“LIVING BY MAN’S DESIGN OR LIVING
BY THE MASTER’S DEMANDS?”
BY: J.FARRELL FISHER, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018
How awesome do you find the Holy Word of God ,or, are you, yes, deceived by “living according to a man’s design void of the Eternal Intent of Holy God for, yes, all men”?
Come with me to James 2:14-24, receiving the anointed words of James, the brother of Jesus! He wrote: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone SAYS he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled, but do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith BY ITSELF, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?”
Do you see that FAITH WAS WORKING TOGETHER WITH HIS WORKS, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed (trusted, relied upon, adhered to) God, and it WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.”
Have you ever heard ,“I believe”, and yet one’s behavior drowned out the call to “deny yourself, take up YOUR cross ,follow Me, and die daily”? In fact, Christ Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:20-23, saying: “Therefore by their “fruits” (or “fruits of the Spirit”?) you will know them.
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Interesting verse in Psalm 6:8 as David, singing about his sorrow as the unbelieving world around him came against him, said, “Depart from me, all you WORKERS OF INIQUITY”! “Workers of iniquity”? “Workers of iniquity in the ‘professing’ Christian community who “choose” to walk with God as long as He understands they want to walk “their way” at times, and “Your Way”, but on their terms and chosen turfs”??
It’s a sad, sad day every time you’re witnessing “professors of faith” who deny His Holy Word and, yes, willfully ‘choose’ to ‘walk in darkness’ and refuse to “Let His Light Shine Through Them”!! Are you aware of “disobedient lifestyles” of professing believers who indeed think it’s “A-OK” to walk, at times, in darkness, even willfully shutting out the “Light” they profess to live by in their “religious moments”?
What an awesome, inspiring Word in Matthew 8:1-4 when “Jesus came down from the mountain, with great multitudes following Him. And, behold, a leper came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, AS A TESTIMONY TO THEM.” Dare I tell you? Believe I will! “There IS the ‘testimony’ of “blood-bought lives” living under, in, and by the Presence of The Resurrected Christ! Are YOU aware of “divine cleanness”?
In Dallas Willard’s book, “Can A Man Live Without God?”, (on page 194) he quoted the skeptic, David Hume, who said: “The most natural sentiment, which a well-disposed mind will feel on this occasion, is a longing desire and expectation that heaven would be pleased to dissipate, at least alleviate, this profound ignorance, by affording some more particular revelation to mankind, and making discoveries of the nature, attributes, and operations of the divine object of our faith.”
AND, what is the ‘divine object of your faith’ that governs your life? There IS one’s self-obsession with ‘flesh’, the ‘old man’, the Adam-nature, OR, the “new Spirit of Life in and through Jesus Only”!! HE is “the divine object of our faith” – not ‘flesh effort’, not ‘do the best you can’, but living fully aware that you were “crucified with Christ”, and now you live in and through Him who “makes all things new”! It’s all determined by whether it’s “you at your best”, or, “crucified with Christ”, allowing the “Resurrection Life of Christ” TO BE the explanation of who you are and why you’re here!
Again, thoroughly examine James 2:23-24 which says: And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God (trusted God, relied upon God, or adhered to Him only!’). And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
I would ask you, “Is your ‘faith walk’ one that clearly reveals that it is a life that walks in His “righteousness”, and not your best efforts?” Is it the “Life in Christ” or a life that tries its best to ‘resemble Jesus’? Is it a ‘believing life’ without the Holy Spirit glorifying Christ in you and through you, but sadly ‘dimming’ His abiding Presence in the “new creations”?
In Philippians 2:14-15 the Apostle Paul wrote to a church then and the church now the following: “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” “Children of God? “Blameless and Harmless, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, shining as lights in the world, HOLDING FAST THE WORD OF LIFE”?
The Lord Jesus Christ is not a “silent occupier” – Jesus IS, by His Spirit, the Sovereign Administrator of the Holy Life of Eternal God! He’s not a ‘religious idea’ or a ‘religious thought or precept’, but the “Resident, Resurrected Christ and Lord of Abiding, Eternal, and Life-changing Truth”!
To walk with Jesus is not a ‘flesh, religious game,’ but THE Sovereign Presence of Him who IS Revelation-Truth! He’s not a ‘casual friend’, but Holy Lord over all! He’s not a divine-nature proponent but the Living Presence of the divine nature, resident, ruling in the repentant heart, and regulating the life submissive to His Lordship! “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, but you do not do what I say’?”
For you, in your ‘supposed faith-walk’, is it “trying” apart from TRUSTING, attempting apart from “Blood Atonement”, or your ‘religious best’ apart from “born again, born a second time, born from above”?
There’s only one “Life” available to make the eternal difference in the ‘natural man’, in the Satanically deceived, in the ‘world system’ that seriously indoctrinates a man void of the “wisdom of God” – and that IS “The King” who took ourselves and our sins and sinful nature, and was crucified with Him that we might be forgiven, freed, washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, and filled in all the fullness of the God-head bodily, submerged in death, but raised up in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Don’t you find it strange that the old hymn, “Rock of Ages”, is seldom sung in churches across the modern world today? It says: “Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Your wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Your laws’ demands; These for sin could not atone; Christ must save, and Christ alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Your cross I cling; Naked, I come to You for dress; Helpless, I look to You for grace; Vile, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold You on Your throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.” Tell me about where today YOU are ‘hiding the real you’ – what you are in the best efforts of your ‘flesh nature’ or what you are in your “new-born Life in and through the Resurrected, Reigning, Richly Blessed Christ Jesus”?
What am I talking about? “Living By Man’s Design?” Or are you, “Living By The Master’s Demands”? Just about thirty minutes ago I had to take my “break” from sitting at my computer. Having turned the TV on, I came across a presentation of “sharks”, whether in the Gulf or along the Eastern coastal-line of the U.S.A.! They were showing a number of lives that survived the attacks, but sadly had to tell about those who lost their lives in the murky sea-waters where “sharks” will venture to find their “meals”!
On “the sea of life” there are “sharks” highly offended by “believers” who know nothing about ‘demonic or Satanic personal space issues’!! And, sadly, many do not know about “divine protection” against ‘the world around them, the flesh-nature in them, or the Satanic onslaught around them’! Christ Jesus said, in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
“Sharks”? “Satan”? “Demonic activity”? And Christ Jesus? Mark 1:11 tells me about Christ Jesus, in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, along with the “wild beasts”! But Mark 1:14 follows saying, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in(or Trust in) the gospel.” Revelation 12:9 tells me that “the Devil or Satan deceives the whole world”, followed by Verses 10-11 which says:
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God (awareness in me!), and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
And if you haven’t overcome Satan, it’s because you live in a false hope of a love for yourself rather than “crucified with Christ”! In Titus 3:4-8 Paul said: “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, NOT BY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH WE HAVE DONE, but according to His mercy He saved us, THROUGH the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
But you’re a “try-er” not a “trust-er”, you’re a “believer” but not a recipient of the gift of eternal life in Christ alone; you now see yourself as spiritually handsome because you ‘believe’ in Jesus apart from receiving His gift of Resurrection Life, Resurrection Power, and Resurrection Hope, void of true repentance and void of God’s offer of “Christ in you the hope of glory”!!
Again, what did Jesus say in Matthew 11:28-30? “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Are you aware of the reality of “Church imperialism” that shuns the “Incarnation” of His life as void in believers’ lives, totally blind to the truth, “CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY”?
In 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 we read: GET READY – IT’S A SHOCKER!! “O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. [Does that relate to “examine yourselves”?]. Verses 14-18
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? (Or the wicked or the ungodly!). Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? You are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.” Therefore
“Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Oh, don’t stop there! Look at 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
And you don’t understand why a large number of church attenders will burst Hell wide open, even celebrating in their compromised, confused, conformed life of both ‘flesh’ and ‘a little bit of the spirit’, ignoring “Christ in them the hope of glory”?
ARE YOU “LIVING BY ‘FLESH’ DEMANDS, COMFORTABLE, AS FRIENDS OF A PERISHING WORLD, BLINDLY ‘ENLIGHTENED’ BY GODLESS PROFESSORS, THE ‘FLESHLY’ RICH, AND BY SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF SATAN AND HIS DEMON HORDES? OR, “ARE YOU LIVING IN THE MASTER’S DEMANDS?”
In Matthew 16:24-27, hear King Jesus, the only Lord and Savior commissioned by God the Father Himself!! He said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life (for himself!) will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”
The Master’s Demands? Really, really interesting that in John 5:23 King Jesus said: “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” And, of course, I have to ask, “Are you at all familiar with what King Jesus said in Luke 6:46?” “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, AND NOT DO THE THINGS WHICH I SAY?” A ‘professing life’ without the testimony of being obedient to the Lord Jesus is a ‘house’ with no solid foundation (Christ IS the “Rock-Foundation!”), and when the “storm-winds” blow, the foundational-absent life is swept away by the powers of darkness, celebrating in the dark dungeon of godless living under the eternal spell and punishment of Satan and his demon hordes!!
The Master’s Demands? “Come to Me, and I’ll give you heavenly, eternal “Rest”; take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The Master’s Demands? Matthew 4:17, “REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Luke 5:10b-11, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”
The Master’s Demands? Isaiah 55:6-7, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, (In true repentance!), and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
The Master’s Demands? Matthew 4:4, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
The Master’s Demands? John 6:63-64, and Verse 66! “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe (or void of “trusting Him!”). Verse 66, From that time many of His disciples WENT BACK AND WALKED WITH HIM NO MORE.”
The Jesus turned to His twelve disciples, asking them, “Do you also want to go away?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life Verse 69, Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And of the twelve, only Judas betrayed King Jesus – the rest ended up martyred for the True Faith!!
True discipleship is daily “taking the sentence of death to “self” that the Resurrection Life of Christ may be manifested, unveiled as the “Light, Life, and Liberty” of Christ in the midst of ,yes, your darkened, sin-blinded world!
Do you receive, understand, appropriate, and share with others the blessing of His “unending Life”, that through repentance and faith you share with others in His Resurrection, His abiding Presence in a never-ending life, blessed with eternal, never-ending, everlastingly lasting, and totally ‘complete’ in Christ, blessed with the endlessness relationship of true disciple One with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, imperishable, constant oneness with each, and celebrating with all the saints who heard, listened, examined, repented, and rested in His “precious promises!!
True disciples understand holiness, or “set apart” to and for the glory of God! True disciples choose “death” daily that His Resurrection Life may be manifested through mortal flesh! True disciples refuse to be ‘led astray’, falling away from their own steadfastness!
True disciples GROW in grace and continually expand their understanding of the knowledge of the Lord, of His ministry through available vessels, and in His eternal promises of repentant lives living in “the new heavens and the new earth”, yes, the present Kingdom of God for which He calls us, “ambassadors of Christ”, “royal ambassadors”, not allowing sin in our mortal bodies, but reigning with Him to the glory of His eternal Kingdom on earth, as it always is in Heaven!! Amen?