Impossible Beginning

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”-Luke 1:37

The events surrounding Jesus’s birth were unusual, to say the least.  His coming was met with wonderful works of God, fabulous miracles, and the gathering of distinct persons.  For with God nothing shall be impossible.  His birth is an example of this, and His life a constant affirmation of it.  The impossible beginning of His life brought about the impossible beginning of ours. 

Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  This question was posed by three wise men from the far east, searching for a little Jewish baby of the humblest beginnings. Consider how remarkable this is, as well as the preceding events.  First, Jesus’ cousin John was born of one barren, and filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. Then the virgin Mary that was pregnant with child as foretold by the angel Gabriel. Then Joseph, the faithful husband believed and willingly accepted the situation. Finally, his birth was most unconventional for a king.  A child of lowliness, and meekness; a child born in a manger; surrounded by the meek of the earth and the legions of heaven. God’s providence is apparent in every step of the wonderful event.  The birth of the “lamb of God” who would take away the sin of the world.  As I heard a preacher say recently: “Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, came into this world a lamb, but would leave as a Lion.”  His birth led to his life, which brought him to his death, and ultimately to his resurrection.  This child is our Savior. Who brought salvation down unto fallen man, paved the way and paid the price so that we could be delivered from sin.  It was the “impossible” birth of this child that would bring “impossible” life to so many.   Where is he that is born the King of the Jews?  He is sitting on the throne of the heart of the sanctified. He is on the right hand of the Father, reigning in power, and in the human heart; reigning in victory.   

For with God, nothing shall be impossible. When you think of the virgin birth, the holy angels, the bright star, and risen Christ.  Of all these wonderful and miraculous things, is it so hard to believe that God can save you from your sin? Can you not, with a measure of faith, take hold on the promises and accept the Messiah?  Believe that with God, nothing shall be impossible.  That Jesus is indeed your Savoir, and your impossible beginning. 

Abandon Safety

“But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.” Deuteronomy 17:16

God never intended for his people to be safe, he wanted his people to be His.  To depend on Him, to trust Him, and to love Him above all else.  A sanctified life is a life of hazardous faith, consistently met with abundant blessings (the kind that doesn’t show up on a balance sheet).  God calls us to love, give, and “go out.”  In doing so, we put our trust in him.  The ministry will always be met with risk.  You must leave off safety to gain “blessed assurance.”

Idols are born out of our carnal ideals, wants, and needs.  They deeply resonate with our humanity and reach far into our culture.  The idol of safety has been commoditized and marketed broadly.  We want to live in the safe neighborhood, drive the safe car, and get a good education so we can work to gain a safe and stable income; in hope to maintain our safety.  Consider this, if we spend our lives “getting horses” and striving to serve the false idol of safety, will we then reject the providence of God in our lives and lose out on the blessing that would have followed? Long before the prophet Samuel anointed King Saul, Moses prophesied of the day when the children of Israel would demand a temporal king.  They wanted a king because they wanted to be like the other nations.  The other nations had kings to govern them, provide for them, and protect them.  This was the agreement between the royal and his subjects.  You give the king your subjection and adoration, he gives you safety.  Moses told them, when you do this, when you reject God and set a king over you, make sure it is one of your brethren; and when he is king, he should not multiply horses (along with wives and gold) to himself.  In that day, horses were incredibly useful.  They were weapons of war, capital investments, and a mode of transportation.  The horse was quantifiable prosperity and security.  What would be considered in our day and age as a well-diversified portfolio.  The king with armies, horses, land, and gold, is one who is safe; and the people under such king are safe.  Furthermore, Moses told the people, don’t let the king cause the people to return to Egypt.  Egypt was no picnic for Israel, but at least it was familiar and familiar is safe.  Canaan land was not going to be safe, Canaan land is a land of unknown.  They were never to go back to Egypt; Egypt was not their home, it was not their promise, and though familiar, it was so much less than what God had in store for them in Canaan.  They had to trust God in Canaan land, they had to rely on God in Canaan land, and they had to believe God in Canaan land.  Therefore, the temptation to tangible safety was powerful.  They wanted to “see” their king, “see” his horses, “see” his chariots, and “see” his coffers full of silver and gold.  They wanted to “see” their safety.  They rejected God and opted for safety.  In doing so, they built up an idol that would eventually condemn them to captivity.  The people of God, of Almighty God, convinced they are threatened, weak, and in need of horses to protect them.  The devil does the same thing today.  He tells us we need all this “stuff” to keep us safe, and that our neighbor is a threat to our much-needed safety.  The reality is, our trust in “stuff” is the threat to our ultimate security, and our neighbor needs Jesus; just like we do.  Where would be if Jesus had said: “I better not preach, they might kill me.”    

Mission work is not safe, preaching the gospel is not safe, outreach is not safe, and serving the Lord is not safe.  Lusting for temporal safety will undermine evangelism.  The desire to protect the little bit you have, can cause you to lose everything.  Would you rather live for a king, or the King of Kings?  Would you rather serve an idol or the one true God?  Lord help us to be committed to Christ and not our own safety.          

On Christian Perfection

 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48

            In my opinion, Christian perfection is a widely misrepresenting portion of doctrine, when represented at all.  If misrepresented, then often misunderstood.  I myself have some reservation while writing this.  However, the Word will lead us right.  If this short discourse should fail you, go to God’s Word for yourself.  You will find, the promise in His word is that we can be perfect.  This promise is grounded in His Word, and therefore reinforced by His power.  There can be no deviation from what the Word says about perfection, otherwise it is not perfection; hence the word perfection.

            God wants your heart.  If you read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-8) you will find that Jesus speaks to issues deeper than the physical.  He calls for righteousness that goes deeper than just what your hand does, where your feet travel, and what your mouth speaks.  Jesus wants to reach down and change your intent, and your action.  Jesus begins His ministry with a sermon about the heart and ends his ministry with a sermon about the heart (John 14-17).  In this we find the battlefield for perfection, and the very thing God wishes to perfect.  It can be so easy to get wrapped up in this natural world.  Laboring and striving to perfect everything that we can see.  Striving towards a perfect home, perfect car, perfect appearance; perfect life.  This we will always fall short of, and even be tempted to fabricate.  Consider this, is God so concerned with perfection in this regard?  If your hair is too long or short, what does it matter on the scale of eternity?  If you have a little or a lot, what difference does it make to Him who has it all?  The promise of perfection is not for the outward man, but for the inward man.  Therefore, the perfection should not be sought for the outward man, but the inward man.  The perfection is in your heart; a perfect heart is a holy heart.  If I break my finger, my body is now less than perfect, but am I now condemned to hell because I am no longer perfect?  No.  There is no disobedience found in a broken finger.  Imperfection in God’s eyes is rooted in direct disobedience to God, or sin, and sin is rooted in carnality (the inbreed desire to sin against God).  Carnality is found in the heart of man, and it is that which needs to be eradicated by the Holy Ghost.  When the Holy Ghost comes in it will remove that want to sin and “sanctify” your heart to the service of God; manifesting in your life a “perfect” love for God, and a “perfect” love for man.  It is this love that brings: peace, joy, contentment, obedience, wisdom, and all the fullness and goodness of God; as John Wesley once wrote: “the doctrine of Christian Perfection can be summed up in one word, namely this, Love.” (Source: A Plain Account of Christian Perfection) This perfect love will produce a life that is intent on pleasing God, and not oneself.  A holy life.  Holiness is not a Catholic priest, or a secluded monk, holiness is the Spirit of God manifest in ordinary people.  It is that selfsame Spirit that purges the sinful heart and produces a holy heart, a perfect heart.  It is the power of God that brings perfection, not the will of man.  If we are to labor, it is to labor in the call to holiness.     

            God expects you to have a perfect heart, and he will help you get there.  When you repent of your sins and absolutely surrender yourself to Jesus Christ; repentance brings forgiveness, and surrender will beckon the fire of the Holy Ghost.  Inviting Jesus, in the person of the Holy Ghost, to come in and “take up his abode with you.”  By this very action God gives you a new heart that is conformed to the image of himself: holy, pure, clean……. perfect; and when he has your heart, he has you. 

A Beautiful Arrangement

“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they might also be sanctified through the truth.” – John 17:19

We all come into this world as sinners.  Sinners condemned before Almighty God.  Then by God’s grace, we find ourselves under conviction which hopefully leads to repentance.  Repentance deals with sins committed, but not the very thing that causes you to commit them.  To cleanse from all sin, you need to be sanctified.  

When you are born into this world, you are born with a desire to disobey God.  This desire has been passed down since the fall of Adam.  Every single human being is born into this world with this sinful (carnal) nature.  That carnal nature is too powerful for mankind to combat on his own.  This carnal nature will pull you towards sinful things.  “When lust has conceived it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.”  Like a fish on a hook, you are drawn away by something shiny and attractive, and once you decided to partake you are hooked.  This is the whole of sin that currently plagues mankind.  The desire, and the action.  If left alone it will destroy your life and send you to hell.  God did not intend for us to remain in sin.  He wanted to redeem us from all iniquity.  He wanted to bring us back to full fellowship with the Father.  Repentance cannot do this, only the blood of Christ can accomplish this when you are “baptized into His death” thereby resurrected unto new life, which will be witnessed to your heart by the Holy Ghost.  This Holy Ghost will now live within you as an eternal “keeping agent.”  One that is ever guiding and keeping you along the way of holiness.  If you heed the Spirit’s direction.  The way of holiness will be contrary to the way of sin, and as such, the way of self.  This is sanctification, and sanctification gets rid of that pesky carnal nature that drives you to sin.  It gives you the power to keep you from sin, it leads you down the “path of righteousness for His name sake”, and it purchases your ticket to a home in heaven.  It does not take you out of the world but it “keeps you from the evil of the world.”   When you are birthed into the experience of sanctification, all the clubs, bars, and booze don’t disappear, but the desire for the clubs, bars, and booze will disappear.  It changes what you don’t do, and it changes what you decide to do.  Your heart changes, therefore, your actions/reactions change.  When you’re sanctified, you still battle temptation without, but you do so with the power of Jesus Christ within!  Praise God!  He is glorified, you are sanctified, and the old man of sin lives within you no more.  It is a beautiful arrangement.

The blessing of sanctification was purchased with the blood of Christ.  It pains me when I hear preaching that says the blood covers all sin, and that we can sin, and sin, and sin again because Jesus blood covers.  Not only does it cheapen His holy sacrifice, but it promotes sin.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of holiness, of righteousness, and godliness.  It is “Christ in you the hope of glory”.  While you seek it, remember Jesus died for it.  While you preach it, remember, Jesus died for it.  While you live it, remember, Jesus died for it.  He sanctified himself, so that we could be sanctified.  That we might be sanctified.    

Lead by His Doctrine

“For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.” – Proverbs 4:2

Today, we have more information available to us than ever before.  A simple search in a Google search bar can produce millions of results instantaneously.  However, just because you get a million hits, that doesn’t mean you have a million right answers.  The ability to educate ourselves, doesn’t negate humanity's desire to deceive, and even with the world's information at our fingertips, we are still plagued with the question: “which way do I go now?”  With so many willing to take advantage of those searching for an answer to that question, it can be difficult to trust. That said, at some point, you have to trust, something. The question then becomes, what or whom do you trust?  Who do you look to to lead you? 

We all believe in something, the question is not if you believe, but what do you believe in?  If you don’t believe in eating meat, odds are good you will not become a butcher. If you don’t believe in diet and exercise, you will probably get fat.  If you believe money can buy happiness, you will probably be rich, or at least try to be. When Jesus said “I came not to bring peace but a sword.” He understood and was helping us to understand that His doctrine would divide humanity; because what we believe defines us.  If we believe in Jesus we will follow Jesus. If we follow Jesus, it will change our life. It will direct us to do, and not do, certain things. When you really believe in Jesus Christ, it will fundamentally change who you are. Jesus Christ gives us good doctrine. His message and teachings are for our benefit and the benefit of others.  The doctrine is true and perfect. Jesus does not need lawyers, but witnesses. Of the things we could believe and trust in, Christ is calling us to Himself. To take up our cross and follow Him. To embrace Jesus, believe the gospel, walking each day as a witness to the goodness of his doctrine. Jesus Christ proves himself in the believer, and the believer will glorify the Father.  “It is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps but the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.”  His doctrine is good, it is good for you, it is good for me, and it is good for mankind.  The goodness of His doctrine is derived from the goodness of God; and “God is love.” When you believe in Jesus and make him Lord of your life you are believing in love, you are championing love.  A real, genuine, self-sacrificing, life changing, all inspiring love that only Christ can offer. A complete and perfect love that is the birth right of all mankind. This has been offered to us and we are the ones who are to profit from believing this good doctrine and forsaking not the law of God.  The Christian life is a blessed life; a life of love. This is the good doctrine, a doctrine worth believing, worth following, worth living. A doctrine that will glorify the Father. 

Are you searching for answers?  Are you longing for direction in your life?  Taste and see that the Lord is good.  He is real, and he can be a powerful sustaining influence in your life.  Let HIm in, repent and believe the gospel. Christ will lead, guide, and direct your life.     

Display of Devotion

“And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.” 2 Samuel 19:24

Jesus is the Savior of the world.  Whether we choose to accept that or not, it is and always will be true.  He is the King of king’s and Lord of lords.  Christ’s rightful throne is the human heart.  When we serve Satan and ourselves, it is an insurgence against the risen king.  If you are not in fellowship with Christ and have not experience deliverance from sin.  It can be difficult to have or develop any devotion towards him.  However, if you have been saved from sin, and sanctified holy.  That love of the Savior reigning within drives the devotion.

Mephibosheth is one of those people in the Bible where you won’t find him unless you look for him.  Most likely, not many Sunday sermons or Bible lessons will be centered around Mephibosheth.  The son of Johnathan and grandson of Saul.  He was lame on his feet, and therefore without ability to provide for himself.  King David sought him out to do kindness to the household of Saul for Johnathan’s sake.  In mercy, David adopted Mephibosheth like a son.  When David’s own son Absalom, conspired against David and took the throne; David had to flee for his life.  Mephibosheth could not follow because of his condition and his unfaithful servant.  Therefore, he was left in the presence of Absalom.  David would eventually destroy Absalom and regain the kingdom.  Leaving Mephibosheth in an awkward position.  However, Mephibosheth’s love and devotion to the king was proven upon David’s return.  Mephibosheth had neither dressed, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes.  The king’s absence was so troubling to him that it was like his entire life was put on hold.  Even the little things, like daily hygiene, became secondary.  Mephibosheth’s display of devotion was apparent.  His love for king David, and his devotion to the king defied reason and logic.  It caused hazard to his life, and he potentially faced ridicule or even death.  Should Absalom had ever connected Mephibosheth’s devotion to the absent king it was likely he could have lost his life.  None of this mattered, he was so troubled by the absence of the king, that he gave himself over to his devotion.  Mourning the loss of the rightful king.  His love for a king that he was still in allegiance too, even though the king was no longer there in body was displayed in his actions.  The whole country was for Absalom, save one. 

Jesus is the Savior.  Weather we accept him or not; he is the Savior.  His rightful place is on the throne of our heart.  When we reject Him, we displace him, and the end for us is destruction.  However, we when confess, forsake, and invite Him into our hearts; he pours out his love.  The saving grace cements a love and devotion in our hearts.  This love drives our every display of devotion.  Reading his Word, praying to him, worshipping in church, giving to the poor, helping our neighbor, loving our enemy, denying ourselves, etc.  Our love for him is what drives us forward.  Our equilibrium of existence is tied to our Savior King.

Do you have anything to declare?

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” -Romans 3:26

Upon entering the United States, you will likely hear a customs officer ask you, “Do you have anything to declare?”  The question is presented because the agent wants to know what you are bringing back into the States.  They want to be made aware of what you potentially could be presenting to this country.  Which makes you think, “do I have anything to declare?” 

Every day, most of us go through a similar routine.  We wake up, get dress, probably drink some coffee, eat breakfast, and leave our homes to go out and do whatever we do.  For some, it is work.  For others it is school.  There may be those who don’t leave the house and work from home.  Those whose work is in the home.  No matter what you do, or where you go; every day when you get up you take that first faithful step to meet the world.  From that moment forward, the day is beckoning to you: “Do you have anything to declare?”  As we live our lives, we are making a declaration.  It may be in the workplace, in school, in your home, or all the above.  Your life is a declaration to this world and a reflection of what you believe.  The Christians were first called Christians at Antioch.  In Antioch they first where verbally recognized as being “Christ-like”.  The way they lived, and the gospel they preached was a declaration of Christ.  They were declaring a Jesus Christ that was a declaration of righteousness.  He lived and died the first sinless, spotless, righteous man; living a righteous life.  He was the manifestation of the law of righteousness to the world.  God incarnate, presenting holiness to mankind.  Then he gave himself up a sacrifice so that we might have the opportunity to be the same declaration of righteousness.  When you become sanctified, your sanctified life is a declaration of righteousness.  A Christian life is a life of righteousness.  What we do is our declaration to the world, and what we believe effects what we do.  If you are living in sin and doing sinful things; your declaration is not righteousness.  I marvel sometimes at the amount of preaching that is directed to the betterment of the person, but totally ignores the condition of sin.  When sin is the very thing that Jesus died to eradicate.  He wanted us to be a declaration of His righteousness.  He became the justifier so that we could be justified.  So that we could be transformed into a living declaration of His righteousness.  Having our conversation honest before all men, living in perfect love toward God and our fellow man.  Showing righteousness every day to the lost and dying world through the power of the Holy Ghost dwelling within. 

Every day you when you wake up and leave you place of rest, ask yourself: do you have anything to declare?  My prayer is that the answer is: “Yes, the righteousness of Christ.” 

A Good Meal

“So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.” 1 Samuel 25:35

Never underestimate the power of a good meal.  When we eat, we congregate, share stories, learn, engage, and bond around mealtime.  How many a child have turned into adolescents over a birthday dinner?  How many sermons discussed over Sunday afternoon fried chicken?  The table and the food that is furnished is grafted into the fabric of our daily lives.  There is such profit found in simply gathering around the kitchen table.  Stripping away all the distractions of life, to simply stop and fellowship. 

            In the 25th chapter of Samuel, the would-be king David crosses pass with a foolish man (quite literally) named Nabal.  Nabal disrespects David in a big way.  Nabal was foolish by all accounts, but thankfully his wife Abigail was not.  She recognized the authority that David held, not simply because he was David the warrior, but rather because he was David the anointed King.  In faith she saw the Lords anointed reigning on the throne and knew that to cross him was to cross God.  Knowing that David was hungry and needed food, her immediate response was to gather up a big feast for him and his men and run to meet them.  Meet them before he came to seek vengeance on all that was in her house.  What she brought to the table and the way she brought it pleased David, stopped him in his tracks and he heard her counsel.  This caused David to refrain himself from doing something that he might regret later.  Who’s to say that the same would have transpired if she had brought nothing, but the reality is, a good meal granted her audience with the future king, and gave opportunity for counsel, guidance, and a moment to minister.  There is no virtue in food, like all things in this world, it is temporal.  However, as with many things in this world, it can be used as a resource for ministry.  Growing up, we ate home cooked meals almost every night.  Day after day I watched my mother prepare, cook, and serve us.  It took work, sacrifice, and dedication.  When the table was set, we would all stop what we were doing to gather around the table.  Then, we said the blessing.  Day after day, week after week, year after year; we thanked God as a family for what we had.  We discussed what had been, what was, and prepared for what was to come; as a family.  I can still remember saying my Sunday school verse on Sunday afternoon at the kitchen table, I can remember discussing the Sunday sermon, I can remember watching my Dad ignore phone calls from work.  As a child, dinner time was just dinner time.  Now looking back, I realize that dinner time was so much.  It is a class room, a sanctuary, and a pillar of my childhood.  The opportunity to minister.  The battle for America is not in the White House, it is in your house.  We can gain the audience of those we want to reach, and we have the tools to do it with.  However, how often is this opportunity squandered?  Our time gradually eroded with frivolous things.  Is Monday night football really that important?  That notification pinging through on your iPhone; can’t it wait?  Do you have to check Facebook, now?   It is foolish to live in an affront to God, and do we not offend Him when we give so much of this precious time that he has lent to us, to something in this world that means so little?  Dinnertime taught us the value of fellowship.  It afforded us time to gather and hear counsel. 

The world can only have as much influence in our homes as we allow.  You can invite a multitude of distractions and diversions into your home.  Or you can encourage a culture of togetherness centered on Jesus.  You may not be a cook, but you can take the time to fellowship, and hear counsel.  In the end, that is what makes a good meal.  

The Greatest Friend

Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 1 Samuel 28:16

The scripture tells that: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) The proud and haughty exalt themselves.  Eventually, making an idol of themselves or unto themselves. In the desire to be lord of your life, you reject the Lord of your life.  Furthermore, it makes God your enemy, because God doesn't just want to be Lord of your life, he must be.

King Saul was anointed by Samuel to be the king over God’s people.  The people wanted a king, because they wanted to be like the other nations.  Saul became this chosen king, and when he was made king, he was little in his own sight.  However, as time passed, his heart was exalted, and he sinned against God.  He sinned by disobeying a commandment of God, taking for himself the best of (what he no doubt saw as) the spoils of a battle he won.  To make it worse, his covetousness, and disobedience was shrouded in feign sacrifice.  This action not only proved his arrogance, but it ultimately led to His loss of: kingship, country, and life.  This loss came because the Lord had departed from Him and become his enemy.   Saul had exalted himself into the place of God, thereby making God his enemy.  Consequently, driving all the would-be goodness of God away from him.  Satan is the enemy of our souls regardless of our choices or actions.  He is always looking to destroy you.  God is not that way.  God loves you, he sent is Son to die for you, and the Holy Ghost descends to bring salvation to you.  That said, if we refuse and rebel.  If we intentionally choose to idolize ourselves over Him; willfully performing evil in our lives, he will depart and become our enemy.  King Saul is a testament to the fact that though you have the worlds riches, you can be spiritually, morally, and psychologically bankrupt.  You cannot hope to fight against God, and win.  There is no rebellion like carnal rebellion, and no victory like the victory over all sin.  A man or woman must come to the end of themselves, realize their internal poverty and recognize they are against God.  When they do this, and yield to the Lord, then he can save.  Then you have the creator of the universe on the throne of your heart, guiding your life.  That turning point in a person's life is a beautiful thing to witness.  The moment when they realize that they are God’s enemy, and they consequently desire to be His friend.  It is a glorious moment, and the witnessing of it is the addiction of the evangelist.  

God not only wants to be on the throne of your heart, he must be.  It is his rightful place.  The choice to reject him is a choice that was vouchsafed to you while here on earth.  Once gone from here, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess, and everyone will receive the reward for their decision.  A proud man might say you are forced to serve Him to escape hell.  A humble man would say you get to serve Him to gain heaven.  To gain the greatest Friend.     

Jesus Is Enough

 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 

“Jesus is enough.”  A simple message that was posted on a local church sign not far from our home.  As a habitual sign reader, I can honestly say that they all come and go in passing, and rarely does a message ever stick.  However, this one was different.  I have been meditating on the message “Jesus is enough” for days upon days.  How contrary this ideal is to the message of the world.  How liberating it is to the worrying, and anxious Christian.  How powerful to the church.  Jesus is enough. 

We live in a culture where the word “enough” is not something you hear very often.  Our culture of consumption is ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.  They are ever consuming, but never full.  They ever searching, but never finding.  They are ever experiencing, but never settled.  A message, any message, is continually being broadcasted to everyone and everybody, but rarely do you hear anything about “enough”.  The idea that something is enough is completely lost.   So, it is no wonder that we would expect Jesus to be enough.  Though he is enough.  He is enough on a personal level, and he is enough on a collective level.  He is enough to save the individual, and he is enough to save the society.  The message of Jesus Christ is powerful enough.  Strong enough.  Bold enough.  Captivating enough.  It is enough to meet any and all needs.  The presence of Jesus Christ is satisfying, liberating, challenging and complete.  Jesus needs no subtraction or addition.  It can be a careful thing not to fall into the trap of performing either.  We are tempted to assume that by shrinking from the full weight of preaching the gospel, one would find it easier for the hearer to obtain the gospel.  “Don't scare people off.” Some would exhort.  Jesus is enough.  He will do the work and call the sinner up to the experience of holiness, don’t try to lower the experience of holiness to the sinner.  How dare we pervert the gospel that Christ died for?  Who are we to doubt Jesus?  Satan would have us think: “But what if the gospel is too plain?  What if it is too dull?  Too ridged for our modern minds?”  He would lead us to believe that we must dress it up with glitz and glamour.  We must adorn it with the trimmings of this world that we love so much.  Again, Jesus is enough.  The presence and power of Christ is enough to draw, convict, and captivate.  All we need is Jesus!  Jesus dwelling on the inside is forever sufficient.  There are so many shortcomings in my life (and most likely in yours).  It seems at times that there is never enough.  Enough time, enough talent, enough energy, enough money.  Stress and anxiety seem to occur when the challenges of the day are greater than the ability to perform them.  Therefore, so many people want money, because they believe that it can make up for that difference.  However, money is not enough, or willpower, or human ingenuity.  Jesus is enough.  He is meet for every situation, in every era, for every generation.  Jesus is enough.  He will be what you cannot be and keep what you cannot keep.  I don't need to worry, Jesus is enough. 

The joy of living a sanctified life is, yes, the knowledge that you are free from sin and headed for a home in heaven.  However, it is also the confidence that Jesus is enough.  His Spirit witness to your Spirit that you are a child of God, and he is a Good Father to you.  He will prove himself enough in your life, time and time again.  It is not mandatory that you understand this, only that you trust that Jesus is enough. 

His Plan vs. Our Plan

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” -Proverbs 3:5-6

There is no might, no power, and no force greater than Almighty God.  He is force, he is might, he is power.  He is almighty, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.  This is the God that wants to direct your life.  For His glory, and for your good. 

Trust is not a natural inclination to those of us who have our own understanding.  When we are young, we trust implicitly.  We believe everything, and we have no issue trusting in the authority figure.  As we grow and our understanding evolves, we drift away from trusting in others and embrace trusting in ourselves.  We want to, and are even encouraged to, direct our own paths.  We want to guide our own feet and plot our own course.  By our perception the same amount of risk exists in trusting in our plan, as it would trusting in God’s plan, yet we trend towards “our plan” simply because it is “our plan.”  Our plan is calculated, our plan is relegated, our plan is “our plan.”  God’s plan is not ours, and because it is not ours, we not only have to trust Him for the future, but we must believe Him for direction.  Rather than choosing the direction ourselves.  The devil uses our drive to execute “our plan” against us.  He uses it to ensnare and ensure our own destruction.  He does this by pitting us against God.  He deceives us into thinking that God’s way is unreasonable, unfair, and sometimes down right insane.  Admittedly, at times, it may seem so.  It was unreasonable for Abraham to offer his promised son.  It was unfair for Joseph to keep trusting and believing after he had been enslaved, wrongly accused, and thrown in jail.  It was insane for David to challenge Goliath.  However, if it was obvious, it wouldn't be faith, if it was apparent there wouldn't be trust.   He might tell us to quit the job we want and live in the house we don't.  To leave a place of plenty and live in a place of want.  He will call you to sacrifice, to obey.  There will be times when trusting in His plan will put you in direct contrast with your plan.  However, His plan is far greater and more perfect than what you could ever come up with yourself.  We cannot see the result, he can.  We cannot know the dangers ahead, he can.  Jesus said, “I do always the will of my Father.”  Therefore, a life lived for ourselves is not a Christian life.  It is not a sanctified life.

His direction will not always be your direction (in fact it seldom, if ever, is).  It will take you places you never thought you would go and lead you away from things you never thought you would part with.  Trusting in God will require sacrifice and obedience, but in that, and because of that, it will bring, and keep, the presence and power of God into your life. 

Dead to Sin

“What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” – Romans 6:1-2

Death brings finality.  When our physical body dies, it no longer responds to this world.  All our possessions, wealth, whatever we cared for or had cared over, is no longer our concern.  We are forever separated from this world, and the world from us.  How can one dead, live any longer in this world?  They cannot.  The same is true in the spiritual, if we are dead to sin, we cannot live in sin.     

Mankind is plagued by sin, awful, wretched sin.  From the drunkard in the ditch, to the king in the castle; anyone who has sin within finds themselves in an awful shape before Almighty God.  They are standing condemned under the penalty of sin, and captive to the destruction that comes from sin.  There is nothing that this world can offer that can deliver from this condition.  Furthermore, there is no salvation to be found from this world (that doesn't stop us from looking).  Jesus Christ came, died, and rose again so that he might pave the way for us to be delivered from our sins.  Not in our sins, but from our sins.  To find deliverance we must travel the same road he did.  We must drink from the same cup and be baptized with the same baptism.  We must put ourselves on the cross, die the death, and be resurrected into newness of life.  Therefore, the only way to find deliverance is through death.  This death to sin is not physical, but spiritual.  It’s a crisis experience in which the spirit of man yields the entirety of himself (or herself) over to an Almighty God.  Everything. You. Are.  It is given as a sacrifice to God.  When the Jews brought a sacrifice to the high priest, they killed it, offered it, and burned it on the altar.  So, we must do the same, give up and give it all to God.  It can be a hard thing for a man to die this death. To come to the end of yourself, and all that you are.  However, this is the way out of sin.  All that you are must be brought and sacrificed on the altar; never to be revived again.  Once that happens, once you die the death; then you are raised again into newness of life.  This new life is witnessed by the Holy Spirit and provision for life is given by that same Holy Spirit.  The power to live holy, given through the Holy Spirit.  A Holy Spirit makes a holy heart, which produces a holy life.  A life free from sin.  To continue living in sin, and under the influence of sinful things is to continue living short of the fullness of the promise of God.  Sin binds us to this world.  It binds us to Satan.  It binds us to every unholy, unrighteous and hateful thing in this world.  The carnal nature within produces carnal acts without.  When you are dead to it, you no longer respond to it.  The carnal attractions don't entice.  The worldly amusements cease to amuse.  Pride, vanity, lust, envy, and greed; these are no longer your chief motivators.  Safety and security no longer your foundation.  Pleasure and comfort your continual pursuit.  You love not the world, nor the things in the world, because the love of the Father has captivated your very being, and your alive in Him; dead to sin.         

Jesus provided a way out and that way is through death.  If you have never experienced the power and peace in living holy; you can.  Christ is calling, wooing, and sending this glorious gospel message of holiness.  Would heed the call?  Would you break with the world?  Would you die to sin?  Would you live holy?

Open Vision

“And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.” - 1 Samuel 3:1 

When something is precious to you; it holds great value in your life.  It is something that is not to be wasted or treated carelessly.  What is precious is not easily replaced or discarded.  Furthermore, it is something you hold very dear, guard very closely, because it is rare.  The Word of the Lord was precious in those days, and there was no open vision. 

Samuel was a child lent to the Lord by His mother Hannah.  She has made a covenant with God that if he would give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord.  This child was precious to Hannah, her first born son.  When God kept his end of the covenant, Hannah also kept her end.  Samuel was placed under the care of the priest Eli.  Eli was a priest after God, but his sons were not.  They were wicked and perverted the office of the Lord.  This is the climate in which the child Samuel finds himself.  Ministering to the Lord around hypocrites, as well as godly men.  The scripture in the book of first Samuel does not go into detail as to why there was no open vision.  However, we understand through hindsight that the Holy Ghost can be grieved.  The Holy Ghost presence in your life is a precious thing, and it can be a rare thing, when you don't view the Holy Ghost precious in your life.  When you waste the instruction by following your own way.  When you take no care for the preaching, teaching, and unction of the Spirit.  When you fill your time and head-space with things of this world.  It can grieve that precious Holy Spirit and the visions, direction, and unction from God become closed.  When God called Samuel, there was no open vision, communication between God's people and God was scarce.  God chose to reach out, to call his name, to give instruction, and to bring a prophet to Israel once again.  To hear the voice of God and receive instruction from Him is a very precious thing.  It is not something that will be seen by man, it is not something that will be regarding by the mighty, but to be in communication with God the Father is a blessing incalculable, and indescribable.  To have the Word of the Lord is a wonderful thing.  When you live and walk in step with the Holy Ghost, obeying His Word, it invites the continuing counsel of the Holy Ghost.  He may call you to lay aside something, leave off something, and take up your cross.  It may seem like a sacrifice, but when you regard the Word precious in your life, the visions open and you begin to see what others cannot; find fellowship where others will not.  The Word of the Lord is precious to you, which creates open vision, and allows you to be a vessel for God. 

Samuel the child new nothing about the call of God.  It took the elder Eli to counsel him to answer, and Samuel responded with “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.”  This is the answer of someone who holds the Word of the Lord precious, that invites open vision.  Samuel would go on to be a great prophet of the Lord; he and God would have many conversations.  He would never own great wealth, or command mighty armies, but he would know God and be known of God.  In the end, that is all that matters.

Where is your Citizenship?

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” – Hebrews 11:13

 Citizenship in America, even today, is still a highly sought after.  If not born to a US citizen or married to one, the application process to become a legal American citizen can take anywhere from six months to a year; sometimes even longer.  A citizen of this country must abide by the laws and statues of this Nation.  Further, most will find themselves assimilating and gravitating towards the customs and traditions that make America, America.  Typically, if and American citizen got on a plane headed to some far away land, the moment you stepped off that plane it would be evident that you were not from that country.  You can tell that just by looking at you; you are not a citizen, you are a stranger, a pilgrim; you don’t belong there.

To be a Christian is to be a citizen of God’s country, and we are made a citizen not by birth of man, but by the spiritual birth through the power of the Holy Ghost.  Furthermore, if we are a citizen of God’s country then by default we cannot be a citizen of the world (as defined in 1 John 2:16).  The converse is also true; if you claim to be a citizen of the world then you cannot be a citizen of God’s country.  There is no dual citizenship in God’s kingdom, you are either known there and a stranger here; or you are known here and a stranger there.  This is Biblical truth, so the question then becomes, where do you call home?  Where is your citizenship?  If you know that you have not been born again, and affirm that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, then no doubt you are a citizen of the world.  Do not despair, for we were once all in this state and by repenting of your sins and inviting the Holy Ghost to come and lead your life; you can be born again and become a citizen of God’s country.  What then for those of us who currently claim they are Christians?  We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we let them slip (Heb 2:1).  What we say and what we do can often be two very different things.  Cain hated his brother Abel and slew him.  The righteousness of Abel’s heart was fleshed out in the works that he did; and the unrighteousness of Cain’s heart was fleshed out in the works that he did.  Where your citizenship is, is not determined by lip service, but by heart service.  Take for example military personal that are called to serve in a foreign country.  You will find that there is certain things they avoid.  They don’t not buy homes, they typically don’t marry into that country, they don’t willingly assimilate into the culture, they don’t invest a lot of time in gaining the things that the citizens of that country hold dear…….Why is this?   Simply because that’s not where their heart is, that’s not where their allegiance is, and they don’t plan to stay very long.  US soldiers don’t want to live aboard; they want to come home!  One of the devils strongest temptations is right along these lines.  He wants Christian’s to believe that this world is our home.  He wants us to get acclimated, plan to stay awhile, build up OUR kingdom, and forget about God’s.  He wants us to live in houses that are more shelter than we need, drive cars that we can’t afford, work, work, work, and buy, buy, buy.  Tempting us to a “better” lifestyle that takes more time and effort to maintain.  Tempting us, wooing us, into loving this world and forgetting about the one to come.

The lie that we belong here is constantly being sown into our lives.  When in reality, if we are truly children of God we will never feel at home in this world, nor endeavor to be at home; we will remain pilgrims.  We must remain pilgrims here, if we seek a home up there.