~ My People Perish ~

MY PEOPLE PERISH

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children" Hosea 4:6.

The Spirit of God is moving over the face of all the earth. He is reaching out to men and women, touching their hearts. He is calling out to man. Can you hear Him? The time is short. NOW is the time to get our hearts in order. There is no time left for procrastinating and putting off. If we reject His call, He will reject us. He is calling to His people at this time, because it is necessary for His people to begin to prepare themselves..."spiritually." Oh, that we could all look beyond all of the doctrines and creeds of men, to hear the Living God Who is trying to arouse us.

We have been slumbering and sleeping. For many years, through many different means, God has issued warnings to the Church. He has raised up many different individuals to be His mouthpiece... and sent them all over the country and the world to try and raise the alarm. "Get your hearts right with God; live holy and separated lives; Prepare!" We have heard anointed message after anointed message, but afterwards have continued on without making any lasting change.

God has repeatedly warned us, yet we have not turned from what seemed right in our own eyes. Instead, we have tried to attach God's blessing and approval to our efforts, continuing to build what we want. Many have built great 'ministries' and organizations on that which the Lord has given them... Thinking that as they spread their 'part,' they are representing the 'ALL' to be found in God. Paul exhorted the church on being part of Christ's body and the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14. Each and every born again believer in the world is part of Christ's body. Today we have taken that which was given to unify and build us up, and have used it as a divider.

We all have bits and pieces of truth, without any way of connecting them together. This is a result of man's trying to interpret and explain the things of God from the realm of natural reasoning.

2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. We can only come to know and understand the things of God, by the Spirit of God. To have knowledge of God, is to KNOW GOD. Not just to know about Him, but to know Him personally, firsthand. Man has not changed since the beginning. The world today is filled with the manifestation of the evil that is in the hearts of men. We have Churches all over this country, where groups of believers join together with others who think the same way and hold the same doctrines, yet at the same time are separated from all the other churches in their area. Man has splintered and divided Christ's body into denominations and sects, all fighting against one another over differences in doctrine and interpretation of the Bible.

Why are we all so divided, when we all love God and want to make heaven our home? We should be honest enough to acknowledge that all of these divisions we have between one another are not pleasing to God. Christ came with one Gospel. Are we willing to hear HIM? Are we willing to learn from HIM? God has allowed this to be so, because that is the way of man. It always has been, since Cane and Abel. Conflicting ideas as to how to worship God. Even though God plainly tells us what an acceptable sacrifice is, and how to worship HIM appropriately. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Hosea 4:6-9 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame. They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

We should take note, that God did not say,

"My people might be destroyed,"

or "My people could be destroyed,"

He said, "My people ARE destroyed for lack of knowledge."

The people are not destroyed because they haven't learned enough... because they don't all have Phd's after their name. They are destroyed because they have rejected the knowledge of God. When we reject God's knowledge, God has no alternative but to reject us. When we reject the knowledge of God, we are in fact rejecting God Himself. When we forget the law of God, and set our hearts on iniquity (perversity, evil, fault, mischief, sin#5771) regardless of who we are, we are sure to receive just reward for doing so. We cannot have it our way. We cannot reject what God tells us and think it will be well with us. It won't be.

This knowledge we are lacking is not that which is found in our books, library's, or theological institutions. Man has never had so much knowledge available to him. God is speaking of the knowledge that can only be attained through an intimate, personal relationship and connection to Himself. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. The Strong's Concordance defines 'destroyed' (#1820) as follows: to be dumb or silent; hence to fail or perish; to destroy, cease, be cut down (off), be brought to silence, be undone, x utterly. If we fail to obtain for ourselves, personally, the correct knowledge of God, we will be destroyed.

There is a vast difference between acquiring knowledge about the things pertaining to spiritual matters; and actually having the Spirit of God dwelling within you and operating through you. The wisdom of this world is but foolishness to God, as the following verses indicate.

1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

We may think we are wise, and have an answer for everything. We may be able to convince those around us that we are very knowledgeable concerning spiritual things. But we best be very careful parading our knowledge before God. The Lord said in Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. And in Luke 6:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

We need to examine the fruit. Is the fruit that which promotes spiritual health and growth? We have many trees out there, loaded with all kinds of fruit. We need to be very careful before we pluck this fruit off and consume it. We can only discern and know the difference between good fruit and bad fruit, if we are walking in close fellowship with the Lord. The enemy is a master of deception. His fruit 'looks' appealing to the eye (our natural senses), but contains death. Are we willing to settle for less than the fullness of God? Are we willing to risk eating whatever is placed before us, without first looking to God for His approval? We are called to live and walk by the Spirit, not by our flesh.

Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Only as we are subject to and led by the Holy Spirit, will we be able know what is of God and what is not. Only as we dwell in His presence, will we ever learn the knowledge of God. My people perish for lack of knowledge. We need to seek the face of God... always, first and foremost.

Mankind is very able when it comes to knowing 'about' the things of God. We can go to great lengths acquiring information concerning spiritual things, and still be dead spiritually. This 'knowledge' God is speaking of is not dead information. The knowledge God desires to give His children is a vital, living relationship with Himself. A relationship that will transform our inner man; quicken our spirit, and allow us to come into and dwell in His very presence. We are settling for the dead letter... when we have been invited to partake of His life!

Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Again, the Lord prompted me to look up 'captivity' in the concordance: (#1540) ? to denude, (espec. in a disgraceful sense); to exile (captives being usually stripped) to reveal, +advertise, appear, bring (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity).

For of our knowledge, multitudes today are starving for the Word of the Lord. They are parched and dry from feeding on the dead letter. Jesus said in John 4:14

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. There is no comparison between the living water which we can only obtain from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the dead, dry words of men. Christ is calling out to all who will listen.

Are you willing to listen?

Or are you too comfortable with the measure of religion you now have?

God is trying to get our attention. Nowhere in His Word does He promise to strive with man forever. He issues the invitation to know Him. We have the opportunity... but He will not force us to accept His Lordship in our lives against our will.

Are you tired of being hungry and not getting anything to eat? True spiritual food is in short supply these days. There is a spiritual famine in the land. And when you do find true spiritual food it is very expensive. The price for this food is your life. You cannot obtain it any other way. It will cost you everything you possess. If you are willing to pay this price, you will receive far more than you paid. You will receive a new life in Christ Jesus. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Only by way of our relationship with Christ can we acquire true knowledge of all that is Holy. Only by taking up our own, individual cross; laying down our life and all that it is comprised of, can we be set free from this world. Only as Christ abides within our hearts, can we be clothed with His Righteousness, that we need not be standing naked and ashamed before Him.

God is calling out to all that are called by His name. Will you answer the door? Are you hungry enough to say 'yes' to God? Now is the time to decide. When His judgment begins, all that can be shaken will be shaken. All that has been built upon the foundation of Christ; gold, silver, precious stones, (works of the spirit) wood, hay, stubble (works of the flesh) shall be consumed by fire. Only that which is firmly established, only those things that God has ordained, will remain.

1 Corinthians 3:10-18 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

There is one place that we will find LIFE.

There is one place that we will find KNOWLEDGE.

That place, is in OUR RELATIONSHIP with JESUS CHRIST.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. May we humbly come before the mercy seat, and give HIM our all. May we come to the same place our LORD did, and be able to say, "Not my will, but thine be done."

We need not be destroyed and perish.

We need not go into captivity.

The choice is ours.

Amen

Cathy Morris

9/01/2001

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