No, You're Not Ready (conclusion) by Brother Duke Hansen

         Now if you would, turn over to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. We will start reading from verse 13 to 17.

        13 Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

        14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

        15 If any man's works all be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

        16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

        17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

        The fire mentioned in the scripture tries us, puts us into the press, attacks different areas of our life. That fire burns out the impurities in our life and mortifies the flesh on the route to holiness. The hardship in your life doesn't move God. Seeking his face, drawing closer to God moves him.

        How do we mortify the flesh? Through strict discipline. Paul addressed discipline in his letter to the church to Corinth. There was a man committing adultery in the church written about in chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians. Paul spoke about the church body being puffed up about having to move and take this man away. Paul instructed them to toss him out. Today's churches don't follow the steps the early church established. Jesus established this in Matthew 18: 15-17. First, if a brother sinned and you know it, you go to him. Second if he continues in his sin, you go back with two or three witnesses. If he still has sin and not repented of it, the third time is tell it to the church. If he neglects the church, he's deemed a heathen. Today's church doesn't have these steps. It also doesn't have discipline, judgement, mercy, conviction, or the truth. Just a lot of fancy buildings with pricy sound systems and ambience of a country club. There is more to learn in this book independently than being a member of a denomination or church slowly dumbing down the content for acceptance in chasing more money. There are no participation trophies in this relationship with God. You don't get a watch at retirement. You hope to make it into glory.

        The items listed on the sin tax, the church is too frightened to offend in calling out. They let the sin settle and grow in the body like a cancer. Research study shows you have a statistic where nearly 7 out of 10 men who go to church watch porn regularly and 5 out of 10 pastors regularly watch it! The church won't handle these sins internally and the world makes billions off it. Too many options is what we have in life. God is not here to encourage you 24/7. He's not in your corner patting you on the back and whisper empty platitudes. He wants you to study and show yourself approved! He wants you to grow, to put your flesh to death! We need to be seekers of the truth. If you are a true seeker, that pursuit will leave toy at odds with the Bible. You can have all the basic knowledge of scripture, been saved, baptized, Holy Ghost filled and still miss the mark! Too many places elevate their pastor as the authority in their lives, to determine what is right and wrong for their life. Your pastor cannot fix you or carry you to heaven. The seeker will change his ways or walk away from the path. You will not enter into heaven with personal vices. Judgement starts at the house of God first, and he is coming for a bride that is without spot or blemish. You either change, clean out the junk you know is not acceptable to God or you get off the path and walk away. What is your choice? If you are comparing yourself to other believers to justify your actions or puff up your self righteousness, you are not long for this walk. There's a lot of things we say in one day where if we removed ourself from the conversation and looked at it from a distance, we would be shocked at what comes out of our mouth. You are a steward over your possessions, money, time, even your Holy Ghost. How much you put into your relationship with God is on you. God is not going to do all the work for you. You need to learn from making the same mistakes in your life, your own personal history, and grow!