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GET OFF THE FENCE

Has anyone ever told you to do your due diligence before you buy? Or make up your mind and get off the fence. Each of these statements is an indication that whatever you do, you must be sure that you are ready to pay for the consequences of the decisions you make. We are all subject to what comes next, good or bad, because once the decision is made, it either brings joy or the hammer will fall.

It's funny that every child must go through the same thing to learn some lessons. I have three children, and in one way or another, they all had to learn the same lessons but in entirely different circumstances. Understand that, before they experienced these lessons, we as parents warned them about what they would face if they did things we knew would have unpleasant consequences. Yet they did it and paid for it in the long run. Oh well, we tried our best.

Genesis 2:16-17

The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden, you may eat freely;

But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in that day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”

There were fruit-bearing trees in the garden that were edible and good for sustenance, or healthy and nutrient-rich, supporting the body's health. But God warned the man not to eat of the tree that was not good for giving life to the body, but that tree had only information for the man's thinking process. That tree provided understanding of what is good and what is evil. The woman chose to disregard God’s warning and encouraged the man to do the same. The man partook because he feared losing the woman's companionship. He chose her above his creator. That decision brought sin into mankind. Man was created perfect when God breathed life into him after he was formed from the clay of the earth. He became a living being. Disobeying God’s command is sin, that is, rebellion against the righteousness of the living God. Man’s spirit was darkened, and mankind fell from its ability to fellowship with God.

Genesis 3:4-5

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! (HE LIED)

For God knows that in that day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The woman was hooked because she desired to be like God, and the only way she could be like God was to eat the fruit that would give her BOTH good and evil. The enemy had instilled in her covetousness, and the rebellion was set in motion for the fall of man, Adam. Because the seed of all mankind was in Adam, and we are all his descendants, sin was passed down to all of mankind after Adam's selfish act of trying to retain his soul mate.

Now you might be thinking, what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? It does not, but it does relate to what I am going to share with you next. Now bear with me and hang with me till the end. I may sound harsh, but it has everything to do with the commitment you made at the cross of slavery. Let us proceed to the New Testament and cover an essential lesson in Acts 4:36-37

Let me introduce you to a man who is in the fourth chapter of Acts. His name is Joseph, but he was better known as Barnabas. There are only two verses that speak of this man, but His example of commitment was exemplary.

Va 36 Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

Vs 37: he owned a tract of land (a substantial piece), sold it, brought the money, and laid it at the apostle's feet.

Now, let’s continue with an example of how not to live our Christian walk.

I will ask you to read Acts 1-13. I will hit the high points of these scriptures so as not to write a whole book on this subject.

Vs 1 Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of Property,

Vs 2- 4 Ananias laid a sum of money at the Apostle's feet as if it were the entire amount he had sold the property for, but it was only a portion. The Holy Spirit revealed the deception to Peter, and that is when everything went south for Ananias. Peter called it out as being Satan that put it in Ananias' heart to do it. He could have been honest with the Apostles and said that he brought a portion as an offering and needed the remainder for whatever, but he didn’t.

Vs 5-7 When Ananias heard these words, he fell dead, and the young men buried him.

Vs 8-10: then Sapphira came in, and Peter asked her about the full price of the property's sale, and she said, "Yes, that was it." He called her out on that lie, and she fell dead.

Allow me to say, “IT NEVER PAYS TO LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT”

Vs 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

Now, please bear with me for a few moments because this is what the Holy Spirit has shown me: what is about to happen in the church is revealed right here in these verses. We are in the last days. We are entering a time in which the condition of the church is nowhere near where it should be to see the second coming of our Lord. He said he will return to claim His bride who is without spot or wrinkle. We are not in pristine condition. You know and I know that for that to happen, there needs to be cleansing. The Holy Spirit of promise was given to the church to mature it through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. They were given to the church at Pentecost to perfect it so that it could take its rightful position.

We are about to experience an Ananias and Sapphira moment, where your commitment to the Lord, made by surrendering your sinful life at the cross and receiving forgiveness, clearly says to the Lord, “I SURRENDER ALL.” Did you really do that? Did you really surrender all to the Lord of glory? Or did you hold back some things that you enjoyed in your old life, which were in constant rebellion? Was it your total giving up of what you loved about the world you were in? The scripture says, “Man loves his sin,” which is why it is so hard to give it up.

I will end with this:

1 Peter 4: FOR IT IS TIME FOR JUDGEMENT TO BEGIN WITH THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD, AND IF IT BEGINS WITH US FIRST, WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF GOD?

This scripture is clear in two things.

1. Judgment will start in us, to cleanse the church from all unrighteousness.

2. If we, the saved, are being corrected and judged, that's how pointed it will be for the lost. The church will be brought into holiness by judgment. The lost will suffer for eternity in hell.

It is no longer sufficient to be a fence rider, half in the world and half in the kingdom of God. God will not be mocked. Our surrender must be the full price of the property we have given to the Lord.

I pray that you receive this message as from the Lord of glory. Take it to heart, take it to Jesus in prayer, and receive his correction with gladness and joy. Call upon the Holy Spirit to do the work that is needed in your life today, AMEN