty days (Exodus 24:18) and the people did not know what had happened to him. (Exodus 32:1)  So the people told Aaron to make them a god, and he did.  He collected the gold jewelry from the people and made a golden calf.  Then Aaron built an altar in front of the golden calf and proclaimed that they have a feast to honor their new god.  The people were eating and drinking (Exodus 32:6) and running around naked. (Exodus 32:25)  Moses came down the mountain carrying the two stone tablets and met up with Joshua and they could hear the noise coming from the camp. (Exodus 32:15-18)  When Moses saw the golden calf, he threw the stone tablets down and broke them, then he destroyed the golden calf. (Exodus 32:19-20)  Afterwards he chastised Aaron then asked to people to choose which side they were on.  Those who did not come to him and say that they were on The Lord’s side were slain that day. (Exodus 32:21-28)  Moses told those who remained to consecrate themselves and that he would go back up the mountain to The Lord to make an atonement for their sin. (Exodus 32:29-35)

 

APPLICATION

How quickly we forget what The Lord God has done for us and how quickly we return to our sinful worldly ways.  Sometimes we act as if God cannot see what we are doing.  We say things like, “What happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas.”  It angers The Lord God when we turn our back on Him and put “other gods” or whatever we worship before Him. (Exodus 32:10)  We will have to decide if we are on The Lord’s side or not.  We cannot serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  Please choose wisely because there will be very severe consequences for those who make the wrong choice.

 

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS

PROCLAMATION

“There was a rich man … At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus … longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.  …  The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’  But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony…’ ”  Luke 16:19-31 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Luke, the physician.  Here Jesus continued to teach His disciples.  He told them The Parable of The Shrewd Manager. (Luke 16:1-13)  His point was that no one can serve two masters, we cannot serve both God and money.  He also told them The Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31)

 

APPLICATION

There are those who have been blessed to receive more than sufficient finances, some with great wealth.  There are also those who were not blessed with very much in terms of financial means.  While we may not consider ourselves to be “rich”, those of us who have should share with those who have not and are in need.  We were not blessed in order to hoard our blessings and keep them for ourselves.  Remember the parable which Jesus taught about the rich man who built bigger barns to store his excess goods.  He would not share his excess with others, feeling that he had enough to last for years, and he died before he could enjoy his excess. (Luke 12:16-20)  We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others who are less fortunate than we are.  He that blesses others, will himself also be blessed. (Proverbs 11:25)  Our final destination after death will depend upon the belief in our heart.  Those of us who are believers will be absent from the body, and present with The Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8)

DON'T LOVE MONEY MORE THAN GOD

PROCLAMATION

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  Mark 10:25 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, which were spoken by Christ according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  Jesus and His disciples left the villages around Caesarea Philippi and went to Judea and across the Jordan river.  Again crowds followed Him, and He taught them. (Mark 10:1)  There were Pharisees in the crowd, and they questioned Him about divorce.  Jesus replied that Moses permitted it but that was not how The Lord God intended it from the beginning. (Mark 10:2-12)  As He was leaving, a young rich man ran up to Him and fell on his knees and asked Him what he had to do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus asked him if he knew the commandments and he said that he had kept the commandments since he was a boy.  Jesus then told him to go and sell everything that he had, give the money to the poor, and then follow Him.  The young man left saddened because he was very wealthy. (Mark 10:20-22)  Then Jesus said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” … “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:23-26)

APPLICATION
Having a lot of money or great wealth does not prevent one from entering the kingdom of God.  The problem is that most of the rich and wealthy people tend to rely on their possessions instead of relying on The Lord God.  Their faith is in their money, not in God.  Without faith in God it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)  No man can serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  We must believe and trust in The Lord God. (Jeremiah 17:7)

WE SHOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN WE LOVE THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for The Father is not in them.  For everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, comes not from The Father but from the world.”  1 John 2:15-16 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to all who believed in Jesus, The Christ.  He begins this second chapter by urging them not to sin.  He tells them that if they know and love The Lord God, then they will keep His commands. (1 John 2:1-6)  He also tells them that anyone who hates his brother or sister still lives in darkness. (1 John 2:9-11)  Then he tells them not to love the world or anything in the world because if they do, then the love of The Father is not in them.  He goes on to warn them not to deny The Son of God, (1 Peter 2:22-23) encouraging them instead to hold on to that which they have already been taught so that they will be ready when The Lord returns. (1 John 2:24-29)

Application:

Nothing in this world should be more important to us than The Lord God.  We should not make gods of anything in the world by giving them the primary place in our affections.  We must put God first. (Exodus 20:3)  There is nothing wrong with having possessions, dear friends, or love ones.  The problem comes when we place too much importance on them and value them above The Lord.  If we love the things of this world that much, then we are serving the prince of this world, Satan. (1 Corinthians 2:6)  If we put God first, then all of the other things will be given to us. (Matthew 6:33 and Luke 12:31)

BELIEVERS MUST WALK IN THE LIGHT NOT IN DARKNESS

Proclamation:

“If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”  1 John 1:6-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to all who believed in Jesus, The Christ.  He begins this letter by stating that he heard, saw, and touched Christ, and he was sharing what he saw and heard with them. (1 John 1:1-4)  He said that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)  Those who claim to walk with Him but walk in darkness are liars.  He also said that those who claim to be without sin also lie and deceive themselves. (1 John 1:8 and 10)  Then he said, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Application:

We cannot walk with Christ and hold hands with the devil.  We cannot serve to masters. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  Some people do no like to hear this, but all of us have sinned. (Romans 3:23)  If we say that we, or anybody else that we know, have not sinned, then we are lying.  On our own, none of us is righteous. (Romans 3:10)  All of us should admit that we have sinned, then we should pray and ask to be forgiven, and He will forgive us. (1 John 1:9)

THE LOST SOUL WILL RETURN TO THEIR SINFUL WAYS

Proclamation:

“It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.”  2 Peter 2:21 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Peter, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers who scattered after the crucifixion of Christ. (1 Peter 1:1-2)  Peter began this second chapter by warning them about the false prophets and false teachers that were among them. (2 Peter 2:1-3)  Then he tells them that God punished the angels in heaven who followed Satan.  If God did not spare the angels who did wrong, He would not spare them.  God did not spare the sinful people in Noah’s day that died in the flood.  He did not spare the sinners in Sodom and Gomorrah. (2 Peter 2:4-11)  However, even as He administered punishment to a large number of people and destruction to vast areas, God still protected and saved the righteous people from harm. (2 Peter 2:9)  Paul said that people who blaspheme The Lord God would be punished. (2 Peter 2:12-15)  Then he ended by telling them that those who were saved by knowing The Lord, but who later turned their back on Him and returned to their sinful ways would be punished more severely than those who never knew Him. (2 Peter 2:20-22)

Application:

Believers are not perfect.  We still mess up and fall back into sin.  However, true believers do not stay in the mud after we fall.  We ask for God’s forgiveness and His help to get out of the mud and to clean us up, and He will do it. (1 John 1:9)  When believers sin, we lose the joy of our salvation and we need to pray in order to have that joy restored. (Psalm 51:12)  But those who profess to love Him but long for their old sinful ways, and return to them are lost. (Luke 9:62, Genesis 19:26, and 2 Peter 2:20-21)  Those who really love their old sinful ways cannot truly love The Lord.  It is not possible to love them both. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  Even after he has heard The Word of God, The Bible says that the lost fool will return to his sinful folly. (Proverbs 26:11)

PUT YOUR HOPE AND TRUST IN THE LORD GOD

Proclamation:

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your word.  Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God.”  Psalm 119:114-115 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  This is the fifteenth part, Samekh, of this twenty-two part psalm.  While David is continuing his conversation with The Lord God, he interjects a comment to the worldly evildoers telling them to leave him alone. (Psalm 119:115)  He did not want anything to hinder him from keeping The Word of God.  Then he asked God to sustain him and help him keep His commands. (Psalm 119:116-117)

Application:

We cannot serve to masters. (Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13)  We cannot walk God’s way and walk worldly at the same time. (John 8:12 and Ephesians 2:2)  People who try to do that are referred to as double-minded.  Double-minded people are unstable in their thoughts and their ways. (James 1:8)  They are divided in their thoughts and they are inconsistent in their beliefs.  The Lord God made it very clear that He did not like “wishy-washy” people and referred to them as “lukewarm”, they were not hot or cold. (Revelation 3:15-16)  Believers are not perfect, we occasionally fall into sin.  However, when we give in to our sinful nature, we do not change our belief in God and we know that sinning is wrong.  We pray and ask Him to forgive us, and to help us walk the right straight and narrow path.  Because of our faith and trust in The Lord, we know that if we humble ourselves and ask Him, He will forgive us and help us. (2 Chronicles 7:14 and 1 John 1:9)

WE CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS

Proclamation:

"No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

Explanation:
These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke as part of the Sermon on the Mount which began in Matthew 5:1 and goes on until 7:29.  As recorded by the Apostle Matthew under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here Jesus taught that loyalty cannot be divided.  One cannot be totally loyal to God and focus on earthly treasures, possessions, or wealth.  According to Bible scholar Thomas Nelson, "Jesus was not condemning money or possessions in and of themselves, but the improper attitude of enslavement towards wealth."

Application:
We can only be a slave to one master at a time.  Attempting to serve two masters will result in one of them being slighted and receiving less than our best effort.  We are either a slave to God or we are a slave to something or someone else.  We cannot walk with The Lord and hold hands with the devil at the same time.  We should be very careful choosing whom we will serve, for there are eternal consequences to the selection.  There is nothing wrong with having money, it is the love of money that gets us in trouble. (1 Timothy 6:10)

We Cannot Follow God And The Worldly Ways

"No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money."  Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

These words of Jesus, as recorded by the Apostle Matthew, were spoken during His Sermon on The Mount.  His point was that they could not follow the ways of God and follow the ways of the things of this world at the same time.  They would either truly follow one and only pretend to follow the other.  They could not follow both of them because they would be going in two different directions.

Our actions speak much louder than our words with regard to whom we follow, serve, and obey.  A lot of us call ourselves "Christians" but our behavior suggests that we are not being truthful.  If there is no difference between us and our worldly friends and associates, then we are not true followers of Christ.  When we accepted Christ into our lives, we became a new creature, and some of that old behavior ceased to exist. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  We did not become perfect, but we did become a new person. (Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:10)  When The Holy Spirit of God indwelt us, we in effect, put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)  From that moment on we began to exhibit some of the fruit of The Spirit. (Galatians 5:23-24)  Our behavior began to reflect The Christ within us. (Ezekiel 36:27)  We are to grow in the knowledge of Him and His Word, and as we grow in age, we should grow in grace and holiness. (1 Peter 1:16 and 2 Peter 3:18)  We are to grow in The Word of God from the simple milk to being able to digest, and understand, and live by the more meaty principals. (1 Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12)  If we are not following, serving, and obeying Christ, then who are we following???