The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his091/all.lzh/ALL.TXT

Text File | 1991-06-29 | 21KB | 380 lines

INS:The Cose of going all the way with GOD!  by David Wilkerson

   "One of the best ways to lose friends and be rejected is to go all
the way with God.

   Get serious about spiritual matters; forsake all your idols; turn to
the Lord with all your heart and become possessed with Jesus; get your
eyes off the things of this world - and you have suddenly become a
religious fanatic! And you are in for the worst rejection of your
lifetime.

   When you were lukewarm, having a form of godliness without power -
when you were not overly sinful nor overly holy - you were no trouble
to anybody, not even the devil. Things were quiet; you were accepted.
You were just another one of the many half-hearted believers.

   But you changed. You got hungry for God. You got convicted of your
sins and could no longer play church games anymore. You repented and
turned to the Lord with all your heart. Down came the idols. You began
to dig into God's Word. You stopped going after material things and
became obsessed with Jesus. You came into a new realm of discernment
and began to see things in the church now that once never bothered you.
You hear things now from the pulpit that break your heart. You see
other Christians compromising, just as you once did. That is why it
hurts you so. You have been awakened, turned around, broken and
contrite in spirit. And you now have a God-given burden form the church.

   BUT INSTEAD OF YOUR FRIENDS REJOICING OR UNDERSTANDING, THEY THINK
YOU ARE GOING CRAZY! YOU ARE RIDICULED, MOCKED, CALLED FANATIC.

   Moses was wonderfully touched by God's hand and awakened about the
bondage of God's people. 'It came into his heart to visit his
brethren...' Moses was so excited by the great revelation of
deliverance he had received that he ran out to share it with the
brethren. 'For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that
God by His hand would deliver them: But they understood it not...'
[Acts 7:23-25] Moses was the meekest man on earth; he was consumed with
God. He was not being holier-than-thou; he was moving in God,
prophetically. He was wanting his brethren to hear and see what God was
about to do. Instead, they rejected him, saying, 'Who made you a ruler
and judge over us?'. Who do you think you are? One day they would
understand - but not now.

   When the Holy Spirit woke me up years ago, when I began to see His
call to holiness and I got really serious about walking in truth and
the Word became life, and when I began to see things I'd never seen
before - I wanted to share it with everybody. I'd call preachers on the
phone and share what God was saying. With many who came to my office,
I'd weep and get out my Bible and point out the glorious truths of full
surrender and heart purity. I thought they would see it too. I thought
they would love the Word and fall down with to pray for a new of touch
of God. Instead, most just blinked at me. They would say things like,
'Are you sure you aren't going a little overboard?' Or, 'That's a
little heavy for me'. And the more I sought God, the less I saw them.
It was like cold water thrown back in my face. They didn't want to hear.

   If this has been happening to you since God awakened you, you are
not alone. I want to show you and warn you from God's Word what to
expect if you are set on going all the way with God. You can expect
three reactions:

   [1] You will be rejected.

   [2] You will be cast out.

   [3] You will be stoned.

   YOU WILL BE REJECTED

   Jesus warned, "If ye were of this world, the world would love its
own, but because ye are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of
the world, therefore the world hateth you."

   Show me a believer who has become a lover and doer of the truth, and
I'll show you one who will be rejected and persecuted by the entire
lukewarm church. Give up on this world and they give up on you. Jesus
had many followers, until the word He preached was perceived to be too
hard - too demanding. The crowd of miracle-lovers heard His claims and
forsook Him, saying, "Too hard! Who can receive it?" Jesus turned to
the twelve and asked, "Will ye also go away?" Or, 'Is My word too hard
for you, too?' Peter answered, 'To whom shall we go, for thou hast the
words of eternal life'. No Peter and the twelve would not go away
because the word that most people said was too hard, too demanding,
they loved - because it was producing in them eternal values. They
would stay with the truth, no matter the cost.

   This is the issue every Christian must face in these last days: Will
you turn aside from truth that convicts you, truth that fingers your
sin, truth that removes, corrects and blasts your idols?

   Truth that calls you to get your eyes off self and off materialism?
Or will you turn aside to ear-tickling, soft, soothing, all-is-well
preaching? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to probe you? To excuse you?

   The truth does set free. Free from dead preaching, free from dead
pastors, free from dead tradition, free from doctrines of demons. Free
from fellowships that turn aside from the truth because it is "too
unloving", as they call it. The lovers and doers of the truth desire to
come to the light, to have every secret deed exposed. Jesus said, 'For
every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth
cometh to the light that his deeds may be manifest, that they are
wrought in God.' That which is genuine truth always exposes every
hidden thing. When Jesus began to throw light on their hidden sins, the
religious Jews sought to kill me, because my word hath no place in you"
'You now seek to kill me; a man that hath told you the truth'

   The Word of God says, 'And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom
the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy
with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the
working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with
all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for
this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should
believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.'

   THERE ARE MULTITUDES OF CHRISTIANS TODAY WHO DO NOT LOVE THE TRUTH.
God says it is because of secret sin - "having pleasure in
unrighteousness". There compromising pleasure-lovers are in horrible
deception. Like the Jews of Jesus' day they are convinced they see.

   They believe they are God's children, and they reject ferociously
every word that exposes their deep inner secrets and lusts. There is
something other than truth which has their hearts. They are not
embracing truth like a priceless pearl. Instead, they cuddle some
hidden pleasure, some idol, some pet sin.

   Mark it down. Those who reject you, those who forsake you because of
truth have a strong reasons. They see you as a threat to something dear
to them. Your separated life is a rebuke to their compromise and
lukewarmness.

   Paul wrote to Timothy, 'All they which are in Asia be turned away
from me' Paul had given his all to these same people, declaring to them
the whole counsel of God. He was blameless before the; holy,
unrebukable. He was rejected by the churches of Asia and his own
spiritual children avoided. Why?

   Paul was now in prison. He was suffering. He was in deep affliction
bound by chains; 'a prisoner of the Lord'. But a new teacher had become
popular- a teacher who brought an ear- ticking message of prosperity.
'Alexander the copersmith did me much evil; the Lord reward him
according to his works' [2 Timothy 4:14]

   Alexander's name means, 'manpleaser'. Alexander and Hymenaeus were
teaching a false gospel that catered to the flesh. Hymenaeus was named
after 'the god of weddings'. This represents a gospel of love,
celebration, of manpleasing with holiness. Paul turned them both over
to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that they might learn to stop
blasphemy [1 Timothy 1:20] Turning them over to Satan was not for the
destruction of their bodies - but of the flesh doctrines. It was a
learning experience, 'that they might learn not to blaspheme'. How
could they learn if they were dead? These doctrines denied all
suffering - all hardships.

   Paul said they shipwrecked true faith by excusing sin; they had no
pure conscience. They shipwrecked faith through man-pleasing teachings.
They rejected Paul because of what they perceived to be his loss of
freedom. They saw it as lack of faith.

   To them, it was the devil who held Paul prisoner. If Paul was so
holy - if he preaches God is all powerful - why is he suffering? They
were 'ashamed of his bonds' And there are Christians today who will
reject you; they will be ashamed of you - because you are in some kind
of test or tribulation or sickness.

   THEY WILL CAST YOU OUT!

   Jesus warned, 'They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the
time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think he doeth God
service.' [John 16;2]

   Don't be surprised when the lukewarm church throws you out - because
they don't know Me or the Father.

   Jesus healed a young man who was born blind. He was brought into
church to be interrogated by the religious Pharisees. His eyes had been
opened - he could see! He said, 'One thing I know, that whereas I was
blind, now I see.' [John 9:25]

   Did they rejoice over this man's new found vision? No! 'They
answered, Thouwast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And
they cast him out!' [John 9:34]

   That healed blind man represents the holy remnant - those whose eyes
are being opened to the holiness of God. God ahead; testify as he did -
'Once I was blind and now I see!' They answered, Thou wast altogether
born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out!' [John
9:34]

   That healed blind man represents the holy remnant - those whose eyes
are being opened to the holiness of God. Go ahead; testify as he did -
'Once I was blind ad now I see!' They will cast you out, saying 'Who
made you our teacher?'

   If you intend to go all the way with Christ, you must be prepared to
bear His reproach! 'Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame
hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren and an
alien unto my mother's children [my brothers and sisters]. For the zeal
of thine house hath eaten me up and reproaches of them that thee are
fallen upon me.' [Psalm 69:7-9] This speaks primarily of Christ's
sufferings - but as He was in this world, so are we! If they persecuted
and reproached Him, they will do the same with all who die to self. Who
reproached Christ? Who heaped shame upon His head and cast out His name
as filthy? The man centered church crowd!

   TO CAST OUT GODLY BELIEVERS IS THE GREATEST FAVOR A MAN-CENTERED
CHURCH COULD BESTOW UPON THEM!

   I hear Christians say, "My church is dead - I don't like what is
happening, but God put me there! I will stay and try to change things.'

   That can be dangerous and it is unscriptural. We are to come out of
everything that is of Babylon! Also, it may be tradition holding you.
It may be you are not as ready to go all the way with God as you
thought. Your old friends hold you.

   Paul went into the synagogue everywhere he went, 'as was his manner'
[Acts 17:2]. He preached to those blind church goers from Isaiah,
saying, 'For I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no
wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.' [Acts 13:41] Paul
tried so hard to persuade them, hoping they would hear. But finally
Paul heard the prophecy of Isaiah thunder in his soul, 'In no way will
they believe, though you stay with them and declare it!' Heed this
warning: Do as Paul did and get out! He 'shook the dust of their feet
against them'. Paul said to these religious Jesus, 'It was necessary
that the word of God should first be spoken to you; but seeking you put
it from you...lo we turn to the Gentiles' [Acts 13:46]

   If you are in a fellowship or church which has heard the truth and
turned aside, 'Lo, leave it!'. Get out - or your children may
backslide! Forget about saying, 'Well, my kids have friends there'.
Yes, and they may all grow up with no conviction of sin, because of a
lack of power or of God's presence. You are not going to change
anything - no way! But they may change you. What fellowship hath light
with darkness? 'Come out from among them and be separate and clean -
THEN I WILL RECEIVE YOU'.

   YOU WILL BE STONED

   You will be stoned by the majority! 'And they stoned Stephen? The
most prestigious religious council of the day! 'They brought him to the
council...' [Acts 6:12] It was one man against the crowd!

   Here is a man 'with eyes fixed on Jesus!' Yet, he is hated. Listen
to the hatred of these men of the cloth, these religious fanatics:
'They gnashed on him with their teeth' [Acts 7:54] 'They stopped their
ears, and ran upon him with one accord' [verse 57]. What is it about
this righteous man that so angered the religious multitudes? He
preached truth that cut them to the heart.

   'Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always
resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, and so do you' [verse 51]
'Ye have received the law...and have not kept it' [verse 53] He had to
preach the truth! They had hearts still clinging to the world - bound
by lust. They knew what God's law was, but refused to obey. They
crucified Christ.

   The two edged sword of truth had cut to the deepest in their hearts.
But is was his testimony of an open heaven that brought wrath down upon
him. 'But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into
heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right had of
God; and said, Behold I se the heavens opened, and the Son of Man
standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud
voice, and stopped their ears, and run upon him with one accord, and
cast him out and stoned him.' [Acts 7:55-58]

   STEPHEN EXPOSED MIXTURE, DOUBLE MINDEDNESS! 'And they made a calf in
those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the
works of their own hands. The God turned, and gave them up to worship
the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye
house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by
the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the
tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which
ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon"
[Acts 7:41-43]

   In this age of grace, if you look upon a woman with lust, you have
committed adultery in God's eyes . If you hate, you are a murderer. And
if vicious words are hurled at you for going all the way with God, you
are being stoned! 'A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth
calleth for strokes...the words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they
go down into the innermost parts of the belly' [Proverbs 18:6-8]. 'Who
sharpen their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their
arrows, even bitter words.' [Psalm 64:3]

   Jesus taught a parable of the householder who owned a vineyard and
sent for the fruits in time of harvest. He sent his servants. 'And the
husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killer another, and
stoned another' [Matthew 21:35].

   So it is today! God has sent out his holy watchmen to gather in the
fruit in His vineyard. But instead, there is verbal beating, killing
hatred, stoning with sharp words.

   We have a 'Stephen Company' today who can say, 'I see heaven
opened!' It is that clear vision of Jesus - that cutting word of truth
- which evokes the wrath of those uncircumcision of heart!

   THE ISRAELISTES TRIED TO STONE JOSHUA AND CALEB FOR THEIR CALL TO GO
ALL THE WAY WITH GOD. Ten spies discouraged God's people saying, 'We
can't go all the way. There are too many giants! Too many high walls!'
'And Caleb said...Let us go up at once, and possess it, for we are well
able to overcome it' [Numbers 13:30] But they said, 'Let us have a
captain, and let us return into Egypt' [Numbers 14:4] 'And Joshua the
son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that
searched the land, rent their clothes; and they spake unto all the
company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed
through to search it, is an exceeding good land. IF the Lord delight in
us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which
floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord,
neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread of to us;
their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us; fear then
not. But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the
glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before
all the children of Israel.' [Numbers 14:6-10]

   My concern is this story is not for Joshua and Caleb, for God was
with them. My concern is for this people of God gnashing their teeth
and picking up stones! Why would a call to obedience bring out of the
such a reaction? Look at the call! I am convinced that once th heart is
captured by an idol or lust, unbelief takes hold. Compromise and
unbelief go hand in hand. Then, all preaching against compromise grates
on them and they end up fighting God, while blindly confessing His name.

   A WARNING

   How shall the righteous react when rejected, cast out, stoned? Jesus
reacted as a lamb 'and opened not his mouth'. Do not call fire down out
of heaven upon those who heap abuse on you. 'Why do ye not rather take
wrong?' Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?' [2
Corinthians 6:7] 'Being reviled, we bless: being persecuted, we suffer
it' [1 Corinthians 4;12] 'Pray for those who despitefully use you.'

   I have no time for arrogant, self- styled prophets who fight back or
threaten or throw curses about. When Shimei stood on a hill throwing
stones at David as he retreated from Jerusalem and from Absolam, the
army captain said, 'Why should this dead dog curse my Lord?' David
answered, 'So let him curse...Let him alone...it may be the Lord will
reward me for good for his cursing this day' [2 Samuel 16:9, 10,12]

   Moses went all the way - up to the mountain - shut up with God, 'And
his face did shine' . And though all others could see it, so much so
that he had to put a veil over his face, he himself, 'wist not that his
face did shine'. He was not even aware of the reflection of God's
holiness upon him. Like Stephen, Moses was not flaunting his touch from
God. They did not take on the airs of a prophet. They did not threaten;
they did not speak of having "new" or "special" revelations. They did
not put on a poker face or display of false piety. Humility is the mark
of a soul totally dependent on Christ. There is absolutely no spiritual
pride, no exclusiveness!

   THE REWARD FOR GOING ALL THE WAY WITH GOD

   What was the reward? Having Christ stand with you! There are ;many
other rewards for going all the way, but I mention just this one,
because it is we will ever need. Paul was incarcerated in a castle in
Jerusalem with the whole religious system wanting to kill him. The
church was in an uproar. He was accused of 'polluting the holy place,
of preaching false doctrine'. Even the soldiers 'feared lest Paul be
pulled to pieces'; so they took him by force and imprisoned him in a
castle. 'And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of
good cheer, Paul: for as though has testified of me in Jerusalem, so
must thou bear witness also at Rome" [Acts 23;11]

   The Lord Himself spoke to Paul - not an angel! And what a word:
CHEER UP! THERE IS MORE TO COME! But you can face anything or anyone if
THE LORD STANDS BY YOU!

   FOR YOUR INFORMATION

   David Wilkerson's messages are mailed free of charge. They are sent
out every three weeks - about 17 issues per year. If you are not
receiving them on a regular basis but wish to be added to our list,
send your request to:

   World Challenge P.O. Box 260 Lindale, TX 75771 For quicker response
call: 214-963-8626