He even sings about someone calling from California to give him a proposition for making lots of money and he told them, "NO"! Not for sale!
I thought how easy it is for some to "sale out" for the something of the world. My sister and brother-in-law told me to view this song on Youtube. And I am truly thankful this morning to have heard this beautiful singer singing praise to magnify God.
How do we know if we have sold out for the world? Good question and one that we can look at in the word of God!
Acts 8:4-25...............4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." 24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me." 25 So when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. NKJV
Even Simon walked with Philip and saw those amazing things, those miracles and signs yet he thought that he could buy his way. Have we not seen that in "the church" as well? Have we seen someone desire to buy his way through, and get the thing he wants? Simon was told by Philip to repent for wickedness and pray. But even in verse 24, Simon wanted Philip to pray for him.
Simon liked being regarded as someone sent by God, yet he only used sorceries. He had hoodwinked a lot of people, from the least to the greatest in that place of Samaria.
It is what the heart desires, and what does our heart desire the most?
It takes more than a conversion, it takes a walk with God on a daily basis to learn of HIM and of His ways and truth!
1 Kings 8:56-61.....56 "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. 57 May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us, 58 that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. 59 And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, 60 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other. 61 Let your heart therefore be loyal to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day." NKJV
When Solomon blessed Israel, he prayed the blessing, a confession that their hearts would be loyal to the LORD our God. To walk in His statutes, and keep His commandments.
Luke 4:1-13.......4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' " 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 9 Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
'He shall give His angels charge over You,
To keep You,'
11 "and,
'In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "
12 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " 13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
NKJV
I think of Jesus and all the He gave of His life to hang on that rugged Cross. He was tortured and brutalized by man in the most horrific manner and He went to the cross, knowing the price that had to be paid to be the LAMB OF GOD for me and for you.
Now that was loyalty to His Father God. Now that is what a heart after God looks like.
What have we sacrificed today? What have we given up to serve the Father more effectively in our own lives?
We are to be like Jesus in every way! Is my life lining up in that manner today or do I need to make some corrections here? As for me, I have some corrections to make today. My heart is not for sale at any price. Today my focus is to give love to my God and worship Him in spirit and in truth!Father, today we seek to have our hearts as one with YOU! In Jesus' name we pray to take hold and not let go of Your truth. We see the total work of Jesus on the Cross. We may not understand everything He did there, but we know our future with You depends on a willing and faithful heart forever. For change to take place in us, we know we must be willing to let go of the world and anything that has a place in our hearts.
Father we know that You lead with love and purpose in mind. Today we pray for help in how to let go of stuff. We pray to be those who will receive correction and move forward in total commitment to YOU and YOUR plan for our lives.
Thank YOU for Jesus, and for showing us the path to walk. Today we desire to be those whose hearts that are "not for sale" ever. Thank YOU for hearing and we believe we receive YOUR help today. Amen.
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV
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