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Men whom God uses in revival have always been men who maintained a close walk with God and longed for a holy life. It was Robert M’Cheyne who, so greatly used by God in Dundee in 1839, had prayed from his heart, ‘Lord make me as holy as a saved sinner can be.’ The evidence of the sincerity in this prayer is seen in the fact that people would be moved to tears just by seeing him in the pulpit or walking down the corridor of the church. ~ Brian Edwards
* i’m always interested in Robert M’Cheyne as i use his bible reading plan on youversion and have for a number of years now…
Jesus is our model.
As He lived, so we should live.
As He was obedient, so we should be obedient.
As He prayed, so we should pray.
As He loved, so we should love.
He has called us to follow Him, just as He called His disciples to come follow Him and learn ministry.
Jesus sets the example of what it is to know the Father, love the Father and serve the Father.
He sets the example of how we should relate to one another – love, service, truth, compassion.
He is our model.
He demonstrates what normal Christianity is – knowing God and making Him known.
there’s a popular movement with some real cred – WWJD – its a good question to ask – what would Jesus do? how would Jesus relate to that person? how would Jesus show love? what would Jesus say in this situation? what would Jesus do next? would Jesus do that? what wouldn’t Jesus do? you get the picture…
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7
And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 peter 2:21
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 john 2:6
The one who says he belongs to Christ should live the same kind of life Christ lived. 1 John 2:6 NL
So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." John 8:28-29
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29
THE BIG QUESTION:
what are the most significant things that jesus said and did that personally impacted you?
what about jesus’ life challenges you the most?
Its good to, at the start of a year, examine ourselves – who we are, what we are doing, where we are going, how we are doing – are we pleasing God – are there things we need to repent of and change – have we drifted away – are we drawing closer – are we called to do new things – are we being obedient?
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5
Why is it important to examine ourselves?
Because we are not living for ourselves. We are not our own. We were brought with a price. And the life we live now we live by faith in Jesus Christ.
In John 15 Jesus tells us to abide in Him, to remain in Him, to stay connected with Him. He is the vine and we are the branches and apart from Him we can bear no good fruit or do no good thing and those that leave Him and separate themselves from Him and unremain wither and die.
Lets look at john 15 a bit more…
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
Lets put it another way.
1 samuel 6 has a really interesting passage about the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. The Ark had been captured by the Philistines in a battle and they displayed it in their temple… their false god statue fell down and broke demonstrating the supremeacy of God and then the people got sick and all these things happened that they discerned as the unfavour and displeasure of God! So they determined to send the cart back to Israel. They consulted their false priests and pysics about how to transport it…
When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD ? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”
The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?
“Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance.”
So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
So okay. What does that have to do with examining yourself – and the word I’ve been throwing around on facebook – CONSECRATION?
A new cart might look good.
It might be clean and brand spanking new.
It might look good on the surface.
But it sure isn’t the way God commanded the Ark to be carried and transported.
It it isn’t following God’s ways then a new cart just doesn’t cut it. It doesn’t make the grade or impress God.
If you flick over to 2 Samuel 6 you see the new cart syndrome again…
We don’t want to have lives that are like a new cart. Might look good on the outside but when you examine the heart – it falls way short.
Our lives need to be lining up with what God says in His Word and obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will not contradict His Word. That is an impossibility.
If we flick back to look at john 15 – and just a tad before that in john 14 we see something black and white.
Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. John 14:23
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. John 14:24
If you love Jesus you will obey what He commands, in the Word and to you specifically through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What is your conscience saying about how you are living your life?
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:7-14
If you are not being obedient to God Jesus is pointing out that your love aint fresh and real. If you’re not being obedient to God then you are sinning and being disobedient.
You wont make it on a new cart.
Don’t settle for second best. Don’t sell yourself short. Don’t give up.
I was watching survivor the other night (groans!) and saw this analogy that so fitted.
Its like making friends with a snake. The snake says “come and play with me.” The boy says “I don’t want to be bitten”. “I wont bite you” says the snake. The boy and the snake play. The snake bites the boy. “What did you do that for???” says the boy! “I’m a snake, its what I do.” Replies the snake.
Disobedience will bite you like a snake. You can flirt with it and flirt with a compromising lifestyle but it will bite you.
We are only satisfied and fulfilled when we are living authentically connected with God. He guides us and cares for us. He is knowable. Not far off and indifferent. He has a plan for your life. He desires to work in you and through you. He will do awesome things through lives that are consecrated to Him.
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:20-22
we shouldn’t want to be part of a generation that is settling for new carts and a small buzz. Knowing God is awesome. Encountering God is incredible. God is the same today as He was yesterday. And He will be tomorrow. All throughout the bible there is record of how people consecrated themselves to meet with God.
Exodus 19 – when God appeared to the Israelites at Mt Sinai they had to consecrate themselves.
The priests had to consecrate themselves for ministry and service.
Ezra prayed and fasted. Nehemiah was a man of prayer. Esther called the nation into prayer and fasting. Elijah consecrated himself. Isaiah was consecrated by the angel with the coal.
Examine yourself.
Are you living to please God or please yourself?
Are there things you need to change?
Things God has revealed to you to put into action that you haven’t yet.
Character issues that He is prodding and pruning away at.
If you’re not remaining in Him you’re not walking with Him.
As Christians we are redeemed and saved and made new and clean and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness and sin. Our spirits are made new and alive when we are born again. But if we love Him, we will obey Him. The Holy Spirit leads us into outworked salvation. Show me your faith by your actions and obedience. 1 John says it plain as black and white, if you are a child of God you have stopped sinning. You resist sin. Romans 8, you resist the flesh, you deny the flesh, you desire to be obedient and you put boundaries in your life to enable you to do that. You make the CHOICE to obey. You repent of your sin and your change your life to stop doing it. You consecrate yourself.
The good news is that we can make a change right now. That we can pray and seek God and reconsecrate ourselves. That we can repent and change.
this is the first message i preached at housegroup last year. its good to look back and see what God has done, but i feel this message is still relevant at the start of this year… so reposting…
tonight we’re going to put some sakes in the ground… we’re going to declare who God is and who we are in response to Him and His call and His Kingdom and His purposes.
We’re called to know God and make Him known – not just ABOUT Him but we’re called to walk in relationship and intimacy with Him – this is our call and our position as children of God, to be connected to their Father. we are called to be friends of God. This is our supernatural relatity.
The stake in the ground is that we’re called to be throne room people – not strangers, or infrequent visitors.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Our lives are ment to be supernatural – its ment to be our reality not an oddity. God is real – and we can know Him. Thats real. Thats the promise. We walk through our lives with Him.
We’re called to know His love and to let that radically change who we are and how we respond to God and how we respond to temptation and the world and how we then demonstrate the love and grace of God to others around us. Love motivates us. it sets us free. it transforms us. it strengthens us. it compells us. it ignites us. The stake in the ground is that He loved us first and we respond to His love!
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 john 3:1
we’re called to be different – to not be like the world but to be like the Kingdom we belong to – the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
The stake in the ground is that we will be a holy clean generation – we will change and be transformed and renewed and we will deny our flesh and repent for sin and face temptation and resist the flesh and the devil and submit to God. We will throw off everything that entangles us, we will not flirt with sin or hang out on the fence or the endges of the narrow road. We will be holy and righteous and clean and all the things God has made a reality on the inside we will make it a reality in how we live our lives. the good thing is that we dont even do that on our own, we make a choice, many choices, and we stand up on the inside – but it is God that empowers holiness, and that gives us discernment and everything we need – everything we need to follow Him and fulfill the call!
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
We are called to ascend and dwell – to know God, to be face to face friends. To know His will and His voice and His ways and His promises (remember Romans 12:2 – as we have our mind renewed we will grow in knowledge and understanding and discernment of His ways and will). We are called to be a generation that seek Him.
Psalm 24
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Selah
Psalm 15
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.
It begins by knowing His love for us. Knowing how great He is. in the throne room encountering Him. at the foot of the cross encountering Him. in His prseence encountering Him. in His Word encountering Him.
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart… Psalm 24
“There is a cost, but when you are in love with God, it seems like no cost at all.” -Damon Thompson
And for our own lives – our own future and blessing – psalm 24:5 says He will recieve blessing from the Lord and vindication from God our Saviour. Isnt that what we all really want – a life approved and blest by God, a life that gets His gold star and well done. A life lived to the will of God is blest and a blest life is a happy at peace in the inside life. And we will see Him, dwell in His holy place! what more can we want!
There is a broken world out there and the plan isnt for God to click His fingers and make it better but to use us – HIS BODY HERE ON EARTH – His followers, His disciples, His amabassadors, His witnesses, His children, His believers.
This is the anthem of our generation! Here we are God – Shake our nation! All we need is your love, You captivate me (The Anthem, Jake Hamilton)
The plan is this, the stake is this: That God has for such a time as this designed and appointed you. He has saved you and called you. For such a time as this.
So – some prac’s – some how to – some life apps:
1. pray and ask for fresh love from God and to God – stay close to Him – first love
2. TIME – spend time in prayer and in the Word. read the Bible regular, every day if possible.
3. man up and repent and live intentionally thinking about what you do/think/say etc cleanness wise – find someone to talk to and be accountable. deal to the habbitual sin that needs to be dealt to.
4. Never gaze at something that does not belong in your future. bill johnson – ask for sense of destiny and God given purpose that ignites your heart and fix your eyes upon Jesus and the prize – get a vision
5. obey. be radical. step out in faith. nike it.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…. Hebrews 12:1-2
As Christians we ARE called to holy living.
God blesses holy living.
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
At the start of this year, our first message of housegroup, we talked about consecration. We talked about examining ourselves – who we are, what we are doing, where we are going, how we are doing – are we pleasing God – are there things we need to repent of and change – have we drifted away – are we drawing closer – are we called to do new things – are we being obedient?
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 1 Corinthians 10:12
Why is it important to examine ourselves? Because we are not living for ourselves. We are not our own. We were brought with a price. And the life we live now we live by faith in Jesus Christ. And without self examination and intentional living and surrender to God and HIS Word and HIS ways we can believe the lie of the enemy and end up in places and circumstances we don’t want to be. We renew our minds and align our lives to what God says. HIS WORD is the guide we live by.
Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. John 14:23
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. John 14:24
We all wear masks. We hide from each other. It’s part of our fallenness. That is why one of the most formative practices in a small group is confession. Confession is the appropriate disclosure of my brokenness, temptations, sin, and victories for the purpose of healing, forgiveness, and spiritual growth. Without confession we are a community hiding from the truth.
Micah 7:18 (New King James Version) 18 Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
To lay it out there:
Bill Johnson – Deception is invited into a life through the door of compromise.
“The moment you woke up, you stepped into a war…the battlefield of the mind.” We have an enemy whose purpose is to lead us astray, to kill, steal and destroy and distract us from God. We need to be aware of his schemes and also aware that his temptations usually target an area of weakness and vulnerability – the chink in our armour, our archilles heel… in saying that we need to resist his temptations and our own temptations and take the way out of God. Hit HIS lie with God’s truth. Sin usually starts from an area of brokenness in our lives – but we should instead fix our eyes upon God and allow Him to fix us instead of acting out and trying to fix ourselves. Growing up requires searching. “Find out what is acceptable to the Lord.” Eph. 5:10 Are we searching? What pleases Him?
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19
From the throne of God into all the earth – every generation, revived, connected, empowered, pouring out!
Our lives begin with God.
With our relationship with God.
With our salvation and forgiveness and His grace and His love.
We used to be far from God. Our thoughts made us his enemies, and we did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with us, and now he lets us stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent. But we must stay deeply rooted and firm in our faith. We must not give up the hope we received when we heard the good news. Colossians 1:21-23
At the throne of God we find hope, peace, love, grace, mercy, purpose, relationship, connection.
We then express that to those around us, our families, workmates, friends, strangers.
We need to be:
Revived: finding our satisfaction and fulfillment in God – a process that requires not just GODs involvement but OUR involvement – as you draw near to God… James 4:8, God rewards those who seek Him… Hebrews 11:6 – don’t wait till you get parched, stay drinking!
Connected: we’re a family who loves each other
Empowered: given the tools to make it work
Pouring out living our lives for God’s purpose.
Our vision is to know Him and make Him known.
“Hell fears holy ones that are sent from God. God wants to make you holy and then send you to spark revival.” -Brian Beasley
So today is a new day.
A day of remembering. And a day to look forward.
A day to seek God.
We’re drawing a line in the sand.
This is where we stand.
We love God.
We obey Him.
We live not for ourselves and our own desires and wants.
We love each other.
We grow up and make the hard call.
We live for One greater than ourselves with purpose and destiny.
We were made to know Him and make Him known.
We were made to walk with Him and please Him.
notes from housegroup teaching tonight: BEFORE TIME OF WORSHIP AND SEEKING GOD
Its a good practice to examine ourselves – who we are, what we are doing, where we are going, how we are doing – are we pleasing God – are there things we need to repent of and change – have we drifted away – are we drawing closer – are we called to do new things – are we being obedient?
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5
Why is it important to examine ourselves?
Because we are not living for ourselves. We are not our own. We were brought with a price. And the life we live now we live by faith in Jesus Christ.
In John 15 Jesus tells us to abide in Him, to remain in Him, to stay connected with Him. He is the vine and we are the branches and apart from Him we can bear no good fruit or do no good thing and those that leave Him and separate themselves from Him and unremain wither and die.
Lets look at john 15 a bit more…
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.
Lets put it another way.
1 samuel 6 has a really interesting passage about the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Israel. The Ark had been captured by the Philistines in a battle and they displayed it in their temple… their false god statue fell down and broke demonstrating the supremeacy of God and then the people got sick and all these things happened that they discerned as the unfavour and displeasure of God! So they determined to send the cart back to Israel. They consulted their false priests and pysics about how to transport it…
When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, 2 the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD ? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
3 They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”
4 The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. 5 Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. 6 Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?
7 “Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance.”
10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11 They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
So okay. What does that have to do with examining yourself – and the word I’ve been throwing around on facebook – CONSECRATION?
A new cart might look good.
It might be clean and brand spanking new.
It might look good on the surface.
But it sure isn’t the way God commanded the Ark to be carried and transported.
It it isn’t following God’s ways then a new cart just doesn’t cut it. It doesn’t make the grade or impress God.
If you flick over to 2 Samuel 6 you see the new cart syndrome again…
We don’t want to have lives that are like a new cart. Might look good on the outside but when you examine the heart – it falls way short.
Our lives need to be lining up with what God says in His Word and obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will not contradict His Word. That is an impossibility.
If we flick back to look at john 15 – and just a tad before that in john 14 we see something black and white.
Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. John 14:23
He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. John 14:24
If you love Jesus you will obey what He commands, in the Word and to you specifically through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What is your conscience saying about how you are living your life?
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:7-14
If you are not being obedient to God Jesus is pointing out that your love aint fresh and real. If you’re not being obedient to God then you are sinning and being disobedient.
You wont make it on a new cart.
Don’t settle for second best. Don’t sell yourself short. Don’t give up.
I was watching survivor the other night (groans!) and saw this analogy that so fitted.
Its like making friends with a snake. The snake says “come and play with me.” The boy says “I don’t want to be bitten”. “I wont bite you” says the snake. The boy and the snake play. The snake bites the boy. “What did you do that for???” says the boy! “I’m a snake, its what I do.” Replies the snake.
Disobedience will bite you like a snake. You can flirt with it and flirt with a compromising lifestyle but it will bite you.
We are only satisfied and fulfilled when we are living authentically connected with God. He guides us and cares for us. He is knowable. Not far off and indifferent. He has a plan for your life. He desires to work in you and through you. He will do awesome things through lives that are consecrated to Him.
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:20-22
we shouldn’t want to be part of a generation that is settling for new carts and a small buzz. Knowing God is awesome. Encountering God is incredible. God is the same today as He was yesterday. And He will be tomorrow. All throughout the bible there is record of how people consecrated themselves to meet with God.
Exodus 19 – when God appeared to the Israelites at Mt Sinai they had to consecrate themselves.
The priests had to consecrate themselves for ministry and service.
Ezra prayed and fasted. Nehemiah was a man of prayer. Esther called the nation into prayer and fasting. Elijah consecrated himself. Isaiah was consecrated by the angel with the coal.
Examine yourself.
Are you living to please God or please yourself?
Are there things you need to change?
Things God has revealed to you to put into action that you haven’t yet.
Character issues that He is proding and pruning away at.
If you’re not remaining in Him you’re not walking with Him.
As Christians we are redeemed and saved and made new and clean and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness and sin. Our spirits are made new and alive when we are born again. But if we love Him, we will obey Him. The Holy Spirit leads us into outworked salvation. Show me your faith by your actions and obedience. 1 John says it plain as black and white, if you are a child of God you have stopped sinning. You resist sin. Romans 8, you resist the flesh, you deny the flesh, you desire to be obedient and you put boundaries in your life to enable you to do that. You make the CHOICE to obey. You repent of your sin and your change your life to stop doing it. You consecrate yourself.
The good news is that we can make a change right now. That we can pray and seek God and reconsecrate ourselves. That we can repent and change.
i love the passion in this preaching. a real call against the watering down of the gospel…
we need to count the cost and press in and dont turn back.
are we really saved? examine.
going to church doesnt make you a christian, just like being in a garage doesnt make you a car.
know God.
know God.
surrender to him.
know God.
one of the things i really love about God is the “tension” between total love and grace for me right now – and the working out-ness of holiness in our own lives – that there is that pull to be better people – conformed into the character and likeness of Jesus. holy.
yet even though i am not “there” yet does not disqualify me from been loved by God.
or liked by God.
right now, today, as i am, God loves me. he is my Father and he loves me.
he is at work in my life to make me willing to do his will and to transform me and all that, but right now i am loved.
God does not go far away from us because we are not perfect – rather he draws near with compassion and mercy and shows the way for us to walk, and gives us grace and strength and encouraagement for us to walk out our faith and to obey him. he forgives us when we stuff up. he has given us the righteousness of Christ to be our record of rights. he made us new and clean and adopted us into his family.
yet somewhere in our human nature (or sonspiracy theory if you will – the lie of the enemey) we step back from God if we are falling down. we hide our faces. we cover our nakedness… but God, who sees all, knows all, walks towards us, calling us by name… (Genesis 3) yet in our inperfectness we should even more draw near to God – in hebrews it says that because of the sacrifice of Jesus we can BOLDLY aproach the throne of God, enter the holy of holies, and find grace at our time of need. what is our time of need? when we are imperfect and falling down.
God doesnt turn us away. he forgives us. he loves us. in our imperfectness he loves us. we dont need to be perfect to enjoy God and worship him and live for him. [disclaimer: that doesnt mean we wallow in our sin and carry on like that - as paul would say - forbid that! goodness no!]
so great was the love of God for YOU and for ME – in real life – not just some theological esoterical thought – that he sent Jesus as the sacrifice to make us acceptable to himself. we then outwork tha t in our lives from the inside out…. we make the righteousness that is on the inside – the righteousness of Jesus that our spirit has – and we outwork that in our real lives, body, soul….
dont let anything hold you back from loving God and been loved by Him. know his love. know he makes all things new. know his grace. know it and live in that knowledge.
“You must walk the path of temptation.” Molinos from 100 Days in the Secret Place
An interesting quote isn’t it. We must walk the path of temptation. Most would say flee from temptation – but to do that first we must face temptation. Though we pray in the Lord’s prayer “lead us from temptation and deliver us from evil” we learn from facing and overcoming temptations. We learn obedience. We learn surrender. We learn to be led by the Holy Spirit within us, who is transforming us into the character of God.
Jesus was tempted.
Luke 4:13 And when the Devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him for a time.
Hebrews 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, having been tempted, He is able to rescue those who are being tempted.
Jesus was tempted, not only by the devil in a determined pattern of distraction and attack, but throughout life, because Jesus was human. Because of that he has full understanding of what it feels to be tempted and is the one to run to in our time of trial.
What is the purpose of temptation? Does it have a purpose???
I do think God uses temptation for a purpose. Does he tempt us? No.
James 1:13 Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one. But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them.
But He uses all things together for good for His purposes and glory. So thus God uses temptation. Temptation is a fire that refines us. It shows us our weaknesses so we can cast them upon God and draw upon His mercy, grace and strength. It allows the work of Grace to be wrought within us.
Temptation comes from within us. It is the fleshly desires we have for things. Be it another person, something we don’t have, power, to react just as we want to, to lie – to whatever.
The good thing is we are not alone in facing temptation. As said above Jesus is with us. So too should our friends. We ALL go through temptation. Be honest with each other and support those who need support.
The other and the most good thing is that God makes a way to escape. He delivers us from temptation. We must take HIS road, HIS way. Sometimes that will be to flee, to remove ourselves from that place (ie nightclub, boys bedroom, shop etc) Other times it will be to talk with someone and share the burden and with the grace and help of God tough it through (so to speak).
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, because having been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation
Now I am NOT SUGGESTION we deliberatily put ourselves in harms way (in temptations way). But temptation will happen in the course of normal life. Dont go looking for trouble. Dont go looking for temptation. Keep living a life walking to please God.
2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. Therefore if anyone purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. But flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
So where does this fit in the 100 Days series… we are studying the “way of the cross”, embracing the changes and the path of change that God outworks in our lives. We must walk the path of temptation and allow it to transform us. We must walk a close walk with God, drawing near to Him.
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