Ignore – Immediate Time
Ignore What?
The lifeboat of faith at least must be in deep enough waters to float away.
Sadly, most believer’s faith is still on worldly land safely resting in religious dry dock.
They cannot “drift away” because there is no depth of living waters keeping them afloat.
Doctrinally shallow, desperately wanting when it comes to denying self, hating one’s own life, despising the dollar, God’s precepts, statutes, commandments, rules, testimonies, written word, laws, counselors, the way of His precepts, goads, rebukes, encouragements, His voice, and words from His mouth just are not deep enough for such to be floating on any real faith that comes from following Jesus.
A few simple opinions of doctrine with even fewer things to obey and for them all is well as they are safely anchored on dry land. Indeed, if God or a preacher dare attempt to push them out from the worldly shore they can safely get out of the boat and sit back down in the church pews.
The depth of what not to ignore all depends on whether your Christianity is a Simple Simon belief, “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you- when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. (Proverbs 1:22-28) 2+2=4, or the holy quantum mechanics that truly reflects the depth of Jesus quantum mechanics, science dealing with the behavior of matter and light on the atomic and subatomic scale. It attempts to describe and account for the properties of molecules and atoms and their constituents—electrons, protons, neutrons, and other more esoteric particles such as quarks and gluons. These properties include the interactions of the particles with one another and with electromagnetic radiation (i.e., light, X-rays, and gamma rays). The behavior of matter and radiation on the atomic scale often seems peculiar, and the consequences of quantum theory are accordingly difficult to understand and to believe. Its concepts frequently conflict with common-sense notions derived from observations of the everyday world. There is no reason, however, why the behavior of the atomic world should conform to that of the familiar, large-scale world. It is important to realize that quantum mechanics is a branch of physics and that the business of physics is to describe and account for the way the world—on both the large and the small scale—actually is and not how one imagines it or would like it to be. that is purifying ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Immediately Ignore
There is so much depth in God that if we were to give God all our attention, as He commands, there would be a lot less room and time for us to give any attention to sinning.
Blessed are those who do not ignore God’s precepts, statutes, commandments, rules, testimonies, written word, law, counselors, the way of precepts, goads, rebukes, encouragements, His voice, and words from His mouth for they shall continually grow in the holiness of His Son. Psalms 119 Indeed, …how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. (Hebrews 2:3)
We ignore any aspect of God to our spiritual peril. We foolishly stick to our simple sermons and simple ways year after year and wonder why we are always struggling. How could it be otherwise when, like the world, we ignore most of God.
Even the church foolishly believes the lie that the salvation of God is a one-time event rather than a lifetime of walking in the saving grace of God. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:15) Most sermons are a mere repeat of the basic tenets of God and a dry review of what everyone already can easily tolerate. Give me 45 minutes of preaching the words of Paul, Peter, and any of the New Testament in its fullness to prove that the single greatest impact of preaching the Word is to ignore what was just clearly declared.
What do the vast majority of individuals, when encountering the Full Gospel Message, do? …answer, they spend a great deal of time and many years actively ignoring it. Many to their own damnation. One can only put off the day of repentance and the ignoring of God’s Word for so long. Eventually God declares, “Enough,” your house is left to you desolate. Look, your house is left to you desolate. (Matthew 23:38)
The only thing that hell-bound and stiff-necked individuals seem to do immediately – is ignore.
A sure-fire way to get the lukewarm in the church to act is when they desire to immediately ignore the Holy Spirit. The zeal to ignore is a wonderment to behold. If we spent as much time seeking God and His power to obey as we do ignoring the commands of God how highly blessed we would be with His righteousness.
Immediately we have excuses as to why obedience is not required concerning God’s Word. No wonder no new lessons are ever learned by such pathetic believers.
Immediately is how fast we can excuse ourselves from the sufferings of Jesus in our daily life and so forfeit His joy.
Immediately we will play and seek a thousand ways just to enjoy ourselves and waste the time of day to our own damnation.
Immediately many a believer pray-pretends to delay the need for accepting God’s Living Word and will for their cross-carrying life.
However, it is the immediately they left all, immediately never looking back and immediately they took off to follow a non-religious Jesus that God is ever watchful to spot and bless. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
God can and will only bless to the degree our lives conform to how immediately we obey His Holy Spirit. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:32) Many in their hearts keep looking back to Egypt and desire to worship God from that position of what compromises with their flesh. “But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. (Acts 7:39)
Ignore At Our Peril
There is no escape from God if we simply ignore His salvation of a full message. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.” (Acts 5:20)
It matters not if you claim to trust Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior or if you are a card-carrying-pagan ignoring the full message call. As Jesus denounced most of the cities in which His miracles were done; in the end such Christians, churches, or blessed individuals run the risk of ruin by just simply ignoring aspects of Jesus. Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. (Matthew 11:20)
…how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
When time is brought under judgment by God the vast majority will be found simply guilty of ignoring God. Today’s sermon on many a church sign should read, “Ignore That Command,” and you will be a welcome member.
While the worldly squander their chances to repent by ignoring God through entertainment, games, and attempting to just relax the religious gather around churches that allow them to ignore doctrines they find inconvenient and difficult.
Everyone has available quick excuses as to why they are justified in ignoring God. From the sublime wording that selectively quotes scripture and commentary back in God’s face to flimsy, just too busy and not practical at this time, excuses that can be heard loud and clear above the congregational singing and “good deeds.”
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ (Luke 14:16-20)
On a subconscious level, the vast sea of humanity squanders their time by actively ignoring God by subtly arranging their life so as to be in positions to ignore.
Ignoring the Bible, combined with ignoring the discipline of daily life, is how many doom themselves to a life of frustration or soul-damnation. How tired God must be of hearing the ready-made excuses individuals have for ignoring His call!
Just as buying a home is no excuse to ignore Jesus so reading that next great Bible author’s book that presents pleasing platitudes of hope and peace is an excuse that will not work with the Living God.
Climbing the career ladder, or just doing your job, is no excuse to ignore any aspect of Jesus.
That new car, boat, or RV you really want to try out is no excuse to ignore the Living God.
Indeed, to God, getting married is no excuse to put Jesus off another day, hour, or second so just forget your awe inspiring excuses to avoid suffering with Jesus against your sin and the sin of the world. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. (Hebrews 13:13)
Balaam’s Bible Study
Many claiming to believe in Jesus will be exposed raw that they wasted their time seeking to avoid the ways and teachings of Jesus. Like Balaam they squandered godly prayerful surrender to God hoping that God would change His mind concerning His will.
How many ignore God’s will, praying and hoping God will change His mind. Such keep ignoring God’s commands, will, and voice; praying over-and-over that God will speak to their heart that they do not have to fall to the ground and die concerning specific things in their lives. Such speak to God and are hearing from God; but unlike Jesus who went into the Garden of Gethsemane, heard God’s will, asked that such will be removed, and when the answer was, “no,” rejoiced in the sufferings of the cross. Jesus, got up from praying about it and obeyed; declaring, “It is time to go.” But we like Balaam drip, drip, and prayer-drip on God hoping to hear something different.
Instead, so many never fall to the ground, surrender, and then get up and suffer on the cross unto a resurrected life and thus are always tempted by the same temptations repeatedly. Many a church is just hanging around the garden of surrendered suffering hoping God will find a different path for them. Vainly hoping that other good works, beliefs, and Bible studies will cause God to change His mind about the cross He has chosen for us to suffer upon.
Balaam, a very self-centered prophet of God, repeatedly ignored His rebukes. Many pray like Balaam in the church refusing first rebukes, second rebukes, and even after multiplied rebukes by the Spirit of Truth persist in stubbornly asking, yet again, “if you are displeased, I will go back.”
Like those who repeatedly study the Bible, piling on commentaries, study helps, and group discussions; hoping God will change His mind to benefit their self-interests, flesh, and sins. Their walk is one of total frustration and even has touches of Balaam’s madness. Like Balaam we keep ignoring the obvious things in God while constantly, by our lives and words, keep waiting for God to change His mind.
Note well that Balaam declares that he has “sinned” but it only goes so far and he still has the gall to ask God, “if you are displeased, I will go back.”
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord , “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” (Numbers 22:34)
If Balaam?
Really if ?!
The Word of God has us trapped and in a corner, but still, like Balaam, we keep praying and beating up anything and anyone that causes us opposition to our desired goal. We are pinned in by the wall of righteousness with our ankle crushed so we cannot walk the way we want to go, but still we persist with an “if” to the Living God. An “if” while the noticeably clear message of God that confronts with a powerful angel and the drawn sword of the Living Word of God no less! God is “very angry” with so many but rather than let out the hot steam of lustful Christianity they stubbornly persevere with an “if” and persist in madness of their sin.
But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. (Numbers 22:22-24)
The angel of the Lord confronts us with drawn sword, which is the Word of God, and we keep singing the ugly refrain, “If...”?!
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. (Numbers 22:31)
Balaam bows down.
Balaam bows down low to the ground.
Balaam falls, facedown to the ground in an act of humility.
But it is a humility that is filled with ignoring the salvation of God.
How many salvation calls after a sermon with individuals coming forward to be saved, falling low to the ground are there in the presence of the Living God coveting their sin and the preachers, leaders, and elders approve without the slightest sense that something is amiss is the clearest explanation as to why the church needs to be cleaned up in the Last Days.
Prayer, Bible studies, fellowship, charitable deeds, noble intentions cannot mask the root worm that eats away at Balaam’s self-centered soul. God comes to many a Christian, boxes them in every way possible, but they still persist in their stubborn ways. Beating up anyone, anything, or any circumstance that is in their way. See Balaam beat even a donkey: When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord , she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again. (Numbers 22:25) Many a home and church have needless turmoil because the prayer-life of Balaam is alive and well.
Alas, Balaam worships or listens to God, only when there is no other way to ignore the Living God.
Cannot Balaam say he heard God’s voice to move forward? Be very afraid when you say, “such-n-such is God’s will, I heard His voice,” if the crucified life is not offensively present! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey–a beast without speech–who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity–for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” (2 Peter 2:15-22)
Even after all this, Balaam’s listening to God results not in a rejoicing surrendered life but a surrender because there is no other option to gain the thing he desires.
Still In The Garden
Look up from your prayers.
Look around with wide eyes and see if Jesus is still with you in the Garden of Gethsemane.
And when you look take note that Jesus is not there, He has moved on. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)
God already answered you. The answer to your prayer was, “No,” and God has moved on from that request. You should be on the cross of Christ nailed down on the cross to the will of God suffering until the work of God is done. This is why God teaches, Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25).
Like Balaam many are still in the Garden of Gethsemane waiting for God to change His mind or give them some different enlightenment that His Word means something else than what His Spirit of Truth declared it meant.
Many more a preacher, teacher, elder, or deacon ignore God’s sound doctrines and fill their day with religious looking works in attempt to escape the cost of proclaiming the full message of the Good News. Their preaching goes no further than their churches denomination or what is acceptable to the religious flesh of the congregation.
A whole-lot-of preaching is spent teaching the congregation how to ignore the full Word of God. Ready-made Bible excuses, combined with pre-meditated excuses, as to why one cannot or need not obey the Living Word of God.
Many follow Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane but are still indifferent to the sufferings of the cross. They are still asleep, ignoring the call of Jesus to walk as He walked. If they bothered to stop their complaining prayers, confusing commentary studies, and quiet meditations they would discover to their shock that Jesus has left the garden and is no longer with them.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible, the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:32-36)
There comes to every disciple following hard after Jesus many a surrendered moment that declares to men and heaven, “Rise! Let us go!” as we go out with 100% resolve to meet the will of God that causes us to wrestle against our sins and the sins of the world. Eventually Jesus will turn to those still sleeping, resting, and contemplating God, “Enough!”
Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark 14:41)
One must declare with deep concern the worrisome state of the church members that went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with Jesus about the crucified life but are still there repeating the same plea of “Let this cup pass.” Meanwhile Jesus has moved on and left them behind.
God answered your prayer long ago. The answer was, “No,” and you should have left the garden a long, long time ago to face the resurrecting producing sufferings of Jesus.
If you do not get back in step with the Holy Spirit, one day you will look around and not only will not see Jesus, but it will be too late to catch up.
Immediately
Look to the disciples and let us compare it to our hearts and lives.
Jesus calls and they immediately follow. Period.
Immediately Andrew and Simon left their business and followed Him.
Immediately James and John were in their boats working hard, but instantaneously they left their father in the boat along with their father’s hired men.
Immediately Matthew left his lucrative tax collection business, becoming instantly without income to follow Jesus into the unknown and scary.
Jesus calls and there is no ignoring the voice that bids all to leave everything and walk a life of suffering, surrender, and denial of self with joy.
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him…. ….As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. (Mark 1:15-22 and Matthew 9:9)
With every aspect of God whether it be His voice, His written word, His Living Word, or His way of doing things everyday each person is involved in one of two activities – Ignoring or Immediate. Those who wander between the two are lukewarm and will be fully spit out by Jesus come Judgment Day. So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)
Finally, the overwhelming population of the world are overspending the time allotted to them with all the energy of desperate men and women seeking to ignore God and the judgment to come. Most certainly governing officials, prosecutors, police, along with a very large crowd of church goers, declare with Felix, an official of Rome’s government: As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” (Acts 24:25)
Ignore or Immediate will be the final judgment concerning your life on earth.
As the turmoil of the last days quickly descend on the world, now is the time to pay more careful attention to the full message of the gospel.
We each have a choice. To Immediately obey the teachings, the voice of God, and the demands to deny self-life brings in order to “pay more careful attention” by getting more fully on the cross with Christ or ignoring this way in Jesus and just simply drift away from the salvation of God. A slow, soft, subtle, small escape here and there and soon one is away from the Living God. Float along with the religious tide, the cueing of the waves, the warmth of the morning sun, and the comforting Christian music, books, and sermons will put you squarely away from the salvation of Jesus. One subtle song that comforts when you suffer, one sentence that conforms to what your religious flesh desires, one opinion of another that so easily agrees with what your ears can go to sleep with and “bang” you are too far out to sea.
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:1-3)
A quick test is this: Do you read the Bible, pray, and surrender to God more than when you first followed? Those pressing hard after Jesus know full well that it requires even more skill, greater obedience, and paying more careful attention than it did when they first were baptized. The demands are greater, the opposition and persecution from others is hotter, and the ever-increasing lie to “love” according to the snake’s hiss requires “more careful attention” as the love of most grows cold.
It was the immediately that caused sinners to become disciples and the twelve disciples to become qualified as Apostles. In the same way, if we are to be blessed with our full calling in Jesus then God must see an attitude of heart, mind, soul, and spirit that immediately obeys all the boundless ways of God.
In the same way do not expect much of the Abundant Life in Jesus without an immediate life and attitude towards all of God – immediately, starting now.
Conclusion
Much of the crash and burn one hears about concerning the church is a direct result of individuals and churches ignoring the laws, commands, instructions, and ways of the Lord. They lived a lie when it came to the matter of having an immediate pure heart that seeks to obey all of God. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)
How much misery, pain, and shame that is heaped upon the message of the cross could be avoided if everyone with soft and joyful hearts immediately sought God in such a way as to obey His boundless precepts. Many a Christian’s life is nothing more than the book of Judges endlessly repeated without lessons learned.
How many fail to live, really live, Psalms 119 and the folly of the church is mocked by the world and worldly as a result.
Boundless conviction of sin and forgiveness.
Boundless weakness with boundless strength.
Boundless requirements for more self-denial and the resurrected life.
Boundless wisdom and boundless overcoming knowledge that the world and worldly hotly ignore.
Boundless righteousness from Him along with ugly persecution from the ungodly.
Boundless, indeed, so I say with the Psalmist, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”
T. Williams
If anyone does not love the Lord–a curse be on him. Come, O Lord ! (1 Corinthians 16:22)
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