STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN

 

If Jesus wrote a letter to our churches today, what would He say? I wonder if it would be the same message He sent to the church in Sardis. Jesus told John to write: “I know your works, that you have a name [reputation] that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.” (Revelation 3:1-3 NKJV)

I have attended church all my life, and I thank God for that opportunity and blessing. I have learned much being in fellowship with other believers. I have learned from the Truth that was taught and the errors that had to be corrected. I praise God for people of integrity who are seeking to know more of Jesus and are following Him more closely every day. There is always a remnant who are faithful to the end. But what I see in so many professing Christians today is disturbing. The presence of God seems to be missing in our gatherings. I have been asking myself why, so I ask the following probing questions sincerely, not as a condemnation but as a hope to get back on the right track spiritually, and to strengthen what remains of Christ in His churches before it dies.

How can we set aside what Jesus taught, replacing it with what is more culture-friendly and expect to make a difference in our world? Are we any different from most people? Are we so far from Jesus’ example that few are finding Him in us or in our meetings? Have we lost our influence because we have lost the power and presence of God among us? Have we settled for “good music”, “good speaking” and good fellowship as a replacement for the Holy Spirit? Have we replaced the real moving of God’s Spirit among us for emotional, sentimental feelings? If so, we have lost the heart of Christianity and are going through a form of religion that offers no hope.

My heart yearns for the presence of God among us and a renewal of His people to a true walk with Him. Do we have a reputation of being alive because we are busy and growing in numbers, yet we are dead spiritually because somewhere down the line we took over and stopped allowing the Holy Spirit to lead? Is there real, prevailing prayer in our altars? Is there prayer in our hearts? What do people find in our churches? What do they find in us? Do they find friendly people who make them feel at home and invite them to join in all their activities? Or do they find Jesus and learn to follow Him with all their hearts? Do they find the presence of God noticeably in our midst? Do they find brokenness of heart that leads to repentance and new birth? Are new Christians being taught to be real disciples of Jesus, following His example and teachings, or are we teaching them “church doctrine” like the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus day? We have begun to think of coming to Jesus as adding a wonderful new concept to our lives. But coming to Jesus means He becomes Lord over every part of our lives - our decisions, our finances, our time, our relationships, our careers, our actions, our thoughts, our possessions, our hearts, our souls and our minds. Isn’t that what Jesus said? He cannot be our Savior if He is not our Lord and Master.

Mark 8:34-35 says, “And when He [Jesus] had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.”

Jesus did not die and rise from the dead so we could have a casual relationship with Him, but so we can be formed into His image. He died and rose again to change our hearts to be able to follow Him now in the kingdom of God. When we are born again, we become a whole new creation on the inside. Can people see the difference?

            When God shows us our sins, He is merciful to also tell us how to reverse our condition, just as He did in His letter to Sardis. Let’s look at the guide He gives us to get back on track.

            Be Watchful. There are many warnings in the Scripture for us to be watchful. It simply means to be vigilant, always awake and alert. Matthew 24:42-44 says “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” We need to be consistent in our walk with Jesus, always watchful not to turn aside in any way. We are not to act like the world part of the time and act spiritual at other times. We are to be who Jesus has called us to be. If we are born-again, committed to Christ believers, then that is how we will act.

            Strengthen What Remains. The Amplified Bible says, “strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me] which is about to die”. When we are newly born again, we feel like the vibrant new creation that we are. We are released from sin and have the Holy Spirit’s power to keep us growing more and more like Jesus Christ. But sometimes that fervor cools. We stop growing and start assimilating back into the world a little at a time. We stop sharing the gospel with others and spend less time in the Word of God and prayer. The things of this world claim our attention and we turn away from God without even noticing it. Maybe it’s time to strengthen what remains of our relationship with Jesus. Maybe it’s time to turn away from the world and put our focus back on Him, His Word, and His Spirit. What remains of your commitment to Christ? Church attendance? daily devotions? Is there anything that remains? If so, strengthen it and watch the pull of the world weaken.

            Remember How You Have Received and Heard. “So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them”. Looking back to what we once knew and practiced can sometimes help us renew our covenant with God. Paul tells Timothy how to recall the Truth and stick with it. He says, “O Timothy, guard and keep safe the deposit [of godly truth] entrusted to you, turn away from worldly and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], and the contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge’… If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine and teaching which is in agreement with godliness (personal integrity, upright behavior), he is conceited and woefully ignorant [understanding nothing]…But as for you, O man of God, flee from these things; aim at and pursue righteousness [true goodness, moral conformity to the character of God], godliness [the fear of God], faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:-11-12, 20 Amplified Bible) Maybe it’s time to go back and re-embrace the teachings of Jesus that we used to follow. Remembering what we have been taught will help us understand how to strengthen what remains of our faith.

            Hold Fast. That means to be firmly fixed in place or to stay securely attached. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” When we are reaching for these things, we have to release our hold on the things of God to gain them. So hold fast to Jesus Christ. We cannot vacillate between this world and the kingdom of God.

            Repent. “[Change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin].” When a person repents, it brings about a profound transformation of the whole person – body, soul and spirit. They have made the decision to turn away from this world to embrace Jesus Christ and Him alone. Are we still embracing Jesus or trying to embrace Him and this world? We cannot do both. Maybe it is time to turn back to fully commit everything to Jesus. When God’s people have turned away from Him and His Word, He will only accept true repentance. He wants us to repent from our casual service to Him. He wants us to give up our rights to do as Jesus did when He walked on this earth in human flesh. Without God’s manifest presence in and among us, we can accomplish nothing.

When our Bible study group started to study the teachings of Jesus, I warned them that we better get ready for a real culture shock. What Jesus taught and what we believe and do are often very different. But truth remains when all the beliefs of man fall away. It stands through eternity supreme, and it is the only thing that will truly make us free. When we are faced with truth, we have a choice to make - follow it or turn away to destruction. What about you? What about me? How far are we willing to go to follow Jesus’ teachings and other Bible passages that call us to go beyond what we can comprehend? Will we adjust our lives to be Jesus’ disciples? Or will we attempt to adjust His words to suit us? Don’t let your commitment to Jesus die.

 

“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

SPEAK, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS

 

            Samuel was a young man who still didn’t understand all the ways of God. He had been given to God’s service when he was a small boy and was raised in the temple in Jerusalem. He was there at the temple to serve Eli, the priest.  Or so he thought. But God was about to bring judgment against Eli and His sons. He was going to end the days of their priesthood in God’s temple because Eli’s sons were anything but holy, and Eli allowed it. It was time for a change. And God was going to use Samuel. He just hadn’t told Samuel yet.

            One night God called out to Samuel and Samuel thought it was Eli’s voice, so he got up and went to Eli. Eli told him he had not called him – go back to bed. The third time it happened, Eli finally realized God was speaking to Samuel and told him if it happened again to say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears”. “Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”  (Samuel 3:10)

            When Samuel acknowledged God’s call, God began to tell him things that would happen in Israel. From that time, Samuel knew God’s voice. He had been listening for the voice of Eli all those years, but now He was hearing from God and God used him in a powerful way as a Judge over Israel.

            As God’s people, we need to learn to recognize Jesus’ voice. If we don’t, we will shut Him out and continue serving other people and listening to their voice instead of the Lord’s voice. We need to hear God’s voice to discern His will in every situation that arises.

            Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)

He went on to say, “he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” If we are following another voice, we are not following Jesus. (John 10:2-5)  We all need to be led. But we need to be careful who is leading us.

            The sheep know the shepherd’s voice because they are close to Him. Most of the people in Jesus’ day did not recognize God’s voice. If they had, they would have known God was right there with them; that Jesus’ voice was the voice of God. Instead, they followed the voice of the religious rulers who led them astray. We need to listen carefully and learn the voice of God for ourselves. We are to be one with Him and recognize that without Him, “we can do nothing.”

            When we are walking in the will of Jesus, following His voice, we cannot take it personally when someone praises us for doing something well or for doing a good deed. It is not us, but the Spirit of God working in us that accomplishes anything of value. If the Spirit of God was removed from us, we would find out how bereft of any good we really are. It is truly all about Jesus, not us. By the same token, we need to realize the power of evil coming against us is actually coming against Jesus in us. When Jesus stopped Paul on the road to Damascus, He did not ask Paul why he was persecuting His people. Jesus asked, “Why are you persecuting ME?”

            In Matthew 25:37-40, Jesus told a parable about a King who proclaims a blessing on the righteous for all the things they had done for Him personally. “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

In times of turmoil, we need to be still and listen for His voice. Instead of making the situation about us, we need to stop and say, “Speak, for Your servant hears. Lord, I’m listening. What is it you want me to see or hear in this situation?” When we hear Him, then is the time to act and obey Him. Maybe God has allowed something to slow us down for a rest that we have ignored. (I have first-hand experience there.) Maybe He is changing our course. Maybe He is ending one season of our lives because He has a new assignment for us. Maybe we have served Eli long enough and He is raising us up to take his place. We will never walk in the fullness of His will if we don’t stop and listen for His voice.

When king Uzziah died, a godly king was taken from the throne of Judah. He was the king that Isaiah the prophet had served under. The future must have looked dim to Isaiah. But he says in Isaiah 6:1 - “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.”

Uzziah was no longer on his throne, but God was unmoved from His throne and was still in control. His power and glory had not dimmed. It was during this time that Isaiah answered the call to “go” for God. He had already been serving, but God was changing his course. When Isaiah answered God’s call to go for Him, the call was not directly addressed to him by name. Isaiah had found himself in the presence of God, and he realized his sinfulness and uselessness. Then he cried out, “Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts!” His knowledge of God took on a new depth and passion.

 “Then flew one of the seraphim [heavenly beings] to me, having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from off the altar; And with it he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven.”

When he acknowledged his sin, God took care of it. When we see ourselves as we really are, God can begin the process of making us into His image. He can begin the process of cleansing and renewing us so we can hear His voice and understand His leading.

Once Isaiah’s sin was dealt with, he began to put his focus on the Lord instead of himself. His ears were opened to hear the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?” And Isaiah spoke up, “Here am I; send me.” He was right where he was supposed to be, so he heard God’s question. (Isaiah 6:5-8 AMPC)  God was preparing Isaiah and changing his course. He listened, heard and answered.

The Lord sends out the call to come and follow Him. Can we hear the call if we are not in His presence listening? Can we answer the call if we are not purified from sin? The call goes out whether or not we are listening, whether or not we hear Him, whether or not we are prepared to answer. Some will hear. Some will not. If we are not listening, we won’t answer the call.

Jesus sent the call to all that came to Him. Many were called, but few were chosen. Why? Because only a few were really listening. So only a few really heard Jesus’ call. Then only a few out of those who heard Him answered the call. Only a few were cleansed and made ready. Only a few were willing to completely follow Jesus. What was Jesus’ call? “Come and follow Me.” Leave everything behind. Become servants, not superstars. Empty yourself of everything but Jesus and let Him work through you. Don’t follow your own purposes, only what He leads you to do.

Oswald Chambers said, “Our Lord said in effect to Paul - Your whole life is to be overmastered by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine…Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s, he saw nothing else, he lived for nothing else…This abandon to the love of Christ is the one thing that bears fruit in the life, and it will always leave the impression of the holiness of God, never of our personal holiness.”

A lot of people are devoted to various causes, but few are devoted to Jesus. You may be devoted to your church, your ministry, your family, your job, but are you devoted first to Jesus? Until we give Jesus everything, we cannot accomplish anything of lasting value. Without Him we are only a small speck in the annals of time. Nothing we do is truly great except the work God does through us. When we get ‘self’ out of the way, the work God will do through us will have everlasting value. It will change hearts for eternity.

In Revelation 3 Jesus said, If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

 

The call has gone out. Who is listening? Who will answer?

 

Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

PREPARING THE WAY FOR GOD’S PRESENCE

 

“Preparation must precede God’s presence.” That is a quote from a book by Henry and Richard Blackaby that caught my attention and led me on a search through God’s Word. I couldn’t help but wonder what prepares us for the presence of God? Psalm 24:3-5 asks that same question and then answers it. “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”

When the Israelites were to meet God Who would speak to them from Mount Sinai, there were specific instructions given them to follow before that meeting. They were to wash their clothes and keep themselves from anything that would cause them to be defiled according to the Law. They were to set themselves apart from sin and to God, because sin cannot exist in God’s presence. That is why we can have no fellowship with God without righteousness.

Because none of us were righteous, God made a way for us to come into His presence through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But first, the world needed to be prepared. The very presence of God Himself was about to come into this world, and the people needed to be prepared to receive Him. So John the Baptist was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus’ entrance into the world. And yet many still rejected Him.

            I find it very interesting that Luke 3:1-4 lists all the leaders of the day, both political and religious. “Now in the fifteenth year of [Emperor] Tiberius Caesar’s reign—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod [Antipas] was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene - in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas [his son-in-law], the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. And he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin; as it is written and forever remains written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.”

            It’s astonishing that God by-passed all the great rulers of that day and spoke to John. But it isn’t unusual that he by-passed them, because John was prepared for the presence of God and these leaders – both political and religious – were not prepared for His presence. God Himself had chosen John before he was even born and prepared him to do the work of paving the way for the Messiah.

Luke 1:15-17 tells us this about John. “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John was only six months older than Jesus, so he was probably barely past 30 years old when he started his ministry. He was young and not formally trained in the law, so he was an unlikely candidate in the eyes of all the “important” men of his day to be the bearer of such wonderful news. But he was the only one prepared by God for the honor.

 “In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea [along the western side of the Dead Sea] and saying, “Repent [change your inner self - your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:1-2 AMPLIFIED)

While John faithfully preached repentance from sin and turning to God to prepare the people for the kingdom of heaven, the religious leaders continued teaching their rituals and rules. And the political leaders were busy touting the “party line” so they could be promoted. They were oblivious to the greatness that was coming among them.

            John had no grand illusions of his place in pointing the way to Jesus. He knew he was not the Messiah everyone was looking for, and he told them so. John’s disciples got offended when people stopped coming to John’s meetings and were following Jesus instead. But John told them, “He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease. “He who comes from [heaven] above is above all others;” (John 3:30-31 AMPLIFIED) John pointed his disciples to Jesus.

Many religious leaders today have a tendency to promote themselves, pointing people to them instead of to Jesus. They are the ones who have lost sight of the One Who came from above. They forget that He is above all others. They continue on with their traditions and plans with few results because they have not allowed God to prepare them for His presence.

Many political leaders think they can bring in a utopia or at least set up their own kingdom, but God is still above all. They only do what He allows for His own purposes and only as long as He allows it.

That’s why God often by-passes those considered to be in high positions. They are busy with their own plans and purposes and reject His. He knows that those who make a real difference are the ones who have allowed Him to prepare them and use them as He desires because they have learned that He is all that matters. They have given up their rights, and they don’t try to take them back later.

I was reminded recently of the Biblical meaning of taking off one’s shoes. If someone had a right to buy someone’s property as the kinsman redeemer and he did not want to do so, he would take off his shoe as a sign that he was relinquishing his rights to that property. Remember how God told Moses and later Joshua to remove their shoes in His presence? He was asking them to relinquish their rights to themselves. Then God could use them as He chose. And He did so in a mighty way.

God doesn’t always use the ‘likely’. He uses the prepared, those who know how to enter His presence and hear from Him. He uses those who have “clean hands and pure hearts”. He prepares and uses those who give up their rights to themselves and relinquish them to Him.

Jesus came to prepare us to be able to stand in the presence of God. Ephesians 5:25-27 says, “Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.”

Have we allowed Jesus to cleanse us? Have we set ourselves apart for His purposes? Have we given up our rights to do what He calls us to do regardless of the cost? Are our hands clean and our hearts pure? The provision for our preparation is there for the asking. But we must take that next step of submitting to Him and asking to be prepared for His presence.

God doesn’t use the mighty. He uses the meek (those who are submitted to Him) and He makes them mighty through His strength. God doesn’t choose the wise according to this world’s wisdom, but He chooses those who seem inadequate and makes them more than adequate through His wisdom.

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1 Corinthians 1:24-27)  

Ephesians 2:10 tells us who we really are when we have given our rights over to Christ. “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above - spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” (AMPLIFIED)

Has someone labeled you as inadequate to accomplish much in the kingdom of God? Have you been told you have to follow the pattern laid out by the prevailing religious realm? Have you left the work of Christ in the hands of those who are considered “full-time ministers”? If so, please read Ephesians again and again until you realize you were created to be useful in God’s kingdom. You can do miracles if you relinquish your rights to Him and enter His presence in a life-changing way that will guide you into everything He has created you to be. The power of the Holy Spirit in us will enable us to do what is impossible for us to do!

 

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

TREASURES OF THE KINGDOM

 For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”  Mark 4:25

             After all my Christmas boxes were deposited in my house, I began the task of opening each one to see what was in there. For me there were no surprises because I have had most of them for a long time. But for my grandson, it was all new since he was too small last year to remember it. He kept saying “Wow” as I would pull out various decorations. Sometimes he would say, “Can I have this?” or “Can I touch it?” As much as I love Christmas, I was excited that he was excited to see it all and handled them well. He wanted to see more and more.

            God has so many treasures for us in the treasure chests of His kingdom. He wants us to seek them out and be excited at all the wealth and riches He wants to share with us. The more of His Word and the more of His Spirit we ask Him about, the more He will reveal to us. He has wisdom, power, strength, discernment, joy, peace, and so much more. And the answer is, “Yes, you can have it, Yes you can touch it!”

 CHALLENGE TO CHANGE:

Do I have a teachable heart? Am I actively pursuing the Lord and all He has for me?

 We never reach the end of God’s resources. He delights in us when we are delighting in Him.

 

THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor.” Isaiah 9:6

 All the people who were instrumental in the advent of Jesus were given clear instructions by angels and spiritual dreams. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and others were plainly told what to do, where to go, what to expect and what to look for.

God wants us to know what steps we need to take along our path of life. Jesus, as our Counselor, will guide us and instruct us in the right way to go. We might know the right thing to do, but it takes a plan to carry it out. God’s Spirit will lead us with His instructions step by step. As His children, all we have to do is ask. Have you ever been given instructions, but had to ask for clarification so you could carry them out? You heard what was said, but didn’t understand it clearly. Well, we can ask the Lord and He will make it clear. When we need advice, we should immediately think of Jesus. When we get off track, need to make a decision or face impossible odds, Jesus is the answer. Nothing is too small for Him or too big.

 CHALLENGE TO CHANGE:

Am I receiving counsel from the Wonderful Counselor, or am I trying to figure it out myself?

 We can receive counsel in most of life's circumstances by going directly to the Bible. Other times, the Lord will show us the way by the leading of His Spirit in our hearts.  But, we have to have a heart willing to listen and obey.

 

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called…Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

 Everyone wants peace - nations, churches, businesses, homes, individuals. But the problem is that most nations, churches, businesses, homes and individuals want peace on their own terms. Nations may make peace with one another and sign a treaty, but they are broken before long. We try to find peace for our minds by filling them with happy thoughts, but the world throws in many unhappy thoughts. Businesses may cooperate with one another on one level, but they are still competitors looking out for themselves. Even many churches are not guided by godly principles, but try to compromise the Word of God so they will not offend anyone. All of these are trying to settle for a temporary peace rather than everlasting peace.

Our minds often stray to other means of gaining peace, but the Lord is our only source of true peace.  His kingdom is one of peace - at one with God and therefore at one with each other. 

 CHALLENGE TO CHANGE:

Have I found true peace in Jesus, the Prince of Peace? Or am I still looking in the wrong places?

 Isaiah 26:3-4 tells us how to accomplish perfect peace. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." 

 

THE LORD REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT OF GRACE

 “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” Luke 1:13

 In Bible days, names were chosen carefully. Babies were often given names that had a meaning the parents wanted the baby to live up to when they grew up. Jesus was named by the angel Gabriel. His name means “the Lord is Salvation”. His name at birth was significant because it spoke of Who He was and what He came to do. John the Baptist was also named by Gabriel. His name means “Grace”. His parents’ names were Zacharias (the Lord Remembers) and Elizabeth (God’s Covenant). It is amazing how relevant these names were when we consider the work John was called to as the forerunner of the Messiah. Put them together and you have “The Lord remembers God’s covenant - Grace.”

God’s works are so meticulous that sometimes we miss the wonder of it all. Every detail is perfectly planned and executed. We may not see what He is doing in our lives because we are so caught up with the hustle and bustle of life. But God is always ahead of us to prepare our way and work out every detail before we even get there. 

CHALLENGE TO CHANGE:

“Have I ever stopped to notice how God is working in my life? Do I see His hand in the smallest details?”

 We can trust the God Who notices when the smallest sparrow falls. Surely He cares for us.

WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS?

 

The definition of credentials (according to the dictionary on my iPad) is as follows: evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like. A lack of credentials can close doors for us. But some credentials can open a lot of doors. They can boost our status, give us special rights and privileges and back up our authority in specific areas. They can certify that we are a medical doctor, lawyer or many other positions. But when this life is over, the credentials are no longer valid.

The spiritual credentials we have are much more important than the credentials of this world. We may be ‘somebody’ according to this world’s standards, but what sort of authority, status, rights and privileges do we have in the kingdom of God? That’s what really counts because that is what is eternal. That is what we will answer for in the day we stand before God in judgment. Our meager excuses will carry no wait, neither will our earthly credentials.

The apostle Paul explained all of his credentials for being a Pharisee, a teacher of the law. This is what He said. “If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” (Philippians 3:4-6)

He was a “card-carrying” Pharisee who had impeccable credentials. No one could argue against his training or his authority and right to teach the law. Plus, he had received his training from the well-respected teacher of the law, Gamaliel. But Paul found out that all his human wisdom and training was nothing. His confidence in his credentials took him in the wrong direction until He met Jesus Christ. He had put all his dependence on himself and his achievements until he found the truth in Jesus. That’s why, after listing his religious credentials, he went on to say, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11)

Why did Paul give up his lofty position and prominence? Because he came to realize the futility of all his efforts and all his so-called achievements and success in the religious hierarchy. He had accomplished nothing and now it was all rubbish to him. But when He met Jesus and surrendered his life to Him, He began working in the kingdom alongside the Lord. That’s when he began to make a real difference in the world. He had rather suffer for the cause of Christ and achieve something eternal than parade around in the robes of a Pharisee and be honored by men. He called himself the servant or slave of Jesus Christ. In other words, he became totally surrendered to Him. His eternal credentials were impeccable.

Jesus also tried to help others understand the credentials God was looking for. “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

The Pharisees often performed their religious rituals for show among the people. Their clothing even set them apart as ‘important people’. They made a big display when they fasted or gave money to the temple treasury. But their hearts were not right with God. They were depending on their earthly credentials and works to save them. (See Matthew 23)

This particular Pharisee in Jesus’ parable seems to have considered himself one of God’s choice people and could not see that he was very much in need of the righteousness that comes only from Jesus. He was so sure of himself and his accomplishments that he was blinded to the truth that he was a religious sinner, not a child of God. Because he would not admit his need of a Savior, he continued in his sins, believing a lie that would keep him out of the kingdom of God.

The tax collector, which was considered one of the worst of sinners, admitted his sin and asked God to forgive him. He asked God to show him mercy (to refrain from giving him what he deserved). He knew what he deserved. And he went to the right place to receive pardon. Those who confess their sins and turn from them are justified. Those who dress them in religion remain in sin and will face everlasting punishment.

1 John 1:8-10 makes this very plain. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Take notice that sandwiched between verse eight and ten is a chance for forgiveness, just like the tax collector received…”If we confess our sins”. Many have their confidence firmly planted in ‘self’. But there will come a day when they will face God and will finally see how sinful they really are and how much in need of the Savior they really are. If that happens in this life like the Apostle Paul’s experience, they can confess their sins, repent (turning from sin) and find new life in the righteousness of Christ. If they wait until they stand before God in judgment, then it’s too late. We cannot save ourselves. We need the blood of Jesus to cover our sins. The sooner we learn to surrender to His will, the sooner we will receive eternal credentials.

The credentials of a true servant of God are true repentance and humility (total submission to Jesus). That is what Jesus is looking for.

Jesus spoke about humility, but He also showed us His humility as He was obedient to the Father in every situation, even His death on the cross. Our repentance and submission (humility) to Him are credentials that open the doors of His kingdom for us.

Andrew Murray said that humility “is in truth nothing but the simple consent of the creature to let God be all, in virtue of which it surrenders itself to His working alone.” When we acknowledge the truth of our sinfulness and surrender our lives to Jesus, we can begin to live a life that is more abundant because it is rooted in the kingdom of God. God becomes all in all to us and He fills us with His Spirit, opening the treasures of His kingdom to us as we seek for them.

Earthly credentials can deceive us into believing we are ready for eternal life. But the credentials needed to enter the kingdom of God are true repentance and humility, not something we can do on our own. Once we get those credentials, then we can begin to receive added credentials that are eternal. They include authority, status, rights, and entitlement to privileges that only children of God can receive. We have the right to approach the throne of God, the status of being God’s children as His heirs, authority over the enemy, and more privileges than I can name.  He even transforms our fallen nature to a new nature that is in His image.

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So, what are your credentials? Are they rooted in this world? Are you still counting on your best efforts and religious rituals to save you? Or are your credentials rooted in the kingdom of God?

It is not wrong to have credentials in this world. To practice law or medicine or many other careers, certain credentials are required. But we need to place the greater emphasis on our spiritual credentials. Our eternal life depends on it.

 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

"MY SERVANT"

 

A servant is a person who is working in a subordinate position under the authority of a superior. They are at the service of another either voluntarily or involuntarily. Servants carry out the plans of their employer. God chose many men and women to be His servants down through time. They are considered great people of God. Let’s look at some of the servants He was able to use for His purposes and His glory. Some are well-known, but some may surprise you.

MOSES

“And He [the LORD] said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD will make Myself known to him in a vision and I will speak to him in a dream. But it is not so with My servant Moses; He is entrusted and faithful in all My house. With him I speak mouth to mouth [directly], clearly and openly and not in riddles; And he beholds the form of the LORD. (Numbers 12:6-8 AMP)

            Moses was a trusted servant of God. God was able to speak “face to face” with Moses unlike anyone else. Although reluctant at first, Moses was an obedient servant of God. He listened to what God spoke to him and followed His words. In all the years Moses followed the Lord, there is only one reference of disobedience.

God used Moses to bring His people out of Egypt. He had planned this deliverance long before Moses was born, and it was carried out to fulfill the promise He had made to Abraham many years before.

            Long before Moses was ever born, God had told Abraham: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.” (Genesis 15:13-14)

Moses followed God’s will and accomplished all he was called to do. He not only delivered God’s people, but took part in the fulfillment of the promise God had made to Abraham. He was part of something much bigger than what he could see. He was working with God to fulfill His Word to Abraham and to fulfill what He had spoken to Moses. The past sets the stage for the present and God is in control of it all. We can join Him in fulfilling His plan.

DAVID

God also spoke to His servant Samuel to anoint David as king while Saul was still sitting on the throne. A lot of years went by before it actually came to pass. But after Saul and his family were killed in battle, Abner said to the elders of Israel, “In time past you were seeking for David to be king over you. Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, ‘By the hand of My servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’ ” (2 Samuel 3:17-18 AMP)

When David became king and God told him that he would have an everlasting kingdom in his family line, David remembered the past that had brought Him to this day. He said “What one nation on earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do great and awesome things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? You established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your people forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.” But there was more to come. David recognized He was just one part of the fulfillment of God’s total plan. Yet he looked back at what God had done, what He was doing, and what He would do in the future. He saw it was all related.

God strategically places His servants, those who will be obedient to Him, in places where they can be used to bring about the purposes of God. How exciting it is to be part of what God is doing in the earth. Every one that truly serves God according to His will is a link in the chain that began back in the Garden of Eden. Now David is part of that chain linking this great nation to the coming King Who would be forever on the throne. This King is the Lord of Glory Who was born in the flesh through David’s lineage, and Whose Father was God.

 

JESUS

Luke 1:32 speaks of Jesus saying, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.”

God’s promise to David of an everlasting kingdom is fulfilled through Jesus. Yet, even Jesus Himself came into this world as a servant. He was under the authority of His Father. He spoke what the Father told him to speak and did what the Father told Him to do.

Matthew 12:18 says: “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.”  Jesus brings all of us who surrender to His Lordship into God’s nation (kingdom).

            Yet, even Jesus spoke of Himself as a servant of His Father as He came to this earth in human flesh. He said, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)  He also said, “Whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave -  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” ( Matthew 20:27-28)

And He invites us to be servants of the Father. We can be a link in the chain of God’s kingdom in this earth. It is a great honor to work alongside God.

 

THE PROPHETS

God said, “Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have [persistently] sent you all My servants the prophets, sending them daily, early [and late].”

            All of these knowingly and willingly followed God. They put aside their plans and desires for their lives and joined together with others who were a link in the chain of God’s servants who were used mightily of Him and rewarded greatly. They were part of moving the plan of God through toward its fulfillment. Now it’s our turn to keep the flow going.

But there were some that God called His servants that were unknowingly fulfilling God’s prophecies and were the catalysts of turning God’s people back to Him.

God’s people had forsaken Him. And although He warned them over and over through the prophets, they would not return to Him. “Yet you have not listened to Me,” says the LORD, “so that you have provoked Me to anger with the work (idols) of your hands to your own harm.”

 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR

So God used Nebuchadnezzar to conquer His people and take them away from Jerusalem. God said, “I will send for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant [to enact My plan], and I will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these surrounding nations; and I will utterly destroy them. This whole land will be a waste and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” (Jeremiah 25:7-11 AMP)

God used as His servant a pagan king to punish His people for their sins. But after 70 years He used another pagan king to return them to their homeland that God had given them. As a result, they never served idols again. Cyrus did the Lord’s bidding without even knowing Him.

 
CYRUS

God said, “It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd (ruler), And he will carry out all that I desire, Saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall [again] be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall [again] be laid.’ (Isaiah 44:28 AMP)

“This is what the LORD says to His anointed, to Cyrus [king of Persia]… For the sake of Jacob My servant, And of Israel My chosen, I have also called you by your name…There is no God except Me. I will embrace and arm you, though you have not known Me, That people may know from the rising to the setting of the sun [the world over] That there is no one except Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:1-6 AMP)

What does God say when He sees us? Can He say, “That is My servant!”? Are we listed among the servants of God, carrying out His Word as He speaks to us? Are we following the path of Jesus?

Jesus gave up His privileges to do the will of the Father. “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

If we want to be great in God’s kingdom, we need to be servants!