SONSHIP 10 ONE OF A CITY

ONE OF A CITY

After the ten-tribed Israel had been taken into Assyrian captivity, the Southern kingdom of Judah fell into the same terribly sinful condition which had caused the captivity of the Northern kingdom.

In chiding with Judah, the Lord wrote to the Northern kingdom some statements which were prophetic-- spoken concerning the people who live today, and are followers of the Lord.

It was a clarion call at that time-- for Israel to repent of her sins and return to the ways of the Lord. It was also a clarion call to the Christians of today who have backslidden into the denominational system (with the resultant captivity) which we have today.

Malachi bemoaned the fact that integrity and morals had deteriorated to the place that evil was called good, and good was called evil. We find ourselves in the same condition today. Business men say they can not be honest and prosper. Church and denominational leaders today say they can not embrace the true principals of Christianity. To do so would wreck their system. The "system" has become a form of business-- and a cut-throat business at that. Little wonder the wrath of the Lord is building to explosive proportions.

When the "system" is crushed-- many of its leaders will also be crushed. God is not, however, primarily displeased with MEN who believe on Him. He is displeased with how men have become CAPTIVE to that which they have invented-- "to further the Gospel". It (the system) has become a "Frankenstein" of sorts, and is a very cruel taskmaster.

Yet, ironically, out of, and in spite of, the mess which the Christian community finds itself in today, God will perform His Will and Plan for his Blood-bought people world-wide.

You don't believe He can do it? Think again, friend. Look at the mess which the Hebrew people were in at the time of the birth, life, and crucifixion of Jesus. Did that deter the Lord from the timing and performance of His Plan? NO!!!

The message to ten-tribed Israel was: Jeremiah 3:12-14 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I WILL TAKE YOU ONE OF A CITY, AND TWO OF A FAMILY, AND I WILL BRING YOU TO ZION:

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision which troubled him very much. He saw a terrible thing taking place among the leaders of Israel, and it was causing the people to commit a very great sin. The Lord sent a man with an ink horn among the people-- to put a mark upon those who "sighed and cried" over the abominations which were committed. Then, another was commissioned to go through the nation and slay everyone who did not have the mark on them. When so many were slain, and Ezekiel was spared, he cried out to the Lord, "Lord, will you kill EVERYONE?" See Ezek chs. 8 & 9

These two portions of scripture are prophetic, in that they give us an idea of what and how God is working within the Christian Community today-- selecting and marking a group of people who are meeting the demands of a Holy God for THEIR lives in this day. You and I have no way of knowing who they are, for we can judge by appearances only. GOD KNOWS THE HEART.

They are NOT PERFECT. No one is. But, their manner of life-- dictated by their heart condition, is such that God considers them to be CANDIDATES for the special ANOINTING AND IMPARTATION OF HIS SPIRIT which will empower them to do what He has DETERMINED shall be done in the TIME OF THE HARVEST.

MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.

II Peter 1:10,11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

YOU AND I CAN BECOME CANDIDATES!