I
KNOW YOUR WORKS and YOUR HEART
“…I KNOW THY WORKS…” (REVELATIONS 2:2 KJV)
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ZEAL is the opposite of indifference,
which distances duty-bound persons from FIRST LOVE, truth, further transformation,
spiritual growth or development, or the renewal of the mind. “… [I]…kept declaring ….that they should REPENT and TURN TO God, performing deeds appropriate to
REPENTANCE…” (Acts 26: 20 NASB). "…Therefore REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away,
in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”
(Acts 3:19 NASB).
Most duty-bound WORKERS are commitment to
DOING what they believe is right in God’s eyes, but fail to realize they cannot
do it apart from the indwelling Holy
Spirit. “…I KNOW THY WORKS…” (REVELATIONS 2:2 KJV). “….apart from Me (the indwelling Holy Spirit), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
Many duty-bound WORKERs are trustworthy,
demonstrate integrity, very ethical, fair, encouraging, loyal, offer hope,
serve faithfully, and exhibit excellent religious behaviors. Yet, they STILL
need the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…I
want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t….I don’t want to do what is
wrong, but I do it anyway. …” (Romans 7:14-25
It would SEEM that duty-bound persons are
the pinnacle examples of the Christian faith, but where do their WORKS stem
from; devotion or duty? “Woe
unto you, hypocrites! …which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within
full … of all uncleanness… ” (Matthew 23:27 KJV). “…their heart is far from me…” (Mark 7:6 KJV).
The indwelling Holy Spirit does the WORK
of faith “IN” and “THROUGH” God’s people and if NOT; their WORKS are
meaningless. “… if I
have the gift of prophecy,
and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I AM NOTHING. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1
Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV).
Duty-bound WORKERS may accrue compliments
from others through their many works, but those WORKS do not accrue to their
credit with God. “… All their works they
do for to be seen of men…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV). “… Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the
corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
They have their reward…” (Matthew 6:5 KJV).
Duty-bound WORKS do not accumulate towards
an individual’s favor with God. "… Watch
out! Don't do
your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your
Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:1 NLT).
Duty-bound WORKS are a failure to choose to
depend upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to EMPOWER the WORK of faith. “… if I have … not love (God is love), I AM
NOTHING. And if I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor,
and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1
Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV).
The duty-bound person’s acts of religious
obligation is PROOF that he or she has LEFT or DEPARTED from their FIRST LOVE. “….apart from Me (the indwelling Holy Spirit), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…abide in me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me…” (John 15:4 KJV). “…I
am the vine, you are the branches…” (John
15:1-11 NASB).
A duty-bound person demonstrates a lack of
dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…If a man abide NOT in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and
cast them into the fire, and they are burned…” (John 15:6 KJV).
A devoted person demonstrates a dependence
upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…That great Shepherd of the
sheep, EQUIP you with everything good for doing his will, and may
he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
The
SOURCE of WORKS is the indwelling Holy Spirit, which works "IN" and "THROUGH" you to enable you to PLEASE GOD (your FIRST LOVE) while doing the WORK of ministry.. “…God is [your first] love…” (1 John 4:8
KJV). “…The …HOLY SPIRIT (God) …is the SOURCE of [empowered works] …it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who
are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us …
(1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
God’s FIRST LOVE for you, is expressed
through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and
is the SOURCE of enduring strength for any Christian WORKS. “…God’s
love has been poured out into
our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us…” (Romans 5:5 NIV). “…God has sent forth the
Spirit
of His Son “INTO”
OUR HEARTS…” (Galatians 4:6
NASB). “…Jesus Christ IS IN YOU…” (2
Corinthians 13:5 KJV). “…[You] can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth [you]…” (Philippians
4:13 KJV).
God’s FIRST LOVE for you, EQUIPS you, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to
DO the WORKS of ministry. “…That great Shepherd of the sheep, EQUIP you with
everything good for doing his will…”
(Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).
God’s
FIRST LOVE for you, produces and develops, devotional LOVE, “IN” and “THROUGH”
you through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…God’s love has been poured
out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…”
(Romans 5:5 NIV). “…God who does the work [of love]… IN and
THROUGH all of us who are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11
NLT).
God’s
FIRST LOVE toward you accrues his FAVOR within you through the indwelling Holy Spirit by empowering Spiritual GROWTH,
DEVELOPMENT, and true TRANSFORMATION. “…God …works
in you TO WILL and TO ACT in order to fulfill his good purpose…”
(Philippians 2:13 NIV). “…[You] can do ALL
THINGS through Christ
which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
God’s FIRST LOVE for you can NOT accrue
his FAVOR within you IF you do not choose to depend upon his indwelling Holy Spirit to do the WORKS.
“….apart from Me (the indwelling Holy Spirit),
you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
The duty-bound person is shortchanged,
from God’s multiple indwelling favors, when they depart from or leave God’s
FIRST LOVE for them. “…The branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, except it
abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me…” (John 15:4 KJV).
Without depending upon the indwelling Holy Spirit, the
duty-bound person can do NOTHING pleasing to God.
They may bless others with truth, but fail
to be blessed, by that same truth, themselves. They may reconcile others to
Christ, but lose their OWN intimate relationship with God. They may assist in
the transformation of others, yet miss the opportunities in which to transform
their own hearts. “… Dear brothers and
sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should
gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to
fall into the same temptation yourself…” (Galatians 6:1 NLT).
A duty-bound person falls short of God’s
grace by depending upon themselves, instead of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to do the WORKS of God. “….apart from Me (the indwelling Holy Spirit), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). “…The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me…”
(John 15:4 KJV).
Unfortunately many duty-bound persons don’t
SEE the connection between their WORKS and depending upon the indwelling WORK of the Holy Spirit.
Failure to SEE the connection between
duty-bound WORKS and devotional WORKS empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit leads to SIN. “…I KNOW THY WORKS…” (REVELATIONS
2:2 KJV). “… repent and DO the first works…”
(Revelation 2:5 KJV).
Duty-bound WORKS may help others, but will
NOT accrue God’s indwelling FAVOR or help the duty-bound person. “…you who are godly should gently and humbly
help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to
fall into
the same temptation yourself…” (Galatians 6:1 NLT).
The duty-bound person spends a lifetime
doing obligatory religious activities that is turning into a WORK of SIN
instead of righteousness. “…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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity…”
(Matthew 7:22-23 KJV). “…For thou art Not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in
thy sight: thou hatest all workers of
iniquity…”
(Psalms 5:4-5 KJV). “….To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to
him (or her) it is sin…” (James 4:17
NASB).
The duty-bound person CHEATS him or
herself out of the very FAVOR they THOUGHT they were accruing toward their
eternal rewards. “…whatever is NOT from
faith is SIN…” (Romans 14:23 KJV).
Instead their WORKS were depleting their
eternal rewards and distancing them from their FIRST LOVE .“… All their works ...[are done]...to be seen of
men…” (Matthew 23:5 KJV). “…[Their works are done]...that they
may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward…”
(Matthew 6:5 KJV). "… Watch out! Don't do
your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your
Father in heaven…” (Matthew 6:1 NLT).
The distance between the duty-bound and
their FIRST LOVE is a major loss of indwelling FAVOR and requires immediate
repentance. “… repent
and DO the first
works…” (Revelation 2:5 KJV).
The duty-bound person’s low level of
dependency upon the indwelling Holy
Spirit holds back the FAVOR of God through his or her OWN willful choice.
The duty-bound person is similar to the
foolish who build their WORKS upon the sand. While the devotional person is
similar to the wise who build their WORKS upon the ROCK. “…Anyone who listens to my teaching and
follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in
torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it
won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But
anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who
builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come
and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash…” (Matthew 7:24-27 KJV).
Building a lifetime of religious WORKS
depending upon the WRONG foundation leads to failure and sin. “…There is a way which seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of DEATH...” (Proverbs
14:20 KJV).
Building a lifetime of devotional WORKS
depending upon the indwelling Holy Spirit
leads to the empowering of transformation, Christlikeness, spiritual growth and
development, favors, blessings, signs, wonders, miracles, and a life PLEASING
to God. “…may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to
whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…BLESSED
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HATH
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…”
(Ephesians 1:3 KJV).
Dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit is the MOST important component for
doing and committing to the lifetime, LABORIOUS WORK of God’s kingdom. “…Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart …” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). “… lean not unto
thine own understanding…” (Proverbs
3:5-6 KJV). “ … In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).
God’s can WORK “IN” and “THROUGH” the
devoted person who depends upon HIS
indwelling Holy Spirit to DO the WORKS that will transform hearts, bless
ministry, strengthened marriages, convert sinners, bless nations, revive his
people, and keep the awareness of his FIRST LOVE burning in their hearts.
“…Now God
GIVES US many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same HOLY
SPIRIT who is the SOURCE of them all. …it is the same God who does the work IN and
THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each
of us … It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts
and POWERS… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
YOUR “FIRST” LOVE that dwells within you,
empowers the heart to transform, the mind to become renewed, the values to change, the works to remain devoted, enables Christlike
attitudes, and inspires hope and expectancy. “…The invisible [Spirit]…from the creation of the world is …clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are MADE …” (Romans 1:20 KJV). “… All
things are … [MADE] … NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW creature …” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).
The
indwelling Holy Spirit does the WORK and EMPOWERS spiritual growth
and development full of God’s FAVOR and BLESSINGS while breaking EVERY limitation, EVERY
restriction, and EVERY cycle of sin. “… All
things are … [MADE] … NEW…” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…I can do ALL THINGS through
Christ which strengtheneth
me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
“...God
sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance,
but the LORD
looks at THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). God zooms in on the “…hidden
man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV).
Therefore,
“…I KNOW
THY WORKS…” (REVELATIONS 2:2 KJV). “…repent and DO the first works…”
(Revelation 2:5 KJV).
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