Are You Betraying, Denying or Selling Jesus?

John Siefker

Now I want to ask you even though you might have heard this before:

• So who is Jesus to you?
  
  
• Who do you think Jesus is?
  
  
• What have you have been taught, even thought or believed about Him?
  
  
• Is the Jesus you claim to know & to have a relationship with - the Jesus who came and die on the Cross for you - to set you free from all sin, the curse & the power of the enemy?
  
  
• Do You Truly Know JESUS?
  
  
• Or Do You Just Only Really Know About Jesus?
  (there is a big difference in knowing Jesus & only knowing of or about Him)

'To know Jesus' means to have a close, personal relationship with Him; which is "talking with Him, being obedient to ALL of His written Word & to ALL that He speaks to you to do."

I know many people will say: "oh - yes, I have said or prayed a prayer in repeating what someone else was saying to say or to pray," but was it truly from your heart or your head (in repeating what you were told to say)?

But if you truly know Jesus and have truly repented of your sin, you will be a transformed person and your life will be completely changed forever, not living your life as you use to. You will be a reflection of Jesus in ALL that you say and do to everyone around you because of your relationship with Him and you knowing Him.

You will not live our life the way you use to, like:

• doing your own will instead of His Will,
• doing the things that you use to do or
• even saying those things that you use to say

- before you repented of our sins, you came to know Jesus and you chose to follow Him and be obedient to His Word.

You will not have to say one word to anyone about knowing Jesus - because they will both see and know it in both your words and actions; but also in your life.

So again I ask, "Do you truly know Jesus"?

• Who or what do you love the most?
• Do you love the world?
• Do you love the things of the world?
• Do you love Jesus?
• Do you truly love Jesus - more than any things else - not just saying it from your head but from your heart, as your life will reflect it - which are your words and actions?

That is the question. And what is your answer…both to yourself and to Jesus who hears and knows?

You know what the answer is, as…He is speaking to you, to your heart - even at this moment.

Are you selling Jesus for 30 pieces of Silver?

Are you selling Jesus, the One that you came to know & love, for even just a little bit more than the 30 pieces of silver?

It might not even be monetary in value; but such as, your time or what you hold close to you because you value it.

Are you being a Judas Iscariot?

Well you might be thinking, why did he ask that?

Well we know that:

• Judas Iscariot loved Jesus
• He knew Jesus - Judas had a relationship with Jesus
• Judas was a friend of Jesus
• He was a disciple of Jesus
• He even carried the disciples' money bag
• Judas gave up everything in life - as we know it today - to follow Jesus
• He did what Jesus told him to do and
• He saw many great and mighty things that Jesus did

But yet, even with all of this, Judas Iscariot turned his back on Jesus and he betrayed, traded & even sold Him out for money (of no eternal value).

And for what?

Just for 30 pieces of silver, something so fleeting and temporary in this life.

To put things in perspective, the coins that were actually used in those days, are thought to be meant by "Pieces of Silver" are the 'Shekel'.

A shekel is essentially worth four Denarius. So the "Thirty Pieces of Silver" were actually worth 120 Denarius. It is true, according to history, that 1 Denarius was considered typical pay for one day's work in those days.

So Jesus was betrayed for the equivalent of four months pay, if you worked EVERY day. It might have been closer to half of a year's income.....as work was different in those days, depending on what you did.

(Note: Jesus was sold out for 30 pieces of silver in order to fulfill Old Testament prophecy. See Zechariah 11:12-13. Today's value of 30 pieces of silver would be around $19.20, about 113 days' wages of the common laborer at .17 cents a day, as it was in the time of Christ.)

In those days, the price of a slave was 30 silver shekels. So Jesus was sold-out for the price of a slave. Jesus is worth far more than any amount of silver or gold. He is considered the "Pearl of great price" (Mat. 13: 45-46) meaning no dollar amount can be placed upon Him.

To the people at that time, it was quite a bit of money. The money was enough to buy a small plot of land in those days, it was even enough for the plot that was bought where Judas Iscariot ended his life which is known today as the "potter's field".

When Judas Iscariot realized what he had done, he went and threw the money back into the temple and then went out and hung himself. He took his own life and did not even get to use the money that he received for giving up Jesus - Who is EVERYTHING.

So what did Judas Iscariot give up or lose when he betrayed / sold out Jesus?

He lost eternal life, peace, joy, and so many other things of who Jesus is to all that know Him and follow Him - for nothing!

Judas had a choice - just as you have a choice.

Again, are you being a Judas - betraying, trading or selling Jesus out?

How much are you selling Jesus for?

• Your career,
• Your job,
• For school or college,
• For another degree,
• For sports,
• For new car, truck or boat,
• For a house,
• Your business,
• For the American Dream,
• Your bank account,
• Your retirement,
• Your legacy,
• Your dreams,
• Your plans,
• Your agenda,
• For a new book deal,
• For a new music CD,
• For a new teaching DVD,
• Even for fame or for glory
• Or for anything else that is of this world

All of these things do not matter - as all of them are temporary and of no Heavenly value.

What are you selling Jesus for?  What are you exchanging for Him?

You can tell yourself that you are not or have not sold Jesus out for anything, even though you are pursuing those very things & not following Jesus whole-heartedly.

You can justify this in your mind any way you like & even get yourself to believe it.

And why do you or I do this?

You do this to ease your conscience - to ease the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Even the multitudes that followed and the 70 disciples of Jesus, who knew Him, followed Him and did that which He told them - they too (many of the 70 & of the multitude) like Judas - left Jesus, went and done their own thing.

Jesus said in John 6:64, 66, "But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray Him.  From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him."

What was it that made them to change the mind and choose to quit following Jesus?

• Was it temptations?
• Was the pull of the world too much…so they went their way?
• Was it because they wanted to do their own thing?

It could have been any one of those things or even something else. We don't know their heart and why they choose to make the decision they did.

After this just happened, in John 6:67, Jesus said unto the twelve disciples that were there with Him, "Will ye also go away?"

Jesus asked this question to them because He wanted to know what their choice and decision was going to be.

Right now, just as Jesus asked His disciples - He is asking you:

• Are you going to choose to go away from Jesus & quit following Him?
• Or are you going to choose to follow Him?

You can not choose both - you can only choose one or the other.

There have been people I have talked to over the years who said that they USE to be a Christian, but they are not following or serving Jesus today.

I have asked them why they stopped and had chosen not to continue to follow Him.

They had all kinds of different replies of which I will not get into. But one thing that is for sure - they came to a place in their lives & they made the choice.

And people have and will continue to wonder if those people did truly know Jesus or did they know Jesus and just gave up.

Were their hearts and lives transformed, totally committed or soul out to Jesus & completely surrendered (giving up one's will) to Christ? Or did they play the religious game for a while, but when the stakes became too high - they cashed out…and blamed Jesus, Christianity or others for their escape?

The Lord only knows, as He knows the hearts of men.

Out of the 12 disciples, eleven of them choose to continue to follow Jesus and to do those things that He told them. But one, Judas Iscariot, who choose not to & was just like one of the 70 or the multitude that followed Him no more.

It is not just once (I mean the moment He was calling us - the time we made that decision to come to Jesus) - but also every day you and I have to make that choice (Luke 9:23) - which is "are we going to choose to follow Jesus or are we going to choose to leave Him & do our own thing - our own will."

So now I must ask you:

• Is your heart right with God?
• How is your heart?
• Has your heart become cold?
• Has your love for Jesus grown cold or is it growing cold?
• Have you fallen away from Him?
• Have your turned your back on Jesus?  And went on with your life; doing what you want to do & living your life the way you want to?
• Have you gotten so caught up in the world or the cares of this world & life that you forgot Jesus?  (which is to fall away from Him or leave Him)
• Have you betrayed, traded or sold Jesus, like Judas Iscariot for the temporary pleasures of this life & world?
• Has your focus and attention on Jesus waned - now looking at other things instead of Jesus?  (Like Peter walking on the water & he lost sight of Jesus and he begin to sink.)
• Have you denied the Lord in any thing, even as Peter has done?

Jesus is calling you right now - at this very moment - to come to Him and repent & follow Him.

Repentance

Now for a moment, I want to share with you about repentance.

Jesus said in Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted (to turn one's self about, turn back, come back to God), that your sins may be blotted out…"

Again the Lord said in Ezekiel 14:6, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations (wickedness, sin)."

And also in Ezekiel 18:30 He said, "Therefore I will judge you, …every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions (a fault, sin); so iniquity shall not be your ruin."

What is "True Repentance"?

Well we must first know what the word really means in order to completely understand it.

The word 'repent' means:

To feel so contrite over one's sin as to change, or decide to change, one's way, be penitent.

True repentance is a definite change of one's heart and mind, a complete brokenness of the heart; but it is also a change of one's behavior which is reflected in their life.

It is a change of direction of your life - which is going 180 degrees the other way - going completely the opposite way you were going and do not continue living your life the same way. You must completely turn away from those things of unrighteousness (sin) that you once done - to turn to God completely.

Some of us are remorseful and even sorry for what we have done or for our sin - but that is not being repentant.

Remorse is being sorry for the consequences. But being repentant or true repentance (truly from the heart) is being truly sorry that you turn from completely - to stop doing those things & to never do them again.

Recognition, which is conviction - conviction by the Holy Spirit of your personal sin is the first step in repentance and than you turn from it. And than you act on it: by asking both the people involved and Jesus for forgiveness.

True repentance is not as easy as it seems because the flesh (our will) must die. We all have been there….

When coming to those that we have done wrong against and we repent & ask them for forgiveness…our flesh (our will, the enemy) will kick and scream - 'no' - it makes us look bad…that it was us who was at fault & not them - we want to be right - the flesh that is.

One thing to remember is: "When pointing to someone else…with one finger…there are 4 other fingers pointing back at us."

That is why Jesus spoke to us in His written Word in Luke 6:37: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."  (ref: Mat. 6:12, 7:1-5; Luke 6:41-42)

Jesus is willing to forgive us…but we must also be willing to forgive others of all those things they have done against us.

Jesus also said in Mathew 6:14-15: "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  (ref: Mark 11:26)

Do you have any unforgiveness in your heart towards anyone?

If you do, the Father can't forgive you of your sins if you don't forgive other people.

In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus was asked by one of His Disciples how often was he suppose to forgive another person of their sin that was done against him and if it was only seven times that he had to forgive him.

Jesus' reply to His disciple was that he was not to forgive just seven times, but rather seven times seventy. In other words, one is to forgive as many times that it is necessary.

After that, Jesus than shared a parable about 'the unmerciful servant' in Matthew 18:23-35. How that one of the king's servants owed him a very large sum of money which the servant could not repay.

So the king commanded that the servant, his wife, his children and all that he had to be sold for payment. The servant then begged the king for mercy, to give him time and that he would repay the debt. Then king was moved with compassion and forgave the servant of his debt completely.

Following this, the same servant went to another person that owed him money, which was just a very small fraction in comparison to the debt that the king's servant was forgiven of, and demand that it was to be immediately paid.

The person begged the king's servant for mercy, to give him time to repay him; but the king's servant would not extend the same courtesy that was given to him by the king to his debtor. The king's servant then put the debtor in prison till he had paid his debt in full.

When the king had heard about what his servant had done, he was angry with his servant of whom he had forgiven of all of his debt.

The king said unto his servant, "O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me; shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? (vs. 34)

The king had his servant brought to the tormentors till he should pay all that was owed to him. Jesus said in Matthew 18:35, "So likewise shall My Heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Just like the king's servant, you too have such a great debt because of sin with no way to get free of it other than repenting of our sin and asking Jesus to forgive you; and He will forgive you.

Jesus paid the full price for your sin with His Blood when He died on the Cross. You are now free from that debt of sin of which the penalty would have been eternal damnation and torment in hell.

Just as Jesus has forgiven you, you too are to forgive all others of their offenses and trespasses that they have committed against you. Otherwise, just as Jesus said in His Word about the unmerciful and unforgiving servant, you too will than not be forgiven and suffer the severe consequences.

Having any unforgiveness towards any one will cost you dearly and it is definitely not something you want to face on Judgment Day standing before Jesus.

Unforgiveness is a deadly virus that will harm you both spiritually and physically.

The Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance people who have hurt you and you have not yet forgiven.

If you don't know if you have any unforgiveness in your heart, than ask yourself these questions:

• Are you holding on to any offense?
• Are you holding a grudge against someone?
• Do you hold resentment towards any one?
• Do you hate any one?
• Do you have ill feelings towards anyone?
• Is there any person that you said or thought that you could never forgive for what they have done?

If you don't think so or you don't know for sure, than let me ask you this:

• Do you avoid seeing or talking with certain people?
• Do you get upset, angry or feel hurt when you talk about someone or certain people that have hurt you in the past; or their name is mentioned?
• Do you keep talking about (rehashing) what others have done that hurt you?
• Have you been wounded in the past & forgave the person…but still hurt & feel sad?
• Have you tried to put certain situations and people out of your mind…to forget about it or about them…even after they have apologized or asked for your forgiveness…and you said that you forgave them - while thinking or telling another that you will not forgive them for what they have done?

If any of these are true…than you still have unforgiveness in your heart towards them…you have not truly forgave them.

If you said that you did…but you still feel any pain or hurt…than you did not truly forgive them from your heart but rather from you head/mind.

This is not true forgiveness. Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling or an emotion - nor mere words that you say…but genuinely from one's heart.

When you truly forgive someone:

• you must never hold anything against that person, ever again,
• you must not talk about it,
• you must not ever bring it up again or tell anyone what they did to you

…because it is as if they have never done anything to you.

This is exactly the same way that our Heavenly Father forgives us…the slate is wiped clean - He does not remember it…it is though you have never transgressed or sinned against Him.

As a true believer we are commanded, according to His Word, to forgive all and to love one another.  (ref: John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17)

When you love someone, you will also for give them. So to forgive - is to love.  (ref: 1 Cor. 13:1-8, 13)

So are you being obedient to Jesus and what He said in His Word? Or are you being disobedient Him?

To forgive is a choice…a choice or decision that you have to make.

Jesus has said and made it very clear in His Word…either you forgive & be forgiven…or you do not forgive & you will not be forgiven either…the choice is yours.

Nothing will set you free or set them free who caused the hurt - other than forgiving one another. It will release both you & them from that torment and turmoil. Forgiving one another brings complete freedom - from that awful burden!

The Lord said in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Also in 2 Corinthians 7:10, He said: "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation..."

The evidence that you have truly repented is that your whole life will be transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Not that you continue to live the sinful life you once lived, but live to serve & follow the One True God, though many trials may come and you may suffer loss - but count it all pure joy to suffer for His Name.

So have you truly repented of your sin? Have you forgiven & continue to forgive others?

Where do you stand with the Lord, as He sees you, as He sees & knows your heart - not as you see yourself or what you think?

Now I want to ask you:

• Who is your master?
• Who are you taking your orders from?
• Who are you serving?
• Who have you been following?
• Are you following after the things of this world?
• Are you serving & following Jesus?
• Or are you serving & following the god of this world?

You cannot go after the things of the world and do your own thing - and at the same time think that you can still serve & follow God (ref: Isa. 45:5-6; 46:9).

If you chose to believe this or even think that you can - you are mistaken and you have been deceived by satan. You have believed a lie and you are living a life of deception. You can justify it any way that you want, it does not matter because His Word is true and God is not a liar.

Jesus warned each one of us about satan and his tactics. He said that satan is a deceiver who deceiveth the whole world and he is the father of lies in Revelation 12:9 & John 8:44.

If you hear a lie long enough - you will actual believe that the lie is true…this is one of the ways people are deceived.

If you have chosen to follow Jesus then you will be ONLY serving Him - no one else or nothing else. The Lord has commanded His People and He has made if very clear to them that they are ONLY to serve Him.

Jesus said Matthew 4:10 "For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."  (ref: Deut. 6:13-14)

If you say that you are serving and following Jesus but you are following after the things of this world, you are blind and deceived.

There is 'no mixture' in any choice or decision that any one makes. Everything is clear and settled - for example, you either have: "black or white / dark or light / cold or hot / life or death, or it is yes or it is no".

When you make a decision to do something - you act on it; you will either not do something or you will do something. There will not be some of both in what you do.

A divided friendship or relationship does not last…

Jesus said in Matthew 12:25 that "…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand."  (ref: Mark 3:24-26; Luke 11:17-18)

In Mark 2:21-22, Jesus said that "No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles."  (ref: Mat. 9:16-17; Luk. 5:36-38)

Jesus clearly stated in those verses of Scripture that you cannot mix the old with the new - spiritually speaking, you cannot mix things of the flesh and sin with the things of God which are pure and holy. There will always be a conflict; a division.

Most Christians today think that they can just say a sinner's prayer, get baptized, go to church, give tithes, read the Bible, pray and whatever else; and then they can go on living their lives as it was before when they were not serving the Lord.

This is why many people lives are in a mess and in chaos today is because they have tried to take only a part of God's Word that they want or what they think applies to them and than use it with how they want to live their lives in the world.

They cannot understand why their lives are in an upheaval; things are not going right and there are always problems.

What they fail to realize is, you cannot live your own life the way you choose - going after the things of the world and live an obedient life to God's Word.

You cannot mix flesh, the things of this world, and sin with following Jesus and the things of God. They both are completely opposite of each other.

It will never work - it does not mix.  (Example: light or darkness)

There will always be a clash…the flesh against the spirit.

Jesus said in Galatians 5:17, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

It is like when you mix two opposite things together - you get a mess. For instance, when you mix two active chemicals together, you get a dangerous or hazardous reaction that can be explosive.

It is either all or nothing at all - it is either following after flesh and sin or following Jesus.

There is no confusion with what God has done and what He has said in His Word. It is very plain and clear that even a child can understand it (Matt. 11:25; Luke 10:21). You cannot follow Jesus and follow after the things and god of this world, it is either one or the other…everyone will find out & see that His Word is true when you stand before God on Judgment Day.

Jesus said in James 4:4, "…Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity (hatred, hostility) with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."  (ref: Rom. 8:5-13; Gal. 6:7-8; 1 Jn. 2:15-17)

In that verse of Scripture, Jesus is clearly saying that if you are associated with (being like or connected with) the world than you are an enemy of God. So if you have been living this way, you now know where you stand with the Lord and that it is not as you once thought, believed or even been taught.

Most Christians today think and even believe that they can do what they want to and go after the things of the world like everyone else that is lost, and still serve and follow Jesus. They are truly mistaken and deceived because Jesus clearly says otherwise in His Word, even in James 4:4.

This is why most Christians today look so much like the world. The lost cannot see the differences between in how they are living in comparison to those that claim to be Christians are living are any different.

So why would the lost want to change what they are doing and their lifestyle if it is the same?

Can the world, the people around you, see that you are different than they are and that you are like Jesus; even just as what was said of both Jesus when He walked on the earth and also of His Disciples in Acts 4:13 how the other people knew they have been with Jesus?  (ref: Acts 17:6)

What was it that distinguished them?

It was the presence of Jesus. They had Christ's own likeness and Spirit thus living their lives accordingly. They were a reflection - a mirror image of Jesus to others around them in what they did and how they lived.

When one serves and follows Jesus, it is completely different and opposite of how one once lived in the world.

Jesus said in 2 Corinthians 6:17, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate…"

He also said in Revelation 18:4, "…Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."  (ref: Isa. 52:11; 2 Cor. 6:14-16)

Again, Jesus said in 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."  (ref: Exod. 19:5-6; Deut. 14:2; Titus 2:12-14)

Do you look like Jesus or do you look like the world?

The Lord God has given you a choice…and you have to choose. You can only serve one master - God or mammon (the god of riches; treasure, riches, earthly goods).

Here are the exact words that Jesus said in Matthew 6:24:

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."  (ref: Luke 16:13)

The word 'serve' used in that verse of Scripture means: "to be a slave; to obey, to submit to, to yield obedience; give one's self up to.

You cannot serve God and serve other gods or god of this world (satan) - it is one or the other. Who is going to be your master?

Jesus is asking you the same question. Choose whom this day you will serve…

In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah said to the people: "How long halt ye between two opinions (thoughts)? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him..."

It also says in Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Then Jesus said in Romans 6:16-18,

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

…That ye were the servants of sin… (vs. 17)

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (vs. 18)

According to Romans 6:16-18, now that you have come to Christ, you must yield yourself as servant to Him because you are His slave and no longer the slave of sin.

God can only be served with entire and exclusive devotion with single-mindedness. If you try to split that devotion in any way with anything, you will hate one or the other.

The word 'servant' used in that passage of Scripture means: "a slave, bondman, man of servile condition; one who gives himself up to another's will, those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men; devoted to another, to the disregard of one's own interests."

Now the word 'slave', by definition, means "single ownership and full time service." A slave was not considered a person; a slave was a thing and had no rights.

A master could beat a slave, kill a slave, and sell a slave. A slave was a living tool, no different than a plow or an animal, which is used for his master's purpose and will.

A slave was the property of a master and he was to be constantly, totally, entirely, one hundred percent devoted to obedience to that one master. It would be utterly impossible for him to serve and be obedient to two different masters at the same time.

The orders of these two masters are completely opposite of each other. The one commands you:

• to serve and follow the one and only True God, the other to serve and follow the prince and god of this world;
• to live a life of righteousness and holiness, the other to live a life of unrighteousness and sin;
• to walk by faith, the other to walk by sight;
• to be humble, the other to be proud;
• to speak only the truth, the other to tell lies;
• to set your affections on things above, the other to set them on the things of the earth;
• to look at the things unseen and eternal, the other to look at the things seen and temporal;
• to give ALL, the other to keep all;
• to freely give what you have received, the other to charge others for what you have received;
• to be selfless, the other to be selfish;
• to forgive one another, the other to not forgive others;
• to surrender your will and do His Will, the other to do your own will;
• to give up one's life for His sake and the Gospel, the other to live one's life as you choose;
• to love your neighbor as yourself, the other to only love oneself.

As you can see these orders are diametrically opposed - completely opposite of each other.

You will only be obedient to one or the other… you cannot serve them both.

One thing for sure, you will receive payment and be rewarded by either one of the masters in return for your obedience and service. But what you will receive and be rewarded with will greatly vary depending on your master.

When one who is a servant/slave of the flesh and sin, he receives for his wages: "being under the curse - sickness, disease, death, and eternal damnation."

For the one that is a servant of Christ, he receives for his wages: "freedom from the curse - life, salvation, healing, deliverance, and eternal life."

Over and over again, you can see that you cannot serve or follow two masters but rather one or the other, receiving the wages and rewards from only the one that you have chosen.

Now, as you are exposed to the truth of God's Word, are you accepting or resenting the one who has the claim on your life?

Are you fighting the conviction in your heart because you now realize and know that you can't serve two masters?

Is the master that you are currently serving the one that you really want to be serving?

Is Jesus your Lord and Master?

Who is your master going to be?

It can only be one or the other. You have to choose your master.

Who are you in debt to?

Whether you may realize it or not, we all are in debt to someone.

Jesus said in Romans 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness." (ref: John 8:34; Rom. 6:17-20)

If you are not serving and following Jesus, you are in debt to man, even to the god of this world who is satan.  (ref: Rom. 6:16)

If you are serving and following Jesus as He said in His Word, your debt for your sin has been paid for in full by the blood of Jesus when He died on the Cross for you. That debt for sin was paid for but now you have a debt of gratitude in serving and following Him…as you are now a servant of Christ.

Jesus said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "...Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

He also said in 1 Corinthians 7:22-23 "For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. Ye are bought with a price; be ye not the servants of men."  (ref: Rom. 14:7-8; Eph. 6:6)

Now you can see where you stand in regards to what Jesus said in His Word. So if you are a servant of men then you are in sin because of your disobedience to what Jesus has said in His Word.

Who are you in debt to?  Who is your lender?

The Lord said in Proverbs 22:7 that "…The borrower is servant to the lender."

You are the servant to the lender, the one who you are in debt to - you are the servant thereof.

If you truly say that you are following Jesus, than why are you a servant of men and in debt to them? Because Jesus said in His Word in 1 Corinthians 7:23 "…Be ye not the servants of men."

You cannot in any way justify what you are doing and why you are in debt to others… What Jesus says - it all that matter, not what we think He meant to say.

The Bible is the written Word of God and what the Lord said in 2 Peter 1:20-21 clarifies that there is no private interpretation of it. Therefore you are blinded and even deceived by what you either wanted to believe or to think (twisting the Scriptures or taking just a piece to fit - to justify your actions) and/or were taught by man.

Everything that He has said in His Word is the truth and it will be so.  (ref: Num. 23:19; Isa. 46:10-11; Eze. 12:25; Prov. 30:5; 2 Tim, 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:23, 25)

God is not a liar.

He said in Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?"  (ref: 1 Sam. 15:29; Titus 1:2; Jam. 1:17)

So if it was not so, Jesus would not have said nor would it be written in His Word. In John 14:2, Jesus said that "If it were not so, I would have told you."

If you say or believe that what the Lord said in His Word, that it does not apply to you or that it is not so…such as to say that it is not what the Lord was trying to say and change it to our own understanding / interpretation - you just have called God a liar.

You have just sinned against Him because you have just denied who He is and what He said.

When you get caught in a lie or a fault…you begin to justify yourself, which is self-justification, in regards to what you have said or done. One of the first things that you do "is point to someone else and put the blame on them, instead of facing our own fault and sin."

Jesus said in Luke 16:15 that "…Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

He also said in Job 9:20, "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."

The word 'self-justification' means: "to show, exhibit, one (oneself) to be righteous, such as he wishes himself to be considered; the act of making excuses for oneself or one's behavior and actions; to justifying or rationalizing one's actions, beliefs, motives, etc."

A lie is a lie - a fault is a fault - a sin that has been committed is a sin. You can not change that or explain it away. It is what it is.

The only way to clear one's conscience, to make right that which was not right and to put yourself in good standing with both man and God; you have to admit you were at fault, repent and ask both them and the Lord to forgive you.

Now back to the question of "who are you serving, who is your master and who are you in debt to?"

Jesus said in Romans 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness."  (ref: John 8:34; Rom. 6:18-20)

The Lord also said in Proverbs 22:7 that "…The borrower is servant to the lender."

The one who you are in debt to, you are the servant to the lender.

So if you:

• owe another person or business money, you have a debt.
• owe someone a favor, you have a debt to them.
• owe anything to anyone, you have a debt to them.

You now have an obligation to pay it back whether it is paid back with money, your time or such - you still have to pay for it in full before you are free from that debt. This makes you a servant (slave) to them.

If you are in debt to the things of this world - you are a servant to things of the world - even a servant to the god of this world (satan).

The land, the house, the car or whatever it may be that you are buying - you made a decision to do that and to be in debt. So in return you are their servant, you are serving them for that debt. Because of all the debts that you have - made by your own choice - this is the reason why you have to go to work to make money to pay those bills.

And you do all of this for what?

All of those earthly things that you desire, work hard to buy and even possess (own), they are temporary… and have no value in the life to come - whether it be for eternity in Heaven with Jesus or in hell.

All of those things are just 'stuff' …things that will return to dust one day. All of it is a distraction from Jesus and from doing all that He has told us to do.

Jesus said in Romans 13:8, "Owe no man any thing..." He meant what He said.

Do you know why He said that?

Jesus said it because if you owe some one something, you are in debt to them and in so doing you become their servant. Instead of Jesus being your Master and you doing His Will and only His work, you now have another master to whom you have to serve because of the decision or choice you made.

You then are in sin - in disobedience to God and what He has said in His Word (even in Rom. 13:8); and you have just sinned against God.

In Galatians 6:7-8, Jesus said, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."  (ref: Rom. 8:5-13; Jam. 4:4)

According to what Jesus said in His Word, every person will receive payment for what they do and for what they have done, both in this life but also in the life to come for eternity.

Just as Jesus was speaking in His Word about "who are you serving, being in debt to someone, and not owing any man any thing;" He also speaks about earthly and heavenly wealth, riches, rewards and treasures.

To whom you have chose to serve, all of your time and energy will be devoted to gaining either earthly riches or heavenly treasures.

The earthly wages a person earns has only earthy value at best - they have no Heavenly value.  (ref: 2 Cor. 4:18)

The Lord said in Haggai 1:6, 9, "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes."

"Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house." (vs. 9)  (ref: Deut. 28; Isa. 5:8-10)

In these verses of Scripture, Jesus is speaking about those that work hard for the things of the world and are not serving Him. If Jesus is not your Master, then you are under the curse of disobedience and sin as according to what He said in Deuteronomy 28.

For those of you who are serving and following Jesus, your 'only priority' will be to do His Will. You will work for things of eternal value in doing His Will and not for things that this world has to offer.

Jesus said in John 6:27, "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."

Then Jesus said in Isaiah 55:1-2, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (vs. 2) (ref: Eccle. 4:8)

With what Jesus said, there is a comparison of two very different things that one will work for.

What are your goals in life? What are you working to attain in this life, even in the life to come?

Jesus then gives a distinct explanation about two different types of work.

In Romans 4:4-5, He said "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (vs. 5)  (a must read - ref: 2 Pet. 2:1-22; Pro. 26:10-12; Job 9:20)

The first type of work is doing that which benefits the flesh - the carnal man. The other type is not doing that which benefits the flesh but rather for the things of God in serving Him.

As a disciple of Jesus, one will not work to be rich in this life because all of his time and energy will be spent doing His Will leaving no time to waste for earthly goods or pleasures. All of the things of this world will not mean any thing to him as they are worthless and just a distraction because Jesus is everything to him.

The Lord said in Proverbs 23:4-5, "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom (understanding). Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."

Jesus said in Proverbs 16:25-26, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. He that laboureth laboureth (to work; to toil) for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him."

Than in Revelation 3:17, the Lord said "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."

The wealth, riches, and the things of this world that you have and try to accumulate, it will never satisfy oneself or make you happy. It is temporal and it has no life in it, as it is the work of man's hand that has created it.

Unlike the things of God and of Jesus who is Life, it is He who satisfies those that have Him.

Everything of this world will never fill the constant void that one feels possessing those things. There is a constant hunger that continually drives you to get more, such as wanting a bigger & nicer house, getting a new car, more money and the like…even trying to stay up with the 'Jones'.

What you have is never enough and you will not be satisfied, you will always want more.

Once in this deadly trap or cycle of the worldly life, this vicious way of life will consume all of your time and energy, leaving you completely exhausted and spiritually empty inside.

All of this is because of disobedience to God and His Word; therefore you are living under the curse of sin and death. Jesus came and died for you to deliver you from the curse of sin and to set you free.

But you have a choice - to continue living under the curse or to come, repent of your sin, follow Jesus and be free of the curse.

If you made that decision to follow Jesus you will no longer live the life you once did, you will now do all that Jesus has said in His Word in how you are to live and to serve ONLY Him.

You will see that everything of the Lord is completely opposite of those things that you once did and are of the world. You will also see things in a completely different way; your focus, attention, and all of your energy will be centered on Jesus doing all that He has and is saying to do. Now you will be doing the Lord's work of which has eternal value and laying up treasure in Heaven.

From those in the world, you will be persecuted, criticized, ridiculed and even laughed at for what you are doing with the Lord…saying that you are missing out on the things that is seems or appears that they are enjoying. Their view and understanding of what you are doing with Jesus will seem like foolishness to them because they are blind and they do not know Him or what Jesus has said in His Word.

This persecution and being ridiculed has also happened to Jesus and His Disciples as it is recorded in His Word, and it too will happen to all that follow Jesus.

The Lord said in Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."  (ref: Job 32:9; Isa. 6:9, 44:18, 65:2)

What they, those who are not following Jesus, fail to realize and understand is; it is they that are missing out now but also in the long run.

They are empty inside having hopelessness, despair, worry, anxiety, fear, unhappiness, discontentment, heartache and pain…and in the end they will for all of eternity be tormented and separated from God.

Do you know where you stand with the Lord and how He sees you?

Have you examined yourself lately to see whether you are truly serving and following Jesus, and that you have not succumbed to any temptations of the things of this world and your own desires that you have turned away from Jesus?  (ref: 2 Cor. 13:5)

Are you trying to live a life of comfort and ease; and in doing so you have been pursuing those very things instead of following Jesus?

Where is your heart? The answer is "It is where your treasure is!"

Or I can ask "Where is your treasure?" The answer is "It is where your heart is!"

Jesus said in Luke 12:34 that "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Wherever you put your investment is where you will put your heart.

If all that you possess is locked up in real estate, rental properties, commodities, stocks, retirement funds, bank accounts, CDs, IRAs, notes, and savings, or even what else of earthly value; then that is where your heart is going to be.

If the 'American Dream' is your goal in life, then that is where your heart is and it is your earthly treasure.

But if it is doing God's Will, which is doing all that He has said in His Word and all that He is speaking you, then that is where your heart is going to be.

As in comparison of earthly and heavenly treasures in how they both are two completely different things; so it is also the same way in comparing all of your own plans, goals and ideas and how they are completely opposite of His plan and purpose for you.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21:

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (vs. 20)

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (vs. 21)  (ref: Luke 12:33-34)

This heavenly treasure that Jesus is speaking about is completely different than what we consider things of value on this earth. It is not going to church, singing in the choir, doing good works or charity projects and etc.

So what is your treasure in heaven?

Jesus describes in 1 Peter 1:4 about your treasure which is in heaven saying that it is "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

For those of you who are following Jesus your treasure in heaven is Christ more than anything else. Also your treasure in heaven is a life that will never end (Jn. 3:16; 6:51), and a well of water that never runs dry (Jn. 4:14).

To lay up heavenly treasure is "obedience in doing the will of the Father," every moment of each and every day.

You heart is always attached to your treasures as Jesus said in His Word, they both are inseparable. So where you are laying treasure up - here on the earth or in heaven; it tells you where your heart is!

You cannot lay treasure up in both places because your heart will only be devoted to either one or the other, just as Jesus said in His Word.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:34-35 and in Luke 6:45 that out of a man's heart cometh either good or evil things; it will not be both. It is also the same with where one's treasure is, his heart will be there too; as it cannot be in two separate places at the same time.

Jesus also said in Matthew 6:24 that "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (riches, treasure)."

The Lord has made it very clear to you in His Word that it is either one or the other and the choice is up to you.

There are no excuses that you can give that will allow you to be exempt from what Jesus has said in His Word. You can justify, think or believe that your heart is in the right place and explain to others why you are doing the things that you are doing, but Jesus sees and knows your heart, not as others see.

The Lord said in Proverbs 16:25-26, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. He that laboureth laboureth (to work; to toil) for himself..."

Also in Romans 4:4-5 the Lord said, "Now to him that worketh (in the flesh & in the natural) is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."  (a must read - ref: 2 Pet. 2:1-22; Pro. 26:10-12)

Then Jesus said in Luke 12:21, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

When people are convicted in their hearts that they have erred in accordance to God's Word, they will repent and turn from that very thing or they will begin to make excuses because the flesh does not want to die.

One of the things people will say is "But my parents, my grandparents, or other people who say they are Christians are doing all of the same things that I am doing, so it must be ok."

It does not matter if they say that it is right, but only what the Lord says in His Word.

It a terrible mistake that one can make when you base what you are doing and how you are living for God on what another person - who is human says or teaches; instead of strictly on what His Word says. The only thing that matters to you, is what God said in His Word; not what some one tells you or what you may think or want to believe, as this is one of the ways people are deceived.

Another thing people will say is "Look at those that are lost and those who say they are Christians, they are enjoying the pleasures of the world, so why can't I?"

Just because everyone is doing something - it does not mean that it is right.

First, Jesus said in Matthew 7:13-14 that wide is the way that leads to destruction and many will go in, but narrow is the way that leads to life and few will find it.

Secondly, they are now enjoying and receiving the reward of their earthly treasures, and how fleeting it is. Jesus said in Luke 6:24, "But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation (reward, comfort)."  (ref: Mat. 6:1-2, 5, 16; Luke 16:25)

Another thing that people will say is "That the reason why they are working is so they will have retirement when they are older and than they will be able to go and do the things that the Lord has spoken to them."

First off, if you are not doing those things now - you probably will not do them later, as many have said the very same thing and they have not done anything afterwards. The other thing they just said is that they are laying up treasure on the earth to enjoy now but also when they retire.

Now look at what Jesus said in His Word about laying up treasures on the earth and for oneself:

"Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness (testimony) against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days." James 5:3

"…For a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:21

Why do we let ourselves be deceived? Why does it seem so hard to just let go of the things of the world?

It is because the flesh does not want to die…it wants to live and have all the things of this world to make it happy and feel good.

Jesus said in Luke 16:15 that "…Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."

In Job 9:20, the Lord said that "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."

Jesus also said in Matthew 23:28, "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."

Are you consumed with laying up treasure on earth or are you laying up treasure in Heaven?

What ever a person's treasure is - that too will be where all of their energy will be spent on and that will be where their focus will be centered on. It will be their sole passion and goal in life consuming all of their valuable time.

That is why Jesus said what He did in His Word about laying up treasure and serving only one master.

So when you look at what is taking all of your time and effort, and what you are pursuing with your heart - what is it all being used to gain?

• Is it something temporal or eternal?
• Is it for your self or for Jesus and the sake of the Gospel?

It can only be one or the other. Which ever one it is, it will take up all of your time that you have in this life and it will reveal to you and to others where your heart truly is, who is your master, who you are serving and following.

You can try to justify it in your mind to clear or numb your conscience and even tell others that your motives are not what they seem…but your actions will speak louder than mere words. All of the people around you will both see and know which one you have chosen to serve and follow because they will see what you actions are.

Jesus said that you will know men by the fruit. In Matthew 7:16-20, He said:

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (vs. 17)
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (vs. 18)
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (vs. 19)
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (vs. 20)

Jesus also said in Matthew 12:33 that "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."  (ref: Luk. 6:43-44)

Just like an bad apple - it appears to be good on the outside but on the inside it is wormy and rotten…so is it when you try to hide, justify or paint a pretty picture of what you are doing and why you are doing it.

You might succeed in trying to deceive or mislead others, even for a period of time but eventually they will see the truth. One thing for certain, you cannot hide it from God. He sees and knows your heart.

• So what kind of fruit (results, reward, treasure) are you bearing from your labour?
  
• Is it of the flesh and of sin, or is it of God?

There is always going to be fruit from what you do - and it will either be good or corrupt, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:16-20 and Matthew 12:33.

Jesus said in Galatians 6:7-8, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."  (ref: Rom. 8:5-13; Jam. 4:4)

You will always reap what you have sown but what you receive for your labour depends on which master you are serving.

If you made to the choice to serve and follow Jesus - than you are in debt to Him for what He has saved you from and what He has done for you. You will only do His Will - which is doing those things that Jesus has told you both in His written Word and spoken Word. Then you will be laying up treasure in Heaven and not on this earth.

David said in Psalm 16:5, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance…"  (ref: Eze. 44:28; Col. 3:24-25), so too is Jesus your inheritance.

If Jesus is your treasure - the Pearl of Great Price - then your heart is in the right the place. You will follow only Jesus, who is your most prized treasure, with all of your heart and you will be completely devoted to Him.

Jesus said in Colossians 3:2 to, "Set your affection (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth."

In Romans 8:5 He said, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."  (ref: Rom. 8:5-8, 13, 13:14; Phil. 3:18-19; Col. 2:20)

Also In 1 Peter 4:2 He said, "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."

When Jesus is your only focus in life, you will only do those things that please Him and bring Him glory, and all of your attention will be centered on Him and in doing His Will.

Where the desires of your heart are, is where YOU will be - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. These desires will be what you give your time and attention to.

The most valuable thing a person has is "his soul." There is a battle for your soul going on right now, between satan and the Lord.

There is a very important and serious question that one must ask himself. And it is:

• What is your soul worth to you?
  
• For what and to whom are you going to give your soul?

Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"  (ref: Mat. 16:26; Luke 9:25)

The Lord also said in Proverbs 13:7 "There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches."

Here is what one receives in exchange for his soul according to what Jesus said in His Word:

• Lose or give up the world - Gain your soul =
  Give everything up for Jesus & to follow Him - you receive great riches & eternal life in Him in Heaven
  
  
• Gain the world - Lose your soul =
  Get all the things of this world - you receive nothing but eternal separation from God & torment in hell

Remember, that which you keep you lose, and what you give up for Jesus - you gain eternally.

You must ask your self these questions:

• So are you willing to trade your soul for temporal, earthly things and pleasures for eternal separation from God?
  
  
• Are you willing to trade everything Jesus has done for you, for a moment of enjoyment and pleasure with an eternity of torment in hell?

Without Jesus, you are nothing - a loser, a big zero. But with Jesus - you are a winner, you are someone - because He is the One. We are His and He is ALL to you (Rom.11:36).

Did you know that when you spend your life focused on ANYTHING other than God, you are breaking the 1st and 2nd Commandments (Exo. 20:2-5) beside many other things that Jesus said in His Word?

You are in fact putting another "god" before the Lord God and "worshipping an idol". An 'idol' is not just a statue that you might physically bow down before; it is ANYTHING that takes your time, energy, attention and commitment AWAY from God.

Jesus said in James 2:10, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend (to err, make a mistake, to sin) in one point, he is guilty of all."

Jesus clearly states in His Word that if you have broken just ONE commandment, you have in effect broken them all and you have sinned, and you are guilty of the punishment of death and an eternity in hell.  (ref: Rom. 6:23; Ps. 9:16-17)

If you can truly say you are serving and following Jesus and you call Him your Lord than why do you not do the things that He told you?

Jesus said in Luke 6:46: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

So if you are not following Jesus and doing the things that He commanded you; then you are following after the things of this world and serving the god of this world (satan) who is your lord and master.

The Lord said in Joel 3:14 that "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."

You cannot serve God and serve other gods or god of this world (satan) - it is one or the other (Mat. 6:24). You have a decision to make - you must choose you will serve. The choice is yours.

• Who are you currently serving?
  
  
• Jesus is asking you right now, "Who is going to be your master"?
  
  
• You are the servant (slave) to the lender - so who is your lender?
  
  
• If you profess and claim to know Jesus and to be serving Him, than why is everything in your life as it was before?

Do you not know or understand that Jesus became poor (lacking in the things of this world) for your sake that you might be rich in Him (heavenly riches, treasures, eternal life & redemption from sin of which the penalty is death, eternal torment & separation from God)?

Jesus had or owned no home…He had or owned no vehicle (He borrowed a donkey)…He had no retirement or saving on this earth; Jesus relied completely on His Heavenly Father who provided everything for Him, just as God has promised in Matthew 6:25-34 and Luke 12:22-32, the Lord will do for each one that serves and follows Him.  (*you will want to read about this promise in Mat. 6:25-34 & Luke 12:22-32)

In 2 Corinthians 8:9 He says, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."  (ref: Mat. 20:28b; 2 Cor. 6:10; Tit. 2:14; also Mat.8:20; Luke 9:58)

What the Lord was saying in regards to us being made rich; this has nothing to do with earthly treasures, riches or money as many people tend to think and as many people teach today but it has to do with heavenly, spiritual things in Jesus (Eph. 1:3, 7).

Then in James 2:5 the Lord said, "…Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?"

Also in 2 Corinthians 6:10 He said, "…As poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."

Jesus gave up everything including His own life for you that may (your choice - if you follow Him) receive eternal life and all spiritual things in Christ Jesus.

Think about this for a moment…

• Would you truly give up yourself, including your life for some one that you loved and cared about?
  
  
• Are you willing to give everything up including your life for Jesus?
  
  
• What is your response when you hear and read the Word of God?
  
  
• Are you convicted by the Holy Spirit of your sin and then willing to confess that sin?
  
  
• What is ALL of your time, effort and energy spent on? Is it for pleasures and things of this world? Or is ALL of your focus, time and energy spent on doing His Will?
  
  
• Do you have a desire to obey the one and only True God?
  
  
• Are you walking in a new direction (following ONLY Jesus & not going back to the old way of life as you once lived and knew while in sin) after your encounter with God?

If you are not, you must repent and confess your sin, turn away from those things of sin and be obedient to God and His Word.

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You will want to read these other two (2) articles below, that gives more insight on being and living like Jesus Christ everyday.

A Free Gift For You    &    Are You Following Jesus & His Disciple?