Judgment Starts at the House of God--Accountability

Judgment Starts at the House of God--Accountability

For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1Peter 4:17

In this situation with chemical attack in Syria last week was "inexcusable" and "undeniable," adding that there was "a clear reason that the world has banned entirely chemical weapons."  Kerry said that President Barack Obama "will be making an informed decision about how to respond" and "believes there must be accountability."
Many people believe the beast with the ten horns in  refer to an economic alliance of nations in Europe.  There will be a certain accountability that will come through the league of nations and the ten horns which will be that all nations will have to give an account and this will be set up through the anti-Christ.  Rev.17:12-14
If I’m cleaning my house then I’m getting ready to do something with that house.  I have had 17 single socials at my house, and I cleaned my house for every social.  Who wants to invite people over to a dirty house?   Before the last party, I even started repainting the stairs and the front entrance walls.  
If God is judging or cleaning up our lives as Christians, than he is getting ready to do something with our lives.  

Where the judging starts first is usually spiritual accountability and it starts with the leaders.  It’s the leaders of our land, but it also our spiritual leaders in church and then it’s the leaders of the home.   There are several type of burn out jobs and one of them is the ministry.  Many people are dropping out of the ministry like flies and many churches are dropping single ministries like flies too.   Singles make up 50-60% of the population.  Many ministers don’t want to deal with them.

They sort of remind me at times like my step children as far as trying to get a thank you out of them, but if Jesus came back today, he is going to come to seek and save the lost and he will be ministering to all those who are “burdened and heavy laden.”

Typically burn out jobs are the Good Samaritan type jobs of physicians, nurses, firemen, teachers, postal workers and health care workers – It’s definitely a calling to work in a service-oriented fields although I have met some people who go into it for the money.  For the ministry it takes more than a talent it takes an anointing, a/k/a a calling.  

I was listening to a minister talk about how some pastors need to “suck it up” because one was whining about how his congregation does not appreciate him, but I remember a minister talk about how he went to one church and there was no anointing there at all and he believed he was out of the will of God.  I’ve experienced the same thing where I went to this Bible study and I could not even sing very well on key and I’ve been leading single worship for four years.   There was no anointing there.  It’s like my songs fell to the ground and it’s like words fall to the ground.

Another was a church I was going to two years ago and the church had everything I wanted - -they had a grief share group, outreaches to the community, great praise and worship, great speakers who came in, they were right near my house.  I knew they were very legalistic.  I was tithing and I had so many attacks on my life I was wondering what happened to that scripture Malachi 3:10.  When the pastor said that he would not sit in the car with a believer that did not tithe I found that statement offensive when I was tithing.

I fasted and prayed and I heard in my spirit, “Stay out of legalism.” 

I was putting myself under bondage by joining that church.   It became a heavy yoke on my life of trying to serve God out of obedience rather than grace.  It became an obligation.  Many times we try to serve God after our flesh and there is no flesh that will glory in God’s presence. 

As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 1 Cor. 1:29

Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. 1 Cor. 16:29

I realize that when I get myself under legalism, it’s bondage, then I lose the joy of serving the Lord.   It becomes a duty to follow God’s word rather than a joy.  In marriage it was a joy serving my husband.  I’ve spoken to other Christian singles and they have been attacked also in their service to God.   Why would Paul say that singles better can follow the Lord when we are experiencing threats on our lives? 

A woman friend was telling me that she helped two people and then she got a ticket for speeding in a speed trap.  She was upset too because she heard my testimony how the Lord has been showing me how important grace is and how when I got stopped three times accidentally for speeding I prayed for God’s grace and all three times I did not get a ticket not even a warning.  The police officers gave me grace.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58

More and more I realize that things that have come to me in life including my husband was through God’s grace.  Sometimes we think it’s our own ability that gave us the power to be successful and get wealth, but I have learned that it was God’s grace that opened doors in my life.  I have to get the focus off myself, it’s Christ in me the hope of glory.

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. Duet 8:18

When the windows of heaven are barred and shut like it happened to me and I was faithfully tithing than I realized it was not my faithfulness to God’s word, it’s God’s grace and his faithfulness in my life that I live by.  It takes away the self-righteousness.  Out of righteousness.  It’s Jesus righteousness we are to live under not our own!   Not that we don’t do this or that.  Not by works least any man should boast.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mathew 6:33

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.  Ephesians  2:8-10

I think many times I look in the Bible and I see men and women with short comings.  We have a hall of fame for the NBA , but God has his hall of faith which is Hebrews 11.  It’s made up of imperfect people.   Sarah made the hall of faith and she laughed at the angel telling her she was going to have a child,  Elizabeth’s husband could not talk since he did not believe the angel during her whole pregnancy, Gideon was upset when an angel came to him and asked him why God had been absent for so long.  Same with Job, Job questioned God too.  It’s the behavior of adolescence to question their parents.

It’s spiritual maturity when we get to the point of “Trust in the Lord with ALL our heart and lean not to our own understanding.”  Sometimes I think God moves despite ourselves, but at other times, we are co-laborers together so he wants our cooperation.   I find the same in marriage.  It was finding a man who had a spirit of cooperation.  It’s really not asking for much.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3:5

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 2 Cor. 8:12

For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building. 1 Cor. 3:9

When Paul talked about a thorn in the flesh who was buffeting him for his faults, Jesus told him that “His grace was sufficient.”  Depending more on God’s grace to get us through the rough patches in life and that is what I pray is for more of God’s grace in my life.   I was listening to that song last night “Amazing Grace.”  “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come.  T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...and Grace will lead us home.”

What gospel are we to preach?  Not one that focuses on our ability.  Definitely not eastern religion, yoga or self- reflection.  It’s focusing on the greater one.

God is greater than any others.

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.  When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Acts 11:23

I am what I am by the grace of God and I can do what I can do by the grace of God.  God’s grace will get me through difficulties in life even persecution for serving God.

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

Greater is God in us than the evil one in the world.  God is greater than our circumstances, he is the greater one.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

I do believe it’s a good standard to tithe as far as giving God at least 10%, but as the Lord disciple, I find that he wants 100%, not 10%.    I got a check for $150 from my house escrow and I knew although I had other bills a person was $150 short on their rent.  Giving 10% would not have kept them from being evicted from their apartment.  I knew at that moment it was seed to plant.  What I find is that God loves a cheerful giver and not one that gives out of obligation.  Many times I’ve given out of obligation or because I feel guilty.   I also want to make sure I’m planting the seed in good fruitful soil (where God tells me to give.)

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9:7