He sent us the Comforter because we need it to live right. If you accepted Christ, but years later are lukewarm (check your own heart) you are in danger of being spit out of His mouth! You must be hot for God, but that is impossible without the Holy Spirit. You must be like a wise virgin and keep your oil in your lamp full. You can't just be a hearer of the word but a doer too. You can't keep one foot in the world and the other in the kingdom. Check your heart again. Do you have one foot in the world? Perhaps both feet? What would that look like? Think about it because your salvation depends on your understanding the Word and doing the Word. Oops did I just say that? Yeiks! Well I just don't believe once saved always saved. I do believe we are saved by His righteousness and not our works. But... there are enough scriptures that show us we can backslide too far if not careful. It is not so simple as saying you believe. God says:
Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Now to me that very last verse says a lot. It says when you get saved and then continue in sin you would need to lay the foundation again of repentace and faith toward God. So if your sinning daily and ignoring God and die before you get back on track, you are in danger.
You need the baptism of the Holy Spirit to have the power to live holy and stand up to the enemy! Don't continue living as a child of disobedience. Even with the Holy Spirit, you can still mess up, but it's a helper we need. Besides, if your professing to be a Christian and hanging out at the bar all the time, do you think your a light to those unsaved relatives and coworkers who are watching you? You might have to answer to that one if they die unsaved and God's plan was to use you to pull them from the pit of hell.
Yep, if your continuing in sin purposefully you are leasing your life to Satan. Have you heard the road to hell is paved with good intentions? Living right won't save you because only Jesus can. But faith in Him without works is dead and if Jesus returns when your purposefully sinning and you understand that you are... friend your in trouble.
Luk 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness.
We as a people today are worse than Soddom and Gomorrah which God found so full of sin he destroyed. Do you think they even compare to the sin of today? I realize everyone has a time to grow and if your in the world, it is hard to come out and separate. God is merciful but, how long do you think God will tarry?
God likens us to sheep and you know how one sheep will gleefully follow another sheep into the dangerous territory of the wolves not knowing any better if the Shepherd isn't watching? They will follow you right to the pit of hell if your not careful.
In fact my husband, Evangelist Rick Dougan was sitting in a semi one day and watched as a trailor full of sheep at a slaughterhouse were being unloaded. These sheep gleefully jumped from the back of the truck and right into the waiting area to be butchered one by one just moments after jumping in. They went in on four feet and came out in a cardboard box.
Friend that is Satan's plans for you! Please wake up!
My husband suddenly felt an urgency in his spirit for the people who are living life in the same manner, not realizing the impending doom around the corner.
For all those sheep knew, they were going to play and roam again as they always had. Just like those who were recently burnt in a fire at a bar. Someone shot off fireworks at the ceiling and many died. They probably thought they had many more weekends at that bar but it was in fact their last.
Some think I am fanatical because I pray fervently. Some say I am a fanatic because of Christians they know who live like sinners. Don't get me wrong... I mess up. I am not perfect. But I don't purposefully sin. I try and live according to the word. God tells us to be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. We must be aware of the enemy and the fact that he has dominion over this world. If he isn't bothering you, you must be gleefully playing around inside his gates.
Most people would prefer Christians they see who have the following habits which I have followed up with scripture that show they are wrong. These lukewarm Christians giving a bad testimony and are like the ignorant sheep:
1. They keep their religion to themselves.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
2. They don't want to bother people with the need to repent.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
3. They still know how to have fun in life going to bars, smoking, cussing living in sin. You know, live and let live.
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Tit 2:2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Tit 2:3 The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4. They don't try and tell people God still heals people today.
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Jam 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
5. They don't try and tell people tongues are for today.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
If you are living your life with one foot in the world friend, now is your chance to change.
Jesus didn't just die on that cross for you to be saved, but for your healing and to send you the Holy Ghost so you would be equipped with all the gifts mentioned above so you can live right, lead others to salvation, and have power over the prince of the world; the devil.
Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
So do you want to come back to Jesus before it is too late, or get to know him for the first time? Come on back to the Lord. He awaits you. Salvation.
Copyright by Linda Dougan January 23, 2005
