Stand Firm to the End

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Hebrews 3:1-19

Verse 7-8 says, If you hear God's voice, do not harden your hearts in rebellion as the children of Israel did at Meribah in their day of testing in the wilderness. (Deborah's paraphrase)

In reading Numbers 20:1-5 and 10-13, we find that God allowed the Israelites to be tested in the wilderness. This testing was not because God needed to know how the Israelites would respond to adverse circumstances, but rather, so that the Israelites would know what was in their own hearts. 

Our sinful nature is always revealed at our point of crisis, and so, God uses these adverse situations to grow our faith. These times of testing will ultimately lead us to be progressively changed for the better, or lead us to turning our back on God - depending on our character and the truth about our faith in God's Word. 

The Lord already knows our commitment level, but He wants us to see for ourselves just how much we really trust Him. God's Word will always be tested in our hearts so that "we" will know and understand the validity and power of God love. God always proves Himself in times of testing if we will just trust Him and believe!

So, once again, the Israelites were complaining to Moses and Aaron. Yes, they needed water, but they were also bent on having an attitude of rebellion against God - always complaining and quarreling about the way their deliverance came. They didn't like the way that God was providing for them and they didn't respect the leadership of Moses (God's minister) in their moment of crisis.

So God told Moses to "speak" to a rock. God said He would make water flow from this rock in order to prove His power by providing for the Israelites in a miraculous way. Unfortunately, Moses, in his frustration, hit the rock instead of speaking to it. Amazingly, God's mercy still allowed the water to flow and quench their thirst, but He also told them that they would not enter the promised land because of their unbelief. 

In this story, God's mercy was accompanied by God's judgement! Even though God had proven Himself over and over for forty years in the wilderness, the Israelites continuously whined and complained, and now, even their leader, Moses, had become frustrated. So, because Moses did not honor God in their sight by fully obeying, God said none of them would enter into the promised land. These were the waters of Meribah where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where the Lord was proved Holy among them.

When testing comes, remember, God is testing us so that we will know what is in our own hearts. God already knows.

Even when a temptation comes from a seemingly Christian source, don't be fooled. Remember, it is a test! It is a test for us to see our own wrong thinking - our own sinful heart. - Deuteronomy 13:1-3

Hebrews 3:8-9 tells us, don't be like your ancestors who tested God in the wilderness for forty years. They saw God prove Himself over and over again, and yet, they hardened their hearts in rebellion because things were not as pleasant as they expected. They were mad because God didn't do things their way and in their timing.

God is Holy. He is God. It really doesn't matter how we seek to manipulate, justify or even approve of our sin, God's Word is the ultimate standard by which all sin is judged. If we are not Christians, God has given us a conscious to show us wrong from right. But, for those of us who are Christians, the voice of the Holy Spirit is our constant guide. So, ultimately, we are without excuse.

The fullness of God's blessings will never be manifest in the lives of those who insist on being in rebellion. 1 Samuel 15:23 says, "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft." In fact, let's look at this verse in the Amplified version..."For rebellion is as [serious as] the sin of divination (fortune-telling), And disobedience is as [serious as] false religion and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you as king." This is where God changed His mind about Saul being the King!

God's anger is released when His people continually go astray in their hearts - when they do not grow to know His ways. The Lord wants us to be progressively changed to become more like Christ. If we continually refuse to do so, there will come a time where God's mercy gives way to judgement. This is where the consequences for our sin becomes our fate. Read Hebrews 3:10-11 in the Amplified to see the example God has given to us through the Israelites journey from Egypt to the promised land. 

Mark 4:17 says, "... when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they [are offended and displeased at being associated with Me and] stumble and fall away." - (AMP)

John 5:38 says, "You do not have His word (Scripture) abiding in you [actually living in your hearts and minds], because you do not believe in Him whom He has sent." - (AMP) 
The Lord wants us to believe Him! He wants us to trust Him! He wants us to take His Word at face value and never harden our hearts to Him. And... it's easy to believe God when things are going good, but it's hard to believe Him when our lives are a mess. So, God uses these times of testing to show us just how much we really believe Him. One of my favorite scripture verses is Hebrews 11:6 which says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and  that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - KJV

So our conclusion for this lesson leads us to Jude 1. Here we see that while God is able to keep us from stumbling or falling into sin, He is also warning us to not be fooled into thinking that just because He has saved us from eternal hell, He will not also destroy us if we choose continual rebellion. 

Jude reminds us of how the Lord saved the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt, but later destroyed them because of their refusal to trust Him in the wilderness. We are also reminded that even the angels who rebelled against God were not able to keep their place of power in heaven but are now chained in darkness until the day of judgement.

We should build ourselves up (daily) by praying in the Holy Spirit if we expect to escape the snares of this world. Do not allow grumblers, complainers and those who are bent on being lustful and sensual to lure you into wavering in your obedience to the Holy Spirit and the Word of the Living God.

As Christians, we should hate sin so much that we are constantly telling the world about the wonder of God (by our actions even more so than by our mouth) and we need to understand that most people can be won to the Lord through love; but, there are some who will need to be "snatched" out of the grips of hell through the fear of God. 

God is Holy. He is God!

If we are truly His, we should be progressively changed for the better. We should grow to agree with all of His precepts and all of His judgements and all of His promises. We should grow to become more like Jesus.

If we are not being progressively changed for the better (as shown by our obedience), the question remains, are we really His? The Lord says "examine yourselves" to see if you are really one of His. - 2 Corinthians 13:5

The born-again experience is a beautiful moment in time where the seed of God comes to live inside of a person. It is a moment in time where a human is recreated into the likeness of God - as God intended from the book of Genesis. True born-again humans will inherit eternal salvation with God. True born-again humans will hunger and thirst for righteousness. Their attitude toward sin is progressively changed.

Life's trials and testings will give us opportunities to to be progressively changed for the better or will to expose us as being a tare (someone who wants to be in the Kingdom but who has no depth in their knowledge or their fear of God). From life's trials, God gives us the opportunity to see for ourselves the true condition of our heart, the true condition of our faith and the true condition of our character. 

God's testings will prove God's Spirit in us... prove God's love toward us... and, prove God's Word (promises) for us. 

The Holy Spirit of God will empower us to STAND FIRM TO THE END.

Even so, we should never grow cold to the Holiness of God. God's standard never changes. Sin hurts. Sin thwarts. Sin perverts. Sin kills.

God is Holy. He is God. It really doesn't matter how we seek to manipulate, justify or even approve of our sin, God's Word is the ultimate standard by which all sin is judged. 

LESSONS:

1. Partial obedience is not obedience at all.
2. Trials and testings will expose our true beliefs about God.
3. Our character is more important than our comfort.
4. God wants us to believe Him in all things.
5. We need to examine ourselves to make sure that we are truly a born-again believer and not just someone who wants to go to heaven, who likes to hear of the goodness of God or someone who believes "in" God but doesn't really believe God. 
6. Don't be discouraged when testing comes from a seemingly Christian source. God will expose our wrong thinking and our sinful heart during these times. 
7. Eternity is forever. We should not play around with how we handle God's Word.
8. We should not put banners of salvation on people we love when God is allowing them to be tested. He wants us all to know who He is, and who we are in Him. Every human being must work out their own salvation with God as their life is progressively changed for the better  or as they are exposed when they turn their back from ever really knowing Him. Children cannot go to heaven on their parents faith. Husbands cannot enter heaven on their wife's faith. Wives will not see heaven just because their husband is a Christian. We must, each, stand naked and alone before God.
9. True believers will repent and cry out to God when they see their own wickedness and unbelief in times of testing.
10. True believers who are bent on rebellion against God risk falling into the judgement of God in this life.
11. True believers will be desperate to STAY FIRM TO THE END. 
12. God loves us so much that He wants to prove Himself. He will always prove Himself in times of testing if we will just believe and trust Him.

www.DeborahRossMinistries.org 

Marriage or Divorce?

Dealing with Unfaithfulness

Dear Beautiful Women of God:

I get emails and phone calls all the time from those suffering in marital hardships who are looking for hope in their situation - which seems to be so bleak. The question below is one that I received by email and I'd like to share it with all of you as a Remnant Woman writes the following...

Question:

How do you stand for a marriage when your husband just uses you and cares nothing about you? Especially when you show them unconditional love and they know you are standing so they use that to their advantage. What kind of self respect can you have for yourself to allow yourself to be used like that? Especially when your husband is sleeping with other people and telling them lies about you? Wouldn't God want you to be free to move on and live a new life? My husband isn't sorry for what he has done.

My Reply:


My heart breaks for you. I know, it is very difficult to live day to day with a broken heart that bleeds because of betrayal from their spouse.

I will offer you this one Biblical escape from your torment, but I must also add that this is not necessarily God's best. In Matthew 19 Jesus tells the Pharisees that divorce is permitted in the case of adultery, but, He also adds that divorce is permitted because of the "hardness of our hearts". Even if you divorce your husband, you must still forgive him... I mean truly forgive him. Remember, God sees the heart. While others may not know the bitterness that can be in a person's heart for many years or even a lifetime after divorce, God see it all. It is my conclusion - as one who has overcome marital adversity - that if I must forgive my husband, I'd rather fight for his salvation, aiming to win the whole prize (our marriage, his salvation, and my clean heart) than to face the arduous task of trying to truly forgive after a bitter divorce.

It is my belief that God will use us as vessels of Himself as we stand in the gap for those that are lost and living in darkness. Your husband is obviously lost and living in darkness. While it is very painful to love someone who is unlovable, we are also told that learning to love our enemies is what makes us more like Christ (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, Luke 6:35).

As in 1 Corinthians 13:8, I believe that "Love Never Fails". As you pray for your husband, speak the truth to your husband (not in a nagging way), live as an example of Christ before your husband's eyes, and forgive your husband, God will soften your husband's heart as you create fertile ground for your miracle. It is not a quick fix. You will need to ask yourself many times over if you can withstand the challenge of this spiritual warfare, knowing that the devil will not back down easily.

As you ask the Holy Spirit for His daily guidance and protection, while placing yourself in the strong hand of God, He will take care of you, guiding you step by step through the process of this dark valley. God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He knows exactly what it will take for your husband to surrender and repent of his sins. God will use you as a vessel of light as you completely surrender to His pathway to wholeness for your family. Most importantly, you'll need to trust that your faith in God's Word will bring forth the promise of a restored marriage with a born-again husband. Many people come to the conclusion that someone will never change and so they give up the fight. I like to say, how long would you believe for the salvation of your child? How long would you commit to being the parent of your child, if they were in rebellion and sinning against you? Is your husband any more disposable than your child?

God does not want any to perish. He wants everyone to become a born-again Child of God. God does not want any marriage to end in divorce. He wants all families to remain whole. Knowing this, you can pray with confidence, knowing that God is on your side. The waiting and the suffering is not fun, but it is what every Christian goes through at some point or another, in some area of their faith.

Romans 5:1-5

When we suffer for righteousness sake, God works out things in our own lives that perhaps we didn't even know needed attention. He molds us and shapes us to be more like Himself as we surrender our will, to His. Though our surrender may be extremely painful for a season, we don't do it as one who has no hope. Instead, we do it knowing that God is faithful and He will not make us ashamed in the end.

We cannot change our husbands, but God can... and He wants to. I want to encourage you to pray the Marriage Prayer, daily. Also, I currently have my audio message of Faith, Forgiveness, Future posted at the bottom of this blog that you can freely listen to for encouragement - right from your computer. My teaching series of Root Digger, Not a Rug Sweeper (available on my web-site) is another valuable tool of encouragement that will help you during this season of pain. Finally, I have a new book titled, Healing a Broken Marriage: Love Never Fails .  I highly recommend these resources, as they may prove vital to the outcome of your journey.

Again, you are ultimately the only one who can decide how to handle your situation. Divorce is permitted... but, it is not necessarily the best way. Ask the Lord to show you what to do - day by day - and He will. He loves you AND He loves your husband. He wants each of you born-again and set free from the bondage of sin.

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

______________________

Then, another Remnant Woman writes...

As a "seasoned Christian," I actually pray for God's refining fires however, when they come in by way of infidelity I find that I fail the test every time. When I found out about the last incident, that happened between my husband and my brother's wife, I thought I would lose my mind. I shut down in every area of life and depression took over. I felt like a lousy Christian because I was consumed by grief. I felt like the Lord would never be able to use me again. I had always been committed to my family in spite of the infidelities, however, this one had crossed the family lines. What made matters worse was she had just lost her mother to cancer the same month I found out and had gained all the other family members sympathy in spite of her indiscretion. I was told to just "drop it and forgive and forget." There would be no accountability, how was I to handle that? I was at the end of my rope, I just couldn't take anymore of anything. The pain inside was unbearable, so much so that I began cutting on myself just to relieve it! What kind of Christian cuts herself to relieve pain when she should be turning to Jesus for comfort and healing? The joy of the Lord is supposed to be my strength! I began to doubt my own salvation. Then the tears of remorse began to wash over me as I remembered the day I was saved and baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit. There was no denying that to be true. Then the guilt of conviction kicked in, that I had abused my own vessel, God's temple, making me feel worse. Oh, would this merry-go-round of emotion, grief, and conviction ever stop? What was I missing in the lesson that I had to endure the pain of infidelity a fifth time? What are you trying to teach me Lord? I prayed, "Lord, please send me a teacher who will make it all make sense. Surround me with your "spirit-filled" people that will gently walk me through this trial so that I can be victorious this time." This is where your book found it's way into my hands and I rejoiced and cried as I read it. I said to myself, "This woman has the answers I seek Lord! She has Your wisdom Lord. Your Word is in her mouth and you have taken her on a similar journey and she has come out victorious!" Truly, Deborah, had it not been for your book, I would still be spinning on the merry-go-round in darkness trying to find the off switch. Thank you for shining your light through my darkness so I could "find" and "hit" the off switch! You gave me clarity where I could only see darkness. Glory be to God and may He bless your ministry ten thousand fold!

_________________________

To God be the Glory for every marriage restored, every broken heart mended, and every tormented mind that receives the peace of God.

In Christ,

Deborah Ross

Deborah Ross Ministries

Strengthening Families, Encouraging Faith, Preaching the Gospel

http://www.deborahrossministries.org/