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ALONE
WITH GOD
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Spiritual Answers and Reasons
for Faith |
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Who is on
The Lord Side?
Then
Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on
the Lord?Otilde;s side? Let him come unto me (Ex. 32:26).
These were momentous words in their day and were spoken by
one of the most noble leaders God's children have ever
known. God had called Moses up on Mt. Sinai to confer with
him concerning the law which was to govern Israel. ?And he
gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with
him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of
stone, written with the finger of God. But when Moses
delayed his coming down out of the mount, the people
(Israel) gathered themselves together unto Aaron and said
unto him, Ograve;Up, make us gods, which shall go before
us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out
of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. So
upon their request Aaron said to break off the golden
earrings from the ears of their wives, and their sons, and
their daughters, and bring them unto him. He received them
at their hand, put them in the fire and made a molten calf
and fashioned it with a graving tool. An altar was built
before this golden calf, and Aaron made a proclamation
concerning it and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.
All , Israel rose up early in the morning and offered
their burnt offerings on the altar of this image. Then
they sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. But
while his was going on, God was looking down on the scene.
Up on the mount he spoke to Moses and said, Get thee down;
for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of
Egypt, have corrupted themselves. After pleading with God
in prayer to forgive them, Moses and Joshua returned to
the camp and beheld the horrible scene of around the
golden calf. Moses' wrath waxed hot, and he threw the
tables of stone to the ground and broke them and went into
the camp and tore down the calf, threw it into the fire
and melted it, then ground it to powder and strewed it
upon the water and made Israel drink the water. Then he
turned to Aaron and said, What did this people unto thee,
that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them And Aaron,
like many preachers today, tried to excuse himself because
the people were set on mischief, Aaron really had no
excuse to offer. He was responsible to God to preach the
word and hold up a true standard of righteousness in spite
of the fact that the people were bent on mischief. The
time had come in Israel, and the situation had arisen when
it was necessary for men to make a decision and necessary
that a separation be made between those who were on the
Lord's side and those who were not. Moses, being a true
leader, stepped to the gate of the camp and issued the
call, ?Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. A
great flood of idolatry had swept into the camp in the
absence Moses, thereby making a decision and a separation
necessary. Even though there may have been some among them
who were not in sympathy with all that had transpired in
Moses' absence, yet the entire nation of Israel was in
danger of being destroyed because of their sin, hence, the
need of a separation.
Beloved, the picture is about the
same today in the religious world. Many a golden calf,
many an idol has been erected in the camp of the so-called
saints and claiming their love and devotion. Just as
idolatry swept into the camp of Israel, so has idolatry,
worldliness, a compromise swept into the camp of organized
religion. But thanks be to God, it hasn't come into the
true church of God. This being true, the need is as urgent
as in Moses Otilde; day that men make their decision and
declare their position. This is no time for silence on the
part of any who desire to go to heaven. The forces of evil
are gathering their powers to encompass the camp of the
saints, and those who are fearful to take their stand with
God and true saints will surely be slain. The call is
being issued as in Israel's day. The Holy Spirit is
sounding the call far and near for men and women to come
walk with him. The true ministry is blowing the trumpet
with a clear note. The gospel is being preached in its
simplicity, its purity and beauty, and people are being
brought face to face with the decision and are deciding
for eternity. Have you made your decision yet, dear
reader? And have you declared your position that others
may know whose side you are on? May I remind you right
here that there are only two sides, and you are on one or
the other. The only two sides are, the Lord's side, and
the other side, I would to God people could realize the
truth of this statement. So many folk think there are any
number of ways to heaven and it makes little difference
which way they choose. This is not so, my friend. There is
only one way to heaven and that's the Lord's way, or the
Lord's side. The other side may be divided into ranks,
companies, divisions, schisms, and sects. Yet it is all on
the opposite side from the Lord. Neither is there any room
for neutrality. Jesus plainly teaches us that, He that is
not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with
me scattereth abroad?Oacute; (Matt. 12:30). This scripture
definitely places us on one side or the other. He that is
not with me... Jesus says. The individual who fails to
take a definite stand with Jesus (and thereby the Word
also) on all points of doctrine and on all issues of life
automatically falls on side that is against him. We are
either gathering with him or scattering abroad. There is
absolutely no room for neutrality.
Perhaps someone will say, There's
too much confusion and strife in the religious world, I'd
rather not bother with any of it. In assuming this
attitude you place yourself outside the kingdom of God, a
lost soul. You not care to enter the battle with Jesus
against all that is sinful and wrong; you may not be
willing to be numbered among the despised few who bear the
reproach of the cross but there's coming a day when you
would love to be on the Lord's side. The day when Jesus
will come as a thief in the night, the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, the earth and all the works that
are therein shall be burned up with the judgment flames of
God, then you'll want to be nestled in the love of God and
be numbered with the saints as they go marching through
the pearly gates of Heaven. When time ceases to be and
eternity has begun, only those who were on the Lord's side
in this world will enjoy the bliss of his presence then.
Many folk have the desire to walk the streets of heaven
with Jesus, but refuse to walk the streets of earth with
him. They are ashamed to confess him before men and he'll
be ashamed of them before his Father and the angels. If
you want to be on the Lord's side on judgment day, you'd
better take your position with his saints now and fight
the good fight of faith in this life. Will you be one of
his servants today?
I want to show the danger of trying
to play the part of a neutral. There are many people who
would got to heaven if it just meant sticking up one
finger and saying, O grave;Put me down for a robe and a
crown. But there's much more to it than that. One time I
had an outstanding religious man make this statement to
me. He said that he would be like the little boy who spins
his top. He'd stand back and watch it spin. In so many
words he meant he would watch developments in the
religious world, and when victory comes he'd step in for
the spoils. But we find an account in the word of God that
covers such a position as this man assumed. In the book of
judges we have an account of Israel sinning and being sold
into bondage into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan. For
twenty years Jabin oppressed them sorely until finally God
raised up the prophetess, Deborah, to deliver them. Along
with Barak and 10,000 men Deborah went up against Jabin
and smote him completely. In chapter five we read of the
triumphant song of Deborah and Barak, and in verse
twenty-three we note what the angel of the Lord said to
Meroz, Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse
bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to
the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the
mighty. The inhabitants of this city remained neutral and
were bitterly cursed of God because of their failure to
help his people against Jabin. We look to the thirteenth
chapter of Acts and find Paul preaching Christ to the
people in Antioch of Pisidia. In the fortieth verse we
read, Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is
spoken of in the prophets; behold, ye despisers, and
wonder, and perish! for I work a work in your days, a work
which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it
unto you. Many will stand by and despise the good things
of God; they'll look on in wonder and amazement and
perish. God is surely bringing his work on earth to
completion. He is gathering the remnant together now,
calling his people out of all the babel of confusion which
exists in the nominal Christian world, bringing them
together in the one body of Christ, the church of the
living God. Many who at one time had a clear vision of
this beautiful bride (church) have trifled with truth and
lost the vision and will go down to destruction with the
millions who persistently cling to the carcass of a
burnt-out religion, their only hope residing in the cold,
ritualistic forms of a dead religion. May God help you,
dear reader, to take your stand for God and with God's
people and lift up the blood-stained banner of Jesus
before a sin-sick and confused world. Your only hope of
heaven is to make your decision for God and declare your
position before the world and fight the good fight of
faith.
The question comes to mind, what
does it mean to be on the Lord's side? First of all, it
means forsaking all sin and repenting of it before God and
being born of the Spirit. Jesus told Nicodemus he would
have to be ?Ograve;born again.? This not only stands good
for Nicodemus but for every man or woman who would find
peace in their soul. ?Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God? (John
3:5). Many other ways have been offered by man to enter
into kingdom of God, but none have yet found a way into it
except by the new birth. When an individual forsakes his
sins and repents before God, he is then born of the Spirit
of God. He receives Jesus as his personal Savior, and the
divine love of God is implanted in that heart, and he
becomes a member of God's great family.
He doesn't have to join anything,
because he has been born (of the Spirit) into the family.
And when the divine love is implanted in that heart, that
individual doesn?Otilde;t remain the same; the miraculous
has happened to him, he is a new creature. ?Therefore if
any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold all things are become new? (11 Cor.
5:17). The change of heart has caused such a radical
change in his conduct that others, can behold the
difference. He has lost his love for the things of sin and
the world. Wherein he used to bow before the altars of the
gods of pleasure he cannot find any pleasure there because
of tasting a far greater pleasure in Jesus. The sinful
things of the world no longer hold any attraction for a
person possessing divine love in the heart. Many
professors of religion are indulging in things that would
be impossible for divine love to tolerate. (The proof of
the pudding is in the eating.) The proof of divine love in
your heart is in your living. If there's been no change in
your life and you still do the things the sinful world is
doing, then you have missed the mark entirely.
Divine love will not only cause a
radical change in your outward conduct but will knit your
soul to the heart of God, and his interests will be dearer
to you than own interests. We have a beautiful example of
this tie of love in David and Jonathan. The scripture
says, Ograve;The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul
of David, Jonathan loved him as his own soul? (I Sam.
18:1). This was not merely a business connection or a
formal uniting, but love had bound the soul of Jonathan to
David so, he cared for him as he did for his own soul.
What strides of progress the kingdom of God would make if
every professor of religion possessed such divine love to
knit their soul to the heart of God, and they loved his
cause as they did their own soul, or their own interests.
Too often we find the so-called Christian more interested
in his own welfare than in the progress of God. Otilde;s
work. Many times the church goes begging financially while
the members lavish their money on themselves in the
comforts and luxuries of life. If every professor of
religion in America had real divine love in their hearts,
the churches wouldn't be engaging themselves in the
restaurant business by having chicken fries, oyster
suppers, cake walks, and many other things to pay the
necessary bills. Neither would they have to engage in the
used clothing business by conducting rummage sales.
Beloved, the church is out of its place in the plan of God
when it is compelled to resort to these methods to finance
its program. These are not in harmony with the plan of God
for his church. If divine love dwelt in the heart, then
God?Otilde;s cause would be well financed by the giving of
our tithes and offerings. God expects some of your money
to support this cause on earth. It is God who gives you
strength to get money, then will you rob him in
withholding from his cause. I would not resort to the
legal side of giving to God's cause but look to the power
of love. If divine love dwells in your heart, you cannot
withhold your means from him. If you love him and his
cause as much as you love your own soul, it will be easy,
and even a pleasure to give liberally to support his work,
but if you love your money better than you do God and his
cause, then you're not a Christian. Are you on the Lord's
side?
Divine love will never, can never,
become indifferent toward God's cause. To say that an
individual possessing divine love in his heart would
become careless and indifferent toward God's cause is
equivalent to saying that himself would become indifferent
toward his own way and we know that will never be. If you
are one of the millions who have become engrossed in the
attractions of this world, pursuing the things of the
flesh, seeking to feather your own nest in this life, you
are not on the Lord?Otilde;s side. ?For they that are
after the flesh do mind of the flesh; but they that are
after the Spirit the things of the Spirit? (Rom. 8:5).
People who mind the of the flesh are not born of the
Spirit, and people who are born of the Spirit do not mind
the things of the flesh. To be on the Lord's side means
that our life is to be lived for the glory of God and the
benefit of others and not the gratification of ourselves.
Divine love will knit your heart to
the word (Bible). People who have divine love in the heart
have a desire to read the word of God and a love for it
that nothing can separate them. Whatever the word teaches
and stands for that's what you'll teach, stand for, and
defend. You will not depart from the word, nor the word
depart from you, unless and until divine love leaves your
heart. It is impossible to have divine love in your heart
and reject the word of God. He that is of God heareth
God?Otilde;s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye
are not of God. (John 8:47) . To reject the word of God is
an outspoken testimony to the world that you do not have
his love in your heart. There may be some of the word you
not understand, but you will not reject it or fight
against it if divine love abides within. The word and the
Spirit agree and if the Spirit abides in your heart, you
will agree with the word.
Divine love will knit your heart
with the heart of God's people. ?Beloved, let us love one
another; for love is of God.... (I John 4:7). That their
hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love...
(Col. 2:2). These two apostles teach us to love one
another. That's pretty hard to do unless there's love in
the heart. The Apostle Paul says, That their (our) hearts
might be comforted being knit together in love. I don't
know anything more comforting to the heart than to
experience Spirit and love of God knitting your heart with
that of your brother or sister in the Lord. It's easy to
love the brethren if divine love has knit our hearts
together, and we'll not go about talking about our
brethren if we love them. We don't talk about ourselves
very much, and if we love our brother as our own soul,
we'll not talk about him very much. This love becomes so
entwined about our hearts that if one member suffers, it
affects all the members, and they too will suffer. This is
God s plan of uniting his people together. Divine love in
the hearts, would put an end to all schism, division,
wrangling, strife, and back-biting among so-called
Christian people an create a working force for God and
righteousness that would cause the strongholds of Satan to
tremble. God give us more and more of this love in our own
heart. It will create a society where love and peace
abound; it will cause us to bear long and have patience
with one another; it will cause us to love God supremely;
it will cause us to love the souls of lost humanity and to
surrender our lives in service that they may be rescued.
Do you have this love in your heart, dear reader? Have you
forsaken all sin and given your heart and life
unreservedly to God? Have you been born of the Spirit, and
are you walking holy before him who shall be your judge so
day? Many folk are floundering around in nominal religion
and have never taken a definite stand for God and his
truth and will miss heaven in the end. if you're in this
category, you need to kneel before God and seek a definite
experience of salvation and take a definite stand on the
Lord's side and declare your position before the world
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