False Grace

Psalms 119:45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts.


Seeking obedience brings freedom. David felt "at liberty" when trying to obey. This is opposite of the world's impression of following God. Most see God's ways as "hindering freedom." Many people, even believers that go to church, mistakenly see obedience to God as something negative. Because of this misunderstanding, many have "opted out" of trying to live in obedience.


There is a strong "false grace" message in the Church that says you can have Jesus' presence without His leadership. This is untrue. You cannot. This idea is actually a trick of satan to keep people bound to sin...slaves of doing what they don't want to do...what God doesn't want them to do. This is a trick to keep people "least" in the kingdom of heaven. If satan can't outright keep you out of the kingdom, he then attempts to minimize your impact in the world. This costs the kingdom here, but costs you forever!


In eternity, there will be some who are great, and some who are least. The Bible states this numerous times! Jesus said it, the apostles said it. Revelation declares that on the day Jesus returns, all the saints, great and small, will celebrate!


Revelation 19:5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”


James and John wanted to be great!


Mark 10:35-40 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”


Jesus agreed that there are positions in heaven. Right now, that doesn't seem like a big deal, but in a moment...very soon... that is going to REALLY matter to everyone. On one day, everyone will see there was only one thing worth investing ourselves in completely. That one thing is to know Jesus, and to die to ourselves to be like Him as completely as possible.


That is what Jesus told His friends: "if you want to be close to me in greatness, then you need to live like me in humility." He who desires greatness forever really desires to serve in meekness now. Giving our strength away now...our time, or money, our reputation, our comfort...results in massive wealth, power, and influence forever when the true kingdom is manifest. This will actually happen on one day in the future, and on that day, there will be many who will regret not spending EVERYTHING in hot pursuit of Jesus. This isn't talking about salvation...entrance into the kingdom, this is talking about living condition....position within the kingdom:


I Corinthians 3:13-15 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.


There are several reasons the kingdom is setup this way. One is that Jesus is "true":


Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.


The One called True is going to establish a new governmental system. In this new government will be "kings and priest." These kings and priests are going to rule in the government to come. They are going to work with Jesus to completely renovate all the governmental structures of the earth. These kings and priests will counsel people on the earth with natural bodies to resist sin so everything can be made new. God desires for everyone to have a testimony to use during this renewal of the earth. In fact, we overcome the evil of this current spiritual heirarchy, and coming evil world government ,this way:


Revelation 12:11 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.


It is by testimony that kings and priests will help others overcome as Jesus makes all things new. If I don't have an honest testimony of overcoming sin in my own life, how can I be a king or a priest in a coming government based on truth, righteousness, and overcoming sin with the Blood of the Lamb and the word of MY testimony?!


That is what Jesus said to James and John: "are you willing to have a testimony like mine?!! " If you are, you WILL be very great in the coming kingdom. If not, then forever you will be least. Everyone gets what they want.


This isn't about legal position, everyone who trust in Jesus as payment for sin is a resident of Jesus' kingdom. This is about "living condition." Not every citizen lives in the same glory...they same wealth...the same prominence:


Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.


Matthew 19:29-30 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.


I Corinthians 15:40-42 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.


Jesus was very clear about how to obtain greatness: "Obeying and teaching" the principles of the Sermon on the Mount:


1. Taking a spiritual inventory - do I live in the fullness of the likeness of Jesus (the beatitudes)? No? Then do I mourn (cry out to be changed like I mean it) the difference day by day?


2. When God moves my heart incrementally toward Jesus, do I walk in an increasing measure of humility, or do I, as my heart is changed, judge the lack of other's holiness?


3. Do I position my heart before God like Jesus? Giving away my time, money, and my right to be right... like Jesus did, laying it all aside to save me...fasting...praying earnestly...secretly and without earthly recognition?


4. Do I "ask, seek, and knock" for these things. Receiving them like a child by simply asking earnestly until they grow in my life?


Doing and teaching these things is choosing to be great forever...and ever...and ever....and ever. Ignoring them now is easier on my flesh for a minute, but is hard on my spirit now, and will cost me something that could have been mine forever! Jesus said His yoke is easy and his burden light...but it is still supposed to be a yoke and a burden...it isn't automatic. This is because of love. For love...for free will...Jesus insists that we take the first step of seeking...starting the conversation. BUT, if we take one step toward Him, He takes 10 toward us!


Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


This is not a question of performance...it is a question of desire! It is simply setting my heart to ask for these things...to seek them...until they are mine!





Psalms 119:12-16 Blessed are You, O Lord ! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.