The True Measurement

“And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake” (Mat. 5:1-11). Looking to measure yourself? Try those sayings on for size. In an era where most professing believers are puffed up and drunken on religious vanity and nonsense, it would do a lot of folks a whole lot of good to take a long, honest look at these principal truths of the Gospel; and find out whether they are indeed looking into a mirror, or into condemnation. We could also add these sayings of Jesus to the checklist while we’re at it: “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets” (Lk. 6:22,23). And who was it that did these things to the prophets? God’s own people, of course. The same crowd that rejected Jesus. And the same crowd who will reject you if you truly walk in the Spirit of God, and speak by the Spirit of God. Think not? “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me” (Jn. 15:20,21). So who was it that persecuted Jesus, and rejected him? And who was it that Jesus said did NOT KNOW God? Why, God’s people, of course.

So then, the question is, who are God’s people today? Those who are born of God’s Spirit into the kingdom of God, meaning those who are baptized with the holy Ghost into the one body of Christ (Jn. 3:5,6; Rom. 14:17; I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4,5). So what we should consider is that if we are children of God we need to understand that we are on one side of that coin or the other. If Jesus were here today, we would either take heed to him, or we would persecute him like God’s people did when he WAS here. Being a child of God is not something to be proud about, but rather it is something to be very humble about, and to fear God about. Those whom Jesus said did not know God, certainly THOUGHT that they knew God; and they also thought Jesus was way off the mark. Reason being what Jesus quoted to them from Isaiah: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mat. 15:7-9). There is the problem my friend. As it was then, so is it now. God’s people’s perception of God has been taught according to the commandments and doctrines of men, and not according to the leading and teaching of the holy Ghost, as was ordained by God (Jn. 14:26, Jn. 16:13; I Jn. 2:27). If Jesus were here today, he would not be affiliated with anything in any nook or cranny of Christianity, including the Pentecostal affiliations. He wasn’t when he was here. He would reprove all of the religious foolishness that has been taught falsely in his name, even as he did when he was here. And he would instruct every soul to forsake everything except for his personal reality, and to get seriously real with God from the heart (Isa. 66:1,2; Rev. 18:4). He would also teach again the things that we have read in our beginning text scriptures, and command that these holy realities be heeded and followed. And he would command all to forsake every form of doctrine that does not directly contribute to those sayings being produced in the lives and spirits of believers. Period. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Amen.