It is natural for the average Christian to tell you that his or her life is totally surrendered to Christ, but is that really true?
The Scripture says we ought to see that which occurred in the lives of the children of Israel that was taken out of Egypt and understand that the same thing will happen to us if we take the path they took. Remember the purpose God took them out of Egypt was to inherit the land promised to them, Canaan. So we are saved from the world of sin (Egypt), to inherit the kingdom promised to us and this Christian walk for us is exactly what the walk through the wilderness was for the children of Israel. We might want to pay special attention then to the warning of Hebrews 4:1.
1 Cor 10:5
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
KJV
1 Cor 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
KJV
It is interesting to realize that if we are going to be honest, for most of us Christians; God has only a part of our lives there are some things that we hold on to and try to control on our own. That is in no way an indication that we are not genuinely born again. The apostle Peter in Matthew 16 was genuinely saved when he aligned himself with Satan rather than the things of God and Jesus had to reprimand him:
Matt 16:23
…..Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
KJV
God is not satisfied with just indwelling us, (as He does the moment we trusted Christ); but He wants to be the controller or our lives, He wants to shine His light through us, He wants to love His love through us. The way this happens is for us to completely surrender our lives to Him so He can give us His own; He doesn’t just want to be "a part" of our lives, He wants to be our very life itself:
Phil 1:20-21
………so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
KJV
God wants us to know and to experience His unconditional Love, not only for ourselves, but to pass on to others. He wants us to have His own supernatural Wisdom and discernment, so we can know when and how to love wisely. And He also wants us to have His supernatural Power and ability so we can live the Christian life as we are supposed to. In other words, God wants us to know and to intimately experience His own abundant Life.
However, it has to be our own choice to seek and to have this kind of life; until that time God will continue to be just “a part” of our lives. Quite often, because He loves us so much, He helps us along with our decisions by allowing situations into our lives that we, in our own strength, cannot handle or control. He cares for us too much to allow us to remain stagnant. He therefore, “corners” us, hoping that we will finally quit going our own way and choose to go His way. If some of His biddings are occurring in our lives, (I mean some of those that might not even be pleasant), it might be time to “let-go-and-let-God.” Remember the words of the prophet Ezekiel to the children of Israel?
Ezek 18:24-25
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
KJV
You don’t understand what God is allowing in your life? Often I don’t understand what He is doing in mine either and I am sure there are many others like us.
Isa 55:9
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
KJV
We just need to stop and ask the Lord to search our hearts and try us and see if there be any wicked ways in us; and cleanse us from every sin.
Heb 10:26-27, 31
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
KJV
1 Cor 10:5
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
KJV
1 Cor 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
KJV
It is interesting to realize that if we are going to be honest, for most of us Christians; God has only a part of our lives there are some things that we hold on to and try to control on our own. That is in no way an indication that we are not genuinely born again. The apostle Peter in Matthew 16 was genuinely saved when he aligned himself with Satan rather than the things of God and Jesus had to reprimand him:
Matt 16:23
…..Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
KJV
God is not satisfied with just indwelling us, (as He does the moment we trusted Christ); but He wants to be the controller or our lives, He wants to shine His light through us, He wants to love His love through us. The way this happens is for us to completely surrender our lives to Him so He can give us His own; He doesn’t just want to be "a part" of our lives, He wants to be our very life itself:
Phil 1:20-21
………so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
KJV
God wants us to know and to experience His unconditional Love, not only for ourselves, but to pass on to others. He wants us to have His own supernatural Wisdom and discernment, so we can know when and how to love wisely. And He also wants us to have His supernatural Power and ability so we can live the Christian life as we are supposed to. In other words, God wants us to know and to intimately experience His own abundant Life.
However, it has to be our own choice to seek and to have this kind of life; until that time God will continue to be just “a part” of our lives. Quite often, because He loves us so much, He helps us along with our decisions by allowing situations into our lives that we, in our own strength, cannot handle or control. He cares for us too much to allow us to remain stagnant. He therefore, “corners” us, hoping that we will finally quit going our own way and choose to go His way. If some of His biddings are occurring in our lives, (I mean some of those that might not even be pleasant), it might be time to “let-go-and-let-God.” Remember the words of the prophet Ezekiel to the children of Israel?
Ezek 18:24-25
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
KJV
You don’t understand what God is allowing in your life? Often I don’t understand what He is doing in mine either and I am sure there are many others like us.
Isa 55:9
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
KJV
We just need to stop and ask the Lord to search our hearts and try us and see if there be any wicked ways in us; and cleanse us from every sin.
Heb 10:26-27, 31
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
KJV
No comments:
Post a Comment