God's Property.

     Christian, you are not your own. You no longer belong to yourself. You have been purchased by God, the price being the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor 6:19-20). You have given up the right to yourself in surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
     As bond slaves of Christ (1Cor 7:22) your life is no longer yours to do with as you please. As Temples of the Holy Spirit we must have pure hearts and clean hands (Psalm 24:3-4; 1 Cor 6:19). He will not dwell in an unclean vessel, a heart that is bent on sinful behavior.
     We have an obligation to live for Christ alone. Our lives are to be lived as a sacrifice, poured out on the altar of service to Christ our Redeemer and King (Romans 12:1). We have no right to do anything for ourselves, but ALL must be done for His glory (1Cor 10:31) and in His name (Col 3:17). This is our only reasonable response in view of what Christ has done for us. This is where we find our true freedom, our God ordained purpose, as we are swallowed up into the sweet will of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!

The call of God part 1.

     Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.
     Ephesians 4:1 NASB

     We have been called by God with a holy calling (1Timothy 1:9). This calling is a vocation, a way of life. This calling requires us to walk in a manner worthy of it. This is no different than an employer hiring a qualified individual for a job. He would have every right to expect this individual to do the job to the very best of his ability. A doctor is required to be thorough in examining his patient. He must then prescribe the proper treatment. A doctor who is careless, neglecting important tests, or treatment, would soon loose his job, license, and face malpractice suits. Likewise we are under obligation to walk in the call of God upon our lives in a manner that is worthy of Him (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
     Just what is this call of God upon our lives? What does it consist of?
     1. It is a call to be holy (Ephesians 1:4). To be holy is to be set apart for the service of God. It is to be separated from ordinary use, and devoted to God. We are called to separate ourselves from sin and self, and to give ourselves to the service of God. Even our everyday ordinary tasks are to be done in the name of Christ, and for His glory. This is not dealing with a positional standing before God, but with how we live out our lives on a daily basis. We are to be holy because He is holy, holy in all of our conduct (1 Peter 1:14-16). We are called to live a holy, blameless life, to be above reproach.
     I will expand upon this idea of the call of God, and what it means to us, in the next several posts. I hope that it will challenge each one of us to pursue God in a deeper way, to become more intimately aquainted with Him, growing in His grace.

                                                                                                              

A means to an end?

     "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seekining me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.
     John 6:26,27 ESV.

     Jesus had miraculously fed five thousand individuals with two fish, and five loaves of bread. The next day, the people were searching for Jesus, wanting more. They had an encounter with God Himself, but were only interested in what He could give them. He was only a means to an end for them. They cared nothing about knowing Him, loving Him, and serving Him.
     Many today have this same attitude. People are seeking God for things: even necessary things. People are encouraged to come to Christ for happiness, a better life, finances, and a host of many other things.
       It is true that God will provide. He cares for us and desires the best for us. He encourages us to come to Him with our needs and burdens. However He is not a means for our ends! He is the end! We are called to live for His glory, His plans, His purposes. We come to Him for salvation, not so we can be happy, or bettered, but so we can be reconciled to Him, so we can know Him and fellowship with Him. It is about Him!
     Jesus said if we seek His kingdom and righteousness first, that is to make it our consuming priority, He will provide all that we truly need (Matt 6:25-33). We are called to abandon our lives, to live for Him. He is our purpose, not the other way around.

What matters to us?

     There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
           Luke 16:19 NIV


     Jesus told a parable of a rich man who lived a pampered,self indulged lifestyle, while ignoring the plight of a poor beggar who lay outside of his gate longing for just the crumbs that fell from his table. The rich man lacked nothing. He had more than enough to meet his needs, and the needs of others as well, yet he showed no compassion for Lazarus, the beggar, who he would have seen day after day, outside his gate.
     Jesus shared this parable in response to the sneering of the Pharisees, who loved money. Like the rich man in the story, they only cared about themselves, unwilling to reach out to meet the needs of the truly needy around them.
     Bring this up to the present time. How do we fit into this story as individuals today? How does the church fit in? Do we use our resources to reach out to others. Are we feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and imprisoned, clothing the naked? Are we going out with the gospel? The greatest need of man is to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, but are we keeping Him to ourselves?
     The Laodicean church was rich and self sufficient. They took great pride in their status. But God detests what man holds in high esteem. He was about to vomit them out of His mouth. They made Him sick!
     We as disciples are called to live lives of abandonment to self. Devotion to Christ means giving to the highest meaning of giving! Church is not about making sure everyone gets an easter basket. It is about making sure that the lost have a chance to experience the risen Christ, set free from the bondage of sin!
     What is important to you?

On Fire.

     Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
     Romans 12:10,11 NASB

     The Christian life as portrayed in the New Testament is a life poured out in love to others. We are called to seek the highest good of those around us. Included in this is witnessing, making disciples, our giving, meeting the needs of others, hospitality, forgiving, promoting peace, prayer, etc.
     We are to be diligent. This is a concept that is often overlooked. To be diligent is to make every effort to do what we have been called to do. Diligence is not half hearted. It means we throw ourselves entirely into what we are doing. The idea behind a fervent spirit is that of being white hot, on fire, consumed by our love for God and others. This is the opposite of an unwilling spirit that may make an effort, but with no heart. The Church at Ephesus was a hard working Church. Their accomplishments far exceed much of what we see in the modern Church today, yet they were rebuked for their lack of love (Rev 2:1-7).
     Many Christians begin only to burn out. The cares of life crowd in, discouragement, a critical spirit, can dampen our love and leave us frustrated with serving Christ. I believe discouragement is common among Christian workers, causing many to give up.
     Jesus told His disciples to be His witnesses, but He also told them to wait until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. The work that they were called to was impossible to be done by mere human effort. It is the work of the Holy Spirit, and can only be accomplished as we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us and work through us. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to be diligent. The same Spirit sets our spirits ablaze with a holy zeal that cannot be quenched as long as we stay yielded to His control.
     The individual filled with the Spirit of God will find that his heart is filled with love for others. He will find his prayers filled with a new life. He will bear witness of Christ with power, for it is not mere human words spoken, but words filled with the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
     This is the needful thing for the Church today, to leave human effort behind, and live and move in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing. We need the power to accomplish the job we are called to do. In view of what God has done for us, we must present ourselves completely to Him for His service (Romans 12:1). When He has all of us, we are filled with Him. He will not settle for half, three fourths, or even ninety nine percent. He demands all, body soul and spirit, to be used by Him and for Him. Do we have the right to give Him any less?
     Only when filled will we be able to live a life of diligent service to the Lord!
 

Living sacrifices.

      In sunday shool yesterday, we were discussing some of the individuals who God has used in mighty ways in times past. Men like the Wesleys, Finney, Smith Wigglesworth etc. The question was posed, " Why don't we see God moving like that in our churches today?" The same individual who posed it, answered it by asking " Is it because we have gotten so busy in our daily lives? Our days have become so cluttered with everything we get involved in." As she was commenting on this, I was reminded of what the Apostle Paul said to Timothy, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-he wants to please his commanding officer (2Tim 2:4 NIV). As born again individuals, we are in an army, God's army! We are to be about His business, advancing His kingdom, fighting the good fight in His name and strength! What these men had in common was this. They lived for God and God alone. Everything they did was for Him and His glory. Nothing else mattered to them, only that God would be exalted. It is said that Smith Wigglesworth read nothing but the Bible, and never talked about anything but spiritual things. Many would say that he was so heavenly minded that he was no earthly good, but take a look at what God did through him!
     The comment was made that if we truly chose to live for God and do everything for His glory, and in His name, it would change much of what we did, eliminating much of the clutter in our lives. This is what Paul urges in Romans 12:1, the giving of ourselves entirely to God and His service. This is the crucified life that Paul speaks of in Galatians 2:20. This surrendured life is where the power of God is found. We may not all be called to be a Finney, Moody, Wesley, or Wigglesworth, but we are all called to something in Christ Jesus! Let's get uncluttered!