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Intentions

Walking with the Lord is a progressive journey. At the starting point is salvation by grace at the end is eternal life and in beteween .... well , in between is a journey that envolves a renewing of the mind so that we may know and walk in the will of God.

This article is about the journey, learning and growing in understanding the Father's heart and walking in His will. Now in order to walk in God's will involves choice. The first part of the choice is "hearing" the Word and the second part of the choice is "responding in trust based obedience" to the Word. You decide to seek and you decide to act. Sometimes the choice to act is a struggle because of the "word" that is already in us. Often we have received teaching that is in opposition to what God says and it is difficult to accept that our "former truth" is really a lie.

In this article I would like to talk about our "intentions" and our "responsibility". Hopefully from the scriptures we will be able to shed some light on these two important factors that shape our "choice".

THE EXAMPLE OF CAIN
First let's take a look at a familiar story.

"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the gound. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." Gen 4:1-5

Very quickly note that BOTH Cain and Abel wanted to bring an offering to the Lord. Abel's was accepted while Cain's was not. This rejection caused anger to build up in Cain. Let's continue.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thu doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door". Gen 4:6-7

God at this point clarifies why Cain's offering was not accepted. Simply put, it was not what God said to bring! There was nothing wrong with the produce Cain got from his labor of the soil. The problem was with his CHOICE to bring something other than what God had designated as acceptable. "If you doest well, will thou not be accepted"? This action on Cains part followed by his decision to take the life of Abel, revealed the "intention" of his heart. Though he wanted to bring an offeing to God, he wanted it to be what he decided was acceptable, not what God revealed as acceptable. Cain's true intention was to come to God his way. Furthermore, it is important to note that Cain was angry at Abel simply because Abel decided to do what God said to do.

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE; FOR OUR INTENTIONS
Whenever you or I, choose to walk contrary to the Word of God and then claim excemption from responsibility because God know's our intentions, we are really attempting to pull the wool over God's eyes. Examine this verse.

"But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves". James 1:22

Here we see that obeying the Word is our responsibility". It is NOT Opptional, no matter what you have been told. To hear the Word and then NOT DO the Word is to be deceived.

"Not everyone that saith to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniguity (lawlessness). Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and DOETH THEM, I will liken him unto a wise man", Matt 7:21-24

The wise hear and do. PERIOD!!! Note carefully, that Yeshua does not say that the wise hear and make up their own version of doing. "Well, sure I know God said to do such and such and do it in such a way. But He knows my "intentions" when I completely do it differantly and then slap His name on it.

A LOOK AT DAVID

"And David arose, and went with the people that were with him from Ba-a-le of Judah, to bring up the ark of God", 2 Samuel 6:2

Good thing to be doing, bringing the ark back to the people.

"And they set the ark of God upon a new cart", 2 Samuel 6:3

Sure, I can see why they would transport the ark this way. A cart would be a lot quicker than a couple of men carrying it by staves. But what did God say about moving the ark?

"And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, THAT THE ARK MAY BE BORNE WITH THEM". Ex 25:13-14

So God designated that the ark would be transported in a cetain manner. Yeah , but David's "intention" was good. Actually David's intention was to do it his way.

"And when they came to the Na-chon's thresingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there FOR HIS ERROR";

God revealed how the ark was to be moved. He had also revealed that no one was suppose to handle the ark. But contrary to His Word, David decided to move the ark by a cart. The results were disasterous. Why? BE NOT DECEIVED. HEAR AND DO THE WORD!

INTENTION CHECK

"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and KEEP HIS COMMANDENTS. For this is the love of God, that we KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS". 1 John 5:2-3

Here's a quick intention check. If you really want to get to the bottom line of your intentions ask yourself, "who am I seeking to please, God or myself"? If you are truly seeking to please God, then what God says is pleasing to Him, does not cause you grief. In fact, discovering what pleases Him becomes a delight to you. Walking in obedience is a joy an expression of love.

The struggle is when you want it your way. "I'll please God the way I say is pleasing and I'll make void my responsibility to His Word by claiming my good intentions". However, your actions declare your intentions and God is not fooled, nor does He accept your semi, sorta, kind of, obedience.

LEARNING FROM CAIN
Cain decided to "have it his way". In fact he was the first "religious" visionary. I'll seek God, it will be according to my way of whats acceptable and He better like it. Oh, and the Guy who wants to stick just to what God says, I'll hate him.

Like Abel we must choose to walk according to God's Word. Even if our "brother" hates us for it. Even if his way is the more acceptable and popular path.

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